When sharing a home and a workspace with your spouse, as Angela and I have done for the past 28 months (!!!), mixing up the daily routine is essential. That's why we spent part of a weekday morning and afternoon checking out the new Avalon Lavender Farm, which officially opens to the public on June 18, a.k.a. National Picnic Day 2022.
Just north of Orangeville in the heart of the Headwaters, the first-generation lavender farm is about an hour's drive from my West End home office (during off-peak hours, of course). Avalon is home to more than 30,000 English and French lavender plants spanning seven cultivars, most of which were planted in the spring of 2021. We came to stroll around the fragrant fields, but lingered to explore a picturesque River Walk along the Nottawasaga's North Branch, meet various farm animals including ducks, chickens and horses, and browse the restored 1891 Heritage Barn store that sells everything from Lavender Creamed Honey sourced from the onsite apiary to bath and beauty products liberally laced with lavender. And speaking of National Picnic Day, the two-person boxed meals from Fromage Orangeville were delicious.
In short, if shrugging off the stresses of the city is your goal, the experience is well worth the $14 price of admission.
Just north of Orangeville in the heart of the Headwaters, the first-generation lavender farm is about an hour's drive from my West End home office (during off-peak hours, of course). Avalon is home to more than 30,000 English and French lavender plants spanning seven cultivars, most of which were planted in the spring of 2021. We came to stroll around the fragrant fields, but lingered to explore a picturesque River Walk along the Nottawasaga's North Branch, meet various farm animals including ducks, chickens and horses, and browse the restored 1891 Heritage Barn store that sells everything from Lavender Creamed Honey sourced from the onsite apiary to bath and beauty products liberally laced with lavender. And speaking of National Picnic Day, the two-person boxed meals from Fromage Orangeville were delicious.
In short, if shrugging off the stresses of the city is your goal, the experience is well worth the $14 price of admission.
