By Jason Gabak / Special to The Citizen
MANDANA - The scent of lavender has made its way from flowers to numerous products such as perfumes, lotions and even food.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
In the front row, Hidcote Lavender grows at Lockwood Farm in Skaneateles. This is one of the 10 varieties that the flower and fiber farm grows all year and then harvests during July and August. On July 11, and 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the farm will be open for pick-your-own lavender bunches at $5 a bunch. .
In the front row, Hidcote Lavender grows at Lockwood Farm in Skaneateles. This is one of the 10 varieties that the flower and fiber farm grows all year and then harvests during July and August. On July 11, and 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the farm will be open for pick-your-own lavender bunches at $5 a bunch. .
That widespread allure of lavender caught the attention of Skaneateles residents Karen Wheeler-Lockwood and her husband, Gary Lockwood.
When the couple decided to get married in 2002 they knew that they wanted lavender to play an important role in the wedding's theme.
“We knew that we wanted lavender,” Wheeler-Lockwood said. “We wanted it in the bouquet and in the flowers on the table and all of those sorts of things.”
This passion for the flower inspired the couple to begin growing their own lavender on their family farm, a 120-acre farm that seems to grow a little bit of everything, such as sheep, soy beans and, of course, lavender. Lockwood is the fifth generation to own and work Lockwood Farm.
Despite the fact that both have full-time jobs, they have found the time and the space to build up their production of lavender over the past few years.
More than 800 plants currently grow on the property, including 10 different fragrant varieties, Wheeler-Lockwood said.
“Lavender is very picky,” she added. “You have to have the right amount of drainage and it can't be too wet or too dry, but we have found a good spot and we have been able to grow several different varieties.”
Although most people think of lavender as a shade of purple, the flower comes in many different colors such as deep purple, white and even pink.
With the wide variety and quantity of lavender on the farm, the couple began thinking about what they can do with that much lavender, aside from enjoy its aesthetic beauty and distinct smell.
The Lockwoods harvest the flowers for the production of various products, which they sell themselves and through Creekside Books & Coffee.
But they also hit on another idea. They decided to hand over the shears so people can pick their own. They are hosting a you-pick lavender weekend this Saturday and Sunday.
The couple are not strangers to this idea.
The flower enthusiasts have traveled to places such as Washington, Pennsylvania and Texas to find unique plants, as well as to enjoy various lavender festivals.
The Lockwoods decided to bring some of that celebration home to Skaneateles. Last year, they had a smaller you-pick celebration.
“We didn't really know what to expect,” Wheeler-Lockwood said. “But we had plenty of people there and we thought that it would be fun to do again this year.”
Wheeler-Lockwood said that even with rainy weather last year, people harvested more than 300 plants harvested. People also took the opportunity to take photographs and paint paintings set against the vibrant colors of the lavender fields.
This weekend's celebration will be a relaxed event that will welcome in the full bloom of the plants and allow guests the opportunity to harvest their own lavender flowers. People can also learn how to dry lavender.
“We give people their own scissors and show them how to cut,” Wheeler-Lockwood said. “We also show them how to make their own bouquet. Next year we'd like to do a little more and have vendors and things like that. But after how well it went last year, we just wanted to have a fun event for people to come out and to just have the chance to enjoy lavender.”
If you go
What: U-Pick Lavender Weekend
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, 2009
Where: Lockwood Farms, Route 41A, the first farm past fire lane 50
Information: For information, e-mail lockwoodfarm@aol.com or call 685-5369
When the couple decided to get married in 2002 they knew that they wanted lavender to play an important role in the wedding's theme.
“We knew that we wanted lavender,” Wheeler-Lockwood said. “We wanted it in the bouquet and in the flowers on the table and all of those sorts of things.”
This passion for the flower inspired the couple to begin growing their own lavender on their family farm, a 120-acre farm that seems to grow a little bit of everything, such as sheep, soy beans and, of course, lavender. Lockwood is the fifth generation to own and work Lockwood Farm.
Despite the fact that both have full-time jobs, they have found the time and the space to build up their production of lavender over the past few years.
More than 800 plants currently grow on the property, including 10 different fragrant varieties, Wheeler-Lockwood said.
“Lavender is very picky,” she added. “You have to have the right amount of drainage and it can't be too wet or too dry, but we have found a good spot and we have been able to grow several different varieties.”
Although most people think of lavender as a shade of purple, the flower comes in many different colors such as deep purple, white and even pink.
With the wide variety and quantity of lavender on the farm, the couple began thinking about what they can do with that much lavender, aside from enjoy its aesthetic beauty and distinct smell.
The Lockwoods harvest the flowers for the production of various products, which they sell themselves and through Creekside Books & Coffee.
But they also hit on another idea. They decided to hand over the shears so people can pick their own. They are hosting a you-pick lavender weekend this Saturday and Sunday.
The couple are not strangers to this idea.
The flower enthusiasts have traveled to places such as Washington, Pennsylvania and Texas to find unique plants, as well as to enjoy various lavender festivals.
The Lockwoods decided to bring some of that celebration home to Skaneateles. Last year, they had a smaller you-pick celebration.
“We didn't really know what to expect,” Wheeler-Lockwood said. “But we had plenty of people there and we thought that it would be fun to do again this year.”
Wheeler-Lockwood said that even with rainy weather last year, people harvested more than 300 plants harvested. People also took the opportunity to take photographs and paint paintings set against the vibrant colors of the lavender fields.
This weekend's celebration will be a relaxed event that will welcome in the full bloom of the plants and allow guests the opportunity to harvest their own lavender flowers. People can also learn how to dry lavender.
“We give people their own scissors and show them how to cut,” Wheeler-Lockwood said. “We also show them how to make their own bouquet. Next year we'd like to do a little more and have vendors and things like that. But after how well it went last year, we just wanted to have a fun event for people to come out and to just have the chance to enjoy lavender.”
If you go
What: U-Pick Lavender Weekend
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, 2009
Where: Lockwood Farms, Route 41A, the first farm past fire lane 50
Information: For information, e-mail lockwoodfarm@aol.com or call 685-5369
