With summer on the horizon, you might already be considering what kind of activities you should coordinate for your kids, family or company that’s coming in town for a visit.
Maybe you’re just thinking about something you can do for your own entertainment.
Wytheville has a lot to offer, but a real gem on the western side of the state is the Beagle Ridge Herb Farm, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The farm has so much beauty to take in, and there is also so much to learn there.
How about you try ...
Fun events and classes
The farm specializes in lavender, so after 20 years, owners Ellen Reynolds and her husband have a ton of knowledge to share about it.
Because of that, they hold classes to share that knowledge with others.
“The classes draw in people who want to learn something new or want to get some advanced knowledge on topics that interest them, and they are free,” Reynolds said. “It’s not a demo, it’s a class. Everything we do is hands-on.
Some of the fun classes being offered over the summer include learning how to:
- Grow lavender.
- Collect, prepare and arrange herbs.
- Use lavender and dried flowers to make a custom wreath.
- Use essential oils correctly, and how different oils help with various issues.
- Set up a still and help the farm on its first run of the lavender harvest.
You’ll walk away knowing so much more about lavender’s benefits and different ways to use it.
“(My coworkers) joke that I do everything with a teacher’s hat on, and they are right,” Reynolds said. “I love to teach, and I love to see the light-bulb moment when someone understands for the first time.”
Take an excursion
On the farm grounds is access to the exciting Lick Mountain Excursion.
The ride begins at the farm and goes through thick pine canopies and wetlands into a summit, where you will see wildlife and beautiful panoramic vistas.
“If people don’t want to hike because of our elevation -- 2,800 feet up to 3,500 feet -- but they want to see the best views, they can join our 1 1/2-hour guided Lick Mountain Excursion and hear about natural history and the Civil War history, as well as all the stuff we have here on the farm,” Reynolds said.
Butterflies
Not only does Beagle Ridge Herb Farm specialize in lavender, it’s also a butterfly farm. In fact, there will be a breathtaking butterfly house to visit on the grounds this summer. It’s a magical sight you won’t want to miss, and it’s expected to open June 1.
“Everybody gets their own butterfly, we do an educational program, and then they get to feed their butterfly and release it into the Butterfly House,” Reynolds said. “That’s a great way to start our season. By August, the butterflies are our biggest draw. In the fall, families come in and catch a butterfly, put a tag on it and release it outside of the house so it can fly to Mexico as part of the monarchs’ migration.”
You can learn learn all about the life cycle of the butterflies, as there are eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis there, too.
Hiking
There is plenty of space to hike on the farm grounds, and because the trails have a wide variety of ecosystems, you’ll likely catch a glimpse of butterflies anywhere you go on the farm.
Along your hike, you can stroll through some of the beautiful garden, too.
“In June, the lavender is in full bloom, and by July, we start to harvest it -- the gardens will be pretty then,” Reynolds said.
Beagle Ridge Herb Farm started as an education center 20 years ago, and it continues to be that today.
“The short story is, I started gardening and it got out of hand,” Reynolds said. “Over all the years, I’ve learned that if I can share and get someone else excited about something here, then I’ve done my job.”
The farm also does weekend retreats, has scout merit badge programs, and offers a space for birthday parties and specialty workshops.
This year, to celebrate being open for 20 years, Reynolds said they are teaming up with the town of Wytheville on a number of things, many of them related to lavender.
“We are teaming up with the vineyards and some of the brew pubs on lavender drinks and beers and other products -- and on lavender desserts in some of our restaurants -- to really tie all this together. A lot of people don’t know that lavender is edible; it is wonderful in sweets and cocktails and has myriad (of) other uses,” she said.
Reynolds said they will be creating a calendar for the 2022 year, made from photos past visitors have sent in. It’s part of a contest in which 12 winners will receive $100 each.
She also added that, on June 19, the farm will be holding an educational day with plenty of mini-classes.
To learn more about Beagle Ridge Herb Farm, click or tap here.