Lavender field, Hertfordshire, England Aug. 5, 2024

As you walk through the landscape of Hertfordshire, England, the beauty of lavender fields unfolds before you, as seen in today"s image. A member of the mint family, lavender originated in the Mediterranean, India and the Middle East. These purple-hued plants have thrived through various civilisations. It was used by the Egyptians for mummification; traces of lavender were discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun. It was also treasured by the Romans for its healing and cleansing properties.

© George W Johnson/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Its puffling season!
Festival fever
Aug. 5, 2025Tide pools in La Jolla, California, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar. 19, 2025A black heron canopy hunting in Botswana
Apr. 15, 2026World Art Day
Feb. 9, 2025Alstrom Point, Lake Powell, Utah, United States
Nothing says ‘San Francisco’ quite like...
Feb. 1, 2025Rolands Breach, Spain
Behold the architectural marvel
Apr. 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week
You otter check this out
A gem in the Rockies
Nov. 11, 2023Young Peak, British Columbia
Jan. 22, 2025Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Jan. 26, 2026Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
Oct. 23, 2025International Day of the Snow Leopard
May 5, 2024Kalaloch Tree of Life, Olympic National Park, Washington, US
Apr. 3, 2024Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Jun. 20, 2025Summer solstice
Nov. 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Jun. 12, 2024Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
Mar. 8, 2025International Womens Day
Oct. 29, 2024Great horned owl
Dec. 18, 2025Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
May 25, 2026Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jun 15, 2026Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, United States
Mar. 4, 2026Purple crocus flowers, Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria
Oct. 16, 2024Fossils of belemnites and ammonites, Jurassic Coast, UK
This bird is peak beak
Jun. 10, 2025Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
Bright blue lakes and rugged mountains
Farewell, Ma’am
A day for giving