The Lavender Bee Farm in Petaluma, California

If you are among the legions of people who love the relaxing, light floral scent of lavender, and you plan to visit Northern California's Wine Country (or are lucky enough to live in this pastoral paradise) the Lavender Bee Farm in Petaluma is a must-see attraction. Nestled in the heart of Sonoma County with scenic views of rolling green hills in every direction, the Lavender Bee Farm offers a delightful agricultural experience for all ages. It's also a great way to learn a multitude of interesting facts about lavender and beekeeping-so bring the children along, but don't tell them it's an educational outing!

This charming family-owned and operated farm grows English, Provence and Grosso varieties of lavender, and has its own bee hives which are used to produce their award-winning (and incredibly tasty) lavender honey. In addition to the opportunity to sniff the heady scent of lavender to your heart's content, tours of the Lavender Bee Farm include tips on how to grow your own lavender, information about cooking with lavender, and decorating ideas. The farm's easy-to-walk gravel pathways make the tour an enjoyable experience for all. Visitors have the opportunity to see the bee barn and watch the bees at work in an observatory hive, while a guide tells you about the farm's interesting history. If you have children or are an animal lover, you'll surely want to stop and meet the farm animals. These include horses and chickens, as well as crowd favorites Mel the Camel and Lamar the Llama.

After your tour, you'll most certainly want to go on a shopping expedition in the Lavender Bee Farm store. Here you'll find abundant samples of lavender honey, lavender tea and lemonade, plus an array of lavender soaps, oils and other wonderful products to purchase. Fresh-cut lavender is available for sale from May through August, and dried lavender is available year round.

Lavender Bee Farm proprietors JoAnn and Rick Wallenstein first began growing lavender as a hobby, but enjoyed it so much they decided to expand their crops. They now have more than two acres of lavender planted on their family farm in picturesque Sonoma County, California. Their growing method is all natural, with no chemical fertilizers or pesticides used. All weeding, harvesting and pruning are performed by hand, and the area's climate and soil provides excellent growing conditions for the lavender plants. The lavender honey they produce is also all natural and raw, with no fragrance added.

The Lavender Bee Farm is located at 764 Chapman Lane in Petaluma, California, about an hour north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. Guided tours are offered 9am to 1pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment (call 707-789-0554 or visit their website, www.lavenderbeefarm.com). The cost of the guided tour is $5.00 per person, and children under 12 are free.

On your next visit to the California Wine Country, be sure to buzz on over to the Lavender Bee Farm for a truly unique agricultural experience!