Sequim Lavender Farms

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On the shores of the Strait of Juan De Fuca is the Dungeness Valley

of Washington's beautiful Olympic Penninsula. Therein lies the little town of

Sequim (pronounced 'Squim'), the Lavender Capital of America.

The 3rd weekend of every July, the Sequim Lavender Growers Association

hold their annual Lavender Festival.

I have attended several times, but Gentleman Farmer and I have other plans

for this next weekend (we'll be celebrating our 37th Wedding Anniversary).

We went this past weekend to several of the farms

and avoided the festival crowds.

Here are some pictures of our day.

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Our journey begins with a two hour drive up the beautiful Hood Canal

and takes us past the little hamlet of Gardener. We take a detour

down the old highway to check in on the "Troll Haven Farm."

The fence seems 'normal' at first glance....

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but upon closer inspection

you realize these are not your average fence posts!

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The estate is guarded by this fellow!

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The cattle feeding shed is supported on all four corners by

these cheery gents! (Each corner is held up by a different troll.)

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Even their neighbors are a little 'odd'!

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Cy seems to think we need to continue on our quest,

so we oblige!

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On to the Lavender Farms!

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Our first stop was Oliver's Lavender Farm.

This is one little farm I have not been to before.

The parking area is right in front of their lovely home garden.

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(Sorry, Blogger insists this photo is better turned on it's side!)

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When we entered the little gift shop, I could hear the most peculiar sound. When I inquired

about it, the owner explained that it was a Quail that was perched atop the gazebo.

I should have known as there was a metal sign just outside the door that said "Quail Run".

That bird looked just like a little weather vane on top of the gazebo

but he had jumped down to the roof

before I could get a shot of him at the top.

Can you spot him with his jaunty little top knot?

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The perfect spot for some sweet tea or lemonade!

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I can't resist taking pictures of old barns!

Perhaps, because Grandpa's barn was my playground growing up!

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As we were driving out the driveway, Gentleman Farmer spotted a

mama Killdeer and her two tiny babies.

He got a photo of one of the wee ones, not much bigger than a golf ball on toothpicks!

Squint ~ maybe you can see him!

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Next, we visited Jardin du Soleil.

After our stroll through the gardens and gift shop

we ate our lunch, all the while inhaling the delicious fragrance of

sun warmed lavender.

Mmmmmm..... Divine!

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At the far end of the lavender field, there were some

honey bee hives!

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Look closely and you can see all the busy bees coming and going.

I thought all hives needed to be white, but obviously they like lavender.

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Yep! Bees like lavender!

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Lastly, we visited Purple Haze.

(Love the name! And, no, I didn't see Jimmy Hendrix there! :~D )

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So ends our visit to the Sequim Lavender Farms for this year.

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I love lavender and love making many different things with it;

soap, wreaths, eye pillows and sachets.

(And grilled pork roast is "out of this world" with a rub of Herbs de Provence!)

Be sure to come back tomorrow and I will show you how to make something

beautiful using fresh lavender.

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"Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these."

Matthew 6:28,29