SEQUIM — Although no lavender plants are in bloom now, Sequim’s lavender farms and retailers are open for business this holiday season.
Members of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley’s two lavender groups — Sequim Lavender Growers Association and Sequim Lavender Farmers Association — have special holiday events under way.
Paul Jendrucko, Sequim Lavender Growers Association spokesman, said although lavender is a perennial plant usually blooming in July, its derivatives are good to sell year-round — and that includes oils, sachets, crafts and dried bouquets.
“You can have a year-round presence in the house, for your personal pleasure, even for your pets,” he said.
The growing popularity of lavender products is stretching far beyond summer harvest season, said a member of the Sequim Lavender Farmers Association.
“There’s been a lot of demand for lavender products all year so it just continues through the holiday season,” said Carmen Ragsdale, who owns Sequim Herb & Lavender Farm with her husband, Steve, president of the Sequim Lavender Farmers Association.
Culinary lavender products are becoming as much in demand as cosmetic products, she said.
From July 20-22, lavender farms redolent in blooming lavender will welcome visitors during the Sequim lavender festival weekend, when the Sequim Lavender Growers Association and the Sequim Lavender Farmers Association host separate festivals.
But before then, farmers and vendors have much to offer, they say.
Here’s a sample.
Growers association members
The Sequim Lavender Growers Association has some members with holiday shopping hours.
■ Nelson’s Duck Pond and Lavender Farm is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Monday at 73 Humble Hill Road, Sequim.
Lavender tea and Christmas cookies are served on the weekends.
For information, phone, 360- 681-7727 or see www.nelsonsduckpond.com.
■ Peninsula Nursery is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 1060 Sequim-Dungeness Way, Sequim.
Fresh Christmas wreaths are made every day, and homemade fudge and hot apple cider are available.
For information, phone 360-681-7953 or see www.pennurseries.com.
■ Let’s Do Lavender at www.letsdolavender.com, 360-582-1345, offers free, next-day delivery to Sequim homes or businesses until the end of December.
Owners Susan Zuspan says shoppers should go to the website and then phone her for their selections.
“I just want to save people from having to go out in the cold and helping them to avoid the crowds,” she said.
■ The one-of-a-kind lavender dog bandanas and bandanas with holiday themes made by Sequim Lavender Company are available during the holiday season at Avant-Guard Florist at 548 W. Washington St., Sequim.
Bandanas with holiday themes also are available.
Avant-Guard is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The phone number is 360-683-5218.
Wild Birds Unlimited at 275953 U.S. Highway 101 in Gardiner carries the bandanas year-round, said Mary Jendrucko, co-owner with her husband Paul of the Sequim Lavender Company.
Farmers association members
Five Sequim Lavender Farmers Association farm stores are among those open for Christmas shopping and special events.
■ Washington Lavender will provide hot chocolate and coffee in the farm store while the George Washington Inn, on the same site at 939 Finn Hall Road in Port Angeles, will host free train rides Saturday.
A newly formed club of Olympic Peninsula train enthusiasts, the George Washington Live Steamers, will offer the rides on a temporary 7½-inch narrow gauge railroad from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The train, with railroad cars for limited passenger seating, will run compliments of local volunteers, Northwest Railroad Foundry and Supply and Dick Peterson of Port Angeles.
Donations for the development of the first live steam train club on the North Olympic Peninsula will be accepted.
The farm will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday as part of special holiday hours, said Janet Abbott, who owns the farm and inn with her husband, Dan.
Appointments can be made for visits at other times by phoning 360-452-5207.
■ Jardin du Soleil, 3932 Sequim-Dungeness Way, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sundays.
It will offer samples of lavender hot cocoa and teas.
■ Purple Haze Lavender, 127 West Washington St., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday and holidays.
It will provide samples of cider, hot chocolate and salad dressing made with lavender.
For information, phone 360-683-1714 or see online store at http://phlavender.stores.yahoo.net/.
■ Port Williams Lavender, 1442 Port Williams Road, is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through next Saturday.
Otherwise it is open by appointment only until spring hours begin in April.
To reach the farm, phone 360-582-9196.
■ Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm, U.S. Highway 101 at Guiles Road, which is open year-round, has fall and winter hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The farm is decorated for the holidays and offers holiday gifts and sales on gift packaging.
For more information about the farm at 274154 U.S. Highway 101, phone 360-683-6453.
More information about lavender farms and shops is available at www.lavendergrowers.org and www.sequimlavenderfarms.org.
________
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor Leah Leach contributed to this story.