Yavanna Kementári was a Valië, responsible for all growing things (the olvar and the kelvar) in the earth, from the towering trees to the moss on the rocks.
Yavanna was one of the Aratar and was next to Varda in reverence. She was the elder sister of Vána and the consort of Aulë, and Melian of the Maiar was of her kin. Her usual form was that of a tall woman robed in green. She has also been seen in the form of a tall tree growing from the waters of Ulmo to the winds of Manwë spilling golden dew from her branches, which made the barren earth green with corn.
In the beginning of days, Yavanna planted the first seeds of Arda and tended to the growing plants and creatures. Since Melkor wanted to create his own things, but only had the power to corrupt and distort the creations of others, Yavanna's plants and animals were his main targets prior to the arrival of the Children of Illuvatar. Because of this, Yavanna was one of the most active of the Valar in opposing Melkor, supporting all plans against him.Â
After Melkor was temporarily expelled from Arda the Two Lamps were raised, initiating the Spring of Arda, when the seeds Yavanna had planted grew and life came to Middle-earth. After the destruction of the Two Lamps and the isle of Almaren, she put many of the creatures and plants in Middle-earth under a hibernation-like spell called the Sleep of Yavanna.
After the destruction of the Two Lamps, the Valar retreated to the continent of Aman, which they fortified and where they founded Valinor. On the green mound Ezellohar Yavanna sang and, with help from Nienna, created the Two Trees of Valinor. They brought light to Valinor at a time when the only other source of light was the stars, and they were considered Yavanna's greatest creations. Despite this, Yavanna didn't ignore Middle-earth, and would come there from time to time to heal the hurts of Melkor. Later, when the elves built the city of Tirion, Yavanna made a tree called Galathilion that was similar to Telperion except that it didn't produce any light. The elven woman Galadriel's hair was described as a mesh that had caught the light of the Two Trees, and was said to be the inspiration for the creation of the Silmarils.
During the Music of the Ainur, Yavanna's mind joined with that of Manwë to concieve the Great Eagles. During this time she also sang of great trees reaching up to recieve the rains of Manwë and Ulmo, and some off the trees sang to Illuvatar. Later, after Illuvatar allowed Aulë's creations, the Dwarves, to survive, this was revealed to be the conception of The Shepherds of the Trees, othewise known as the Ents. After Aulë pointed out to her that even the elves and men would also need to use her trees, Yavanna lamented and questioned if anything she had made would ever be free from the dominion of others. Manwë brought her concerns before Eru Illuvatar, who took pity on Yavanna and created the Ents to protect the trees.
After the destruction of the Two Trees Yavanna examined their remains and told the other Valar that if she could use the light of the Silmarils she could heal them. Fëanor refused to give up the Silmarils, which he considered to be his greatest creation; unknown to him Melkor had already stolen them. Yavanna sang and Nienna washed the filth of Ungoliant away with her tears, and the two were able to bring forth one last flower of Telperion and one last fruit of Laurelin. These were put in vessels made by Aulë and set in the sky by Varda, becoming the Moon and the Sun. The raising of the Sun and Moon ended the Sleep of Yavanna, and was the signal for the awakening of the first humans.
As a reward for the humans (Edain) who had aided the Valar in the War of Wrath, the land of Andor was raised from the sea by by Ossë, established by Aulë, and enriched by Yavanna. The Edain who came to this island created the kingdom of Numenor, which became an important realm in the following ages. Many plants were brought from Valinor as gifts by elves who visited Numenor, so that it had a diverse ecosystem that included vegetation not found anywhere else in Middle-earth. When Numenor fell under the influence of Sauron it was eventually destroyed in a flood, with the surving good Numenorians establishing the realms of Gondor and Arnor in Middle-earth.
Aiwendil (Lover of Birds), a Maia who was fond of animals and especially birds, was a servant of Yavanna who later went to Middle-earth as one of the Istari, taking the name Radagast (Tender of Beasts) the Brown.Â
Her epithet Kementári means "Queen of the Earth", and at an ealier stage of Tolkien's writings it was Palúrien ("bosom of earth") instead.
In early stages of Tolkien's writings, Yavanna and Aulë were the parents of Nessa and Oromë, and the grandparents of Nieliqui and Telimektar.
