Lavender production here in full swing
its fragrance filling the air
as jars of pure loveliness wait to be filled
on the table in front of me there
Every seed saved, the purple and mauve
cathartic this labour divine
Some given away, some kept just for me
as all of this lavender's mine
Every year my lavender
features on this day
The twenty-third of each July
no matter, come what may
For this as each year passes
is that lavender time again
celebrating harvest time
from sunshine and the rain
And culminating in
this fragrance so divine
which comes from all the lavender
I pick around this time
I didn't plant this lavender
that's growing by the wall
in fact I'm really quite surprised
that it is growing here at all
It must have grown from seed of course
from the crop I grow each year
and a stray stem I must have missed
though I'm careful, let's be clear
To harvest every one of those
as precious they all are
so I'm careful not to miss a one
I'm most particular
I am pleased with all my lavender
and though weeks yet til the chop
I've several plants now on the go
to bring a bumper crop
Still green of course yet now the shoots
here early into June
are good to see and promising
with all the flowers in bloom
I bought some new lavender
and new earthenware pots
to place out the front
with the best sunshine spots
I hope it does well
and adds to the joy
that lavender brings me
(let's not be coy)
for its fragrance divine
when it's growing like this
is my form of heaven
and takes me to bliss
In a patch by the pond
with driftwood surround
late lavender blooms in the sun
nurtured by hand
it’s now looking grand
with fragrance ’til summer is done
We’ve not been to our allotment
Covid-19’s seen to that
But Emily our daughter
has been keeping it intact
We’re seeing lots of pictures
which she takes from time to time
and I’m pleased to say as ever
that it’s looking mighty fine
Bagged up all my lavender
in bunches hung above me
drying out and making
all around me smell quite lovely
A bumper crop this year
has meant a lot more bags to do
which later on as little gifts
may find their way to you
There are times such as these
when alone with my pen
and lavender scent in the air
I will, pensive of mind
sit here and unwind
and think of some verses to share
I’m going to need a bigger basket
this year I think as I
harvest all my lavender
which has grown tall and high
For this year all my bushes
a bumper crop have grown
and I have much more lavender
than I have ever known
Bought two big lavenders in pots
two years or so ago
and whereas one has grown abundant
the other one’s been slow
Having said that, the one I planted
is the one that’s done the best
So there’s a lesson here I think
to learn and in that time invest
On twenty-three seven
it seems every year
a lavender rhyme
will often appear
For it is at this time
that my harvest is due
so I’ll always have words
to share here with you
We walked in fields of lavender
on the sixth day of July
On a summer evening
beneath a clear blue sky
Lordington near Chichester
high on Sussex hills
to watch the setting of the sun
A cure to cure all ills
It possesses a certain
something that soothes
and reminds me of summer
with its calming moods
Just a squeeze of the sachet
when winter is here
or a rub between fingers
when summer is near
Our new bench sun trap captures the sun
right at the end of the day
Surrounded by lavender, it’s just what we need
for a rest from the frack and the fray
It’s really quite strange
but this time last year
I picked all my lavender
and posted right here
On this very same day
In the mid-July sun
when the first set of flowers
were ready and done
We bought some little lavenders
they arrived once in the post
Came as little seedling plugs
in compost, playing host
At first they were quite tiny
but we put them in the sun
And even though they’re still quite small
I think the time has come
Yes, I know it looks lovely
in the sunshine out there
But, cropped now its fragrance
is filling the air
So, for double the pleasure
I have a lavender pile
Whilst outside there’s new growth
with crop two for a smile
Poet's Corner 