Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly

 

It started out as just a dream in 1999 when she was working with another lavender farm.

Now it’s almost nine acres and 10 varieties of lavender with her own shop and a tourist stop for visitors to the Santa Ynez Valley. It’s Andre Lavender Farm and its lavender and oils are available for locals, tourists and visitors to the Internet site.

“It’s something Cheryl always wanted to do,” said Ralph Andre, speaking about his daughter, Cheryl Wagner, owner of the business since 2004. Andre and his wife, Ruth, mind the store, so to speak, helping Wagner with sales, distillation and harvesting.

The business, located in Buellton on Santa Rosa Road just past the entrance to the Highway 101 exit, has a shop, which is right on the site where the lavender is grown and harvested, displaying the various lavender products. Visitors can see the lavender in the field and read about which variety is best for the need they have.

 

“Lavender is one of the most healing oils and flowers that there is,” said Ruth. “It’s been used for thousands of years, and our products here are pure, 100 percent lavender; no additives or other products have been mixed with our lavender.”

The purity of the product is what keeps the customers returning, Ralph insisted. He is in charge of distilling the products the shop sells.

 

Wagner became interested in the lavender business about 10 years ago and decided to go out on her own after learning about all of its reputed medicinal benefits. “It’s become my passion,” she said.

The farm sells fresh and dried flowers when they are in bloom. One advantage lavender plants have, Wagner noted, is that it keeps the deer away from gardens and other plants. “They won’t come near it – she said. “They hate the smell.”

The smell is heavenly to humans, however, and a myriad of products have been developed at Andre Lavender Farm, all made from lavender.

These include shampoo and hair conditioner, linen water, massage oil, hand and body lotion, moisturing bath and shower gel, water mist, sachets, neck wraps, soy candles, essential oils, lip balm, dryer bags, reed diffusers, and numerous handmade, one-of-a-kind products such as keepsake and gift boxes. “No two are the same,” she said, speaking about her newest products. All are sold at the shop and also are available online.

 

In December, Wagner was asked to host boutique lavender parties at the Buellton Senior Citizen’s Center and private homes.

“Our products were very popular,” she said. “They have asked us to come again and set up another time.”

The business has grown from its initial five acres to nine, which will be planted this year. Wagner plans to add numerous products this spring with the new varieties she will be planting. Lavenders grown on site include Grosso, Grappenhall, Super, Melissa, Vera, Jean Davis, Sarah, Tuscan, English and Abriali. Her goal over the next few years is to reach commercial clients outside of the Santa Ynez Valley.

 

This year she began a push for these clients with the advent of her company website, andreorganiclavender.com, which has resulted in some large orders from customers throughout Southern California.

She also wants to help community causes. This winter she is giving $1 to the Homeless Animal Rescue Team, Inc., of Buellton, for every sale of lavender mulch.

Lavender blooms between June and the end of September, with the store open in winter Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

In spring and summer the shop is open Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 350-0593.