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.

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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

  3. We recently went to a lavender garden and it was a lovely experience. While I think it’s beautiful, lavender actually gives me a headache, which is the exact opposite of what it is supposed to do.

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  10. Breathtaking as you say Jo – what a wonderful tribute to the owner’s late wife! Could almost be in Provence except that the light is a little different. With the backdrop of the rolling hills those pretty soft lilacs, pinks and whites are stunning and the scent must have been wonderful. Another fascinating walk and somewhere I must try to get to one day. Hope you’re having a lovely week 🙂

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    1. Life feels a bit of a rollercoaster at present, Rosemay, but there’s good along with the not so good. 🙂 🙂 Funnily enough we had a wonderful day out at Bolton Abbey yesterday with a group of walkers we know from the Algarve. Many of them come ‘home’ for the summer because it’s too hot over there, and one had suggested the meet up. Thoroughly enjoyed it. 🙂 And of course last week I dragged Mick off to the lavender farm. He didn’t protest 🙂 Hope things are good with you?

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      1. Think life can be a bit like that Jo – seems to be a lot going on here with one thing or another and it can get a bit stressful! Hope things settle down for you soon. Always love Bolton Abbey – one of my favourite spots and the tea rooms are wonderful! Hope you have a relaxing weekend 🙂

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      1. Oh no! I’ve found that I have become more susceptible to the changing seasons and find myself sneezing quite a bit as the weather warms up. I do love seeing rainbows after a spring or summer shower, never get tired of them 🙂

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  12. There’s one really big lavender tumbling over the front wall of my house and all summer it’s been covered with bees. They’ve had a wonderful feast, but now they’re spent and lots have died on the leaves. I suppose the bees there were too busy to bother the children playing in the fields.
    The fragrance of mine is amazing, it must be almost overpowering at Yorkshire Lavender. Lovely photos honey, especially of the verbena in your header x:-)x

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    1. Hiya, darlin! Thank you! 🙂 We did hear a few squeals that might have been on account of the bees, but there was certainly enough to keep them busy. The colours and the fragrance were fabulous, Gilly. You on holiday this week? 🙂

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    2. Hi Kathryn,
      I did check out your post and I liked it, but again my comment didn’t go through. It simply disappeared. Could it be in the spam folder?
      Have a wonderful August,
      Pit

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    1. They did use to harvest in August, Amanda, but lots of people visit during the school holidays so it’s now the first week after the August Bank Holiday. Whatever the weather happens to be doing! 🙂 🙂

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      1. I hear that it is an especially wet summer over your way this year, Jo, so perhaps the harvest will be a little later again…. and one might enjoy the Lavender between showers?

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      3. Oh dear and I just received a photo post from a girlfriend in Denmark where it is also pouring down. I was so lucky last year, but I feel sorry for you guys knowing how short your summer is. Hopefully the rainclouds will clear tomorrow?

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