Long Island lavender fields: Where to buy, attend a festival and more
For 35 years, James Maris worked as a general contractor in downtown Manhattan. But he had a secret passion for lavender.
"I started growing it at home," says Maris, who resides in Rockland County. "I wanted to take it to the next stage and get a farm for my retirement."
In 2018, he purchased Roanoke Lavender Farm in Riverhead where he runs a farm stand on the property featuring lavender plants and products.
"Lavender has a nice scent to it and it’s very relaxing," says Maris. "I can’t say anything bad about lavender."
The purple flower is coming into full bloom in mid- to late-June. Head out east to buy a batch, attend a festival or take some photos.
WATERDRINKER MANORVILLE
663 Wading River Rd., Manorville
Head to this East End farm and stroll through Lavender Lane. The raised lavender garden area features photo ops. Families can also explore the jumbo jump pads, play mini golf, run around the wooden play area and meet barnyard animals. Check for live music and food trucks on the weekends.
"We grow the lavender in a greenhouse setting and then we bring it out into our fields where we set up our photo-ops with the lavender in raised garden beds throughout 2 acres," says co-owner Marc Weiss. "Visitors will be able to travel over a bridge backdropped with tons of planted lavender as well as other field props like rustic doors, bicycles, vintage cars, old tractors and different pergolas."
- COST $20 per person
- WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission to the farm is $20 per person daily.
- MORE INFO 631-878-8653, water-drinker.com
LAVENDER BY THE BAY
East Marion Farm: 7540 Main Rd., East Marion; Calverton Farm: 47 Manor Rd., Calverton
Matthew Astride, of Manhattan, poses among the lavender plants as friend Debbie Chan, of Brooklyn, snaps photos at Lavender by the Bay. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
Head out into the fields for a photo-op among the lavender at locations in East Marion and Calverton.
"Our fields look like a sea of purple when they are blooming and the fragrance is intoxicating," says co-owner Chanan Rozenbaum.
Lavender by the Bay grows multiple varieties of English and French lavender. "The English lavender blooms mid-June to the end of the month," says Rozenbaum. "The French lavender bloom starts at the end of June through the middle of July. Sometimes, it can even go into August depending on Mother Nature."
The lavender is sold in fresh ($10-$12) or dried ($15-$20) bunches. The shop sells up to 30 products including lavender plants (starting at $8), soap ($9), essential oils ($14), pillow mist ($20) and homemade lavender honey ($16).
"The look of the actual flowers can vary as well," says Rozenbaum. "Some are purple, some are pink, some are white and some are even blue."
- COST $14 for 90 minutes in the fields
- WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting
- MORE INFO East Marion Farm: 631-477-1019; Calverton Farm: 631-381-0730, lavenderbythebay.com
ROANOKE LAVENDER FARM
3360 Sound Ave., Riverhead
Come to Riverhead where the English, French and Spanish lavender is organic.
The lavender is sold in multiple-size pots: small ($15), medium ($20) and large ($30). There are also dried lavender sachets (starting at $6), soap (starting at $6), oils (starting at $9.99) and 7 oz. candle ($24.99) for sale.
"People love to hang sachets in their car because of fragrance," says Kelly. "You rub it and it activates the seeds to give off the scent. They last for years."
The farm also has goats, chickens and ducks that visitors can feed as well as an acre of sunflowers later in the season and farm fresh eggs for sale ($7.50 per dozen).
- WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
- MORE INFO 631-740-9025, roanokelavenderfarm.com
LAVENDER FESTIVAL AT HOSHYLA FARMS
132 Ryerson Ave., Manorville
Wander through the lavender fields and pick your own at this festival. Find lavender merchandise for sale, children's activities such as face painting and crafts, a vendor market with handcrafted arts and crafts, live music, food trucks and beer and wine tastings.
- COST Admission is $5
- WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 29.
- MORE INFO hoshylafarms.com
LAVENDER AT LOCAL ARBORETUMS
Lavender grows in the sensory garden near the main greenhouse at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay.
"Most of the lavender that grows here is English lavender, which needs a cool and moist environment with well drained organic soil. It likes full sun exposure with soil that’s not too dry but not too wet," says Vincent Simeone, director of Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park.
Over at Old Westbury Gardens, the lavender grows all along the fence in the Cottage Garden.
"Lavender is a hearty plant. Once you get it established, it’s very carefree," says head grower Scott Lucas. "As they flower, you need to cut them back a bit and you can get another flowering period toward August."
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
