I had wanted to do the lavender run in Mona at the Young Living Farm for years. Every year something came up that prevented me from getting up before dawn and driving out to Mona, which is near Nephi. This year, I had driven past the 200 acres of lavender several times to take my son to, and from, a boy scout camp above Mount Pleasant. The deep purple fields, amidst surrounding green were so spectacular people pulled off the freeway to snap pictures. I decided this would be the year for the 5k, no matter what!
It was overcast and a little rainy when I left my house to make the drive. I hoped for just enough rain to enhance the aroma of the lavender fields. I was not disappointed. The crack of the gun sent about six hundred people onto the dry dirt roads that surround lovely lavender plants. Those who were serious about finishing with a good time led the pack, they were easily distinguished from the rest of us, who moseyed through the plants enjoying the pungent sweet smell that rose up to greet our ever step. At one low point, I stopped altogether in amazement of the sight of fields of purple rising up to the blue skyline. It was breathtaking!
After the race, if you can call it that, there was time to take in the sites of the farm. It’s a huge operation that produces therapeutic grade lavender oil. As I was wandering about I ran into the fairies. Yes, fairies. They informed me that they host lavender “tea” parties every Saturday afternoon and were only visible to the human eye at the 5k and during those tea parties which are held on the gold draped deck of the farmhouse. I knew that my daughter would love the lavender fairies as much as I loved the lavender. We made a reservation for last Saturday.
It was the best five dollars I have spent in a very long time! The lavender fairies not only entertained my daughter and her friends with games and party favors, but we also noshed on lavender ice cream (surprisingly good) lavender lemonade, and homemade cookies. The only disappointment came in the news that this was the last fairy tea party of the season, because after the lavender is harvested and gone, so are the fairies that “live among the plants”.
