Lavender Season in Sequim

There comes a time in every S'quimer's heart when the urge to forage overwhelms, and one must go out to pick sweetly scented lavender. This was my first time picking lavender at a couple of the numerous lavender farms around Clallam County. It wasn't possible last year because Covid happened so all farms were closed. 

So with friend Barb, we headed just up the road a bit to Jarden du Soleil, a lavender farm I've had my eye on for ages. I mean, they have chickens and goats to pet. And ice cream... lavender ice cream. 

Loved the suggestions on how to spend one's time.

It was mid morning so the air was crisp and cool, perfect for lavender picking. First I picked up a green twistie and a pair of scissors in the cute little farm shop seen above. Barbara checked out all the lavender essential oils which are made on the farm. She chose one that had the sweetest scent to her
nose. I went for a small lavender infused chocolate bar (oh, you'd have gone for one too!), a cute embroidered sheer lavender sachet bag and a cunning little light switch plate featuring lavender swigs. Shortly thereafter I headed out to the lavender fields to pick to my heart's contentment. 

Acres and acres of purple beauty

 The farm has honey bees, but there was a great contingent of bumblebees also digging around for lavender nectar. I wish the farm sold lavender honey, freshly made by their honey bees. 

Barb, dressed in lavender for her shopping spree

I was quite happy with the lavender I picked. There were several different varieties, some in different shades of purple, and there were several bushes with white lavender buds as well. 

B&B Family Farm

Next we drove over to a second lavender farm, the B&B Family Farm. Didn't do any lavender picking there, but did stop into their farm store. Both Barb & myself found some goodies to indulge in. I went overboard in purchasing some lavender woods scented mini-candles. There will be additional Lavender Farm exploring before the season ends, 

You can find vast fields of lavender all over Sequim. Take that France!

Not a bad haul for five bucks

Up Top - Deer Creek Road

Up a'top Deer Creek Road, Olympic National Park

For no good reason drove on up to the top of Deer Park Road. It is a lesser known fragment of Olympic National Park. The road is steep, curvy and guaranteed to scare the crap out of anyone with a fear of heights - specially if they hate being able to stare out the car window and see a mile long drop through the pines. Thankfully, I was born, height-fear-free.

Mountaintop signage

Tiger Lilies

Delightful to find the wildflowers are still to be found at these elevations. My favorite was Tiger Lilies. Haven't seen any since visiting Del Norte County in California, a zillion years ago. 

Indian Paintbrush

Another gorgeous wildflower was scarlet and yellow Columbines.

Harebells

At the mountain top I spent some time birding, but the little buggers were so fast, and so far off it was all I could do to identify a few chickadees and a crow or three. At times like that, you can appreciate photo targets that are not only close by, but that hold the hell still, like the blue Harebells on the left. 

This was my second drive up Deer Park Road. This time at the top, I took a road I haven't noticed on my first visit. Drove up to the very tippy top from which I could view the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge at the Salish Sea's edge, and even the area where my property is could be viewed. 

Several other cars were also up on the mountaintop, all sitting and gazing at the scenery. 

The Salish Sea, edged by Dungeness National
 Wildlife Refuge, way out there in the distance

Eventually I headed back down off the mountain. You know I took even more photos of wildflowers on the long drive downhill. 

Lupines

Penstemons

It is wonderful having a National Park as an elaborate extension of my own backyard. 

They Grow Up So Fast

A while back, a couple of bird nesting boxes were set up here at Flown Piggies Farm. One of the boxes was quickly taken over as 'Home Sweet Home' by a pair of Tree Swallows. I only peered into the box once, to make sure the little family was doing OK. The box (shown above) was obviously occupied by Tree Swallows as the nest was quite feather-full. The feathers used to line the nest were duck feathers, Mallard duck feathers to be precise. I marvel how far the birds would have gone to acquire such soft nest lining. At that time there were as yet, no eggs in the little house.  

As the weeks flew by, I could view the Tree Swallows busily flying in and out of their box. In a matter of weeks loud squawks and demands could be heard if anywhere near the box. The new chicks were demanded their chow. So proud to hear the fussing baby swallows, and so happy it wasn't my job to feed the noisy things. 

Young Violet-green on 2nd floor railing

Meanwhile, I noticed the Violet-green Swallows, that nested in a ventilation hole above my bedroom balcony weren't slouches in the chick rearing department. Their youngsters were already out of the nest. The fledged chicks liked to rest on the patio railing above the garage. I often had the door to the playroom open and could hear and watch the young swallows. 

This is a view of the patio with setting swallows (I think those are a youngster and an weary-of-feeding-its-brats adult bird). 

Only the past couple of days I woke to the sound of chirping on my bedroom balcony. I peeked out and WHOA, there sat Tree Swallow chicks. There were two, busily calling back and forth to each other. Any time an adult flew by the chicks peeped plaintively, but I never saw the adults approach them with food. The chicks were back on the balcony this morning so I assume they're either getting fed or are attempting to feed themselves. Yesterday, later in the morning there were 4 baby Tree Swallows up on the telephone lines so I guess the adult birds got the job done.