Every month we feature two blogs written by volunteers, one describes an object in the Palace and one a plant from the Garden. It is great way for us all to learn more about the Palace, if you would like to contribute there is no set format so please do send us your blogs / ideas!
On a beautiful Tuesday morning in the Walled Garden Mike Wooller and Jacky Perry were harvesting lavender from a lovely circular boarder surrounding one of our apple trees. They were making it look like very enjoyable work, and seemed to be having a fantastic time, resulting in lots of visitors approaching them and making use of their extensive knowledge of the gardens!! Mike Wooller tells us more about this beautifully fragrant evergreen shrub.
Tuesday Garden Volunteers Jacky Perry and Mike Wooller harvesting lavender to be made into lovely lavender bags
A Household Favourite
This cottage herb is familiar to many of us and our visitors to the Palace. It is a firm favourite in the Tudor Courtyard and is often associated with country gardens... perhaps one of the many reasons people think of us as an out of London retreat!
One of the most distinctive features of lavender is it's beautiful aroma which absolutely filled the Walled Garden during it's harvesting.
Lavender is associated with relaxation and is commonly known to be sleep inducing. While there is very little scientific evidence to back-up its use as a sleep aid, it is very commonly used as a pillow and room spray, candle scent and sniffing salt!
Bountiful benefits
Lavender is not only aesthetically appealing, but has many decorative, culinary, household, medicinal and cosmetic uses!
Honey bees love lavender and therefore it is fantastic for pollination; however, Mike was hoping the African hornets would stay away for the time being...!!
In a figurative sense, this herb is reputed to be one of the plants most loved by the Virgin Mary as it was viewed to symbolise purity, cleanliness and virtue. Historically churches were decorated with lavender on Saint Barnabas Day - pretty apt then for Fulham Palace!
Mike and Jackie were harvesting the lavender to make lavender bags for sale at Apple Day and in the Palace shop. Apple Day, Sunday 8th October 2017, 11-3pm, is a popular annual festival celebrating the Walled Garden apple orchard. Expect beautiful pumpkin displays and apple tastings, live music, bee keeping and wood turning demonstrations, a hotly anticipated baking competition, children’s activities, storytelling, refreshments and much more! The family event is free and there is no need to book.
Content by Mike Wooller, Tuesday Garden Volunteer, and edited by Rachel Bray, Volunteer Development Officer
Please send your ideas for blogs to rachel.bray@fulhampalace.org - if you would like some help, let us know.