Photos by Cheryl Landes

The Oregon Lavender Farm in Oregon City hosts the Clackamas County Lavender Festival every year. The farm is open to the public during the festival only.

The 2020 festival has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the pictures in today’s armchair photo tour are from a trip to a previous festival.

The festival features local food, wine, beer, and cider. Farm-grown and handcrafted products are for sale, including soap, wreaths, lotions, essential oils, and lavender ice cream and lemonade. You can pick your own lavender and take walks through the lavender field. If it’s a clear day, you can see Mount Hood from the field.

The Oregon Lavender Farm is located near the end of the Oregon Trail, along the Barlow segment of the trail. Sam Barlow built this segment of the trail as an alternative route. The other option meant pioneers had to ford the Columbia River.

The 90-acre farm is owned by Liberty Natural Products, which sells 30 medicinal and aromatic herbs wholesale. Crops grown on the farm include clary sage, rosemary, and lavender. The farm also has an aromatic herb garden with a dance floor and stage, which is used for weddings and special events.