Audio Tour
Welcome to the Gnomelicious Lavender Farm audio tour. Click on the recording to play the section of the tour. Feel free to jump around or go in order! A Text Version is also available.
Intro
Pollinator Garden
Small Lavender Picnic Field
Forest Walk
Back Lavender Fields
Wildflower Pollinator Strip
Meadow
Sweet Peas Garden
Flower Tunnel
Front Lavender U-Cut Field
Distillation Station
Gift Shop & Drying Barn
Audio Tour: Text Version
Intro
Welcome to Gnomelicious Lavender Farm! We are delighted to have you join us for a guided tour of our beautiful farm. Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of lavender, wildflowers, and serene natural landscapes. Our tour will take you through each part of the farm, offering glimpses of lavender fields, gardens, a native wild meadow, and a peaceful forest walk. Let's begin!
Pollinator Garden
From the gift shop, head to our Pollinator Garden. This garden is a collection of low-maintenance perennials that thrive in our climate. We have intentionally created a haven for pollinators by allowing everything to flower, providing delicious nectar for bees to produce honey. From May through frost, you'll find something blooming at all times, ensuring a long season of supplemental feed for our pollinator friends. During winter, we leave the seed heads on the plants, providing a valuable food source for birds during the cold months.
Small Lavender & Picnic Field
Next to the pollinator garden is our next stop, the Picnic Field. This is our smallest lavender field but offers a cozy and picturesque spot. Here, you'll find three varieties of Angustofolia lavender called Sachet, Royal Velvet, and Nana Alba. This field is perfect for enjoying a meal at the picnic table while surrounded by the soothing scent and breathtaking views of the garden, sweet peas, and lavender.
Forest Walk
Our next destination on this tour is the Forest Walk. This shaded pathway meanders through a serene forest, offering respite from the sun's rays. Look up and you'll notice something magical – faces emerging from the tree trunks. These whimsical creations bring the forest to life and reflect the spirit of Gnomelicious Lavender Farm. As you cross the bridge over the seasonal creek, take a moment to appreciate the vital role it plays in providing water for our entire farm.
Back Lavender Fields
The Lavender Fields are the heart and soul of our farm. Here, you will find two separate fields filled with vibrant lavender plants. The first field called field 2, planted in 2022, showcases two varieties: Grosso and Silver Frost. Take a moment to appreciate the striking differences between the two. Grosso, with its tall, deep purple flowers, stands proud and majestic, while Silver Frost mesmerizes with its delicate, silvery foliage and lavender flowers. Moving on to the second field, field 3, which was planted just this year, we have the Royal Velvet variety.
Wildflower Pollinator Strip
Now, let's make our way to the Wildflower Lane near the greenhouse in the back field. As we stroll along this charming path, you will encounter a riot of colors and scents. The lane is adorned with various wildflowers that attract pollinators, adding to the biodiversity of our farm. Take your time to admire the diverse blooms and observe the busy bees and butterflies as they go about their important work. Our high tunnel houses giant sunflowers and vegetables. You may stroll in the high tunnel, but please watch your step.
Native Wild Meadow
On the other side of the high tunnel, we have our Native Wild Meadow. Here, we have intentionally let nature take the lead. This meadow is a haven for native plants and grasses, providing a sanctuary for local wildlife. Take a leisurely stroll through the meadow, breathing in the fresh scent of the earth and listening to the soft rustling of grasses as you immerse yourself in this tranquil setting.
Sweet Pea Garden
Now it's time to head back towards middle of the farm. Head back across the creek bridge and go straight to the sweet pea garden. These beautiful flowers bloom from June through frost and come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Not only are they visually stunning, but they also emit a captivating fragrance. We primarily grow them for their seeds, which are sold through Backtodirtfarm.com. This allows gardeners like yourself to enjoy the beauty and fragrance of sweet peas in their own gardens all summer long. We encourage you to take your time and smell, touch and experience the flowers. Please don't pick them!
Flower Tunnel
Our sweet peas continue inside our greenhouse, lovingly called the "flower tunnel". You may walk in the tunnel as long as the doors are up. In addition to sweet peas you'll see dahlias and other summer flowers in here. We try to cultivate a wide variety of beautiful blooms so that we have something blooming most of the year. Dahlias typically bloom from late July through frost here.
Front U-Cut Lavender Field
As you walk past the flower tunnel, head up the hill towards the front of the farm. You will come to Field 1, the first lavender field planted back in 2020. It boasts an impressive array of 17 varieties and approximately 1500 plants. On the right side of the field, you'll find nine rows of Angustifolia or English lavender. English lavender is known for its sweeter aroma and is commonly used in culinary goods. It blooms earlier, usually in mid to late June in Sequim. One notable variety is Ana Luisa, a Chatoryiae lavender, which is a captivating hybrid between woolly lavender and Angustifolia. Its silvery and soft foliage is visually striking and produces a wonderfully scented essential oil. On the left side of the field, you'll find Intermedia or French lavender. French lavender blooms in July and possesses a more potent fragrance. The higher camphor levels in French lavender give it a more astringent effect, which can help clear sinuses. This variety is frequently used for essential oil and bud. Visit the self-serve u-cut station to get supplies to cut your own bouquet.
Distillation Station
Our next stop is the Distillation Station, where the magic happens! This is where we extract essential oil and hydrosol from freshly harvested lavender. The process begins by carefully filling Drum 2 with lavender plant material, making sure to include as little stem as possible. Meanwhile, Drum 1 is filled with water and heated to produce steam. The steam travels from Drum 1 to Drum 2, rising through the lavender, extracting the precious oils. It then passes through cooling coils, where it condenses from a gas back into a liquid. The result? Both essential oil and hydrosol, which are collected and deposited into a holding container. The pure hydrosol, also known as lavender water, has various uses such as pet spritz, hair spritz, and even in laundry wash. It's a great softener. The essential oil is utilized in the production of lotions, soaps, and other lavender goodies available in our gift shop.
Gift Shop and Drying Barn
Now, let's conclude our tour by visiting the delightful Gift Shop, where you can find a treasure trove of lavender-inspired delights. Our Gift Shop is carefully curated to bring you the best of lavender and reflects our dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Enjoy our hand-crafted Gnomelicious products crafted right here on the farm. In addition to our own creations, we also showcase lavender and gnome-themed goodies made by talented local artisans of the Pacific Northwest. These artisans capture the essence of our lavender-loving spirit and infuse it into their unique creations. Be sure to take a moment to smell our lavender-stuffed gnomes, a signature goody that perfectly encapsulates our playful and whimsical approach to lavender. We hope that your visit to the Gift Shop will provide you with the opportunity to take home a piece of Gnomelicious Lavender Farm and continue to enjoy the soothing and enchanting qualities of lavender in your daily life.
If you peek through the door in the shop, you can see the lavender drying in the drying barn. Lavender is harvested by hand, hung to dry and then processed to make the lavender bud needed for our eye pillows, sachets and signature lavender stuffed Gnomes.
Thank you for joining us on this guided tour of Gnomelicious Lavender Farm. We hope you have enjoyed your journey through the lavender fields, wildflower lanes, distillation station, pollinator garden, and other wonderful areas of our farm. May the scents, sights, and experiences of our farm linger in your memories long after your visit. Feel free to explore the farm at your own pace, revisit your favorite spots, or indulge in a shopping spree at our Gift Shop. We appreciate your support, and by purchasing our products, you contribute to the continued growth and preservation of Gnomelicious Lavender Farm. We wish you a delightful day filled with lavender's soothing embrace and the joyful spirit of gnomes. Thank you for being a part of our farm's story.