One of the lesser Queens of the Valar, named sixth among the Valier, Vána was the spouse of Oromë and the younger sister of Yavanna. Like her sister, the province of Vána was growing things of the world, and she was associated especially with flowers. She kept gardens in Valinor filled with golden flowers that were said to open at her glance, and tended by her Maiar with the golden dews of Laurelin. Among these Maiar were Arien (a spirit of fire who would later steer the Sun) and Melian (who also served Estë2 and would later become Queen of Doriath).
Notes
1
We're given two different derivations for the name Vána. In the early Etymologies (in volume V of The History of Middle-earth), the name is said to derive from the root ban-, and mean 'beauty' or the 'beautiful'. In later notes given in volume XI of the same series, however, the name is connected to the root *wan-, meaning 'pale' or 'fair' (which is also said to give rise the name for those Elves known as Vanyar). While these alternative derivations show at least some compatibility of meaning, it is notable that the etymology is different in each case (and presumably the later interpretation as 'pale' or 'fair' would be the one intended to stand). In context this might be taken to imply that Vána had light or golden hair, a connection which is never explicitly made, but fits with her particular association with golden flowers.
2
Estë was the spouse of Lórien, and he - like Vána - kept gardens in Valinor. The fact that Melian is associated with both Vána and Estë seems to imply that these gardens were connected in some way (we are perhaps intended to infer that the gardens of Vána were close to, or even within, the gardens of Lórien).
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