Lavender, and the Gift of Restful Sleep

Of all the plants in my garden, lavender is the one I could not do without. It asks for little — poor soil, a sunny corner — and gives back a scent that has calmed anxious hearts since long before either of us was born.

Each summer I cut great armfuls and hang them from the beams to dry. A small linen pouch tucked beneath the pillow, a few drops of the oil in a warm bath, a weak tea sipped before bed — these are the oldest remedies for a restless mind, and among the kindest.

Sleep, like bread, cannot be hurried. But it can be invited.