A Visit to the Lavender Fields

Settling your straw hat on your head and picking up your basket, you set out from the cottage on a pleasant spring day. A pair of garden shears sits in the basket along with a thermos of tea and a sandwich wrapped in brown paper, ready for you if you decide you need a snack during your task.

Normally you wouldn't wish to do chores upon your holiday, but when your host mentioned needing some lavender harvested for the table display, you volunteered. After all, the sunshine and nature will do you good, and you can already imagine the fragrance of the lovely purple flowers.

You leave the garden and pass the yard where the chickens stay, clucking and scratching at the earth. A rooster struts about, showing off his red comb and colorful feathers to the hens and by extension to you. You chuckle at his antics before continuing on your way.

An old stone wall covered in twining ivy marks the end of the cottage's grounds. There's an old iron gate in a gap in this wall. The latch and hinges creak as you open the door and step out onto the dusty country road beyond.

Across the road lies your destination, neat rows of purple flowers stretching out under a blue sky. You can already smell the flowers as you approach, but once you enter their midst the fragrance surrounds you, instantly relaxing you and bringing a smile to your lips. You begin to move among the rows, looking for the plants that are ready to harvest.

Your host gave you instructions when you accepted the task. You're looking for buds that have just started to open. Some of the plants are past-due for harvesting, their flowers fully unfurled with happy bees buzzing about to take in their nectar. Knowing your host likes the bees to also have their fill, you select a bush that is perfect for harvest and take out your shears.

You cut the long stems of the individual flowers, leaving a little bit of green so that they can grow back later, and begin to fill your basket. The sun is warm, but not overly hot, especially with your straw hat shading you. The gentle snip snip of your shears and the fresh aroma of the lavender lulls you into a rhythm and before you know it, your basket is filled to the brim.

When you return to the cottage, your host is impressed by the harvest.

"I only expected you to gather enough for a single bouquet, but we can fill the house with lavender and still have some to dry for later!" She beams as she gets out vases and mason jars.

You help her trim the stems and arrange the lavender in the various vessels before you distribute them around the house, in your guest room, and the sitting room. Soon every room in the house has a floral display.

At the end, you still have half a basket left. Your host shows you how to bind bunches of these with twine and hang them from the rafters in the pantry to dry.

"We can make tea with it—or put it in soaps—or sachets for the dresser drawers. So many things!" she gushes. "Thank you for bringing back so much. It saves me so much time. How about a make you a cup of my famous lavender hibiscus tea as a thank you?"

You gratefully accept and sit in the parlor to await this treat. It has been another fine day at the cottage. You can't wait to see what the rest of your holiday brings.