You remember January and February, right? The relentless cold, ice and snow. We all hibernated, ate too much and thought that the only good thing was that those devilish bugs are freezing to death—hopefully.
At Sweethaven Lavender farm in Williamsburg, Kerry Messer felt the aching cold and thought “sweet.” Literally.
“Cold sweetens the fragrance of lavender,” she says. “While lavender does well in the snow, a layer of ice can weigh down its branches and cause the plants to split open and die.
“So we’re careful to prune them every spring and fall to prevent that type of loss,” she says.
Messer owns and runs the farm with her husband, Adam, and their daughter, Hannah.
Hannah and Kerry Messer, daughter and mother, owners of Sweethaven Lavender of Williamsburg, Virginia.
The Messers have also adapted at the farm. They experiment with soil amendments and change up nutrient management.
Visitors this year will notice more raised beds so the farm can manage lavender’s unique drainage needs.
And there’s been another shift. Let’s call it an evolution.
“Recognizing that our initial dream of rolling lavender acres resembling Provence is not sustainable in our wet coastal climate, we adapted by concentrating our plantings into visually impactful raised bed groupings from which guests could more easily pick bouquets and which also create gorgeous backdrops for photography,” Messer says.
She knows guests are drawn to the picturesque pastoral setting her farm offers. As a result, they made lavender the crown jewel feature. But they also layered the visual experience with two acres of sunflowers and four acres of wildflower meadows.
There’s more. They added cozy private rental spaces with shaded seating that guests love to reserve for special occasions.
“When you pair this outdoor beauty with our gourmet catered picnics and our adorable petting zoo animals, then add the live music of our Friday night Twilight Concert Series, it’s easy to understand why these laid-back evenings are such a huge hit in our community and with tourists,” Messer said.
This year, they are expanding their guided tour offerings. There’s a reason for this: garden clubs, retirement communities, church groups and professionals are looking for team-building events.
Messer is a beekeeper and gardener who is passionate about natural remedies. Her fervor for all things holistic, coupled with her background as an educator and public speaker, makes for an enjoyable and enlightening hands-on experience.
The farm’s “Revolutionary Remedies” or “Lavender: Your Fragrant Farmacy” tours highlight the incredible symbiotic relationship between flowers and bees.
The Messers have season passes, a Friday concert series that includes a U-pick bouquet and other perks. Messer says they remain humbled and grateful for the Sweethaven Lavender journey.
“We thoroughly enjoy partnering with local businesses like Divine Lunches, Silver Hand Meadery, Soulful Roasters, Plate Fete Bakery, Hampton Roads Winery, Hooked Jewelry, The Rusted Rabbit, The Herbalist’s Garden, Lindsey Lyons Photography and many more whose commitment to excellence we admire and whom we truly count as friends,” she says.
“We created Sweethaven to be a place we would want to frequent for family days or date nights, so it thrills us that it has grown to be that ‘happy place’ for countless new friends,” she says. “Our cup runneth over.”
Sweethaven Lavender | 2460 Bush Neck Road, Williamsburg 23188 | 757-647-8684 | sweethavenlavender.com | Find Sweethaven Lavender on TikTok and Instagram.
