If you’re looking for lavender farms in Washington, then Sequim is the place. Every July, Sequim’s lavender fields turn purple, filling the air with their fragrant perfume and humming with industrious honeybees. I spent a weekend exploring the numerous Sequim lavender farms to find the cream of the crop for your visit.
Why Sequim? Why lavender?
Historically, this part of the Olympic Peninsula was dairy pasture. After the dairy industry waned, locals were looking for a way to bring tourism to the area while retaining its agricultural roots. The Olympic Mountains cast a rain shadow over Sequim (pronounced: skwim), where the sun shines favourably on a few pioneering farmers who began to transition to the aromatic herb in the early 1990s.
As the bloom and harvest grew over successive years, the annual Lavender Festival was born. Now over 110,000 lavender plants are grown in the area and are harvested to create lavender products in addition to their draw as a tourist attraction. If there is a Provence of North America, Sequim is it!
Getting to Sequim
You’ll need a car to get to Sequim. Here are some rough drive times from the nearest cities.
Seattle, WA 2-hrs 20-mins
Tacoma, WA 1-hr 40-mins
Portland, OR 3-hrs 45-mins
Vancouver, BC 4-hrs 20-mins or 5-hrs 30-mins if you take the ferry via Victoria.
When to visit the lavender fields in Sequim
The peak of the lavender bloom season is July, through which the Lavender Festival runs the entire month. The exact peak cannot be predicted too far in advance due to fluctuations in climate, but if you time your visit for mid-July you are most likely to see the lavender fields at their most purple.
Note that the third weekend in July is Sequim’s Lavender Weekend. Visiting on this weekend has pros and cons. While there are additional events scheduled and lavender farms open to the public, it is extremely busy. Also, this is the one weekend where you will find some lavender farms charge an admission–they are usually free.
Additionally, accommodation on the Olympic Peninsula is generally expensive in summer, and even more so on these types of event weekends. Keep this in mind and book early. Also, consider getting around on bicycle rather than a car to avoid traffic and parking issues.
The best lavender farms in Sequim
B & B Family Farm
A lavender field with views of the Olympic Mountains and a lovely drying shed where you can see the flowers drying at the end of the season. This family farm offers free informational tours explaining the different varieties and uses of the lavender along with how it is harvested and processed. B&B Lavender Farm has a picnic area and sells lavender ice cream and lemonade.
Stats: 12 acres, 14,000 lavender plants, 16 different varieties
Location: 5883 Old Olympic Highway, Sequim (opposite entrance to Sequim Airport)
Fleurish Lavender of Lost Mountain
A small farm at the back of Sequim, towards the Olympic Range offering a quiet experience surrounded by woodland. In addition to the lavender varieties grown in larger quantities, the farm has a specimen garden showcasing 86 additional types of the flowering herb plus edelweiss too. Fleurish Lavender has a picnic area, alpacas, gift shop and you-pick opportunities.
Stats: acres, lavender plants, 100+ varieties
Location: 1541 Taylor Cutoff Road, Sequim
Graysmarsh Farm
Graysmarsh Farm is first and foremost a berry farm, with a plot of lavender on the side. This makes it a great 2-in-1 option. The farm grows strawberries, raspberries, loganberries, boysenberries, blueberries and blackberries from which they also make preserves. They also produce lavender products such as lavender oil and pot purri. Check their harvest schedule to find out when berries and lavender are available for you-pick.
Stats: Total farm is 1000+ acres which includes berries and lavender
Location: 6187 Woodcock Road, Sequim
Jardin du Soleil
Jardin du Soleil is one of the largest and most beautiful lavender farms in Sequim. Surrounded by neighbouring farms and forest, on a clear day you can see the peak of Mount Baker over the distant treetops. Jardin du Soleil offers you-pick opportunities and lavender products for sale. This is definitely one of the best farms for photography and where you’ll find the chocolate-covered lavender ice cream bars.
Stats: 10 acres, “thousands” of plants
Location: 3932 Sequim Dungeness Way, Sequim
Purple Haze Lavender Farm
Close to downtown Sequim, Purple Haze is one of the most popular lavender farms (psst, if you didn’t get the reference, Purple Haze musician Jimi Hendrix hailed from Washington). Purple Haze is known for its lemon-lavender chiffon and white chocolate-lavender ice cream. It offers a gift shop filled with lavender products, you-pick and a vacation rental farmhouse.
Stats: 7 acres, 16 lavender varieties
Location: 180 Bell Bottom Rd, Sequim
Rain Shadow Lavender Farm
Rain Shadow Lavender Farm is one of the newer farms in Sequim. Though smaller than some of the others I mention here, it benefits from a sweeping vista of the Olympic Mountains that really sets it apart. The farm has a picnic area, farm store (with delicious lemon-lavender ice cream), you-pick garden and pergola. There is also a single RV site and tent sites available for some lucky campers.
Stats: 5 acres, 32+ varieties
Location: 1410 Kitchen-Dick Road, Sequim
Visitor tips
A few things to note about visiting Sequim’s lavender farms:
- Dogs are generally welcome as long as they remain on-leash. Many of the farms produce lavender and lavender products for human consumption, therefore animals have to be restricted in this way.
- During peak season, the fields are absolutely brimming with honeybees at work. While in my experience they don’t sting, you may need to be careful if you experience severe reactions. I am not a bee expert in any way, so it would be wise to seek advice if you have any type of allergy.
- Arrive early. Most of the farms open between 9am-10am. Arriving right on opening time gives you the best chance of having the lavender fields to yourself for photos.
- Not all lavender farms are open to the public. As I mentioned, some farms that are usually closed to the public open their gates on Lavender Weekend.
Other things to do in Sequim
There’s plenty more to do in Sequim and around the greater Olympic Peninsula. Here are a few suggestions:
- Visit Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.
- Explore the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park.
- Take a short (0.75-mi) hike to the contiguous 48 States’ most northwesterly point, Cape Flattery.
- See the amazing Victorian architecture of Port Townsend.
- Grab some fresh seafood at Taylor Shellfish Hatchery.
- Tour the Twilight movie locations in Forks.
- Stop in to see Kurt Cobain’s hometown, Aberdeen.
In fact, it’s worth spending at least 4-days taking a road trip around the Olympic Peninsula and seeing the wonderful mountain views, temperate rainforest, dramatic waterfalls and driftwood-strewn beaches it has to offer. Get my tried and tested itinerary here.
Peace, love & inspiring travel,
Madam ZoZo
