Hey there, welcome to Bellavenue Manor!
We’re Mark Ponchak and Nick Jenior, the Squirrels-in-Chief, and we’re thrilled to share our lavender adventure with you.
From Three Plants to McConnelsville
Our journey started quite small back in 2015 with just three little lavender plants in our front yard in Columbus. By 2016, we packed up with our dog, Dazzi (and later Lolli!), and made the move to my hometown of McConnelsville, Ohio.
After a few planting mishaps—we all learn as we go!—we finally got our lavender production rolling in 2020. Today, we manage about 600 lavender plants, with a little help from our slug-fighting crew: our Indian Runner Ducks, Beverly, Nancy and Shasta!
Our Shop & Community
Moving to McConnelsville was one of the best decisions we ever made. We love being a part of this vibrant community. Nick stays busy with coaching volleyball and volunteering at S.P.O.T. (Saving Pets One at a Time), and we’ve been lucky to reconnect with old friends and make wonderful new ones.
In 2022, we opened our gift shop here in town, and now we’re excited to offer our full collection online! We’re proud to share not only our handcrafted lavender products and skincare but also the amazing work of other Morgan County makers.
Join Our Story
We couldn’t have done any of this without our amazing friends and family, and we thank you for being a part of our story!
Explore our online shop, and if you’re ever in McConnelsville, please swing by the store—we’d love to see you!
See you soon,
Mark Ponchak & Nick Jenior , Squirrels-in-Chief