Never underestimate the serenity of walking through a lavender field.

I’ve been seeing lots of beautiful photos of lavender fields in Virginia and Maryland so I’ve been wanting to catch a glimpse for myself.

It is the season for Lavender and that’s exactly what we did.

Just one hour west of Washington, DC  we discovered this little scenic family friendly farm with two acres of the most beautiful purple perfumed lavender flower fields that make you think of the French countryside. Well it’s not quite anything like the fields you will see in Provence, France but I could at least smell the lavender quite close to home.

It is called Seven Oaks Lavender Farm.

When Does Lavender Bloom?

Lavender fields in the area usually bloom between June – July. Each Lavender field has different peak dates so definitely check with each farm to see when is the best time to go.

The bloom season at Seven Oaks Lavender Farm,  begins around the first week of June to mid-July approximately.

 Their hours of operation are:

• Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM

• Saturday – Sunday 9 AM – 5 PM

Is there an entrance fee?

There is an entrance fee which includes 20 stalks of lavender for each of us to take home. The staff is kind and patiently gave instructions on how to cut the lavender. Be sure to check their website for accurate pricing and instructions before you go. You can also pre-purchase tickets online before you go.

They even provided a pretty white basket and scissors for cutting the lavenders.

If you bring kids, they will love watching the bunnies in the little zoo area. There are swings and a little play area too!

Be sure to pack some food and bring a blanket to sit on the ground and have picnic in the field. There are a few picnic tables too! And if you’re in the mood for dessert, you can finish your picnic off with some lavender shortbread cookies, lemon-lavender cupcakes, and some lavender lemonade from the farm’s Field Tent. 

So now that we know how to pick the lavender, off we went to start the picking…

I was captivated by the many bees flying from flower to flower pollinating them and  also by the beautiful butterflies fluttering around freely  in the lavender field. Lots and lots of them so those who are allergic or afraid of bees, then it’s better to enjoy these beautiful lavender fields from afar. 

Tips on Harvesting, Cutting and Drying Lavenders

 This is my first time in a Lavender field and I got a few tips from the lavender experts to share.

Tip #1: Harvest season is usually from early June to mid-July and in Virginia, the flowers peak in the middle of June but peak season for each farm is different so check before you go.

Tip #2: Usually people often ask whether the lavender is in bloom, but what they should ask instead is whether the lavender is in full color.

 Tip #3: Ideally, stems should be cut when the blooms are only partially opened.

Tip #4: Lay your stems out to dry for three days and they’ll last for years, releasing memories each time you smell them! Hang or lay flat in a cool, dry place to dry them out when you want to make a sachet from them. 

Can You Bring Pets?

At Seven Oaks Lavender Farm, the farm allows leashed dogs on Mondays 9 A.M. to Noon.

How long did we stay?

We only spent about 2 hours in this beautiful lavender field but we had so much fun learning and discovering …and now, I have a lifetime of memories to share of the first time I went lavender picking in that beautiful purple perfumed lavender field.

Where is the field?

SEVEN OAKS LAVENDER FIELD

8769 Old Dumfries Road, Catlett, VA 20119

If you are looking for a quick  family friendly lavender field close to the D.C. metro area, definitely consider Seven Oaks Lavender Farm in Virginia for a little visit.