Can’t you smell the lavender?
If you visit Door County in July or early August, you are in luck. The lavender fields are in full bloom, and you will be blown away visually and sensually by — dare I say — a life-altering experience. Unless you are in Provence in July, there’s no excuse not to make your way to Washington Island to see a spectacular sea of violet — lavender buds sweeping their whorls of color, inviting you to walk through their rows. In a trancelike state, you’ll find yourself obeying. Who could resist?
It’s a Francophile’s Playground
Let me back up a moment. There are two lavender farms on Washington Island. To get to the island, you must take a ferry. I recommend the car ferry because you do not want to rush your visit to my favorite of the two farms (both are worth a visit, however). Once on the island, you may want to stop for coffee at my favorite island coffee shop, Red Cup. And of course, while you’re there, you should visit at Fair Isle Books. But you can save that for later and head to the farm first.
Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop is my favorite, and once you’ve arrived, you’ll see why. Before you are “allowed” onto the field, you must enter the shop.
You see? These lovelies greeted me before I was able to see what I already knew awaited me. I love those lavender fields and yet, be still my heart, these Fairy Tale Cookies stopped me in my tracks.
And the scones. Bonjour mon scones sucrés! Je dois continuer pour le moment!
I’m not sure which is more exciting for lovers of all things French, the shop or the fields. It’s a tug of war, but after the pâtisserie speed bump, I usually run toward the lavender at top speed.
I want a life of color and lushness. When I reach the fields, I see bright purple and green, and I am knocked out by the scent of fresh lavender! It’s everywhere, and all I want to do is touch it, feather it in my hands.
I’m not the only one who feels this way I see… children are the best at this, trading in manners to rub their faces in the buds.
Photo credit: Ali Scheisel
Even bees share the experience and don’t mind our hands invading their busy work.
On the weekends and certain evenings, Fragrant Isle will host special activities, whether it be a professional body massage in the field (yes, I did this) or plein air painters, or Paint & Sips, or creating a lavender wand sachet from lavender you can cut yourself. If you plan, you might be able to partake in one of these fabulous activities. Check the site and see what is going on. UPDATE 2019: Painting Classes are not offered this summer, but there will be other fabulous activities. Always check the website or their facebook page.
You will often see someone painting lavender the fields. Left: Plein air artist Marina Beyer spends the day in the fields. Right – a group of visitors creates their paintings.
Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm morning massage in the fields!
The best experience of all my visits this year had to be a full-body massage in the lavender fields. I confess I had to keep peeking to see if I was really in a field of lavender!
INSIDER TIP
To schedule a massage, call the farm. If you wait until you arrive, it will be too late, and there will not be any appointments left.
A Touch of Provence
Have you been to France? Fragrant Isle’s shop is a compilation of the best of Provence — soaps, linens, lotions, jams, home decor. Here is a taste of what you can expect.
You may be a bit overwhelmed by all that there is to sample. But I promise, once you have completed your purchases, you’ll be able to relax with a few treats.
Le Petite Bistro et La Pâtisserie à la Lavande
Le Petite Bistro serves a small menu of organic, locally grown bites. Even your kiddos will enjoy the food. Don’t forget to sample the beverages as well. UPDATE 2019: The bistro is open 7-days a week this summer!
The Patisserie serves baked goods and scrumptious sweets, and there is a full case of whimsical truffles which will tickle your palette with lavende et chocolat. Enjoy a café américain or café à la lavande, and for an added dose of sucre, don’t forget the ice cream.
Now that you’ve taken in the lavender fields, shopped like a real American in Paris and tasted true French pastries, you can sit back and know you made the most of your time at Fragrant Isle.
But, just in case you haven’t had enough, there is one more lavender farm on Washington Island. Maybe save that one for another day as you, my dears, have just had a beautiful French experience that you can savor. I hope you will be taking home lots of treats. Aren’t you glad you brought the car?
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We’re coming in the beginning of June. Are the flowers in bloom?
They typically bloom in July! June is a bit too early.
How do I get to the lavender farm when I get off the ferry if I don’t take my car on the ferry?
Hello! Great question! There are a few options. I always bike. It’s only 3 miles and it’s an easy ride. They will hand you a map of the island when you hop on the ferry (either one) and you’ll be able to find your way easily to the farm! Along the way you’ll pass a few cafes/bars, shops and more, and also the famous Washington Island Stavkirke, a stave church modeled after the medieval-style church, common in the middle ages. Behind it is a prayer walk, so cool! You could rent a bike at Annie’s Mopeds or even rent a moped! Down the street is Island Adventure Company where you can rent a UTV or an e-bike! Or… if you want to drive past the farm and not stop, there is the Cherry Train tour. Then you get an overview of the whole island. It’s fun but I prefer to bike or moped around for the day! Just go! You will be glad you did!
Hello!
I’m treating my niece on her birthday. We would like to be these July 29 to July 30. Do you know of a nice place for us to stay?
Thanks.
Hi there! It all depends on which town you are most interested in. Is it just the two of you? Are you both adults or is your niece a child? I have the perfect small place for two if you are hoping to do more things like hike, explore and possibly cook some of your meals at home (where you stay). LMK or send me an email!
I believe we are too late for this year, but my friend and I, (2 adult females), would love to come up during peak season next year and possibly stay a night or two. Could you send information on your accommodations? Thank you
Here is the link to my Airbnb! airbnb.com/h/cozy-gills-rock-cottage
When is the best time of the day to accomodate elderly with walkers
Hi Diane! There is no rhyme or reason to the number of tourists who visit daily. Since the fields are quite large and seating in the field is limited, I’d consider bringing a folding chair or a walker/cane if the elderly folks use them. The busiest time to see the fields are in mid-July as the flowers are in full bloom. Then, August is fun too if you want to watch the distillation process. But as time of the day? It can be busy all day long.
You never mention the other lavender farm. Could you tell us what it is?
Hello! Yes! The other field is called the Lavender Farm and is located at the corner of Rangeline and Townline Road (1309 Range Line Rd, Washington, WI 54246). However, I believe it may have gone out of business. They have renovated an old dairy farm, which is very beautiful. The farm is much smaller, and the shop is just as gorgeous. I believe they opened a shop on the mainland too, right in Sister Bay between Ephraim and Sister Bay on HWY 42.
We will be in Door County August 26-28. Is this too late to make the trip over to Washington Island?
You can go to Washington Island any time of the year. There is now a $5 charge to see the fields until Labor Day. The last week of August the fields will be harvested, but it’s still so cool to go and visit the farm. The only time to see bright purple colors would be the middle to end of July.
My daughter and I learned, after waiting nearly an hour to move forward a few feet on the road heading for the ferry on Lavender Festival day a couple years ago (we gave up), that the best time to visit is the day BEFORE the festival. No crowds, no waiting for the ferry…it was wonderful! We thought that the best treats were lavender ice cream and lavender caramels. You gotta try ’em!
Oh Absolutely! We had the same problem, waiting over an hour for the ferry. And guess what? There was no festival this year and we still had to wait for the ferry. I think that is why Fragrant Isle decided not to host a festival this year and instead had fun things going on in their fields all summer (massages, braiding, picking lavender, painting, etc). They knew the congestion the festival caused. Not only that, but the island population is quite small. Finding volunteers to work at the festival was always a challenge. I like how they organized things this year instead. You could come up any day or weekend to have fun and not have to only arrive just the one weekend. We often go up for a weekend and stay at an inn. I live in Gills Rock in the summer (when I’m not renting it out) so for me it was a real treat to go up!
Will there still be blooms on August 13?
Yes, absolutely head to the island and see the lavender. To be 100% sure, I would call Fragrant Isle before you make the trip. Even if there are only a few rows left, it’s still very very pretty. I was just there this past weekend (August 4th) and they had a few rows harvested, so the color was gone, and some of the other rows the purple is starting to change slightly in color (due to the lavender being ready to be harvested). However, it’s still pretty as there are activities going on throughout this month. The food is delicious, the patisserie is yummy, and the shop is incredible. Then you’ll also get to see other parts of the island as well (Hotel Washington for dinner, or Island Cafe for breakfast, Fair Isle Books for a relaxing bookstore visit, School House Beach… so so much more to explore!).