Farm Tour Stop 4: Lynn Vale Farm & Studio

LynnVale Studios has blossomed into a can’t-be-missed stop on the annual Prince William County Farm Tour. The farm, at 4475 Sudley Road in Gainesville, has something for the flower lover and the artist.

On the Sunday of the tour, Sept. 25, Andrea Gagnon will open her garden to visitors and offer tips on growing while her husband Lou, an artist, will give an art demonstration and display some of his work. His studio is just steps away from the flower beds and family home.

The flower enterprise started in 2002 on land that’s been in Lou Gagnon’s family since the 1830s. He can trace his family back to John Rolfe and the early days of the Jamestown settlement.

Andrea Gagnon grows more than a hundred varieties of flowers and has 3.5 acres of land in production. She sells the flowers at farmers markets and through select retailers; she also creates flower arrangements to adorn special events, weddings and receptions. She had to deliver flowers to an event in Washington, D.C. on the weekend Hurricane Irene was expected, so she was working in the days leading up to it to make sure her “first hurricane delivery” went smoothly.

More information is on the farm tour website: http://www.pwcfarmtour.com