PALMERTON, Pa. — Standing against a backdrop of rolling hills and blanketed fields of lavender, Chris Anthony breathed in his creation.
He paused for a moment, turned and said, "Do you hear that?"
The low hum to which he referred was the thousands of bees that have made their home at the Quiet Hills Lavender Farm in Palmerton, Carbon County.
The bumble bees bounced from lavender bush to lavender bush to pollinate, content in their humble work.
"At the end of each day, we see the bees sleeping on the bushes," said Anthony's wife, Sheri, who is also his business partner.
"It's almost like they're drunk," he said with a chuckle.
Much like the bees, the Anthonys have "humble work," too.
They operate and maintain the Quiet Hills Lavender Farm, a family-owned lavender farm and shop in Palmerton, moments from the Mahoning Valley exit off of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
'Maybe it was divine intervention'
The Anthonys, who also own and operate Country Harvest Market in Palmerton, bought the six-bed, seven-bath property in 2016 with the intent of it being an oasis for their family, including their two new grandchildren who lovingly call them "Loli" and "Pops."
Sheri Anthony said she remembered one day looking out on what then was a brush field on the property's south side and saying to her husband, "Do you know how beautiful this would look with lavender planted all the way across?'"
"We just want it to be a place for people to gather and celebrate, whether it be a wedding, a baby shower or celebrating the life of someone who's passed."Sheri Anthony
"I don't even necessarily like the color purple," she said. "Maybe it was divine intervention. I don't know."
Chris Anthony, who his wife describes as the "logical" and "analytical" one of the relationship, took to researching various types of lavender and how to care for them.
It seemed more and more like divine intervention was at play: Lavender is hardy, requires little to no irrigation, and deters pests.
It also attracts native pollinators.
So they bought a test plot to see how it would go.
A gathering place
Thousands of seeds and hours of planting later, what once was a brush field has transformed into extravagant fields of French and English lavender, free for the public from noon-4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
"Come by, have a picnic and just chill out," Sheri Anthony said.
In addition to a gift shop, recently joining the property is a newly constructed wooden barn, which Sheri Anthony has dubbed "The Gathering Place."
Complete with two restrooms, a loft, and enough space to fit more than 80 people, it is scheduled to open in late August.
"We just want it to be a place for people to gather and celebrate, whether it be a wedding, a baby shower or celebrating the life of someone who's passed," Sheri Anthony said.
As she spoke, she watched an energetic barn swallow darting in and out of the venue's open windows.
"You know, they say a barn swallow means good luck," she said.
Weather-depending, Chris Anthony said the lavender now is in full bloom; it is expected to stay that way through September.
"We want people to feel relaxed and calm the moment they step onto our farm," he said.
