I like this place already and I haven't even got there yet!
If this doesn't look like a Colonial mansion I don't know what does.
After parking I started looking for the lavender and those side elements that help my compositions. They were most certainly here. To the southwest of the Inn was a field of wild flowers, poppy's and of course lavender. We'll start there.
I love how the lavender is broken up and not in predictable rows. The wild flowers just make it work so well. The color is awesome!
I'll add some poppy's to the mix to get almost an abstract effect with the different colors and textures. Whad'ya think?
We'll do a horizontal of the first image. I really love places where there are a variety of shots one can take and not get squeezed because of background clutter. This place has that variety. But landscape images are but one style of images one might shoot. The Inn itself is very photo worthy as seen below. Of course the vendor tent would be better gone, but it lends to the atmosphere of the festival right?
So I wandered around the lavender for a bit and ran into another group of bee hives. Mmm? Looks like a pattern. I like this shot of the bee hives better than at Jardin du Soleil because of the contrast in color that are around them.
Yes I know that the second image in this series looks awfully like this image minus the hives. You would be correct. There lies the concept of cropping. But in this case I get two images for the price of one. If I ever need a bee hive photo I will know where to look. And this one is interesting in its own right. You be the judge.
From here I wandered toward the great big inn. There was a guy dressed up like, I'm going out on a limb here, George Washington. He greeted folks as they approached the inn. I couldn't help but think that the classic cars parked outside the inn would have have made old George a bit skittish getting behind the wheel. Perhaps a coach or buggy with horses would have been closer to the part. It's all good. (Besides who wants to pickup horse poop on a hot day?)
Along the east side of the property the vendors tents were setup. As I walked further I saw an old familiar face. One Jim Kiesser helping his neighbor set his tent up. He represented Casey's Kettle Corn.
I've known Jim for many decades but I don't always see him as much as I should, so it was good seeing my old friend again. Many years Jim ago created a salmon jig called the Kiesser Teaser when salmon could be caught around here in abundance. He worked his tail off to make it work and it did. I would go out with Jim and you could be assured that whether it was salmon or halibut you would come home with something. But the salmon seasons were cut. Areas like the Dungeness Spit near the lighthouse that produced monster king salmon and others were now off limits to fishermen. I don't want to go down that path as it is ancient history now. But many people were hurt financially by the court's decision including Jim and others I know.
So now he is working with Casey Dennis. They couldn't have found a better person to have working for them. And an offer to go salmon fishing again will be most certainly accepted. Thanks Jim.
Casey and Carolyn started their business in 2001 working the festival circuit. By 2002 they opened a small commercial kitchen in their home and as the business took off they now operate a 1600 square foot commercial kitchen in Sequim, Washington. Great story.
They also help people that need money for a worthy cause to setup fundraisers using their kettle corn and give them great prices to help them realize that need. Please check their website out and if you need to do a fundraiser and your in the area, check them out.
As I walked further along the vendors tents I spotted Debi Breitbach at the very end of the row, spinning her wool into some cool wool product. She has a business called The Shepherd's Fold. I met Debi last year at the Port Williams Lavender farm. She and her husband have a farm west of Port Angeles and raises all their own veggies, animals and of course wool. She follows the festival circuit and also the Farmer's Market in Port Angeles I believe.
I bought a very warm wool watch cap from her at the last festival and I wear that thing everyday in the winter to cover this shaved head. And it has lavender color in it!
After chatting for a while and a customer's wanting to purchase her wares I said my goodbyes and headed for my car. It's been a good day.
The weather was great except for a bit of a breeze along the Strait there at the Inn. I hope it holds through the entire weekend.
I had only today to visit the farms. I know there are others I could have hit, but I got my fill of lavender for another year. I enjoyed Ciscoe and the opening ceremonies. The four farms I visited all had something to offer in the way of photographs and conversation. Some more than others.
The images I got this year were good and I'll add them to my lavender stock.
I hope you enjoyed my trip through the farms. If you have any comments after reading these blogs please don't hesitate to make a suggestion, a constructive comment on my images this year or anything else that would lend to the conversation.
Thanks for looking!
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