Sequim Lavender Weekend outshines cloudy skies
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Word-of-mouth, keeping traditions and a need to get outside were some of the reasons lavender farmers saw a steady stream of guests even with overcast skies during Sequim Lavender Weekend.
Victor Gonzalez, owner of Victor’s Lavender Farm, said it was his best festival weekend ever.
“Thank you to everyone who came and made lavender a part of [their lives],” Gonzalez said.
His farm brought back its annual barn dance after a hiatus due to the pandemic, and expanded to a second night with capacity crowds each night.
“People were just ready to have this kind of fun,” Gonzalez said.
The Sequim Lavender Festival brought back the Street Fair — after a two-year hiatus — to full audiences as well, with about 140 vendors that included food, art and more, along with live music and a park dance Saturday night at Carrie Blake Community Park.
Damp grounds from light rain on Saturday morning didn’t deter visitors from the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club’s annual show either as it returned from a hiatus for a one-day, outside show at Pioneer Memorial Park.
“Rain? What rain?” joked Club President Marianne Nolte.
“It wasn’t a problem. We had about half the club set up scaffolding and wires on Friday night and place the quilts [Saturday] morning.”
About 150 quilts were set up in the park with visitors enjoying the outside approach, including Carolyn and Alan Jones of Diamond Point.
“We came every year [before COVID-19] and I love [the park]. I love the openness,” Carolyn said.
Loving the lavender
With previous colder, wetter weather and the early timing of Lavender Weekend, many lavender farmers said they’ll be harvesting more in the next week or two as it blooms more. That leaves more lavender in the field for U-cut and/or picture opportunities.
Amy Lundstrom, co-owner of Nelson’s Duckpond & Lavender Farm, said people haven’t minded her farm’s lavender being unavailable for U-cut during the weekend. Instead her family offered more products, and cooking demonstrations along with samples for visitors.
“People are loving it and having a blast,” Lundstrom said. “We had a lot of repeat customers from over the years.”
Jeanette Bockelie, co-owner of Kitty B’s Lavender Farm, said her weekend was always steady with visitors and purchases. However, with the lavender not all in bloom yet, she and her husband will need to harvest much of it without their helpers, she said.
The staff there plan to focus more on distilling lavender oils and establishing their farm as a wedding venue through next year, Bockelie said.
At Washington Lavender, co-owner Dan Abbott said their two-week event starting July 8 was steady too on the weekends. In the past year, Abbott and his wife Janet began shifting event space to better separate their businesses — the lavender farm and the George Washington Inn. A gift shop and fence sit between a portion of the lavender fields and the culinary lavender and inn.
On July 17, they began offering tours for one day by Martha Washington (Jane Ritchie of Hansville) of the whole grounds so people could snap photos of the inn, lavender and water.
With agritourism, Abbott said they have to adapt consistently.
Throughout the year, his and many other farms collaborate through the Sequim Lavender Experience group to encourage visitors throughout the summer as most remain open through the summer.
“We’re looking at doing something different soon and looking to cooperate more and promote the peninsula and America’s Provence more,” Abbott said.
“We want to help all businesses.”
For more about all the farms and events for this year and 2023, visit sequimlavenderweekend.com.
Lavender summer schedule
Many farms remain open throughout the summer with free admission.
Look for hours and contact information below:
• B&B Family Farm, 5883 Old Olympic Highway; open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Sept. 30. Contact: 360-504-2585, bbfamilyfarm.com.
• Fat Cat Garden & Gifts, 21 Fat Cat Lane; open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through summer, closed Wednesdays. Contact: 360-808-6013.
• Fleurish Lavender of Lost Mountain, 1541 Taylor Cutoff Road; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Monday through Labor Day. Contact: 360-681-2782, fleurishlavender.com.
• Graysmarsh Farm, 6187 Woodcock Road; Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Contact: graysmarsh.com. 360-683-5563.
• In Bloom Lavender Farms, formerly Olympic Lavender Farm, 1526 Marine Drive; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Labor Day, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Contact: 360-461-6464; inbloomlavenderfarms.com.
• Jardin du Soleil Lavender, 3832 Sequim-Dungeness Way; Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily in July; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through September. Contact: 360-582-1185, jardindusoleil.com.
• Kitty B’s Lavender Farm, 82 Cameron Acres Lane; closed for season. Contact: 360-772-2062, kittyblavenderfarm.com.
• Lavender Connection, 1141 Cays Road; open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday-Monday through Labor Day. Contact: 360-681-6055, lavenderconnection.com.
• Meli’s Lavender, 62 W. Diane Drive; open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Sunday, through the end of August. Contact: 360-461-9958, melislavender.com.
• Nelson’s Duckpond & Lavender Farm, 73 Humble Hill Road; open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Contact: 360-681-7727, nelsonsduckpond.com.
• Purple Haze Lavender Farm, 180 Bell Bottom Lane; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Closed Mondays. Contact: 360-809-9615, purplehazelavender.com.
• Rancho La Morada Lavender & Flower Farm, 1434 Marine Drive; open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday through summer. Contact: 360-461-7679, rancholamorada.com.
• Rain Shadow Lavender Farm, 1410 Kitchen-Dick Road; open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Sept. 24. Contact: 360-558-1352, rainshadowlavenderfarm.com.
• Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm, 274154 U.S. Highway 101; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through the summer; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. remainder of year. Contact: 360-683-6453, sunshinelavender.com.
• Victor’s Lavender Farm, 3743 Old Olympic Highway; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, through Aug. 31; Contact: 360-681-7930, victorslavender.com.
• Washington Lavender, 965 Finn Hall Road; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Labor Day with Hymn Sing By the Sea July 30; Northwest Colonial Festival Aug. 11-14, fees apply; Contact: 360-452-4877, walavender.com.
Find more information at sequimlavenderweekend.com.
