Current Issue Articles

Spring Blooms in the Santa Ynez Valley
Now is the time to enjoy the abundance of flora in the Santa Ynez Valley. As photographed by Nick de Croce, nature's contrasting display of California Poppies and Lupine found on the hillsides and valleys of our area. Photo by Nick de Croce

Closeup of brightly covered lupine. Photo by Elaine Revelle.	April showers might bring May flowers in other parts of the world. But here in the Santa Ynez Valley, February tends to be one of the wettest months. That’s great news for flower lovers. Because now is the best time to enjoy the abundance of flora that resulted from our wet weather. Places like the Elverhøj Museum, Old Mission Santa Inés and the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum have lovely small gardens to enjoy. But if you’re willing to hop in the car, the Santa Ynez Valley has some other beautiful blooms to offer.
Figueroa Mountain Road www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres Many people like to drive up Figueroa Mountain Road (go north from Los Olivos) to see the brightly colored lupine, California poppies and wild mustard that carpet the hillsides. Just remember that if you plan to get out of your car to take pictures or walk around, you need to have an Adventure Pass since you’ll be in the Los Padres National Forest. Passes are available online or at the Ranger Station at the top of Figueroa Mountain Road.
California Poppy, California State flower. Photo by Elaine Revelle.	Sedgwick Reserve www.sedgwick.ucnrs.org Another great place to see wildflowers locally is the Sedgwick Reserve. Managed by the University of California, Santa Barbara, the nearly 6,000 acre reserve hosts monthly hikes, painting workshops and other special events. Because the University limits the number of people allowed in the area, reservations are required. Call (805) 686-1941 or use their website.
Lompoc Flower Festival www.flowerfestival.org www.lompoc.com Lompoc will celebrate the 57th Annual Lompoc Valley Flower Festival June 24-28. But if you’re not going to be around that weekend, you can still sneak a peek by driving out Highway 246 past the town of Lompoc. Continue past Bailey Avenue and you’ll find seemingly endless fields of commercially grown sweet peas, marigold, larkspur and more. For a map of the flower fields, visit www.lompoc.com and click on “Visitors and Tourism” and “What to Do.”
Chaotic Exotics www.chaoticexotics.biz Commercial growers aren’t just in the lowlands. High on a hill overlooking the vineyards, a greenhouse sits, surrounded by acres of woodland. This is the home of Chaotic Exotics. Owners Jim Kotsybar and John Seykoski specialize in orchids, but they know a thing or two about ferns and cacti as well. Always eager to trade tips with fellow plant lovers, Jim and John also offer potting classes and hands-on demonstrations. They are open Friday and Saturday, 10am to 4pm, and you can also call ahead to make an appointment for any other time. Their number is (805) 736-0040.	One of the many orchids grown by commercial growers, Chaotic Exotics. Photo by Craig Petersen.

Clairmont Farms
www.clairmontfarms.com
Organic lavender fields have been cropping up around the Valley over the last decade. Typically in bloom from June through October, lavender is known for its healing properties, its delicate flavor and of course, its distinctive aroma. Clairmont Farms planted five acres of lavender in Los Olivos in 2000. Using their harvest, the family makes soaps, lotions, oils and sachets as well as lavender honey. They encourage visitors to bring a picnic and stroll through the fields, or even cut their own lavender in season. The farm is open daily from 10am to 6pm.

Andre Lavender
www.andreorganiclavender.com
Another family-run lavender farm opened in Buellton in 2004. With the help of her parents, Cheryl Andre-Wagner opened Andre Lavender one year after setting her first plants. Now with 10 varieties on 10 acres and more than 25 different products featuring her lavender, Wagner has expanded her business to the Internet. But nothing compares to visiting in person. Cheryl and her parents are often on hand and always happy to take families or other groups on tours of the farm. Andre Lavender is open Sunday through Thursday from 10am to 4pm and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

Summerset Farm
www.summersetfarm.org
A great place to get flowers in any season is Summerset Farm. After more than 25 years of running a florist shop, Sir Gregory added his floral expertise when Alex Geremia opened the farm in 2006. While you’re likely to find sunflowers, hollyhocks and artichoke flowers growing on the farm, Sir Gregory gets many of the flowers for his beautiful arrangements from growers in Carpinteria and Santa Maria.
As a full-service florist, Sir Gregory creates impressive displays for any occasion. “There’s not an occasion I don’t do flowers for!” he says. Visit him at the farm stand between 10am and 6pm Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday, or call 682-7800, or go to www.flowersbysirgregory.com.

Indian Warrior, one of many types of flowers that grows either wild or tended to in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. Photo by Elaine Revell.

In addition to writing for several local magazines, Sherrie Petersen enjoys writing fiction for children. Her middle-grade novel, “Secret of Undine,” recently won 3rd place in the annual Pikes Peak Writers Fiction Contest. She lives in Solvang.