by Lynn Burshtein.
For local Torontonians (or visitors) looking to escape the city to relax and breathe in some fresh air, the newly-opened Avalon Lavender Farm located in Mono, Ontario (about an hour’s drive from Toronto and ten minutes north of Orangeville) is a “scent-sational” way to spend the day. With over 30,000 lavender plants on-site, the picturesque purple fields resemble a Monet painting from far away. Close-up, the delicate fragrance of lavender harkens back to a beautiful French countryside I once had the pleasure of visiting. (In fact, the fields are a mix of English and French lavender).
While the lavender fields and the meadows around a long river walk are the main attraction, the property has other remarkable things to behold, including a restored barn-house that dates back to the 1890s and serves as an event space. Elsewhere on the farm, guests will find chickens, horses (including a retired racehorse (called KitKat), and a feisty duo named Grace and Frankie. There is also a Celtic Stone Circle, an homage to the owners’ Scottish ancestry, where yoga classes, Reiki and solstice celebrations are held. Picnic baskets filled with delicious foods from local businesses are available for purchase. The presence of honeybees, a lavender distillery, and an array of lavender-infused items (including candles, soaps, simple syrup, and lavender honey and gifts made by local artisans) that are available at the store located inside the barn, round out this wellness-themed day-trip.
Lavender has long been touted for its healing and wellness properties, with benefits including the reduction of pain and inflammation, elevating mood, calming anxiety and depression, and supporting better sleep, among other things. Here’s what the Cleveland Clinic has to say about Lavender’s health benefits and how to use it. Being immersed in the purple blossoms is intoxicating. So, at the end of my visit, I loaded up with lavender spray to try a sleep experiment at home. That night, I lightly spritzed my pillow and sleep mask with the spray and ended up waking up more refreshed than usual. It also felt great knowing these products were natural.
Avalon Lavender Farm is a first-generation, family-owned property and is now the province of Ontario’s biggest lavender farm. The owners provide a warm welcome to their guests. You can sense the pride they have for their labor of love, and their passion is infectious. They also make a point of giving back to the community: they are supporters of the Women’s College Hospital, which is Canada’s largest clinical and research program focused on women’s mental health.
A visit to Avalon Lavendar Farm, whether on National Lavender Day (July 9, 2022), or any another day would be an excellent opportunity to learn about and enjoy all things lavender. Visit Avalon Lavender Farm to find out more including when they are open to visitors, how to buy tickets and all that the farm offers.
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A Toronto-based writer and long-time contributor to Travel to Wellness, Lynn Burshtein was a guest of Avalon in June, 2022.