Come summer in the Northwest, lavender season is in full bloom — and with it comes a floral, tranquil fragrance that might make you want to dwell in the summer sun a little longer.
While the plant isn’t native to the Pacific Northwest and originates from the Mediterranean region, this area’s hot, dry summers, combined with well-draining soil, create the perfect grounds for growing. Lavender has also long been used for its therapeutic properties. Multiple studies have shown that it can aid in reducing stress, relieving anxiety, and promoting better sleep when used topically or as aromatherapy.
While Sequim is widely trumpeted as the “lavender capital” of the Northwest, the purple plant can be found on several farms across the region; to help you decide which to visit, we’ve selected a few of our favorite spots to spend a day in the blooms in Pierce, Clallam, and Jefferson counties.
Crescent Valley Lavender Farm in Gig Harbor
At Gig Harbor’s Crescent Valley Lavender Farm, owners Glenn and Diana Liebner encourage visitors to walk the entirety of their 5-acre property to soak in all its captivating purple hues.
The farm is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays from June 20 to Aug. 2. For the price of $5 parking, guests can immerse themselves in the lavender fields, meander the property’s forest trails, and peruse its gift shop of lavender-based products like lip balms, honey, and packaged food mixes such as lavender-flavored lemonade, scones, and spices.
“My mission to start Crescent Valley Lavender Farm was to create a space for individuals and families to engage with a working farm. … Farming is soulful to me,” Glenn said. “I started the farm in 2015. My wife and two daughters were fully supportive, so we worked together to build it. We all work outside the farm — yet every year we come together to work it together as a family and look forward to welcoming new and returning customers.”
B&B Family Lavender Farm in Sequim
When Kristy Hilliker purchased B&B Family Lavender Farm alongside her three other part-owner family members, none of them had any farming experience. But the goal — bringing everyone together in one location — was too strong to ignore. Today, that idea continues to permeate the farm, which serves as a place for connection, cooperation, and more.
“All visitors can expect to be welcomed with kindness and respect,” Hilliker said.
Open seven days a week, the farm is free to visit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 1 to Sept. 30. The farm is often considered the largest in Sequim and is home to more than 14,000 lavender plants.
Upon arrival, guests can attend a free 20-minute tour to learn about the long farm history and how it processes its purple plants. Guests are additionally welcome to cut their own lavender bouquets, browse lavender-based products in the gift shop, or take a seat in one of the farm’s picnic areas for a packed lunch or to try some of the delicious food items available, like lavender lemonade and ice cream.
Outside of its participation in Sequim’s Lavender Weekend in July, B&B Family Lavender Farm also regularly hosts yoga sessions with their local YMCA.
“We like to keep things low-key and relaxing around the farm, and we hope that vibe stays with our visitors when they leave,” Hilliker said. “We would like everyone to walk away with a greater understanding of lavender and its uses — and maybe a little less stress than they walked in with.”
Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Sequim
For those not wanting to venture too far off the beaten path, consider a trip to Purple Haze Lavender Farm, located just five minutes outside of downtown Sequim.
Owner Jennifer Gillmor bought the 7-acre farm in 2021 and is looking forward to its now-fifth season. While the farm is free to visit 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, it’s $5 for adults (though kids 14 and under get in free) during Sequim’s Lavender Festival Weekend, July 17-19.
Purple Haze is also one of the region’s few pet-friendly lavender farms — that is, if animals are leashed and picked up after.
On the farm, guests can expect U-pick lavender between late June and early August, a charmingly eclectic gift shop featuring a variety of lavender-inspired goods, and a menu of tasty lavender- flavored foods, such as blackberry-lavender ice cream from Lopez Island Creamery and lavender lemonade.
Wilderbee Farm in Port Townsend
At Wilderbee Farm in Port Townsend, Casey and Eric Reeter’s mission is simple: to provide a relaxing space for folks to enjoy life’s simplest pleasures — such as immersing oneself in nature and sipping on tasty mead.
From July to September, guests can visit the farm free of admission to pick lavender or flower bouquets, explore its nearby nature trails, meet its beloved flock of British Soay sheep, or shop for homemade pottery and try its award- winning farm-made mead in its tasting room and gift shop.
The farm’s lavender is certified organic and grown for fragrance, essential oil, hydrosol, and culinary uses. Currently, the property is open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and its tasting room and gift shop are open from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday year-round.
“(We hope) to demonstrate how farm life can harmoniously co-exist with wildlife, and to practice sustainable methods for small-acreage farming,” Casey said. “We enjoy sharing what we know and geeking out with folks who are interested in how we do things.”