Adventures at the local lavender farm

When I hear lavender, I think Provence. Well it turns out there's a lavender farm just 45 minutes from our house, despite the fact that our climate in good old Zone 7 makes growing the plant a challenge. We met the owner of Sunshine Lavender Farm a few years ago at a local farmers' market and bought several lavender plants from her. 

Since then we haven't been the best lavender nurturers. So when we received an invitation to attend the farm's Lavender Harvest Celebration the first weekend of June, we were eager to investigate a successful operation. Plus it sounded idyllic.

And it was just that—amazingly idyllic. The farm is a private family home open to the public just a couple days each year. My entourage enjoyed wandering the field and smelling the lavender.

Lavender hung in the barn loft to dry, while horses, dogs, chickens and kittens enjoyed the good life below.

Lavender spilled from vintage bicycle baskets and every other type of container and garden bed.

Adjacent to the lavender field sat the sweetest garden shed you'll ever lay eyes on, brimming with products like lavender honey (the bees live here, too), dried lavender for baking and fragrant soaps.

Outside the shed, vendors sold lavender ice cream from a local dairy, along with lavender lemonade and other delectable goodies.

One day my window boxes will look like this, but until then I'll just have to get my fill of them the next time we're invited to the farm.

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