Festivals celebrate lavender
July is lavender season in the Inland Northwest.
As the temperature warms, the heady fragrance of lavender soon will fill gardens across the region.
It’s also lavender festival season, and several events will be happening throughout northeastern Washington and North Idaho during July, celebrating this scented reminder of southern France.
Pend Oreille Valley
Celebrations will begin with the Pend Oreille Valley Lavender Festival on Saturday and Sunday at LeClerc Creek Lavenders near Cusick, Wash. The festival is at the 100-year-old homestead of Jerry and Wendy Kapelke.
The Kapelkes have grown lavender for commercial use for nine years. Besides lavender cutting and classes on how to make lavender products, there will be a juried art show and craft sale, local herb and plants growers, gourmet foods, and music by members of the Spokane Symphony, Native American flutist Loren Swan and pianist Doug Scott.
CREATE from Newport, Wash., will host children’s activities, and “Storytime” will be hosted by First Book of Pend Oreille.
Tickets are $7, and children under 12 will be admitted free. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
LeClerc Creek Lavenders is 13 miles north of the Usk Bridge on LeClerc Road in Pend Oreille County.
For more information, call (509) 445-0359 or visit www.lavendercreek.net.
Spokane Valley
The celebration of lavender season will be going on all this month at Leisure Lavender Farm in Otis Orchards in Spokane Valley. The farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for picking on Friday through Sunday , and on July 14 through 16 and July 21 through 23. The Seaman family, owners of Leisure Lavender, will have pre-picked lavender available, and its new gift shop will feature handmade lavender products, including the family’s well-known soaps and lotions.
On the weekend of July 14 through 16, the farm will be contributing a portion of its sales to the Children’s Miracle Network.
Bring pruning shears to cut your own lavender.
The farm is at 3529 N. Lynden Road.
More information is available at www.leisurelavender.com.
North Idaho
On the weekend of July 22 and 23, the Northwest Lavender Guild will host its Lavender Fields Forever festival at Mountain View Ranch north of Coeur d’Alene. The festival will feature lavender-inspired arts and crafts from all over the Northwest, culinary delights like lavender lemonade and live music.
There will be opportunities to learn how to grow lavender and to make wands and sachets. Nature walks with a local herbalist are scheduled each day.
The Lavender Guild is a group of enthusiasts who want to preserve and grow the tradition of cultivating lavender and supporting local agriculture. There will be activities for children as well.
Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $1; children under 6 will be admitted free.
The address is 11508 E. Nunn Road, Athol, Idaho. Go north on Highway 95 from Coeur d’Alene to Bunco Road. Then go east on Bunco Road and continue east on Nunn Road to the ranch.
Can’t make it to the festivals? Check out the local farmers’ markets for lots of lavender goodies.