Love, Love, Love Lavender!

I know where there are lavender fields, kissed by the sun, and the salt air of the Salish Sea...where gentle breezes carry the sweet fragrance of lavender on the air.

Rise early, and catch the Horseshoe Bay ferry to Vancouver Island.  In dawn's early light, the mountains and sea are lavender blue.  Breathe deeply.  Relax, and enjoy the journey.

   

Travel South from Nanaimo's Departure Bay ferry terminal, to Vancouver Island's verdant Cowichan Valley. known as the "Provence of Canada".  There, you'll find Damali Lavender Farm and Winery in Cobble Hill.   

There are 25 different varieties of lavender grown on the farm.  It is a sensual pleasure to walk through the colourful fields.  The soft, soothing scent of lavender surrounds you, and there's a gentle humming of bees.  

  

Lavender grown on the farm is used in essential oils, soaps and lotions.  Lavender is often found in recipes from the Provence region of France, including Ratatouille, a rich tomato-based eggplant and zucchini casserole.  Island chefs use the farm's lavender in scones, lavender shortbread cookies, lavender lemon loaf, lavender lemon icecream, and lavender chocolate ganache.

Soon, the farm will produce its own lavender honey.  Bee hives were placed on the property just this year, and the honey had not yet been harvested, when my charming companion and I visited the farm.

There's a vineyard too, and a winery in what was once an old barn.  Damali Winery planted it's first vines more than a dozen years ago.  Then, in 2011, the winery produced its first wines.  The grapes they've planted are Cabernet Libre, Castel, Siegerrebe, and Pinot Noir.

They also grow blackberries, raspberries, black currants, and rhubarb - all of which are used to make the fruit wines which carry the Damali label.  I loved the Rhube Lavande, a light, and refreshing rhubarb wine, with a lemony tang, that is perfect on a hot, Summer day!  The lavender naturally  sweetens the rhubarb, and the rhubarb gives the wine a delicate coral pink colour. 

The farm has a licensed picnic area, and invites guests to BYOP (bring your own picnic).  Bon appetit!  The farm is in and of itself, a feast for the eyes! 

  

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.