Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
Jardin du Soleil is another of Sequim’s local lavender farms that I never tire of visiting in summer.
I visited on a weekday — weekends may be busier — but in a time of social distancing our lavender farms offer a soothing and pleasant respite.
No one is likely headed to Provence anytime soon in these days of pandemic. But Sequim’s dozen plus lavender farms are a none too shabby consolation.
Sequim is blessed with good growing conditions for lavender and July is the peak season for enjoying it. We have over a dozen farms of varying sizes, each with its own personality and offerings. Purple Haze, which I’m showing you today, is one of the oldest and one I always enjoy visiting.
Sequim’s annual Lavender Festival which includes music, craft sales, and lavender cultivation and distilling demonstrations at many farms, has been cancelled this year due to the pandemic.
The fields at Purple Haze are designed with an artist’s eye. They cover seven hillside acres and the property includes a gift shop and a vacation rental.
Many types of lavender are grown, including early and late varieties, and colors range from almost white to deep, rich purples. The green stripes in this shot are bushes that have already been harvested. The blossoms are available for visitors to pick. Likely, these blossoms went into some of many lavender scented products offered by Purple Haze.
Purple Haze offers ice cream and lavender-infused beverages during summer months. For us no visit would be complete without their lavender lemon custard ice cream (which has very subtle lavender undertones). Richly decadent and delicious.
I’m back again. I’ll admit it: it was nice to be undisciplined and not blog for a while. But, in truth, that’s the story of life in the days of a pandemic, isn’t it?
Really…are you getting any of those rainy day projects done? You know, cleaning out a closet or garage? Journaling? Archiving photos? Updating your computer? Writing letters?
I envy the artists and others who are undertaking wonderful projects, completing admirable goals. I’ve not gotten much further than congratulating myself if I make a well balanced dinner.
I can view these iris out one of my windows. Always a happy sight.
I have a pot of perennial columbine that has continued to bloom each spring for several years now. Despite looking desperately scraggy, a little weeding and water brings them back to cheerful blossoms.
The Asiatic poppies in our yard are blooming again. I’d noticed that there were a few colors besides the standard red but was amazed by the colors at the center of this white one.
Pink is a more common variant and most lighter poppies have these yellow centers.
The classic red poppies have slightly darker centers. This is another variant.
As always, the wind came up as I photographed. Most of our poppies are bright red like these.
This is the time of year to find iris in bloom in Sequim and Carrie Blake Park has a great display. I showed you a long shot of it the other day here.
There are gorgeous specimens on display.
They are massed to beautiful effect.
In the background of these shots are lavender bushes. They are just beginning to bud. July is lavender season in Sequim, the “Lavender Capital of North America.” Our annual Lavender Festival has been cancelled this year due to the pandemic. I don’t know if our local farms will be open for visitors but the lavender display at Carrie Blake should be very nice.