BARABOO, Wis. — Some patches of land in Wisconsin currently look like the south of France, as lavender fields bloom.
Walking through the lavender at New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm, sometimes the loudest things you hear are the bees. It’s obvious they love the plants.
“We love the fact that this is our office,” said Laura McReynolds, as she gestured to the hills behind her. “We have 40 acres that we get to enjoy and make more beautiful.”
The McReynolds family moved to Baraboo about seven years ago, and started the farm. They had sold their business in Kansas, and were trying to decide what their next phase of life would look like.
“We were kind of going through a difficult time in our family at the time,” Laura said. “I remember seeing a picture of a lavender field and feeling really just this sense of calmness and peace just looking at that.”
Their future then seemed clear. They decided to move to Baraboo to be closer to Laura’s family in Waupun. Then, they’d create a place for people to relax, and enjoy nature.
“We really had this vision of building a spot that was beautiful and restful and peaceful, so people can connect with friends and family,” Laura said.
There’s a big farm shop with all kinds of products made with their lavender, plus a patio, and then the whole 40 acres of property. The main lavender area has dozens of rows of plants, a gazebo, hanging swings, a mini waterfall, and a small river.
“We have 14 different varieties of lavender so people can really smell and see different varieties in one spot,” said Aron McReynolds.
On top of the lavender areas, they have eight acres of wildflowers. There are birds flying around, enjoying that they have such a big area to themselves.
“[There are] all kinds of different trails, and an observation deck where you can see the wildflowers and the lavender in one spot,” Aron said.
They make all kinds of lavender-infused foods and drinks. There’s lavender sugar, lavender brownie mix, and lavender olive oil.
“We have so many specialty drinks, and of course our lavender ice cream and our lavender cherry pie,” Aron said.
The McReynolds laugh when asked what type of trial and error it takes to develop all these recipes using lavender.
“Lavender has a really unique taste to it,” Laura said. “It took us probably about six months to develop the recipe for lavender cherry pie and get it just right.”
There are also lots of personal care and home products, like body lotion, room spray, and classic lavender sachets. It includes other things to help people sleep, too.
“A lot of people have trouble sleeping. And so that's probably the number one complaint that we [hear]. Or anxiousness. And lavender has been known to help with that,” Laura said.
“We distill all of our own oil on the farm, and use that oil to make our products,” she continued. “You can use [the lavender essential oil] in a diffuser, or we have a really nice linen spray mist that people will spray their bed sheets and pillows and use that before bedtime.”
Lavender blooms in Wisconsin until early or mid-August.
