Posted : June 29, 2022
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
Soak in the natural beauty and wonder at Ontario’s newest lavender farm that can be found right here in Headwaters! Avalon Lavender Farm is located in Mono, just ten minutes north of Orangeville. If you’re looking for a fun day trip for all ages, then this is the place to go this summer!
Avalon Lavender Farm is home to over 30,000 lavender plants. They have both English and French varieties including seven different species. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour by reading the numerous signs found throughout their field that share information about the different lavender varieties. Plus, you can try your hand at cut-your-own lavender!
Inside their fully renovated two-story Heritage Barn, which dates back to 1891, you’ll find a lovely shop. Here, you’ll find an assortment of items made with lavender grown on site or in partnership with local artisans. There’s everything from baked goods, jewelry, and other lavender related products like lavender creamed honey. Thanks to their Portuguese copper still, they distill all their oils and hydrosols on site. Avalon also runs various pop-up events and workshops that take place within their Heritage Barn.
Every weekend Avalon offers a limited number of “Picnics for Two!” If you book one of these you can experience an Instagram-worthy picnic in their lavender fields. Picnics include a cozy set up among the lavender as well as a fabulous feast created by Fromage Orangeville that includes things like cheese, crackers, Lavender Kombucha, Lemon Lavender Scones, and more!
This lavender farm is so much more than its purple rows and rows of fragrant flowers! It’s a place to truly connect with nature! On the grounds you’ll meet free range Lavender Orpington chickens as well as KitKat, who’s a retired racehorse, and other friendly equines.
The Avalon Lavender Farm has a scenic portion of the Nottawasaga River’s north branch running through it. Between a now untouched meadow and the river runs their River Walk. This winding trail offers picturesque snapshots of the river and farm. It’s a lovely walk for young and old and only takes around ten minutes to complete.
Avalon was named after the mystical place from the legend of King Arthur. The name literally means “Isle of Fruit” and that’s exactly what Avalon Lavender Farm is! And this magical place has another interesting feature, a Celtic Stone Circle. Paying homage to their Scottish heritage, the family created a hundred-foot field with eight stones rehomed from the farm’s borders. Aligned with the compass rose, their Celtic Stone Circle hosts a ton of fun events! There’s live music, yoga sessions, women’s circles, and more!
One thing to note is that this lavender farm is more than just a place to grab your next Instagram photo. As mentioned, it’s a place to connect to nature as well as to relax. As big supporters of Women’s mental health, Avalon wants people to realize the immense benefits that lavender has. Studies show that lavender significantly improves sleep quality, relaxation, happiness and helps with a myriad of health issues like anxiety, depression, and more.
So, whether you’re looking for a fun day trip this summer, a place to unwind, or a great spot to grab some lavender products, Avalon Lavender Farm has what you need!
Story by Stephanie Mayo
