Native Plant Symposium coming April 12
Don’t forget to register for the eighth annual Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium, happening from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 12, on Zoom. Register here.
Our keynote address is by nationally known landscaper and horticulturalist Kim Eierman (pictured), who will speak on “Selling Native Plants with Cues to Care,” i.e., getting neighbors and passersby to accept and even appreciate your naturalistic garden.
We’re also pleased to host Michelle Wietek-Stephens, of U.P. Native Plants, who will discuss gardening for butterflies, and Kass Urban-Mead of the Xerces Society, who will lead us on an exploration of how native bees use the forest.
“What’s the Rush” draws enthusiastic crowd
More than 40 people attended a showing of Doug Tallamy’s video “What’s the Rush?” on March 14 at Michigan Tech’s forestry building.
Tallamy’s message of hope–that we can support vanishing wildlife by growing native in our yards–was greeted with cheerful applause.
The event, sponsored by WOK and KISMA (Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area), concluded with a lively Q&A featuring Sigrid Resh (KISMA), Michelle Wietek-Stephens (U.P. Native Plants), Anne Collins (Natural Resources Conservation Service) and Marcia Goodrich (WOK). WOK members Susan Miko, Karen Cayce, and Jackie Manchester served as greeters.
Hanging out at the Seed Swap
WOK members Karen Cayce and Marcia Goodrich dispensed plenty of free native seeds and advice to dozens of attendees at the annual Seed Swap, held March 15 at the Portage Lake District Library.
Member Cassandra Reed-VanDam (left) was an invited speaker at the event, giving an intriguing presentation on the biology of monarch butterflies.
Two of the swap organizers, Rachael Pressley and Evan Lanese, also happen to be Keweenaw Wild Ones and provided free native seed for us to distribute.
Want to bring native bee lessons to youth?
Wild Ones is partnering with Crown Bees to teach youth in and out of the classroom about native bees. Learning materials are free, and bee houses are also available.
Learn more here. If you’d like to help bring this knowledge to youth, please contact Marcia.
