I traveled up to Santa Ynez last August to celebrate the wedding of my dear friend’s daughter. I’ve been to the charming triangle of towns that make up Santa Ynez … Buellton, Solvang, Los Olivos & Santa Ynez … numerous times, but I wanted to see if there was something new to discover in the area, besides another winery. I found it at the Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm. It was started in May of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, by a mother/son team. They grow over 3000+ lavender plants, as well as seasonal flowers, and it was only about 15 minutes from my hotel.
It’s up a winding road through a neighborhood and then you come upon their beautiful farm. The lavender had already been mostly harvested, but there were still a few rows that looked pretty. I was greeted by Lucas, the son part of the team, and he gave me some background on their operation, events and encouraged me to walk through the fields … which I happily did! Here’s a sneak peek …
soaps, candles & all things lavender!
They have some interesting looking workshops & events throughout the year, like yoga in the lavender fields, wreath making and honey tasting, to name a few. You can also schedule a private class too. The upcoming Farm to Table Dinner on July 8th looks amazing and it benefits a local charity. Yes, it’s a bit pricey at $250 (today is the last day to get that price before it goes up to $300 on June 1) but what a cool, unique dinner to attend. Over the years I’ve done some Outstanding in the Field Farm dinners and it’s really a great learning and foodie experience, that I would recommend if you can afford it. I love the smell of lavender, so I stopped into their tiny store to buy a few things, so I’d have a little slice of the farm when I returned home.
Check out their website for more info and stop by if you’re in the area.
It was time to get ready for the wedding, so I hustled back to my hotel. What a fun, gorgeous evening, surrounded by beauty, friends & love …. and a few alpacas/llamas too!
I’m on the road again next week to drive up North and dance up a storm at my nephew’s wedding in Napa! I’m going a few days early, because why not, and I just found another lavender farm, that is also a winery in the area. I booked my reservation to wander the fields with a glass of wine … and replenish my diminished goods at their lavender market. My timing for the blooms looks much better than last year and I’m so excited!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
I could smell the lavenderđź’•