Lavender blooming a little late, but festival is here

Fashionably late thanks to dark spring and summer skies, lavender blooms are beginning to fill fields.

For Sequim Lavender Weekend from Friday through Sunday, some farmers look to find the right balance of what to offer.

Some varieties have bloomed and others not quite yet.

Victor Gonzalez, owner of Victor’s Lavender Farm, said English lavender — a popular culinary choice — should be ready at every farm in the area for U-cut, while the French “Grosso,” a fragrant variety, is almost here.

“Weather is something we don’t control,” Gonzalez said. “It’s the first year ever in the history of the Lavender Festival we won’t (fully) have Grosso.”

At his farm, he said it’s about 30 percent bloomed, but he planned to begin cutting some lavender with a crew this week.

“People want to see it in the barn hanging up and drying,” Gonzales said.

Victor’s Lavender Farm brings back evening barn dances on Friday and Saturday after a hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sergio Gonzalez, owner of Meli’s Lavender and Victor’s brother, said his Grosso lavender might not be fully ready either by the weekend.

“Everyone likes to U-cut the most fragrant ones, so we don’t really have a choice (not to offer it),” he said. “It’s about 60 percent ready. We have to let them do it. If not, we’re going to lose a lot of money.”

He plans to offer make-your-own wreaths at the Sequim Lavender Festival Street Fair along with many other previously made lavender products.

Jeff Lundstrom, co-owner of Nelson’s Duckpond & Lavender Farm, said their lavender won’t be mature enough yet for U-pick this weekend, which is a first for them in 13 years of ownership. So he and his wife Amy shifted their plan to host more food demonstrations with lavender, and to promote more culinary items and other new products.

Lundstrom said part of that effort includes a bigger push for their distilled oils that are used for a variety of products, including bug repellent.

Timing

Because some lavender plants are blooming later than expected, some farms delayed U-cut to last weekend, this weekend or a to-be-determined date. That likely means fuller fields for Lavender Weekend and beyond, many farmers said.

Fleurish Lavender of Lost Mountain started U-cut last week.

“We’ve been waiting and waiting,” owner Susan Fahlgren said. “We knew it’d get there. Hardly anything will be harvested yet, so it’ll be perfect for the festival (for visitors).”

Whether or not U-cut is offered, lavender farms will be fully stocked with their various unique products, such as soaps, lotions, culinary treats and more.

Organizers of the Sequim Lavender Festival Street Fair hope for a return to form this weekend in Carrie Blake Community Park. About 140 vendors are set for the festival’s 26th year after two years off in the park because of COVID-19.

“It’s exciting,” festival executive director Colleen Robinson said of the return.

There will be live music at LavenderStock throughout the weekend at the James Center for the Performing Arts, food, lavender and artisan vendors and more.

As for the lavender blooming, Robinson said with July starting on a Friday, the Lavender Festival and other events feel like they’re starting a little earlier than normal as they’re always set for the third full weekend of the month. Next year’s festival falls on July 21-23, which should give farmers enough of a cushion for all lavender to bloom, she said.

“There’s plenty of lavender out there now,” Robinson said.

Zion Hilliker, co-owner of B&B Family Farm, said they just opened up some of their U-cut on July 9. He said July’s business has been more steady as weather improves, and with a later bloom, it’s a good incentive for people to visit throughout the summer.

Support

Lavender and agrotourism have made an impact on Sequim’s economy, according to the City of Sequim’s sales tax revenues.

The first Sequim Lavender Festival was held on Aug. 2, 1997, and has grown into a three-day event along with many other lavender-related events running the same weekend and/or throughout the summer.

From July 1997 to July 2014, tax revenue more than tripled in the city.

In most years, December saw the city’s largest sales tax numbers each year, customary for the holidays. However, July has since become the biggest earner, i.e. 2020 and 2021, with it first surpassing December in 2008.

Summer months have become bigger earners too for the city, which goes with many lavender farms expanding beyond Sequim Lavender Weekend to host events throughout the summer while encouraging people to come now or later.

Following last year’s festivities, many farmers reported an improved turnout after seeing a downturn the year before because of COVID-19 and event restrictions.

For more about Sequim lavender farms, visit sequimlavenderweekend.com.