Fresh Faces
FAMILY HERBS
Shelby, Mich. — If you’ve stopped by Cherry Point Farm and Market on the way to the Silver Lake sand dunes, you know about the Bull family’s asparagus, cherry pies and other seasonal produce. But venture out past the parking lot toward the arbor and discover the organic herb garden and lavender labyrinth.
Surrounded by glacial boulders unearthed at the farm, the labyrinth was designed in 2001 in the 12-point vesica pattern of sacred geometry by Michigan architect Conrad Heiderer. There are two distinct plantings: those inside the 150-foot-diameter stone circle, with 50 types of herbs including basil, several kinds of thyme and sage, rosemary, parsley, St. John’s Wort, artemisia and calendula; and those in the 300-foot-square labyrinth. The weeks of the year are represented by the arbor’s 52 posts, from which the rows of lavender radiate like sunbeams and rounds of earth create a ripple effect of concentric circles.
“There’s a wonderful energy there,” says owner Barb Bull. “People feel it when they drive by, so they stop in.” The Bulls offer herbs and herb products, along with (in order of the season) asparagus, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, apricots, peaches, plums, pears and apples.
Where to find her: Cherry Point Market, 9600 W. Buchanan Rd. 7 am to sunset daily. 231-861-2029.
-Patty LaNoue Stearns
This article appeared in the August 2008 issue of LAKE magazine.