I was intrigued by a jar of orange, coriander, ginger and lavender marmalade, which the label said would be good with cheese. My last stop was the boutique, which sells just about everything you can imagine that might incorporate lavender: hand cream, air freshener, candles, soap, bubble bath, laundry detergent and more, along with a range of food and drink items. And, yes, a lavender shop The boutique at La Maison Lavande sells lavender products of all descriptions. Other menu choices included lavender ice tea, lavender bubble tea, ordinary coffee, lavender frozen yogurt, a lavender vegan frozen treat, banana bread and brownies. The scone was a bit on the soft side for me-I’m a fan of crunchy-crusted scones-but that didn’t stop me from devouring it.
Fortunately, I love lavender, so I ordered a lavender lemonade and a raspberry, white chocolate and raspberry scone. Just about everything on the bistro menu has lavender in it, of course. (I’ll have a report on that lovely meal at Cidrerie Lacroix in a future post.) My snack at La Maison Lavande: lavender lemonade and a raspberry, white chocolate and lavender scone. Alternatively, you can buy light snacks from the outdoor bistro, which was my choice because I was continuing on elsewhere for lunch. I spotted a large family doing just that, unpacking sandwiches and salads from big coolers. Speaking of lunch: You’re welcome to bring your own picnic. Visitors can to kick back in the Muskoka chairs dotted amid the plants in the field closest to the entrance. Adults can be kids again on these big wooden swings.Ĭloser to the entrance, there’s a small playground with slides and climbing structures, and on the opposite side of the field, there’s a set of larger swings meant for adults.
Near the tower, picnic tables are clustered in a small grove of trees, providing welcome shade. In between two of the fields is a small observation tower where you can get a sweeping view of the whole property from a large wooden platform. (Touching the flowers is allowed, but picking is not.) Picnic tables in the shade at La Maison Lavande. I took the advice of a staffer at the gate and rubbed a blossom between my thumb and forefinger to release the scent, and it was marvellous. To my surprise, even after a light rain, the air wasn’t heady with lavender fragrance. Dogs and other small pets are welcome in the fields, as long as they’re leashed. Today, orderly rows of lavender bushes bloom across several fields, and visitors are invited to stroll among them. After testing various types of lavender-did you know there are more than 100 varieties?-they settled on a few that thrived in the lower Laurentians climate. Partners Nancie Ferron and Daniel Joannette fell in love with lavender on a trip to Provence and decided to grow it on their Saint-Eustache property. There are three more fields beyond this one. Tiptoe through the lavender in the Laurentians The view from the observation tower of lavender plants in bloom at La Maison Lavande in Saint-Eustache, Quebec. Here’s a quick snapshot of my recent trip to La Maison Lavande.ĭisclosure: I took this trip with support from Tourisme Laurentides and the mentioned businesses, none of which reviewed or approved this post. A two-hour drive from Ottawa can bring you to fields of fragrant lavender on the southern edge of the Laurentians, at La Maison Lavande in Saint-Eustache, Quebec.Īnd if you want to smell the lavender in bloom, late June to mid-July is the time to go. Sometimes, I’m startled by how little effort it takes to travel somewhere that feels completely different.
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