Lavender Season

Friday, June 14, 2013 – Lavender Season

Seven Oaks Lavender Farm

It’s lavender season, and while a trip to the lush lavender fields of Provence is out of the question this year, a visit to Seven Oaks Lavender Farm in Catlett, Virginia is definitely within the realm of possibility.  So with friend Eleanor acting as my navigator, I headed out Friday morning in search of the fragrant purple blossoms. 

Suburban sprawl is extending its reach, but within 30 minutes of home, we felt as if we’d entered a quieter, gentler world.  Route 28 South brought us past typical subdivisions and Civil War markers and then through the city of Manassas Park.  There’s nothing park-like about Manassas Park.  It’s basically an extended strip mall, where half the shop signs are in Spanish.  We were intrigued by one particular restaurant that featured Chinese/Tex-Mex/Salvadoran cuisine.  They even offered a lunch buffet.  We tucked that tidbit of information away for later consideration.  There would be no stops until we reached the lavender, and we were already a bit behind schedule due to some erroneous signage that took us several miles off course. 

After a 25 mph crawl through downtown Manassas (the quaint historic city, which would be worth exploring on foot), we were in farmland.  Rolling hills, green fields, bales of hay – all under a brilliant blue sky dappled with painterly clouds.  The previous night’s storm had ushered in cooler, dryer weather, perfect for outdoor activities.  According to the Seven Oaks website, the least crowded time of day for lavender picking is between 9 and 11 in the morning, and we pulled into the farm’s gravel driveway at approximately 10:30 a.m.  

Eleanor in the shop

  After a brief stop in the shop (we’d return before our departure), we headed up the hill towards the lavender fields.  We could already see several lavender ladies (alas, there were no men) making their way among the plants.  The farm is a popular place for families with young children, as it provides a play area and picnic tables.  After learning about the farm’s four types of English and French lavender (some especially suited for cooking, others for sachets), we grabbed baskets and scissors.  My goal was 50 stems from 50 different plants.  

How can I describe the delightful sensation of the warm sun on my back as I stooped to examine the blossoms?  I was searching for stems where only a couple of blossoms were already open.  The colors ranged from very pale to brilliant purple.  Meanwhile, I jostled plump bumblebees searching for nectar and creamy butterflies flitting from blossom to blossom.  When I glanced up into the golden light, I almost felt like I was back in the South of France. 

Once we’d filled out baskets, Eleanor and I both picked out pots of lavender plants to bring home.  Mine is the Provençal lavender, of course.  After all of that physical labor, we needed a hearty lunch.  Shortly after we got back onto Route 28, Eleanor spotted a sign for a place called The Chuck Wagon.  Cowboy cuisine sounded perfect.  I turned off Route 28 and followed a narrow road across some railroad tracks into downtown Nokesville.  The Chuck Wagon’s décor and menu lived up to its name.  I had an excellent garden burger while Eleanor indulged in – oh, let’s just say that it was impossible to figure the Weight Watcher’s points.  However, to our credit, we skipped dessert.  

 

The trip back had an unexpected moment of excitement when I noticed a herd of alpaca alongside the road.  It’s amazing what you can find within an hour of home.  I’m looking forward to more adventures in the wilds of northern Virginia.  Meanwhile, Elliott and I are enjoying the lavender, which I placed in a vase that belonged to his mother.