Category: Businesses

Sequim does lavender

Many of Sequim’s lavender operations are ready for photo ops. The scale of this extra large chair at Olympic Lavender doesn’t translate as well as it does when two to three adults or several children are seated in it, smiling for photographs. (The farm was closed when I dropped by.)

The Lavender Festival is in full swing today. The open space here will likely be filled with craft vendors and a small stage nearby will feature live music. Recent grey days are giving way to sunshine. Summer has arrived in Sequim.

Lavender fields forever

Most of the lavender farms in Sequim have been designed with an eye toward its beauty in the landscape. This is one of Sequim’s largest and oldest operations, Purple Haze. It’s gorgeous.

The farms offer photo ops galore, even in the rain. Who doesn’t want a picture in the midst of such beauty?

Over this Lavender Festival weekend Purple Haze and other venues offer live music. Many present demonstrations or short classes in growing and distilling lavender. If it has to do with lavender you can probably find it here.

Purple Haze, incidentally, is for sale. It would be a dream to be surrounded by such beauty. Just don’t forget you have to go to work when you wake up.

Did someone say “lavender?”

Sequim has lavender farms, big and small. Most have many varieties of the plants — early or late blooming, in shades from white to deep purple, aromatic, and culinary.

In addition to fields that are open for visitors to wander through and cut lavender bouquets, most of the farms offer lavender distillations and products such as lotions and soaps.

It’s wonderful to walk through the fields on warmer days an be immersed in the fresh lavender scent. It was overcast the day I took these photos but the scents made up for the dull light.

Top to bottom the farms shown are Jardin du Soleil, Olympic Lavender, and B & B Family Farm.

More from downtown

Here’s another “after hours” shot, this time of one of our sort-of shopping malls. This little mall is near our Penney’s store. There’s a kitchen shop, spa, a shoe shop, candle store, and a cafe nestled in here.

And one of the newest tenants is Sweet Spot, which I’ve shown you before. Make your choice from six different frozen yogurts and a vast array of toppings. It’s a perfect place to come after an arduous photo shoot. Or just when it’s time for a pick-me-up.

Olympic Medical Center

Olympic Medical Center in Sequim is one of the spots where locals can find specialty health care and have diagnostic imaging. There’s also a walk in urgent care clinic. Behind this building is the Cancer Center, which I recently showed you, here, where an addition is being built. I took this shot after hours. The parking lot is usually full during the day.

The other side of the street

Yesterday I showed you the other side of West Washington Street, the north side. Much of this shot is taken up by an auto parts store that’s under the grey overhang. To its right, in the green building, used to be Doodlebugs, a terrific craft store that, sadly, closed last summer. The building is for sale.

Further east of Doodlebugs is a store with nice home decor and one of three lavender shops within steps of each other. Further on is a bible store and a coffee shop.

There’s more to Sequim than this part of our downtown. I’ll show some of it as I have a chance to snap more shots this summer.

Downtown

I haven’t shown downtown Sequim in a while so we’ll take a mini tour starting today. This is the first block of West Washington.

I’ve featured two spots of note in this shot. The taller stone front, in the middle, is That Takes the Cake for cupcakes and wedding cakes. Click here to take a look inside. And to its right is Sequim Kabob House, site of a great lunch I enjoyed last April.

As you face the buildings in the first shot, above, these buildings are to the left, or east. At the far left corner you can see one of our four stoplights.

If you note an absence of traffic on the street its simply because I took these shots in the early evening after many of our downtown businesses were closed for the day.

Here’s a view down the street, under the green overhang you see in the second shot above.

We’ll look at the other side of the street tomorrow.