The lavender field at Lavender Rose Farms LLC
ABOUT THE FARM
Lavender Rose Farms lavender, flower, and herb farm. We are located in a semi-rural area in Frenchtown Township, just on the Western Border of Monroe, Mi. Many people are not aware there are country estates with acreage that border the River Raisin in West Monroe/Frenchtown as the river winds close to the road in many places. Our farmette sits on two-and-quarter acres and backs up to the River Raisin at the back of our property. We have been in our present location since 2017.
Our little lavender farm originated in 2013 as a small backyard farm in Riverview, Michigan. I grew lavender for my own enjoyment and began making products and floral design with it. We moved to Frenchtown in May 2017 and began planting our lavender fields and transplanting plants from our Riverview property.
About the Property/History - The back of our property is along the River Raisin to which we have river access for fishing and canoeing. The river was named by the French for the wild grapes that grew along the banks in abundance. Our property is scenic and park like and was part of the Knapp farm (est.1860). Our barn was a structure on the Knapp farm that was used for grain storage.
Our property sits on an old French ribbon/strip farm plot. "The original French and French Canadian settlers in Monroe County divided land using a traditional system of parceling property into long, narrow lots, each of which had frontage on the river, which was the main source of water, transportation, commerce, and communication." (Monroe County Parks, Trails, and Recreation page 17).
The Lavender Field: We have over 300 lavender plants of lavender in multiple different varieties. We currently grow Grosso, Phenomenal, Hidcote, Munstead, Melissa, Folgate and Royal Velvet - coming in spring 2020. Our fields are in the process of being replanted. Due to the polar vortex coupled with an unusually wet spring in 2019, we did lose some of the lavender plants. However, our losses were less than 1/4 of our plants. These will be replaced in the spring of 2020 with English lavender. We are in transition to mostly English lavender plants, which is better suited for our colder Michigan climate.
Pollinator Garden/Monarch Waystation: In 2018, our wildflower fields were registered nationally as a Monarch Waystation Butterfly Habitat. Our Waystation number is 21716. Monarch Waystations provide milkweed, nectar plants, and shelter throughout the Monarch butterflies annual cycle of reproduction and migration.
At Lavender Rose Farms, we believe in conservation of nature and our plans are to continue to expand our Monarch butterfly gardens. Our Monarch station and lavender fields also attracts bees, Monarch butterflies and other butterflies. You can see them dancing among the flowers daily in spring, summer, and early fall. We also often see eagles flying over head and occasionally resting in trees on our property and nearby. They fish on the The River Raisin and nest at a location on Lake Erie, which is a short distance away. Our property also has deer, which have been known to bend down in our wildflower fields, but tend to leave the lavender alone. We also have rabbits, squirrels, the occasional roaming peacock from a nearby farm, red fox, raccoon, opossum, ground hogs, and I have hear coyote although I have yet to see one. We love the variety of plants and animals here.
Emma' s Fairy Homes and Gardens: We started making little fairy homes in the trees throughout our property. It's fun to look through the property and find the fairy homes! It delights our granddaughter (the fairy homes/gardens were named for her).
Black Walnut Trees & Other Trees and Shrubs: Our property has more than a few black walnut trees. We have collected the fallen nuts in the fall and sold them to a hulling location in Ohio. You can find hullling locations on Hammond Black Walnut Co. website. We also have many evergreen trees that range from Eastern White Pine to Hemlock to giant Blue Spruce. We have a beautiful and colorful Japanese Maple, a newly planted cherry tree, Wigela bushes, lilacs and about 20 peonies.
Wild Grapes: There are still wild grapes growing on the banks of the River Raisin (see picture below with our dog). Wild grapes can be used in jellies and jams and preserves.
Herb & Vegetables: We currently have 3 large raised beds for herbs and vegetables. Our herbs are ever changing, but we grow mint, lemon verbena, basil, parsley, dill to name a few. We grew tomato, summer squash, eggplant, cucumbers, and jalapeno peppers in 2019. We plan to add at least one more raised bed for strawberries in coming seasons.
What's up next: We hope to expand our wildflower field and conservation area. We will begin growing more cut flowers including more peonies, sunflowers, larkspur, Sweet Annie and more. We also would like to begin a berry patch for raspberries and blackberries. Follow our Blog for more new and to keep up with our plans.
Our little lavender farm originated in 2013 as a small backyard farm in Riverview, Michigan. I grew lavender for my own enjoyment and began making products and floral design with it. We moved to Frenchtown in May 2017 and began planting our lavender fields and transplanting plants from our Riverview property.
About the Property/History - The back of our property is along the River Raisin to which we have river access for fishing and canoeing. The river was named by the French for the wild grapes that grew along the banks in abundance. Our property is scenic and park like and was part of the Knapp farm (est.1860). Our barn was a structure on the Knapp farm that was used for grain storage.
Our property sits on an old French ribbon/strip farm plot. "The original French and French Canadian settlers in Monroe County divided land using a traditional system of parceling property into long, narrow lots, each of which had frontage on the river, which was the main source of water, transportation, commerce, and communication." (Monroe County Parks, Trails, and Recreation page 17).
The Lavender Field: We have over 300 lavender plants of lavender in multiple different varieties. We currently grow Grosso, Phenomenal, Hidcote, Munstead, Melissa, Folgate and Royal Velvet - coming in spring 2020. Our fields are in the process of being replanted. Due to the polar vortex coupled with an unusually wet spring in 2019, we did lose some of the lavender plants. However, our losses were less than 1/4 of our plants. These will be replaced in the spring of 2020 with English lavender. We are in transition to mostly English lavender plants, which is better suited for our colder Michigan climate.
Pollinator Garden/Monarch Waystation: In 2018, our wildflower fields were registered nationally as a Monarch Waystation Butterfly Habitat. Our Waystation number is 21716. Monarch Waystations provide milkweed, nectar plants, and shelter throughout the Monarch butterflies annual cycle of reproduction and migration.
At Lavender Rose Farms, we believe in conservation of nature and our plans are to continue to expand our Monarch butterfly gardens. Our Monarch station and lavender fields also attracts bees, Monarch butterflies and other butterflies. You can see them dancing among the flowers daily in spring, summer, and early fall. We also often see eagles flying over head and occasionally resting in trees on our property and nearby. They fish on the The River Raisin and nest at a location on Lake Erie, which is a short distance away. Our property also has deer, which have been known to bend down in our wildflower fields, but tend to leave the lavender alone. We also have rabbits, squirrels, the occasional roaming peacock from a nearby farm, red fox, raccoon, opossum, ground hogs, and I have hear coyote although I have yet to see one. We love the variety of plants and animals here.
Emma' s Fairy Homes and Gardens: We started making little fairy homes in the trees throughout our property. It's fun to look through the property and find the fairy homes! It delights our granddaughter (the fairy homes/gardens were named for her).
Black Walnut Trees & Other Trees and Shrubs: Our property has more than a few black walnut trees. We have collected the fallen nuts in the fall and sold them to a hulling location in Ohio. You can find hullling locations on Hammond Black Walnut Co. website. We also have many evergreen trees that range from Eastern White Pine to Hemlock to giant Blue Spruce. We have a beautiful and colorful Japanese Maple, a newly planted cherry tree, Wigela bushes, lilacs and about 20 peonies.
Wild Grapes: There are still wild grapes growing on the banks of the River Raisin (see picture below with our dog). Wild grapes can be used in jellies and jams and preserves.
Herb & Vegetables: We currently have 3 large raised beds for herbs and vegetables. Our herbs are ever changing, but we grow mint, lemon verbena, basil, parsley, dill to name a few. We grew tomato, summer squash, eggplant, cucumbers, and jalapeno peppers in 2019. We plan to add at least one more raised bed for strawberries in coming seasons.
What's up next: We hope to expand our wildflower field and conservation area. We will begin growing more cut flowers including more peonies, sunflowers, larkspur, Sweet Annie and more. We also would like to begin a berry patch for raspberries and blackberries. Follow our Blog for more new and to keep up with our plans.
Official Monarch Waystation designation in 2018
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Pollinator garden - zinna and sunflower 2019
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Pollinator Garden/Monarch Waystation July 2019
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Pollinator Garden/Monarch Waystation May 2019
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All images © Lavender Rose Farms LLC