Lavender Season at Lakeland Flowers + Birchwood Dairy Farm
If you missed lupin season, the lavender is just getting started
Long purple rows stretching toward the Coast Mountains, the air heavy with that unmistakable scent, bees doing their thing in the late-June sun. Lakeland Flowers in Abbotsford turns over from spring blooms to lavender by the third week of May, and by June 20 the fields are in full swing. Peonies may still be lingering. Wildflowers (golden brassica, white buckwheat, purple phacelia) are blooming across twenty more acres. It's the kind of stretch of the Fraser Valley that looks edited and isn't.
The farm itself
Lakeland is a third-generation flower farm on Semá:th First Nation territory, planted with an unusual amount of intention. The Warmerdam family designs the fields like a living canvas. Pianos play in the open air on Thursday and Friday evenings. Food trucks roll in on weekends. There are canoes set into the rows for photos, viewing platforms, swings, and yellow-brick paths winding between the blooms. The kind of place that sounds twee on paper and turns out to be deeply lovely in person, especially in late-afternoon light when the lavender catches the sun.
And then there's the ice cream
After the flowers, the bus rolls fifteen minutes down the road to Birchwood Dairy Farm, a working dairy on 220 acres that has been making ice cream since 1963. Fifty-plus flavours, all churned on site from milk produced by the cows you can watch being milked from the observation room between 3:30 and 5:00 PM. There's a calf barn, a small petting area, squeaky cheddar curds at the counter, and the Coast Mountains rising behind the fields. Order a cone, find a picnic table, and try to remember the last time you ate ice cream from a cow you could actually see.
Where Parkbus comes in
We handle the highway, the parking, and the timing between stops. You handle the lavender, the photos, the ice cream selection (this is the hardest part), and the question of how much dried lavender you can reasonably carry home on the bus.
Who this trip is for
It doesn't matter if you're coming solo with a camera, dragging a friend who claims they're "not really a flower person," or treating someone to a slow, easy day out of the city. Lavender season is short. The year you keep meaning to go is always this one.
Pickup Locations
How long is the drive? Roughly 60 to 75 minutes each way to Abbotsford, depending on traffic. The bus is a full coach with reclining seats, AC, large windows, onboard washroom, and storage for bags (or bouquets).
Is this a day trip or overnight? Day trip. You'll be back in Vancouver the same evening.
What's the rough itinerary? A few hours at Lakeland Flowers (long enough to wander all the fields, grab food from the trucks, and shop the flower stand), then a short drive to Birchwood Dairy for ice cream, the petting area, and the milking observation if the timing lines up.
The Experience
What's actually blooming on June 20? Lavender is the main event, typically peaking from late May through June. Peonies may still be lingering in some rows. The twenty acres of wildflowers (brassica, buckwheat, phacelia) are usually still going. The exact mix depends on weather, and Lakeland updates their bloom chart regularly.
Can I pick or buy flowers? Yes. Your Lakeland ticket includes one free stem, or you can redeem it as a $5 credit at the flower shop. Bouquets, dried lavender bundles, and lavender products are sold on site. The bus has space.
Is there food on site? Lakeland has food trucks on weekends and a small concession otherwise. Birchwood has soups, sandwiches, ice cream, cheese, and a country store. Between the two stops, you won't go hungry.
Will I see cows being milked? Birchwood's observation room runs daily from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. The stop timing is built to give you a decent shot at catching it, though it depends on the day's schedule.
What to Bring
What should I wear? Comfortable shoes that can handle uneven terrain. A sun hat and sunscreen are smart for a late-June day in the fields. Light layers in case the morning is cool. Camera or phone, obviously.
Should I bring cash? Most vendors at both farms take cards, but a bit of cash is useful for tips, food trucks, or the petting area's veggie-feed dispensers at Birchwood.
Tickets & Pricing
Are admission tickets included? Admission to Lakeland is included in your Parkbus ticket. Birchwood Dairy is free to visit. You pay for what you eat or buy.
Solo Travel & Community
I'm coming alone. Is that weird? Not at all. A lot of Parkbus travellers come solo, and this trip in particular attracts a mix of photographers, flower people, foodies, and people who just wanted an easy day out of the city. You'll be sharing the day with a busload of people doing the exact same thing.
Is there a guide? This is a self-guided trip with a Parkbus driver and trip coordinator. They'll handle logistics, timing, and any questions on the road. You're free to explore both farms at your own pace.
Weather
What if it rains ?The fields stay open in light rain (it's the Fraser Valley, this happens), and a wet day at Lakeland can actually be beautifully moody. If conditions are severe, we'll communicate any changes in advance. Bring a rain jacket and you'll be fine.
Does the trip get cancelled?Only in extreme conditions. Refund and rebooking policies are listed on the booking page.
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