Michigan Bucket List: Where to Visit Lavender Farms
| 5 min read
Gardens that you can smell as well as see are a treat for the senses. This summer, put a trek to one of Michigan’s many lavender farms on your bucket list for a sweet-smelling and open-air adventure.
Whether in lotions, candles, room sprays or even scented sachets for your pillows, lavender products are popular year-round. But the summer months are when lavender fields and gardens produce their fragrant little purple flowers, shooting up on thin stems from the sturdy bushes below. Their scent carried on a warm breeze makes visiting a lavender farm a memorable experience.
Home gardeners and sophisticated horticulturalists alike have been in love with lavender for centuries. This easy-growing perennial hails from the Mediterranean region, but quickly became a favorite plant to grow anywhere it could find a sunny spot and some well-drained soil. It’s been a staple of English gardens since at least the 16th century, either tucked in pots or grown as a border plant along the edges of gardens and pathways.
While it’s easy to find several varieties of lavender plants to grow in your own garden or landscaping, a trip to a lavender farm should be on your summer to-do list, if only to see what it’s like to surround yourself with hundreds of these plants all releasing their signature scent. Think of it as a little road trip for some self-care. Lavender has a soothing quality – and some good health benefits, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The plant’s blossoms can be used fresh or dried, or lavender can be used as an extract or, more commonly, as an essential oil with aromatherapy benefits. Some positive effects include:
- The fragrance has been shown to lessen colic in babies.
- Lavender can be an overall mood-booster.
- Lavender oil has been shown to decrease headaches and even inflammation.
- The scent of lavender can help some people sleep better.
Michigan is fortunate to have lots of lavender gardens dotting the state. Here’s a list of some of them, with links to their websites, so you can find options closest to you:
Lavender farms in northern Michigan
The Secret Garden at Brys Estate, 3309 Blue Water Road, Traverse City: This estate known for its winery is also known for its standout flower gardens and gorgeous lavender. Nearly a dozen different varieties of lavender are grown here, with about 6,000 plants in production. Lavender bath products and other items are also available for sale.
Lavender Hill Farm, 7354 Horton Bay Road in Boyne City: Take a guided tour of an Up North lavender farm, do some yoga among the blossoms, or stay for some live music. The events calendar of this farm has lots of options to choose from. It’s located in a temperate area between Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake.
Lavender farms in central Michigan
Lowell Lavender, 3996 Byrne Ave. in Lowell: Want to walk among the plants and cut your own lavender sprigs? This farm northeast of Grand Rapids offers U-cut days for lavender lovers in July. Check their website for details.
IndigoFest, Indigo Lavender Farms, 631 N Van Dyke Rd, Imlay City, MI, August 5-6. Enjoy one of the last lavender festivals of the season with food trucks, live music, local Michigan vendors and more. Indigo Farms is also known for their natural raw honey.
The Michigan Lavender Festival, Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds, Imlay City, MI, June 23-25. This end of June festival features rolling lavender farms, a wellness expo, various Michigan artists, food trucks and more. This festival is the largest lavender festival within Michigan and is located 40 minutes from Lake Huron.
Blake’s Lavender Festival, Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill, Armada, MI, July 14-16. This July festival in Southeast Michigan includes more than 200 artisans featuring handcrafted products, free classes, speakers and demonstrations on topics such as natural wellness, aromatherapy, farming and gardening and the benefits of local honey as well as DIY make and take workshops with lavender, U-pick lavender and lavender infused food and drinks.
Lavender farms in southern Michigan
DeBuck's Family Farm, 50240 Martz Road, Belleville: The 2023 Lavender Festival at this family farm runs through July 23 on select dates. Tickets are required to stroll through fields of lavender and pick your own bouquet. The farm also offers activities and themed play structures for children, as well as family-friendly games.
Shades of Lavender Farm, 47222 24th St. in Mattawan: Nearly 2,000 lavender plants are grown on this farm in southwest Michigan. An on-site shop and online ordering business offers many lavender-based products handcrafted in small batches. Want to U-pick their plants in July? Watch their website for details.
Lavender Lane, 12040 Plank Road in Milan: Rows and rows of lavender plants stretch out across six acres of this farm in southeast Michigan, which is focused on raising organic lavender for body-care products and other sweetly scented items. In July, join in the fun when this spot hosts its annual Lilac Harvest Festival & BBQ.
Lavender Harvest Festival, Lavender Lane Farm, 12040 Plank Road, Milan, MI, July 8. This summer festival offers more than six acres of lavender, pick your own lavender, fresh and dried lavender bundles and plants, live music, lavender infused food and drinks, food trucks, more than 40 local artisans and a petting farm. Michigan is home to many lavender festivals as well, occurring in July and August. Lavender festivals are a great way to fill up those empty summer weekends as well as allow you to support small Michigan farmers and businesses. There are plenty of festivals through the season, so make sure to check out as many as you can!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
