Events

Happy New Year to one and all. Our plants may be sleeping, but your NOWO board has lots of plans.
We’ll be talking about all the opportunies for you to learn and participate at our general meeting,
January 18th

We’re looking forward to providing what you need.

Doug Tallamy’s video “What’s the Rush” will be shown as the program. Please come to hear what can be done during the winter to promote the national interest we are seeing in “Wild Ones” and native
plantings.

Meeting at 7:00 PM, Doors open at 6:30 PM at E. L. Johnson Nature Center, 3325 Franklin Rd, Bloom6eld Hills, 48303

NOWO members - Bring a friend!  Non-members are welcome! I am looking forward to seeing you all there! 

We hope you become a member of Wild Ones with North Oakland as your local chapter. (wildones.org) Note that our programs are free of charge, but if you are a member of Wild Ones, part of your membership fee returns to the local chapter and helps pay for our programs. Your membership affirms our own commitment to ecological landscaping practices.

THIS MEETING IS RESCHEDULED FOR A SPECIAL EVENT FEBRUARY 22 - See that date for information

NOWO members - Bring a friend!  Non-members are welcome! I am looking forward to seeing you all there! 

We hope you become a member of Wild Ones with North Oakland as your local chapter. (wildones.org) Note that our programs are free of charge, but if you are a member of Wild Ones, part of your membership fee returns to the local chapter and helps pay for our programs. Your membership affirms our own commitment to ecological landscaping practices.

  Bill Schneider of Wild Type nursery will provide info, supplies and seeds of local natives in a seed sowing workshop.

Matt Demmon of Feral Flora will be giving a Gardening with Native Plants Design workshop.

Bio: Matt has been working outdoors since 2004. His work experience includes organic farming; landscape design, installation and maintenance; native plant propagation; prescribed fire; invasive plant control; natural areas management planning; growing mushrooms; and botany. His current main focus is in designing and installing ecological naturalistic landscapes that nourish wildlife and humans alike. Matt currently oversees landscape design and installation at Feral Flora, and shares responsibility for running the plant nursery as well.

This is a free workshop for members.

Registration Required: limited spots available.

Doors open at 6:30 pm

Matt will be talking generally about native planting design, including how and why to choose plants and their placement in a design. We will go over plant selection beyond 'Right Plant Right Place', creating a potential plant list, various ways to think about how to arrange plants, and then put it all into practice in a hands-on workshop.

You'll be drawing your own! Please come prepared with a specific site in mind, either a real location that you'd like to plant, or a real location that you want to design a fantasy planting for, or even a made-up location, as long as it has some specific soil, sunlight, and cultural requirements.

Either bring your basemap pre-drawn, or come ready to put the main features on paper at the workshop

We will provide some 11x17 graph paper and colored pencils but if you have favorite drawing tools, erasers, pencils or paper feel free to bring them.

Weeds or Wildflowers? Yes!
Kirsten Lyons, Naturalist-Invasive Species Specialist
St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Commission
 
What makes a plant a weed? What’s a wildflower? How do we know which ones to pull and which to protect? What soil stories do plants tell? Can we eat the weeds we’re pulling out? Learn how restoration gardeners, ecologists, volunteers, and land managers use conservation terms and concepts to study nature, prioritize field work, avoid burnout, and have fun! This interactive presentation will help prepare you and your plants for the upcoming growing season. A question and answer session will be held at the end. All are welcome, no previous knowledge or experience needed.
 
For more information, email [email protected]
 
 

 
Kirsten Lyons recently joined the St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Commission staff as Park Naturalist - Invasive Species Specialist. This is a new position, and Kirsten will be working on county-wide invasive species issues as well as helping to protect natural resources and host environmental programs. Kirsten holds a Master of Natural Resource Stewardship from Colorado State University and a horticulture degree from St. Clair County Community College (SC4). Her recent work at Six Rivers Land Conservancy and Friends of the St. Clair River demonstrate her commitment to community, education, and environmental land care. Kirsten’s office is in the new main office at Goodells County Park. Reach out to her at 810-989-6317 or [email protected].

Green Infrastructure in Oakland County

Speaker Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner

Commissioner Nash will be giving a general overview of green infrastructure, why it’s needed and how it works. More specifically he will talk about the cost effectiveness of GI and how climate change is making GI more important than ever in the Great Lakes Region. Introduce unknown aspects of county's infrastructure.

Our annual Native Plant sale is a great way to purchase native plants for your landscape and support our chapter with it's biggest fundraiser of the year.

Details can be found here: https://northoakland.wildones.org/nativeplantsale/

Sally Wenczel is a West Bloomfield Parks and Rec Commissioner and a supporter of using native plants in urban landscapes. Through her talk, you will learn about Michigan Ecology and the use of Raingardens in your urban yard.  Sally Wenczel has installed multiple raingardens in her yard to collect and filter the rain. 

She authored a children's book "Let's Build a Rain Garden"  

Let’s Build a Rain Garden leads children into Michigan ecology through verse. They get a close up look at the fun creatures and native plants that thrive inside a rain garden while learning the more high-level terms STORMWATER and WATERSHED. The book is written for children, however adults will enjoy taking notes on the basic steps for building a rain garden as well. Be a part of the solution to stop the pollution. It all begins with YOU!

Add Nature Play into your landscape to encourage the next generation to engage and learn about our native plants and animals

Engaging the next generation with nature can instill a lifelong love and concern for our native plants and animals. Landscapes with "Play" in mind create opportunities to explore, touch and experience. Learn tips on how to create an enjoyable and memorable outdoor experience with your children/grandchildren that will engage them to interact with nature. This program will have activities planned to get everyone inspired to explore outdoors. The Naturalist will give you supply ideas and a tour of the Outdoor Natural Play Area and Children’s Sensory Garden at WB Parks for inspiration.

Kids are invited to attend with their parents/grandparents to this program at the West Bloomfield Parks Nature Center.

Due to size of the facility, participation is limited, please register with the number of participants (Adults/children)

Free Event - Donation welcome

Program is led by Lauren Azoury of WBP&R

Check your email for detailed information and link to the time slot registrations.

Diane will host tours of her yard every hour from 11 AM to 3 PM

This is a member only event.  If you would like to become a member follow this link

https://join.wildones.org/?chapter=91

Michigan Native Trees in the Landscape

Speaker: Gary Eichen

Wednesday, September 20,

7PM to 8:30PM

Doors open at 6:30PM

Johnson Nature Center, 3325 Franklin Rd, Bloomfield Twp

The presentation will be led by Gary Eichen, Certified Arborist and Assistant Service Line Director for Plant HealthCare and Lawn Care for SavATree LLC. He will cover how to make the most of native plants' best qualities: lower maintenance, less disease and pest problems and more wildlife.

This presentation is made available through grant funding from the Michigan DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program, with support from the Consumers Energy Foundation, the Johnson Nature Center, and North Oakland Wild Ones.

ReLeaf Michigan offers educational presentations and workshops for homeowners throughout Michigan, each one tailored to the needs of the community. This in-person educational session is a valuable opportunity for residents to hear expert advice, ask questions, and gain an understanding of how we can each do our part to helpour trees stay healthy for many years into the future. The DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program provides educational, technical, and financial assistance to municipalities, schools, and community-based organizations to help plant, promote and care for trees and forests that benefit all Michigan citizens and the environment.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan — its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2021, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees, and retirees contributed over $17.5 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more information, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation

Presentation Sponsors:

ReLeaf Michigan (www.ReLeafMichigan.org)

North Oakland Wild Ones

Consumers Energy Foundation

Michigan DNR - Urban and Community Forestry Program

Join Wild Ones Honorary Director Heather Holm as she explores the nesting habitats, life cycles, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of some of the most common native bees in eastern North America, while highlighting the pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees.

When creating and managing thriving habitats for native bees, many factors such as seasonal phenology, nesting strategies, and flower preferences must be considered—and with approximately 3,600 species in North America (north of Mexico), there are many unique aspects to keep in mind when managing successful landscapes for bees. 

The Late Show:
Bring Your Fall Garden to Life with Native Plants

Speaker: Cheryl English

Fall is often a difficult time in the Midwestern garden - unless you look to native plants. From Asters to Goldenrods, Advanced Master Gardener Cheryl English will show you how to extend your gardening season through the judicious selection of Michigan species at their best for the most exciting Late Show of all.

Cheryl English is the owner/operator of Black Cat Pottery/ The English Landscape. She hosts garden walks twice a summer at her studio plus leading tours of Belle Isle. Check out her website Black Cat Pottery|Events|Detroit MI

Hummingbirds of the Great Lakes

In autumn 2001, Allen Chartier formed the Great Lakes Hummernet, primarily to learn more about hummingbirds, using citizen science.   This presentation will describe the research objectives of the project, tell you how you can participate, provide helpful hints on how to attract and feed hummingbirds, provide hummingbird gardening tips, and review what has been learned so far. He will also review the status of other species of hummingbird confirmed to occur in the region.

Great Lakes HummerNet Home Page (amazilia.net)

Michigan Hummingbird Guy: Great Lakes HummerNet (mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com)

Join us for an enlightening webinar featuring authors, Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, as they present their latest book, "The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants." This comprehensive compendium is a treasure trove of knowledge for gardeners looking to incorporate native prairie plants into their landscapes. Neil and Hilary will delve into the making and application of this essential guide, sharing rich historical and ecological insights about prairie ecosystems, all while showcasing stunning images of prairie flora.