The Lavender Fields of Mesimeri in Thessaloniki

Photographing a lavender field has been on my bucket list for many years. As a result, when I learned that there were some blooming fields near Thessaloniki, where I currently live, I couldn’t pass it up. I grabbed my camera bag and drove to Mesimeri in search of the perfect lone tree in a lavender field.

Best time to visit the lavender fields of Mesimeri

There are numerous lavender fields in the Mesimeri village area. Mesimeri is less than a half-hour drive from Thessaloniki’s city center. Plant nurseries have recently been established in the area where aromatic and medicinal plants such as lavender are grown. 

Lavender blooms in the early summer and is harvested by the middle of July. Of course, it can vary depending on the weather, so the timing of the full bloom may differ slightly from year to year. The second two weeks of June are probably the best period to visit the area. And, of course, time your visit for sunset or sunrise to get the best light. Just be wary of the bees buzzing around!

Photographing the lavenders

I was fortunate to witness an incredible sunset with beautiful red and magenta tones in the clouds. A lone tree, of course, is an excellent subject for a beautiful landscape photograph. Because the atmosphere was so clear, we could see Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain, in the distance.

Another lone tree stands in a lavender field beneath the waxing crescent moon in the following photo. The moonlight beautifully illuminates the lavenders. The warm colors of the sunset remain visible in the sky. This lavender field is easily accessible because it is located on the main road connecting Mesimeri and Epanomi. It’s the Gresense lavender field. Gresense is an essential oil manufacturing company. So, please be careful not to damage the lavenders while taking pictures in the field!

These images are available as fine art prints if you’d like to hang them on your wall.