Jo’s Monday walk : Yorkshire Lavender

I’ve been aware of the existence of Yorkshire Lavender for a couple of years, but I had no idea that this family concern had been going for more than twenty.  Almost 60 acres of south facing farmland on the Howardian Hills have been cultivated into a rolling sea of lavender.  It began as a project and distraction when the owner’s wife died, leaving him with two young children.  What a tribute it is, to her and to them.

I had set my heart on a pot of white lavender, having seen some at Hampton Court Flower Show.  Scarcely was I through the door when my eyes alighted on the very thing. And in awfully nice company, too!  ‘Heavenly Angel’ was destined to come home with me.

But first I’d better take you on a tour of inspection.  We’ll take it slowly because you don’t want to miss anything.

Breathtaking, isn’t it?  I hardly would have thought that such impact could be created with lavender, but it curved sensuously away, a delicious romp of lilacs, pink and white.  And the aroma?  Wafting gently at you from all sides.

Old and young experience the joy together, the children whooping through the maze and turning cartwheels, smiles on the faces of their elders. Nor is it only about the lavender. Densely packed borders tilt and sway with fronds of delicate grasses and exquisite beads of colour.  I defy anyone to hurry through this garden.

Beside the Wibbly Wobbly Way, a switchback of green and lavender, a gardener paused in her labours to explain to us something of the history of the garden and its planting.  The lavender will all be cut back in 2 ferocious days of harvesting in early September.  Till then, it’s ours to admire.

All afternoon I waited for the sun to shine, to burnish the softly swaying fronds of grass, but it was not to be.

If the youngsters are getting bored, there’s a giant snakes and ladders game to play and a small enclosure with deer, but I was having trouble tearing myself away from the dazzling array of plants, some of which I’d never seen before.

Climbing the hillside to the top of the site I came across a pond with water lilies.  The gardens are continuing to develop, and several people that I talked to had noticed a big improvement in recent years.  I was more than happy with what I found.

New strains of lavender are introduced, alongside tried and trusted favourites.  At the top of the hill, a last bit of whimsy.  A cricket match is in progress.  Don’t look at me!  I can neither bowl nor bat, let alone catch.  Maybe I could umpire?

The gardens are open from the end of March to 1st October, a £3 charge being made from June till August.  Out of season, entry is free.  A shop sells lavender products, and in the tearooms you can sample lavender scones, with jam and cream, of course.  What’s keeping you?

Many thanks for joining me again this week.  Walkers or readers, it doesn’t matter.  You’re all wonderful company.  If you’d like to join in with a walk of your own, details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.  You’ll be very welcome.  Time to put the kettle on now, and settle in for a good read.

…………………………………………………………………………….

Drake starts us off with a vintage train ride this week :

On track of the past

Fancy a swift trip to the barrage and back with Debbie?

A quick walk around the bay

Welcome Violet again!  Look what she found in Toronto :

Rubber ducky

Jackie’s in Toronto too.  I do like the look of that roof garden :

Let’s Chew the Fat

Woolly is still with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment :

Jo’s-Monday-Walk-Wk30_Beaumont-Hamel-Pt-2

What a time Lady Lee had at the spa!

Spa weekend in Bad Fussing

Cathy has finished work in Japan.  It’s all fun from now on!

The Daibutsu Hiking Course, a Love Shrine and a money washing shrine

There’s usually a way, if you look for it.  Do visit resourceful Down by the Dougie :

Coastal walk from Lyme – Charmouth, Golden Cap and Stonebarrow

Lisbon looks good from lots of angles so we’ll forgive Becky for taking to the water :

Crossing the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula

‘Twixt land and sea, Susan lyrically experiences the perfection that is California :

Walking Port San Luis Pier

And the ‘other’ Susan has a treat for us bookworms, in NYC :

A Walk Along Library Way

That’s it for another week.  Hope you can fit in some walking between showers.  See you soon!

 

 

178 comments

  1. I love lavender!! I’m so jealous! There’s only a couple of varieties that can survive the winter here so it is pretty limited at our lavender farms. What a feast for the senses 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  3. Pingback: In the middle of the history | Le Drake Noir

  5. Absolute treat for the eyes and nose. We could almost smell the lavender. Love how the lavendar contrasts with the pastel creaminess of the grasses. And is that a black poppy?? Wow, amazing. Beautiful photography. Love the white butterfly and the way you have compiled this collection of gorgeous flowers. Definitely if we were to travel anywhere nearby we will make a point of going to these gardens. What a wonderful tribute. The only time we have seen lavendar in mass, but not as much as this, not the varieties of lavendar, was in Southern France in Provence. But we have loved many botanical gardens around the world and this one looks like a beaut!

    Ben & Peta

    Like

    Reply

    1. It was a real treat, Peta, and did exceed my expectations. The dark one you refer to was hollyhocks, though the angle I’ve taken it from is perhaps deceptive. There were many stunning plants, as well as the lavender. Thanks for your company, hon 🙂 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  6. Jo this looks wonderful and a walk through a lavender field is good for the soul. I went for the first time last year to a farm in Surrey, the colours were incredible and the scents amazing.

    Like

    Reply

    1. It was a revelation, Suze. 🙂 🙂
      I’ve just come from yours. Intrigued by the mini coffee maker but wasn’t sure where I was going to get my boiling water. You have loads of entrants so I won’t apply. Hope you’re still enjoying Summer. It’s a bit hit and miss up here. Mostly miss 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  7. Ahh… I can almost smell the lavender! Love that scent! Thanks for sharing this wonderful series, Jo. I had lavenders here in my garden and was devastated when they died. 😢 My landscaper planted new ones but they are not nearly as good…

    Like

    Reply

    1. It does have a tendency to do so, Noelle. We had the same happen in the Algarve, but I don’t think growing conditions here are quite the same. This garden is a definite success story though. Built with lots of love. 🙂 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  10. Hi Jo. Thinking of you and all the wonderful walks you have taken us on. I have never seen lavender fields before, so this is a treat. What beautiful scenery. All is well…just not blogging. I promise I’ll peep in more than once every couple of years. 😊

    Like

    Reply

    1. Bless you, darlin! I’m honoured to have you here. When I saw Ron’s post I instatntly thought of you so thanks for the reassurance. Take good care! I won’t forget you, blogging or not. 🙂 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  11. Wow. Such wonderful photos for a fitting tribute to this fabulous spot. I have fallen in love with lavendar – soap, honey, tea, oil.
    so gald you found your pot of white – did it come with the bee? 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  12. oh what a heartwarming post, Jo and such a lovely tribute of a husband to his wife. she must be smiling from above! thank you for taking me to this heavenly place. it is my wish to be in a sea of lavender! 🙂 have a great week dear friend 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. It’s pretty common in the plant nurseries, Pit, but this is the only garden I know of that’s devoted to lavender. It looked fabulous! And smelt pretty good too. 🙂 🙂 Thanks a lot. Hope you get your spam problem with Achim resolved. I check mine every couple of days because I never know who’s going to end up there.

      Like

      Reply

  15. I can almost smell the lavender through the screen. One of my favorites. Despite a lack of sun, the colors in your photos are bright and inviting and so is the garden, of course. Lavender scones? Did you try them, Jo? Having a smell transported to a taste sounds interesting. Not sure whether I would jump on that, but, then again, I like to try new things. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. The scones did look rather fabulous, Liesbet, but I opted for a sandwich and didn’t really have space afterwards. And I had a lovely jam and cream scone just a couple of days previously at an Open Garden. Life can’t be all indulgence! 🙂 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  17. Pingback: Happy Sunday! – Ladyleemanila

    1. Made me realize I’ve never written about Isle of Wight lavender which wins prizes at Chelsea every year. I have written about the lavender of Provence though!

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.