Lavender is Catching On
H A R W I C H, Mass., July 26 -- A decade ago, when Cynthia Sutphin plantedher first 400 lavender plants in a small garden outside her Harwichhome, she wasn’t certain why she was doing it.
Somehow, she says, she just knew the plant would catch onsomeday, and she wanted to be ready when it did.
Demand for Lavender
Today, the owner of the Cape Cod Lavender Farm annually harvestsmore than 15,000 lavender plants and can barely keep up with thedemand for oils, soaps, potpourri and plants fueled by a surge inconsumers exploring natural remedies, homeopathy and aromatherapy.
“I knew that eventually lavender would hit it big,” saidSutphin, 48. “And I knew that I would be in the right place at theright time when it happened.”
Some say the ancient plant had its big break just last year whenit was named Herb of the Year by the International HerbOrganization in Virginia.
But others say its popularity has been steadily building foryears with the increase in more health-conscious consumers.
More Than Perfume
“It’s only recently that people started to notice it can beused for so much more than just perfume,” said Peggy McElgunn,director of the herb association. “People are finally waking up toit and becoming smarter.”
To the untrained eye — or nose — lavender is just anotherflowering plant with deep purple buds and a scent reminiscent of agrandmother’s perfume.
But to Sutphin and other herb enthusiasts, it is a near mysticalherb that can be used to cure headaches, induce sleep, season pastaor even sweeten lemonade.
When pressed, the flower buds release an oil that is used formassage oil, soaps, perfume and air freshener. And when driedcorrectly, the flowers can retain their scent and most of theircolor for years, Sutphin said.
“It’s something our grandparents knew about,” she said. “Ourparents didn’t, but now we’re rediscovering lavender. It skipped ageneration.”
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