A Season of Growth, Learning, and Renewal at Hickory Run Lavender Farm

There’s something beautifully humbling about farming.

No matter how carefully you plan, how much you nurture, or how deeply you love the land, nature always has the final word. Some seasons bring abundant blooms and joyful harvests. Others bring lessons of patience, and the reminder that growth often begins beneath the surface, long before anything beautiful appears.

This past winter was especially difficult for our lavender fields. While some of our plants weathered the season, we unfortunately experienced significant crop loss in several rows. Because of this, our opening for the upcoming season will be delayed as we focus our energy where it matters most, caring for the health and recovery of our plants.

At this time, we do not yet have an exact opening date, as so much depends on how the remaining plants respond and how our new plantings establish over the coming weeks. Rather than rush the process, we’ve chosen to give our fields the time and care they deserve.

We encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our website for updates as the season unfolds.

Hickory Run Lavender Farm Update: What We’ve Learned

Farming has a way of teaching you whether you asked for the lesson or not. One of the most important things we’ve learned is how delicate and critical soil health is to long-term success with lavender. While lavender loves well-draining conditions, our journey revealed our land presents some unique challenges.

After soil testing through Penn State, we confirmed that portions of our soil are highly acidic, which is far from ideal for healthy lavender growth. This insight helped explain some of the struggles we’ve seen and gave us a clearer path forward.

As a result, we are actively remediating several lavender rows to improve drainage, rebalance soil conditions, and create a healthier growing environment for future success.

We’re also taking this opportunity to experiment and learn by introducing new lavender varieties, including Royal Velvet, to see which cultivars thrive best in our unique growing conditions here in northeastern Pennsylvania.

A view of field #2 at Hickory Run Lavender Farm

Farming often requires both resilience, flexibility, and patience. Sometimes success comes not from doing the same thing harder, but rather, from learning when to adapt.

New Growth Beyond Lavender

Even in seasons of challenge, there is so much to be excited about.

One of our favorite projects this year is the continued expansion of our pollinator garden. We’re adding more variety, including additional cut flowers, to create an even more vibrant space for bees, butterflies, beneficial pollinators, and of course, for our visitors to enjoy.

This feels especially meaningful because our bee yard has brought us some truly joyful moments recently.

We were thrilled to successfully capture a wild honeybee swarm and are working on catching another! Beekeeping has its own highs and surprises, but there is something magical about watching these incredible creatures thrive and contribute to the life of the farm.

The Truth About Farming

Honestly, farming can be both heartbreaking and deeply rewarding. But, there is incredible joy and gratitude in watching the first green shoots, excitement in new blooms, and wonder in watching bees dance from flower to flower.

First Bloom at Hickory Run Lavender Farm

But there is also frustration in loss. In unexpected weather. In setbacks you cannot control. In pouring your heart into something only to have nature change the outcome.

Despite the hardships… we still love it.

Because farming teaches patience. It teaches resilience. It teaches hope. As we continue to work hard sowing today, we put our hope into reaping a better better future tomorrow. In this process, we have learned the most important lesson of all, trust in the process.

This season may look different than others, but Hickory Run Lavender Farm is still growing, still learning, and still dreaming. While we nurture the fields back to health, many of our handmade lavender products are still available via our online store, and you can also shop locally at Circle 25 Gifts, Occasional Flowers, and Selig Garden Center.