Potted
Fourteen gardeners gathered August 12 to try their hand at container gardening with natives. Jill Fisher, Sheri Hagwood, and Kear Backes advised, and WOK provided free potting mix and pots, though most people brought their own decorative containers. Plus, attendees received the membership discount on plant purchases.
Organizers said the response was enthusiastic, so if you missed it, don’t worry. We’ll probably do it again next year.
Barberry Trade-Up Days Extended through Sept.30
It’s not too late to trade in that invasive Japanese barberry. Bring in the bush, roots and all, to either of KISMA’s drop off sites. Then swap it for a certificate good for $10 a native shrub at a Go Beyond Beauty Nursery–Kismet Gardens, Flowers by Sleeman, and U.P. Native Plants.
Drop-off sites
- Michigan Technological University Salt Barn, Cemetery Road, Houghton, MI 49931
- 616 Poplar Street, L’Anse, MI 49946
More information is available here.
A Surge of New Plants Joins Our Summer Sale
It’s that time of year, when slow-to-start seedlings undergo a growth spurt. Scarlet bee balm, dense blaziing star, late figwort, and Jacob’s ladder are now ready for their forever homes, along with purple coneflower, black-eyed Susans, and lots of other great native plants. We also have super deals on monarch mini-gardens.
These plants love the warm soils of summer. Just make sure to water them if it doesn’t rain, and they will thrive.
Pictured are scarlet bee balm and pearly everlasting.
Giveaway Garden Installed in Baraga
Michelle Krallman and her husband live on damp ground–their emerald lawn never needs watering. They turned that soggy soil to good advantage by selecting a rain garden from U.P. Native Plants as their prize after winning WOK’s garden giveaway.
Michelle, a kindergarten teacher, loves sharing knowledge about plants and bugs with her students. Their home is located next to St. Anne’s Catholic Church, and she expects the rain garden will provide attract plenty of attention from passersby as it matures.
Monarchs Endorse WOK’s Native Plant Sale
A monarch found its way into Audra’s greenhouse, and this lovely larva is the result.
It’s always time to plant more milkweed. Check out the Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter’s summer sale for common milkweed and butterfly weed, plus lots of other good plants. Got shade? We also have poke milkweed in the lineup.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Stop back later. We have plenty of seedlings that we’ll add to the sale as they get a little more muscular.
Welcome to the Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter
We are on a journey to
- educate ourselves and others about the special attributes of native plants and how to incorporate them into our gardens and civic landscapes;
- create habitat that nurtures wildlife, including bees, butterflies, and birds; and
- develop resilient landscapes that absorb runoff, protecting water quality and infrastructure.
Regular meetings are held at 6 p.m., the third Tuesday of the month, often on Zoom, sometimes in person.
Want to grow native but don’t know where to begin?
Check out our Resources section. Or visit Wild Ones’ Native Garden Design website, featuring a several downloadable native garden plans created by professional landscape designers. The plans are free, printable, and come with plant lists.
We hope these resources inspire, encourage, and motivate you in your native garden journey!