Events

Buzz, Hum and Hover: Insects and Native Plants  

Speaker Maud Lyon

Insects are essential to the web of life - yet we rarely notice most of them. Why do we need them? Why are insect populations crashing around the globe? How can we help insects to survive? Learn how your home garden can make an important difference in biodiversity - and the connection to native plants.

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Talk Title and Description
Inspiring Conservation: The Great Lakes Gardens at Matthaei Botanical Gardens

Speaker: Michael Kost, Associate Curator at University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum

The Great Lakes Gardens was established in 2013 to showcase a diverse array of the Great Lakes region’s natural communities and their associated flora. The gardens serve as an important place for the general public and University community to learn about these natural communities and native plants and be inspired to care about their protection and stewardship. In addition to the educational and inspirational benefits to conservation, the gardens play an
important role in the ex situ conservation of numerous uncommon and rare native plants and the insect fauna that rely on them. Challenges to curating and caring for the Great Lakes Gardens include acquiring and establishing representative native plants, maintaining adequate interpretive signage, and controlling non-native plants.

Bio
Mike Kost serves as Associate Curator at University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum and as a Lecturer in the School for Environment and Sustainability. As a curator he focuses on the conservation and stewardship of natural areas and native plants. Before joining U-M, he served as the Lead Ecologist and a Senior Conservation Scientist with Michigan Natural Features Inventory at Michigan State University, where he focused on documenting and describing natural communities and rare species and identifying key sites for biodiversity conservation and management. He has coauthored over 80 publications, including four books on the natural communities of Michigan

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Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

Talk Title and Description: Dealing with Invasives

Speaker: Patrick Canniff, Oakland County CISMA, Coordinator

(oaklandinvasivespecies.org)

Patrick Canniff (Oakland County CISMA/Parks Outreach Coordinator) presents a talk on Oakland County priority invasives species and ornamental garden species identification, impacts, and management. Attendees will walk away with knowledge on resources available to train their identification of common invasive species, an understanding of invasive species and their impacts, and common management techniques and resources to implement control options on their own property.

Patrick is the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Outreach Coordinator for Oakland County Parks and Recreation. He holds a M.S. in Conservation Ecology/Environmental Informatics from University of Michigan, and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Loyola University Chicago. Patrick has come to the CISMA from the Great Lakes Commission supporting their Aquatic Invasive Species program

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NON-MEMBERS: We hope you become a member of Wild Ones with North Oakland as your local chapter. (wildones.org) Note that our programs are open to the public 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 your own commitment to ecological landscaping practices.

Talk Title and Description - Gardening for Biological Conservation and Connected Communities

Speaker - Mary Jamieson

Scientists have documented six mass extinctions events over geological time. In this current period, unlike previous times, human activity is a key driver of species loss. Now more than ever, collaborative community efforts in conservation, restoration, and sustainability are needed to protect biological diversity. This session, led by Dr. Mary Jamieson, will discuss ways we can
help support biodiversity through simple activities such as gardening. A message that is gaining traction worldwide: we can conserve wildlife in our own backyards—on campus and in our local communities. Flower and food gardens provide habitat for pollinators as well as other critically important fauna and flora. Ecological communities are connected through complex, everchanging food web dynamics. Similarly, human communities are connected through intra
and interspecies interactions that can work to support one another. This presentation will highlight community projects aimed at advancing the science and conservation of at risk species, especially plants and pollinators. Join in on a discussion about best practices for creating and maintaining habitat for biodiversity conservation.

Bio - Dr. Mary Jamieson is an Associate Professor in Biological Sciences at Oakland University. Through research, education, and community engagement, her work aims to promote and protect biological diversity, ecological restoration, and sustainable agriculture. Research and education projects in her lab involve diverse collaborations with students and community partners. These projects focus on understanding the causes and consequences of anthropogenic environmental change for plants and insects. She is an active member of the Pollinator Partnership’s North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Taskforce. Her work has been supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, National Science Foundation, and Oakland Township and County Parks.

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NON-MEMBERS: We hope you become a member of Wild Ones with North Oakland as your local chapter. (wildones.org) Note that our programs are open to the public 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 your own commitment to ecological landscaping practices.

Doors Open at 6:30 PM

Caitlin Splawski - In the pursuit of cultivating a thriving garden, the battle against weeds is a perennial challenge for gardeners. "Strategies for a more Weed-Free Garden" offers a comprehensive approach to managing and minimizing the presence of unwanted plants in your garden. This presentation delves into a variety of effective techniques and practices that empower gardeners to reclaim control over their green spaces.

Bio - Caitlin Splawski is a MSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Educator in Oakland County who provides gardening education to the general public. She enjoys teaching gardening topics such as perennial gardening, weed control and garden maintenance and pollinators.

Master of Science in Horticulture and Crop Science (MS) from Ohio State University

Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Environmental Studies (BA) from Denison University

NON-MEMBERS: We hope you become a member of Wild Ones with North Oakland as your local chapter. (wildones.org) Note that our programs are open to the public 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 your own commitment to ecological landscaping practices.

Native Plant Sale - Save the date

Details and information Here: 2024 Native Plant Sale 

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Danielle's presentation will highlight a core chapter of her dissertation research that investigates the influence of prescribed fire on plant and bee communities and their interactions. Plant and pollinator surveys for this project were conducted in vulnerable grassland habitats across Southeast Michigan including sites at the E.L. Johnson Nature Center. This research aims to better understand how prescribed fire management impacts native bee communities to inform management plans and ensure their alignment with pollinator conservation goals. 

After retiring and then moving to our nine acre rural site outside Brooklyn, Michigan in 2019, I got busy continuing my dream of creating large pollinator gardens and doing a restoration of a prairie and savanna area. 

We currently have three separate gardens which I like to call “Blended Gardens”. These are roughly fifty percent native and fifty percent non native (and noninvasive) nectar sources. The purpose of these gardens is to demonstrate how folks can start their native plant journey by incorporating natives into their existing landscape alongside nectar plants they are already familiar with. The hope is that these demonstration gardens can be an inspirational gateway for those interested in learning about native plants and creating useful habitat in their own spaces. 

The prairie and savanna is a joint project through the US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Program. Basically, for landowners interested in returning their property back to native habitat, they will cover half the cost of the project. They will also partner you with an experienced biologist to guide the process and to access the necessary equipment and resources needed for the project. We entered the program in 2020, and after two years of site prep, seeded the five acre prairie and savanna in June 2022. Since this is the third summer since it was seeded, we are expecting a spectacular year!

I will provide a guided tour of the gardens, prairie and savanna. There is about a half mile trail system we can walk to view the prairie/savanna habitat. There are also three ponds that have been restored as well. You will find these teeming with life. Please be prepared for uneven ground on the trails. Hats are also recommended. If there are those who are not able to make the longer trail walk, you are welcome enjoy the three very accessible pollinator gardens and relax on the provided benches. The tour normally takes 1.5 hours. Folks are free to wander about and explore the property after the tour. 

I had over five hundred folks visit last summer from various Master Gardener groups, garden clubs and nature organizations but this will be my first visit from Wild Ones. I am looking forward to your visit!

This is a joint tour with the North Oakland and Wayne County Wild Ones chapters. In addition to nurturing a beautiful butterfly/pollinator garden using native and non-native plants, John Blair has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore a prairie on a large portion of this once agricultural property. 

Enjoy Wonderful Photos of John Blair's Property 

2023 feature in Fine Gardening 

Prairie 2024, an album on flickr

John Blair on the Gardens, Prairie, and Savanna We Will Tour

I will provide a guided tour of the gardens, prairie, and savanna. There is about a half-mile trail system we can walk to view the prairie/savanna habitat. There are also three ponds that have been restored as well. You will find these teeming with life. Please be prepared for uneven ground on the trails. Hats are also recommended. The tour normally takes 1.5 hours. Folks are free to wander about and explore the property after the tour. 

For those who are not able to make the longer trail walk - You are welcome to enjoy the three very accessible pollinator gardens and relax on the provided benches. I had over 500 folks visit last summer from various Master Gardener groups, garden clubs, and nature organizations, but this will be my first visit from Wild Ones. I am looking forward to your visit!

More About the Property and Its History

After retiring and then moving to our nine-acre rural site outside Brooklyn in 2019, I got busy continuing my dream of creating large pollinator gardens and doing a restoration of a prairie and savanna area. 

We currently have three separate gardens which I like to call “Blended Gardens.” These are roughly 50% native and 50% non-native (and noninvasive) nectar sources. The purpose of these gardens is to demonstrate how folks can start their native plant journey by incorporating natives into their existing landscape alongside nectar plants they are already familiar with. The hope is that these demonstration gardens can be an inspirational gateway for those interested in learning about native plants and creating useful habitat in their own spaces. 

The prairie and savanna is a joint project through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. Basically, for landowners interested in returning their property back to native habitat, they will cover half the cost of the project. They will also partner you with an experienced biologist to guide the process and to access the necessary equipment and resources needed for the project. We entered the program in 2020, and after two years of site prep, seeded the five-acre prairie and savanna in June 2022. Since this is the third summer since it was seeded, we are expecting a spectacular year!

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

This is a Wild Ones Member Only - FREE private tour of the Oudolf Garden. Please arrive early. Parking is limited so please carpool. The walk will occur Rain or Shine, so please come prepared for the weather, including sunscreen/bug spray.

NOTE: You will need a State Recreation Pass for the visit to Belle Isle, this can be obtained at the entrance kiosk - Oudolf garden is included in the pass www.michigannr.com

Meredith Simpson, a volunteer with Oudolf Garden Detroit has very graciously agreed to lead Wild Ones chapters, Wayne County, North Oakland, and Ann Arbor on a tour of Ouldolf Garden Detroit.

The Ouldolf Garden project started back in 2015 as new idea by the Garden Club of Michigan, in an effort to create a significant impact in the city. Garden club members Maura Campbell, Jean Hudson and Richard Thomas then sent a “love letter from Detroit” to Piet Oudolf, and he ultimately accepted the commission. Fundraising began immediately, and fast forward several years…the Belle Isle garden was designed, installed and planted by the fall of 2020. This year, 2024, will be the fourth full growing season for Oudolf Garden Detroit.

All 3 local Wild Ones Chapters are hosting this event jointly - North Oakland, Ann Arbor, & Wayne County please contact your local chapter for carpool info

NOWO will be at the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation, come out with the family for a fun filled day!

Volunteers needed to work NOWO display: Contact [email protected] if you can help

Bees Butterflies & Blooms: Pollinator FestivalAugust 24 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm FREE

Marshbank Park

2805 Hiller Rd

West Bloomfield Township, MI 48324 United States + Google Map

Buzz and flutter about Marshbank Park to learn about the importance of our pollinators and what you can do to help these critters that are so important to our earth.

Numerous hands-on activity stations will include:

Monarch tagging with butterfly releaseBeeswax craftSweep netting to look for our native pollinatorsInteractive talks with Bees in the D (bring a blanket to sit on)10:15-10:40 am Life of a Honey Bee: Become a member of a honey bee hive and learn the different responsibilities and roles of a honey bee’s short life.10:45-11:15 am Bring Back the Pollinator presented by a Xerces Society ambassador with trivia and a superpower activity workbook book for kids who attend.11:30 am-12:00 pm Monarchs Marvelous Migration: In this presentation you will learn all about the monarch's journey to Mexico from Bees in the D who have traveled to Mexico recently to see this natural phenomenon. Bees in the D will have local honey available for purchase (while supplies last).North Oakland Wild Ones – Seedling giveaway and live caterpillar displaysPlants for Ecology – a native plant grower

This is a free event and no registration is required.

This is a guided tour of the Native Landscape Education Site/Gardens with the following ecological landscaping topics to be covered:

-Biodiversity with native plants

-Planting for pollinators; flowers, vegetables, herbs

-Compost benefits for healthy soils & healthy plants 

-Mulches and making compost the easy way

https://www.socwa.org/healthy-lawns-and-gardens#:~:text=SOCWA%2FSOCRRA%20provides%20a%20community,at%20the%20Administrative%20office%20location.

This community-based landscape education program is based on the following landscaping principles:

Consider biodiversity and the natural prevention of pest and disease problems when planting the landscape.Minimize impervious surfaces and encourage retention and infiltration of storm water. Integrate natural drainways, ponds, and wetlands into the landscape design.Select plants which are native to Michigan and suitable for the soils and other characteristics of the site.Remove highly invasive plants which prevent the establishment of diverse native vegetation.Connect individual sites to form ecological corridors.

Grasses and sedges possess both a subtle beauty and incredible value to ecosystems and humankind. The grass family Poaceae and the sedge family Cyperaceae are the 5th (~12,000 species) and 9th (~5,000 species) most diverse plant families on the plant. They are the dominant groups in many ecosystems, in terms of abundance and diversity. Yet, becoming familiar with this diversity is as elusive as the identification of grass and sedge species is challenging. I will provide a global overview and a regional focus on the diversity and function of grasses and sedges, providing a foundation for identification, and highlighting some of the species we commonly encounter in southern Michigan.

Tyler Bassett is a botanist and plant ecologist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State University Extension. He studies the ecology, classification, and management of ecosystems, with a focus on the rare plant species they support. In particular, he has a passion for understanding and restoring the fragmented and fire-suppressed prairie-savanna landscapes of the upper Midwest. He has worked in private, public, non-profit and academic spheres for over 20 years to bring the science and practice of conservation and restoration together to improve outcomes for biodiversity. He earned a B.S. in Biology from Western Michigan University in 2000 and PhD from Michigan State University in 2017.

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

Join Blue Heron Headwater Conservancy (BHHC) President Emily Duthinh as she discusses how land conservation protects our unique local environment. What creates our unique landscapes and gives our area a special sense of place? How do our native plants and wildlife give our local ecosystems an intrinsic character and identity? How do invasive species homogenize our world, harm our wildlife, and destroy this sense of place? Learn how you can help plant native species to create your backyard nature preserve and connect and expand our local green spaces. Think globally and act locally to protect our uniquely beautiful home. 

Emily has served on BHHC's Board of Directors since 2013 and is currently serving as president.  She has been active in the Stewardship and Land Acquisition Committees for 15 years.  She is a Conservation Steward in Michigan and founded the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) in 2014. Emily earned her bachelor's degree in geology from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. and her master's degree in environmental science from Duke University.  She worked for 18 years in environmental consulting, assessing and remediating contaminated soil and groundwater at industrial sites throughout the mid Atlantic states, Ohio, and Michigan.  Emily is an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit and formerly taught at Wayne State University and Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio.  She has extensive experience in preschool and K-12 education, particularly educating students with special needs, and was a founding school board member of the M.O.D.E.L. Community School, a charter school for students with autism in Toledo. 

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One's national webinar, "Matrix Landscape Design" with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot! 

We are thrilled to announce that, thanks to the incredible growth of North Oakland Wild Ones, we will be hosting our very first Annual Meeting! We invite you to join us on November 20th at 6 pm at Johnson Nature Center for an evening of food, networking, and a presentation showcasing our 2024 achievements, the impact we've made, and our vision for 2025. We encourage our members to come ready to share their ideas, tell us what they enjoyed this year, and offer suggestions for what they'd like to see next year. We will hold a vote for the Board of Directors slate of candidates and invite members to participate in forming new committees.

Native plants have an incredible ability to adapt to climate extremes, offering sustainable solutions for resilient landscapes. Join Wild Ones and the Native Plant Society of Texas to explore the power of native plants to thrive in challenging conditions.

This event features Christy Ten Eyck, founder of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. Drawing from her latest Dallas-Fort Worth native garden design, Christy will share insights into designing low-maintenance, ecologically rich spaces that withstand intense climate fluctuations.

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.