Today my girls and I visited Seven Oaks Lavender Farm for the very first time. Northern Virginia’s lavender season technically ended a couple of weeks ago, but there were still items to be picked and fun to be had on the farm, so we decided to make the 45-minute trip from our home in Fairfax County.
Located in Catlett, Virginia in the heart of Fauquier County, Seven Oaks boasts roughly two acres of flowering plants, including lavender and other blossoms and herbs. A quick perusal of the property’s history highlights that it has been farmland in some capacity since 1860, with the current owners running a pick-your-own lavender business since 2005.
When we arrived, we parked in a small grassy lot before making our way to the farm’s store. There, we paid $3 per person for the right to pick as much post-season lavender as we wanted (during season, the admission was $7 for adults and $5 for children, and included 20 stems of lavender per person). As it is home to lavender satchels, lotions, candles, baked goods, and more, I can confidently say without exaggeration that the Lavender Shop is the best-smelling store I have ever entered.
After paying the fee, we headed over to the pick-your-own field. Though most of the lavender was dried out at this point, we still found some pretty purple stems. I was looking forward to picking dried stems for making potpourri satchels, anyway.
I was a little worried that with the rising temperature, the girls would not be thrilled about flower picking in direct sunlight. However, Daughter #1 surprisingly announced “I’m really enjoying this” as she knelt over a lavender plant with her little pair of scissors. She loved that the stems were so easy to cut, in stark contrast to the pulling technique required during our annual tulip-picking trips.
Daughter #2, on the other hand, took to vehemently shouting “Pick! Pick!” as her sister and I rushed to cut lavender stems and deposit them into her waiting hands. Eventually, she toddled off to the farm’s little gazebo (with me close behind, of course) and happily hung out in the shade.
While exploring the farm, we checked out their other flowers, including daisies, zinnias, and some early sunflowers. We picked a bouquet of zinnias for 50 cents per stem (sunflowers are available for $3 per stem).
After having our flowers bundled and tied for us – which included the attachment of a handy water bag to keep the zinnias as fresh as possible – Daughter #2 made a beeline for the little playhouse. The farm is also home to a sandbox, a bench swing, and a bunny hutch that keep the kids entertained.
We returned to the fragrant store to pay for our zinnias and purchase some lavender-infused treats. Though tempted by the shortbread and ice cream in the freezer, I decided to purchase a mason jar of lavender lemonade and a lavender cupcake to share. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like our treats, and I foolishly expected them to have a taste reminiscent of soap. This was most certainly not the case, as both the lemonade and cupcake were absolutely delicious. The lavender was subtle, enhancing the flavor of both items in a truly satisfying way, and the girls and I were equally pleased with the result. We enjoyed our treats at a little shaded table near the store, which was the perfect way to end a fun-filled morning at the farm.
Are you interested in visiting Seven Oaks Lavender Farm, too? Lavender post-season is happening for just a few more days and will end on July 30th, but there are more events and activities beyond this week. There will be weekend opportunities to pick in-season items through the fall, so keep an eye on the farm’s Facebook page for hours and updates. The farm offers a Sunday morning yoga class in the lavender field through mid-August. There will also be a sunflower tea party and crafting event in September. The store still has plenty of lavender products available to purchase. You can even spend a night at Seven Oaks – there are late winter and early spring dates available at their Tentrr campsite. Regardless of how and when you choose to visit Seven Oaks Lavender Farm, I highly recommend it. After all, it’s probably the only farm we’ve ever visited where my kids left smelling better than they did when they got there!
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