Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
Sequim’s Farmer’s Market is going full swing this month. Even though it doesn’t look crowded it was quite lively last Saturday with lots of people coming and going on Washington Street.
I understand that the plaza of our new Civic Center is destined to be the site of the Farmer’s Market but I guess it wasn’t ready in time this year to lock in all the arrangements. For now it’s split between two spots not far from each other on Washington Street.
Sunny Farms is something of an “everything” store. In addition to the nursery and farm store, there are groceries, a small deli, butcher, produce, and supplements. This time of year the nursery comes to life.
The area in front of the store is packed with life: hanging baskets, flowers in small and large containers, shrubs, and trees. I find it hard to shop there this time of year without bringing home some sort of “growie” that I hadn’t intended to fall in love with. Next door in the nursery are veggie starts and a variety of deciduous, evergreen, and fruiting trees and bushes.
It doesn’t help those with weak will that they make their stock appealing. It’s dazzling after a long winter.
Sequim Spice and Tea relocated onto West Washington Street last year, into a spot that assures them better visibility and foot traffic. I wandered in for the first time last fall as I squired visitors around town. They sell bulk herbs and spices: the usual things you’d expect in a typical spice rack plus blends, seasonings, and flavored salts and sugars to add new zest to your cooking.
There are bulk teas in a back corner. Though I haven’t sampled any, some of them smell delightful.
Here’s what to look for if you come to town. This is the former location of Pacific Mist Books which closed when the owner retired to leave town and care for her mother.
People joke sometimes about small towns rolling up their sidewalks. Most days Sequim’s downtown thoroughfare, Washington Street, has plenty enough traffic. Last Sunday it was quiet enough to justify a shot of our main drag. It was a grey day so I goofed around in Photoshop to perk it up a bit.
Continuing with yesterday’s lavender theme, here’s the downtown retail outlet for Purple Haze Lavender Farm. It’s a one stop shop for all things lavender. The Purple Haze Lavender Farm is a beautiful spot a few miles east of downtown where 50 varieties of lavender are grown and is well worth a summertime visit.
Taxes are due in the U.S. today. It’s no fun for procrastinators and rarely a cause for joy for anyone else, either. So here are some bouquets for all, seen at the Pike Street market in Seattle last week.
Tulips are in bloom. That’s good for something, right?
We’re heading into the Sequim lavender season. Early blooming lavender is showing its color and our commercial lavender operations are getting ready for company: the annual Lavender Faire and Festival begins July 19. Jardin du Soleil, above, is open for business.
Sequim and the Dungeness Valley is a premier lavender growing region and as our growers open their gates to visitors and harvest this year’s crop there are plenty of attractions for visitors and locals. It’s time for total lavender immersion.