A native of southern France, Martine Anderson always imagined having a lavender garden. She turned that vision into reality as founder and vice president of Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm on Washington Island in Door County, Wisconsin. Today the farm spans 10 productive acres and hosts roughly 20,000 lavender plants grown by Martine and her husband, Edgar. With 12 varieties cultivated on-site, Fragrant Isle is the Midwest’s largest single-site lavender grower and features demonstration gardens as well as a working distillery producing lavender oils and related products.
Lavender has a long history as both a healing herb and a culinary ingredient, and Anderson uses the plant in many forms. Her affection for lavender comes through in her descriptions of the farm: she talks about the “purple haze” that appears in mid-June before full bloom and recalls bees settling among the flowers at night. That close connection to the crop shapes how the farm operates and the experiences offered to visitors.
© Fragrant Isle
“I use lavender every day,” Anderson says. “I cook with lavender, I bathe with lavender, I use lavender body lotion, lavender candles on my dining room table and more. Lavender has so many uses, it’s not possible for me to have one favorite.” Her routine reflects the many practical and sensory qualities that make lavender popular for food, wellness and home use.
The farm offers guided tours of the grounds and the distillery, with private-group options available. Tours cover cultivation practices, harvesting methods and the distillation process. Visitors learn that English lavender, prized for its sweet fragrance, is the preferred varietal for essential oil production. Fragrant Isle distills oils in copper vats for 90 minutes—longer than the industry-standard 60 minutes—to achieve an added degree of purity and depth in the final product.
On-site Le Cafe centers its menu on lavender-infused offerings. Alongside salads and sandwiches, visitors find lavender ice cream and chocolates, plus a wide array of desserts. Signature items include a lavender cupcake, a Fairie Tale cookie infused with lavender, lavender sea salt caramel, a lavender honey macaron and lavender snickerdoodles—each designed to showcase lavender’s subtle floral notes in sweet preparations.
© Fragrant Isle
Drink options at Le Cafe range from hot lavender tea to chilled refreshments such as lavender lemonade, a lavender berry slushie and lavender iced coffee. For those seeking something stronger, the cafe and farm offer lavender-infused alcoholic choices, including lavender cider, a lavender rosé slushie and lavender honey wine. A visit isn’t complete without stopping by the gift shop, which stocks a curated selection of lavender-themed items: teas, confections, essential oils, candles, colognes and other handcrafted products made from the farm’s harvest.