Sticking with my Maine staycation experiences I wanted to visit somewhere new this Summer. I love the calming scent of lavender and visiting the lavender fields of Provence has been a dream of mine for quite some time, we haven’t made our way to that part of France yet….fingers crossed for next year! I discovered that we have some beautiful lavender fields right here in Maine. Now, I don’t think they could even hold a lavender scented candle to the fields in France but hey I’ll take what I can get!
Did you know that lavender and mint are in the same family? Some other fun facts; it can be used to deter mice, flies, and mosquitoes, and the nectar from the plant is used to make a honey. If you are ever in Maine in during the summer months and need a break from all the lighthouses and fresh seafood check out these wonderful Lavender Farms.
There are more than a dozen different varieties of lavender growing on this 26-acre farm located along the St. George River in Appleton. The lavender is harvested on the farm, dried in their post-and-beam barn and then used for bath products, decorative pieces, culinary products, and much more. There are tables and nice little spots to enjoy a picnic lunch too. It’s quite the hike from the Portland area but if you’re up for the drive it’s a wonderful way to spend the day.
This lavender farm is about 30 minutes from Portland in Steep Falls and boasts around 6,000 plants. I visited during an open farm weekend this summer and walking around, the smell is amazing. This farm is unique because you can stay here, they have a tenterr site that they rent out right along the Saco River. Never heard of tenterr? Me neither, it’s like an airbnb for tent sites. It was a beautiful farm to explore, they not only had beautiful lavender fields but they also had goats! Man, I love goats they are so stinkin’ cute. They also offer wreath making workshops, this year Covid has limited the number of people they can have in a class but what a great keepsake to display in your home. And calming too!
I left the Riverside Farm with a bouquet of dried lavender and Andrew suggested I make some lavender lemonade. I had never made it before but it came out SO good. Check out the recipe below.
Lavender Lemonade
Ingredients:
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons dried lavender or 10-12 sprigs
- 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 7 lemons)
Directions:
Bring 2 cups of water to boil. Remove from heat and pour over sugar. Stir until dissolved.
Stir in dried lavender buds and let steep for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 hours for stronger flavor). Strain.
Combine juice from lemons and lavender simple syrup in a pitcher.
Add the remaining 4 cups of water and stir well.
Serve chilled, over ice with lemon slices and a sprig of lavender
This lemonade also makes a great cocktail, mix with vodka or some sparkling wine. Cheers!
