June is Lavender Month in Sonoma Wine Country

Each June, Sonoma County, California, blooms in an explosion of lavender and celebrates with popular events and farm tours. Lavender businesses in Sonoma Wine Country feature artisan wares online, but during harvest season the farmrs open for the public to experience in person the fields, fragrance, and hand-crafted products. 

Lavender’s silver-gray stalks growing wild and in gardens were a favorite of Mediterranean royalty in ancient times. Today, the tiny purple blooms with their distinctive perfume are popular far and wide, including with bees who adore lavender’s fragrant pollen.

Here are all the ways to enjoy the lavender harvest in Sonoma County this season.

Monte-Bellaria di California, Sebastopol

Vibrant purples and greens and a heavenly fragrance will dazzle you at Monte-Bellaria di California, a farm lined with lavender. Take a self-guided walk through sprawling lavender fields, then stop by the farm store for products like cold-pressed olive oil and goods made with honey.

Book a tour in spring for lush green fields, in June for peak blooms, and in August for the most fragrance. In winter, come shop the holiday store. Bring a picnic and reserve a private arbor spot with views. Or visit during annual Farm Trials weekends, typically in May and September, when Sonoma County farms open to visitors.

Matanzas Creek Winery, Santa Rosa

Some of Sonoma County’s most breathtaking lavender is found at Matanzas Creek Winery. The winery’s spectacular, terraced lavender gardens provide visitors with a fragrant and gorgeous welcome. The lavender fields are farmed to preserve the local ecosystem. Once the lavender reaches full bloom, it’s cut by hand, and the entire plant is utilized in the production of the winery’s bath, body, and home products. Book one of the winery’s tastings, picnic on the grounds, or bocce ball experience, and soak in all the beauty of this picture-perfect estate.

Lavender Bee Farm, Petaluma

The lavender honey from Lavender Bee Farm sells out every year because of its exceptional taste. This family farm is chemical-free, boasting multiple varieties of lavender, more than 5,000 pretty plants, and many busy beehives. The farm’s fresh products are available online year-round, including lavender bouquets, sachets, and hydrosols (steam-distilled aromatic water). The farm is open in harvest season for farm tours by appointment. 

Bees N Blooms, Santa Rosa

Bees N Blooms has a stunning Lavender Labyrinth (the largest in California!) that you can stroll through at this certified organic farm. Discover the fragrant fields of many different types of lavender, as well as honeybees, a tree nursery, an organic vegetable garden, and other vibrant flowers on display. Check the website for seasonal public visits and family-friendly events at this beloved destination. The online store is always open for pollinator-friendly plants, lavender bath and body care products, and more.

Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.