Finally! A natural landscape designer for the Keweenaw
Plenty of people love native plants but don’t feel confident designing their gardens. Now we have a professional who can help.
Mary Richardson is a trained landscape designer with a passion for natural landscapes. Formerly of Petoskey, she followed her heart and came to the U.P. Based in Naubinway and Munising, she is happy to take on projects in the Keweenaw.
To learn more about Mary and find out how to schedule a consultation, check out our Native Landscapers page.
WOK to support native garden at Keweenaw Co-op
For three months in 2024, the Keweenaw Food Co-op selected Keweenaw Wild Ones as the beneficiary for its round-up program. The program lets customers round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with the spare change going to benefit local nonprofits.
We were surprised and delighted to receive nearly $1,300. To show our appreciation, WOK will be using the funds to support a native garden by the co-op entrance. We hope to get the garden designed and planted this season.
WOK to advise on memorial garden
Finlandia Foundation National is planning a memorial garden in Hancock and has invited WOK to provide some advice. Of course we said yes.
The garden will be located between the Finnish American Heritage Center and North Wind Books. Thomas Flanagan, executive director of the foundation, says the project will memorialize a major gift to their Saving Finland in America campaign, which enabled them to preserve the Finnish American Heritage Center.
The garden will reflect the natural environment and feature local and native plants. The foundation will work with a professional designer, and Wild Ones will consult on the use of native plants.
WOK donates to KISMA
Under the direction of Sigrid Resh, KISMA spends untold hours working to rid the Keweenaw of invasive nonnative plants. Unfortunately, in 2025, it didn’t receive it’s anticipated budget for battling invasives.
Kristine Bradof, a member of WOK’s Board of Directors, suggested that we support our kindred organization by donating $200 to KISMA. The board was unanimous in its approval. Way to go, Kristine!
Symposium Videos Available on Youtube
If you missed April 12’s Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium (too bad for you–it was great), you can still catch a couple presentations on our Youtube channel. They’ve both received excellent reviews.
- Kass Urban-Mead,
Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society, on
“Pollinators in the Woods? Exploring the Many Ways Wild Bees Nest and Forage in Woody Habitats,” and - Michelle Wietek-Stephens
Designs by Nature U.P. Native Plants, LLC
“Butterfly Bonanza: Native Plants for U.P. Moths & Butterflies”
What’s coming up
Wednesday, April 30, 6:30-7 p.m., Calumet Public Library—Rocks & Roots: A Celebration of Biodiversity and Geoheritage on the Keweenaw’s Bedrock Shorelines, with botanist Abraham Stone. A Friends of the Calumet Public Library presentation.
Botanist Abraham Stone spent the summer of 2024 surveying the Keweenaw Peninsula bedrock shorelines in search of rare arctic flora, striking geological formations, and unusual lakeshore ecosystems as part of a ‘Rocks and Roots’ research initiative.
In this talk, Abe will highlight how his explorations yielded interesting connections between the plants, the rocks, and the lake itself – all while showing you some of the hidden secrets that make the Keweenaw special!
Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m.-noon, USDA Forest Service Laboratory, Houghton–Tour the US Forest Service peatland experiment
Scientist Rachel Tarpey will lead WOK members in this tour of the US Forest Service peatland mesocosm experiment. The mesocosm (half way between a microcosm and macrocosm?) is is made up of 24 cubic-meter bins of sphagnum moss and native wetland vegetation on which researchers monitor the effects of historical drainage and drought on a peatland ecosystem. This is a chance to learn about the unique vegetation and science.
Show Me, Help Me Days
Membership Chair Polly Havins and Director David Hunter will be contacting new members to gauge their interest in hosting a Show Me, Help Me event this summer. If you’re invited to be a host, please consider whether this would be right for you. Previous hosts have all said how much they enjoyed the experience.
During Show Me, Help Me events, Wild Ones visit each others’ yards and offer their thoughts on incorporating more native plants in the landscaping. Typically, more experienced gardeners visit the yards of native plant newbees.
Show Me, Help Me Days are both educational and a chance to get together and talk plants; a pot luck is often involved.