Black and white

Black and white BW

People of a certain age may remember a television show called “Dragnet,” a seminal early police drama. This police car, or “black and white,” parked outside Victor’s Lavender last weekend could have come from the Dragnet set. It’s a replica of a 1956 Los Angeles, California Police Department (LAPD) squad car owned by Port Angeles locals George and Carole March. A two year restoration project, it was researched for authenticity with former LAPD officers and on the internet.

Black and white interior

The lights, siren, radio, and seals on the car are all period correct…though I doubt that the holographic material on the dashboard would have been around in Sgt. Friday’s time. It’s a real blast from the past. It lives not far from Victor’s Lavender and it was fun to see it up close last weekend.

Victor’s Lavender

Victors Lavender

Over the years I’ve heard interesting lavender talks at the Sequim Lavender Festival. Last weekend I heard one of the best yet at Victor’s Lavender. Any lavender farm is pretty by its nature and Victor’s is no exception. But Victor’s Lavender has one special difference: Victor Gonzalez.

Victor Gonzales

Victor is an expert in growing and propagating lavender which he freely admits he learned through trial and error. He came from a farm family that legally emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. when he was 15 years old. His strong work ethic eventually landed him a job at a local Sequim farm whose manager was interested in growing lavender, a plant Victor had never heard of. Failures taught Victor one lesson after another until he was successfully propagating tens of thousands of plants. Today he not only produces lavender plants and products commercially he also consults internationally on cultivating lavender, including trips for the USAID’s Farmer-to-Farmer program. Click here for more information about Victor. He’s an interesting guy!

Victors storefront

Here’s the front view of Victor’s operation. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about the police car parked in front.

Summer pleasure

Raspberries

The raspberries at Greysmarsh Farm are ripening. I love raspberries and I love picking them. I’m a forager at heart. I also love reaching into the freezer and pulling out berries I’ve harvested. It’s fun to be surrounded by happy people picking, too. As I walk down the rows of plants as I pick I hear snippets of conversations. I lost track of how many times I heard “vanilla ice cream” as I picked. Perfect pairing!

I came home with over five pounds. The raspberry sorbet I made is already gone. I may have to find some vanilla ice cream. There are some raspberries waiting for their gastronomic soul mate.

The stuff of dreams

Olivers 1

The Sequim Lavender Festival planted stars in my eyes before we moved here. So many of the lavender farms have that dreamy, picturesque beauty that fills lifestyle fantasies. For me it’s almost Martha-Stewart-meets-Alice-in-Wonderland. Too crazy good to be true. But it isn’t, at least during Lavender Weekend and most of summer. This is Oliver’s Lavender Farm.

Olivers 2

The location is glorious and the grounds are so well groomed. A place this gorgeous needs a combination of staff and obsession. And a fistful of green thumbs, too. I love wandering through such a beautiful farm. Before moving here I held high hopes that some of it might rub off on me.

Olivers front

This is the home that greets you as you arrive at Oliver’s. Really, can’t you just imagine moving in? Help me, Martha!

Did somebody say “lavender?”

Lavender harvest 1

Workers were busy harvesting lavender at Graysmarsh Farm this week. Soon bundles will scent cars and luggage as our visitors head home after this weekend’s Lavender Festival. Some farms pre-pick bundles for lavender lovers and some are harvesting the herb to dry or distill it for lotions, soaps and essential oil.

Lavender harvest 2

Professionals harvest and shape the bushes at the same time.

Bundles

These bundles were waiting at Jardin du Soleil last week. Lavender bouquets typically run $5 to $6.