Over the years I've learned that directness is the way to go for a smoother marriage. So this year, a few weeks before my birthday I told Patrick exactly what I wanted. "Arrange a trip for us to to go the lavender farm in Greer and don't make me have to remember anything except to go." He came through and reserved us time to go to Southern Hills Lavender on May 26, a few weeks after my birthday, and a few days after our anniversary. So we went this weekend, I was so excited because a few years ago when the lavender farm opened, we tried to go and it was so packed we didn't even get down the road it was on. They've since started selling tickets to limit the number of people coming on any given day, and it worked out very well.
We got there and parked in the field, which was much smaller than I expected. I'd estimate it was about an acre, and beside the family's home. They'd built a shed to serve as the store, and otherwise, it was just rows and rows of lavender! They told us how to pick and gave us baskets and scissors and we were off. It's funny how the idea of u-pick fruits, vegetables, or herbs seems more fun than actually bending over or reaching up to do it. Nah, it wasn't that bad, but it does involve a lot of crouching over.
It seems like we picked for 30 minutes or so, but we only ended up with two $2 measured bundles! I even had to go back to fill up to $2 worth on one. They measure the diameter, like you'd measure spaghetti servings. There are a few different varieties there, and we clipped a lot of the dark purple buds, and some of a variety that are supposedly pink but in actuality are white.
Patrick also arranged for us to have boxed lunches on the farm, which is good since we didn't have breakfast and I was getting hungry. The boxes were pretty good, he got the chicken salad croissant and I got the salad. The salad was enormous, I felt like I kept eating and eating and there were still leaves. The salad dressing was a vinaigrette made with lavender, and I think the chicken salad had a hint of lavender too. There were lavender cookies served in the box, a nice and delicious touch.
The little store had tons of lavender themed crafts from local artisans, and other non-lavender things too, but most of them were still purple! A few lavender foods were for sale, and we each got a lavender drink (including DRY soda!) and lavender-mint water to cool off after a hard half hour of picking. Of course, I also got a plant of my favorite lavender variety to plant here at home, because now I want to have a lavender field in my yard instead of the field of weeds and bald spots we pretend might be grass.
So that was lavender! I'd recommend it but not when it's super hot, and in fact, the season ends mid-June. I am glad we went early, arriving there around 10:30. Afterwards, we went to Birds Fly South Ale Project because I love their beers and have never been to the mothership. The development they are in is very cool and is home to other businesses like White Duck Taco Shop, a craft ax throwing place, and a bougie dog hotel that offers $70 bubble baths and doggie story time.
We stayed for a few beers and I enjoyed their Biggie watermelon sour, so much that I got two instead of trying something different. The atmosphere up there was super friendly, and we ended up chatting with folks who joined us at the picnic table we were occupying. The brewery is near the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a greenway system that has a lot of cyclists on it, from what we saw. So many cyclists, from the jersey wearing types to kids shuffling along with their parents behind.
I was getting hungry so we headed out to lunch. I couldn't decide where to go and made a hail Mary guess at going downtown to the Lazy Goat, overlooking the Reedy River. I'd seen it before on my few trips to downtown Greenville, but had not been. It looked nice but not so nice we couldn't go in our t-shirts and mud stained shoes. I was expecting higher prices than we saw there, so this was a pleasant lunch trip! We totally over-ordered though: fries, honey drizzled fried goat cheese, falafel, and soup. I'd definitely go back again, plus the people walking from our window seats was fantastic. Some guy was taking his bird on a walk, in it's cage. Where else could you see such a thing?
The ride back was long due to getting full-sleepy, but we made it back by 5 p.m. from a full day's worth of leisurely fun in Greenville, and it was a great birthday-anniversary celebration. Look forward to an overuse of lavender in upcoming recipes!
