There are still plenty of adventures to share from Japan, but I wanted to write about what I’ve been up to in (and around) Toronto. I especially wanted to write about Weir’s Lane Lavender & Apiary before the lavender season ends.

After planning to visit a lavender farm for months, I finally made it to Weir’s Lane. It was the perfect time to see both the English and French lavender flowers. Although, I do wish it wasn’t during a heat wave.

I breathed in the relaxing scent, as I walked among the lavender rows. Since the sun was beaming down, and the field was fairly small, I felt that I had made the most of it after a few minutes.

When I headed back to the car, I saw some people walking down the path. I figured that’s where the shop was and decided to check it out. As the path curved, an even bigger lavender field revealed itself. I forgot all about the heat, and excitedly walked towards the fragrant blooms.

Neighbouring farms and trees hid the roads, cars, and buildings. It felt incredibly peaceful to be surrounded by nature. The only two other people in the field were quietly taking photos. Before leaving, I did the same. Apparently my silly poses gave the other people ideas for new angles, and they stayed behind continuing to snap photos.

On my way to the shop, I noticed thousands of bees buzzing around stacked boxes. One of the owners casually asked if I was interested in bees. My gut reaction was to say nope and keep on walking, but he reassured me that the bees wouldn’t risk their short lives to hurt me. He then continued to explain all kinds of fascinating tidbits about bees. When he found out I was vegan, he shared the gentle way in which they treat the bees. They never move the hives, and only gather honey once a year before it overflows the hive. They gather the honey long before the winter, ensuring the bees have enough time to adequately stock up for the cold.

The ticket prices included a coupon for the shop, and after learning about their honey I wanted to give it a taste. I ended up buying two jars of lavender infused honey. There were also lavender plants for purchase, but the owner advised that they would only thrive directly in the ground.

As soon as I got home, I ate a spoonful of the lavender infused honey. It tasted sweet and fresh with just the right amount of lavender flavour. The distinct taste was there, but it didn’t feel like eating a bar of soap as I feared. The liquid gold tastes great in tea, but my favourite way to enjoy it is as a crepe filling. I either spread it directly on the crepes, or prepare a paste with the honey and ground up black sesame seeds. Just typing this is making me crave it.

If you don’t get a chance to visit a lavender farm this season, you can always start planning one for next year.