PLEASANT HILL – As the grass continues to wither and crunch, there are still places to escape the drought and embrace the beauty of summer, like at the 7th annual Lavender Hill Farm U-Pick Event, hosted by self-proclaimed “lavender lover” Susie Daletas.
From July 10 to 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Daletas and her family at 85179 Ridgeway Road are hosting a family-friendly event where guests of all ages can cut their own flowers, paint rocks, explore an enchanting secret garden, and discover homemade goods and hidden treasures.
The Daletas have lived on the two-and-a-half-acre lot for 30 years now, raising their children and growing flowers. Daletas cares for multiple gardens around the yard, including a new black and white garden with white phlox and dark lilies.
On the farm, Daletas grows four types of lavender: English, Royal Velvet, Grosso, and Provence.
Although there is no official statewide count of lavender farms in Oregon, it is estimated that 30 to over 50 farms exist in the region when including all public and private growers. Travel and agricultural guides list dozens of farms and fields across the state. There are around 215 lavender farms registered with the United States Lavender Growers Association, but this number only includes member farms.
The most concentrated areas of lavender farms in Oregon are near the Willamette Valley and the Hood River region because of the area’s climate and soil. Lavender thrives in full sun and warm conditions, and the Willamette Valley’s moderate maritime climate provides long, sunny growing seasons from late June through August.
While visiting farms in Washington, Daletas said she took inspiration from one in particular.
“There was one farm that really stood out, and they had the bike, and they had the grandma at the rock painting table, and they had kids helping people park. I just kept taking little notes,” she said. “It was a huge farm, but they still kept it family-run. I really respected that.”
At Lavender Hill
Daletas’ husband, Steve, guides visiting vehicles down to the parking area and uses a walkie-talkie to let his 12-year-old grandson, Parker Wiltermood, know where to park the car. Carpooling is appreciated because of limited parking.
Daletas said Wiltermood has been helping since he still had all his baby teeth and started to take notice when the lavender flowers were blooming.
“He loves it, because he knows it’s the start of our family getting together,” she said.
Wiltermood also practices his hand at hedge-trimming and helped repaint a bicycle to match the purple of the lavender flowers. Even 10-year-old Bohdi Wiltermood helps tend cash at a lemonade stand.
After parking, folks will be greeted by Bohdi’s grade-school friends who want to help participate in the event, with a welcome bouquet.
“A month ago, all the kids came up to me, like, ‘When is lavender gonna happen?’ Because they’re excited to help again,” Stacey Wiltermood said, Daletas’ daughter and Wiltermood’s mother. “I think it’s fun just to share that with them, and the excitement they have.”
Stacey helps manage the farm’s social media presence, makes homemade apothecary goods like soaps and simmer pot packets, and makes around 50 lavender wreaths a year. She said that compared with earlier years, the event has become much more popular.
“We’ve had families come year after year, and it’s really a blessing when people go, ‘hey, I brought my mom this time,’ or ‘this is our third time with our sister,’” Daletas said.
She said one woman comes from Oakridge every year to paint rocks for a few hours at the event.
Folks can snap photos in the lavender bundles, throughout the Secret Garden, and in front of the freshly updated bike. While in the Secret Garden, people are welcome to have a picnic or search for hidden treasures.
The community support for this family-run event goes beyond the farms of Pleasant Hill. Daletas said the neighbors lend a helping hand in distributing treasure maps for the Secret Garden and providing good company. Even after moving to Lebanon, one neighbor said she will be coming back for the event.
“We’ve got a good following; we really do. That’s a real blessing to know that we’ve made a difference,” Daletas said.
