Wild Ones Project Earns WAM Grant
The Wildflower Association of Michigan (WAM) has awarded a $525 grant to the Hancock Trails Club to install natives at its new bike park, located adjacent to the Maasto Hiito trail system off of M-203.
The project is spearheaded by WOK board member Roz Heidke. In cooperation with the club, Roz and WOK volunteers will be removing weeds from an island of vegetation surrounded by trails. She plans to transform the area with native plant plugs purchased with the WAM grant.
Don’t miss Doug Tallamy in “Next Steps for Nature”
WOK and KISMA are hosting a recorded webinar featuring native plant guru Dr. Doug Tallamy 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Room 144 of the U.J. Noblet Forestry Building at Michigan Tech . During this video presentation, Tallamy answers many of the questions posed by audiences during his hundreds of talks around the country.
Afterward, a panel of local experts will be available for a Q&A.
WOK partnering in Bird City effort
The Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter is cooperating in the effort to qualify Houghton as a Bird City.
American Bird Conservancy and Environment for the Americas founded the Bird City Network to encourage local communities to enact bird-friendly actions. Since one of the best things you can do for birds is get more native plants in the ground, Keweenaw Wild Ones is delighted to be part of this endeavor.
The Bird City effort is being led by Visit Keweenaw. In connection with the project, WOK is discussing giving away a number of free native gardens.
Winter sowing begins
We’ve begun winter sowing seeds for our summer native plant sales. Right now, they are protected from the Alberta Clipper by a thick layer of snow, pictured. I’m trying a few new species this year, including red monarda and prairie alumroot. Pray for a warm, damp spring.
Events
Back by popular demand–You may remember WOK member Dr. Ken Farrish, who gave an amazing presentation in October 2025 on the physical properties of soils. He’s agreed to do a follow-up talk on soils’ chemical properties in March. More info to come.
Ken, a soils scientist and professor emeritus at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, is the recipient of two teaching awards.
December’s holiday party attracted about 30 WOK members to Gino’s for pizza and socializing, and everyone seemed to have a great time.
In January, Kristine Bradof’s Winter Sowing 101 workshop also drew about 30 participants of all ages, who learned how to sow native seeds in containers and give them the requisite winter chill before they germinate.