Welcome to Bonnieheath Estate ~ Pick Your Own Lavender
JUNE - One day in June, the Lavender starts Blooming. The main Gardens and around the silo become available for Pick your Own!
JULY - This Fresh in-bloom Lavender experience has the best looking flowers. Bonnieheath fields become a sea of Lavender.
AUGUST - By early August the French Lavender, which is spectacular, is in full bloom! The are our biggest Lavender plants! By early August much of our English Lavender is being harvested. By Late August, the French Lavender has already seen its best days. Beautiful for pictures, and the Lavender should be immediately dried.
SEPTEMBER - Lavender looks amazing, but this can change year over year. Some Bonnieheath French Lavender is left to dry on the stem. Pick your own still happens, but the good news is that around mid-September some English Lavender begins a second bloom!
OCTOBER - Several rows of English Lavender are usually in Bloom! Loads of beautiful flowers to pick, although this is usually limited to a few rows only!
We have 3.5 acres of English Lavender, which we begin harvesting in late June. Our French field is about 1.5 acres and we begin harvest around the first week of August. We harvest a certain amount of lavender at its peak bloom for our hand-dried bundles and for our dried culinary products.
You can purchase ahead of time or the day of your visit. When you arrive, please check in at the retail store so we can give you your tools and instructions. You can then pick your own lavender based on the size you purchase.
Experience Hand Cultivation
Are you ready to immerse yourself in the captivating beauty and delightful fragrance of lavender? Look no further, for here at Bonnieheath you can embark upon an unforgettable journey of hand-picking your very own lavender. Walk through our vibrant purple fields, breathe in the soothing aroma, and discover the joy and advantages of this agricultural experience.
Limited Availability - Reserve Now to Secure the Finest Cultivars
We take pride in growing the finest lavender cultivars for our distillation and culinary processes; we do not spray with any fungicides or herbicides and only use organics to increase soil diversity for the best plant health. The harvest of each cultivar is short and the demand for fresh lavender is high. We encourage you to reserve your lavender picking experience early to ensure you have the opportunity to select from the very best plants before they are harvested for drying or re-sale. Don't miss this once-per-year chance to hand-pick the best lavender blooms!
The Power of Raw Lavender: From Blossom to Distillation
Did you know that lavender is composed of approximately 80% water? When it comes to lavender distillation, a significant quantity of raw lavender is required to produce a mere 30 milliliters of lavender essential oil. The general ratio is around 100 kilograms of lavender flowers to produce approximately 1 liter of essential oil. This means that around 3.3 kilograms of raw lavender would be needed to yield 30 milliliters of lavender essential oil. We sell 30 milliliters bottles of natural essential Lavender oil in our retail boutique.
Ways to Enjoy Freshly Cut Lavender
Once you've hand-picked your lavender bouquet, a world of possibilities unfolds to savor its aromatic essence. Here are just a few ways you can enjoy your freshly picked lavender:
1. Home Décor: Add a touch of natural elegance to your living space by displaying lavender in vases, wreaths, or by hanging dried arrangements.
2. Lavender Infusions: Create delightful lavender-infused beverages or desserts, adding a unique floral twist to your culinary creations. There are many recipes on Pintrest for using raw lavender buds. Be aware of the type of lavender you are picking and only use certain English cultivars for culinary recipes.
3. Relaxation Aid: Place a small sachet of dried lavender near your pillow to promote relaxation and sound sleep. The soothing scent is known for its calming properties. French lavender is much more aromatic and medicinal smelling and would be the choice for making aromatherapy aids.
4. Natural Fragrance: Use dried lavender buds to create potpourri or scented sachets that infuse your home with a refreshing, long-lasting aroma. Frech lavender is recommended if you are using your pickings for making fragrances.
The Positive Impact of the Lavender Harvest Experience
Beyond the sensory delights, this experience at Bonnieheath Estate can have a profound impact on participants. Here are some positive benefits you can expect:
1. Connection with Nature: Reconnect with the natural world as you explore our picturesque lavender fields, surrounded by breathtaking beauty and tranquility.
2. Stress Relief: Engaging in the gentle act of lavender picking promotes relaxation and provides a therapeutic escape from the pressures of daily life.
3. Mindfulness: The process of selecting and cutting lavender encourages a mindful approach, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the present moment and appreciate the simple pleasure it brings.
4. Memorable Experiences: Create lasting memories with loved ones as you embark on this unique adventure together, bonding over the shared joy of lavender picking.
The opportunity to hand-pick your own lavender is time-limited. The entire Prime bloom season last only 30-45 days. We have extended dried-on-the-stem pick your own, running until the end of September. And some years, we have a second bloom in September and October. We have had a second bloom three years in a row, 2021-2023, likely due to Climate Change.
Book Your Lavender Experience Today!
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