May 30 - The Lavender Park Taka, Hyogo

My husband and I drove north for 2 hours, and visited Lavender Park Taka today.

 

According to the pamphlet, they opened the park in June, 2008.

 

The local people and volunteer members planted approx. 30,000 lavender plants s in a 5-ha. (hectare) area.   

 

They have three kinds of lavenders in the park: Stoechas, English, and  Lavandin.

 

The best season of Stoechas will be from mid-May to ear.-June.

The best season of English will be from mid-June to late June.

The best season of Lavandin will be from late June to mid-July.

 

Starting on June 1, they have been charging an entrance fee for 500 yen for those are over 16 years old or 200 yen for those who are 6 to 15 years old.    

 

Not only do they offer two restaurants, a herb nursey and a herbal shop, but they also provide recreational activities such as "dyeing herbs," "arranging dried flowers" and aroma hand massage services. 

 

We usually visit them in the middle of June in the recent years. This year, my husband retired from his work at the end of April so we visited them on May 30.  We could take advantage of the free entrance.  (Again, starting June 1, we have to pay for the entrance fee.)

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

 

Before arriving at the Lavender park, we stopped at Machinoeki Taka for a short rest. 

I liked the paintings on the wall. 

It has a Japanese garden behind the shops. 

Irises

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

Campanula punctata or "Hotarubukuro in Japanese"

We arrived at the lavender park.

This nursey is located in the front part of Lavender Park Taka.

The wooden board says "Lavender Cafe"

We visited on May 30.  They advertised that visitors pay the entrance fee starting June 1 because of the best season.

We thought that the visit for just two days earlier was good enough.  We completely enjoyed the walking in the park

One "beer belly visitor" took photos of the lavenders carefully. 

To prevent the deer from eating the plants inside the lavender park,

they installed a signboard which says.:

"once you open the gate, pleaase keep it closed.  Thank you!"

 
 
 
 

One gardener was taking care of the flowers. 

catmints

 



Russian Sage

An ornament of dried flower basket in the Lavender Cafe

Dried flower works

The wreath decorations are for Christmas season. 

The green parts were used from the trees in Seattle, WA. USA. 

Hamburg lunch set / 700 yen

On our way back, one black kite blocked our way on the road.

As a birdwatcher, I had a great chance of taking photos. 

 

 

 

We went to a local hot spring named "Seseragi-no-Yu" and rested for a while before going home.