First Lavender Watercolor Painting

Way back in July I attended the Lavender Festival in Sequim, Washington. Seems like a long time ago.

It is an event that I highly recommend. The whole town of Sequim celebrates and having done this for several years, the festival committee is extremely organized. This year there were seven lavender farms open to the public and it amazed me how smoothly the bus system ran. At each field you not only found acres of lavender, but also art, music, and everything you could think up to create with lavender from food to crafts.

I am just getting around to creating some lavender watercolor paintings from my photos. Here is the first painting. I like some parts of it, but I am not satisfied with the whole painting. Watch for my next addition.........


Sea of Lavender

Sequim Lavender Festival Photos

WHAT A FABULOUS LAVENDER FESTIVAL!!!

Because I planned to spend two days in Sequim, I was able to see all seven lavender farms. What a treat! I was pleasantly impressed with the organization of such a large festival. The first day my good friend, Shelley, and I saw three farms on our drive into Sequim: Sunshine Lavender Farm, Purple Haze Lavender Farm, and Port Williams Lavender Farm. The second day we took the tour bus which was extremely convenient and visited Lost Mountain Lavender Farm, Cedar Brook Lavender Farm, Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm, and Olympic Lavender Farm.

Olympic Gentle Paws, a local pet therapy organization offered FREE PET SITTING at the Lavender Festival Street Fair. You could leave your dog in a safe, secure, shaded environment. The dogs were in crates or kennels with plenty of water and attention. What a great idea!

I ate lavender ice cream, and sampled other lavender treats. My hands were bathed in lavender soap and lavender lotion. My nose had a lavender extravaganza. My ears listened to various music from jazz to electric fiddle.

I brought home two lavender plants, lavender bubble bath, lavender essential oils, and a lovely print of an oil painting by Selley Byrd of my favorite lavender farm, Jardin du Soleil.

As promise, here are some photos I took.......


Purple Haze Lavender Farm


Olympic Lavender Farm


Lost Mountain Lavender Farm


Jardin du Soleil


Jadin du Soleil Lavender Farm

Sequim Lavender Festival

I am off to the The 13th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival.

It is the premier celebration of the joys of lavender and the largest lavender festival in North America. Sequim is located on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, cradled in the “rain shadow” of the Olympic Mountains and Olympic National Park.

The Sequim-Dungeness Valley has an ideal microclimate for growing lavender and with less than 20 inches of rain per year; the area is similar to the Provence region of France. Because of the unique conditions and dedicated farmers, Sequim lavender has received world-wide recognition for its superior quality and fragrance. The farmers have over 200 years of combined experience cultivating lavender, developing the best planting and growing practices, and creating lavender products.

The Festival includes seven lavender farms to tour and a street fair. Each farm is unique and you find an incredible array of vendors. I went to the festival in 2005 and remember trying lavender ice cream, lavender cheese cake, and lavender chocolate. I also learned how to make a lavender wreath. This time I am going for two days and hoping to see ALL the gardens!


Me in a Sea of Lavender

I will have more pictures to post when I return.