Find educational opportunities plus news and events for the northwest Michigan area
(Note: not all count for educational credit)
New items were added on April 15, 2021
MGANM Events
A Pest Resistant Landscape – Plant Choices that are Work Horses
May 04, 2021, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Zoom presentation.
This month’s guest speaker is Robin Smillie, who is the face of Garden Goods, a favorite Traverse City garden supply store. Robin is the ever-cheerful and knowledgeable woman you will see at the cash register. Her last name, Smillie, fits her well! Robin will share her vast knowledge of plants during this informative talk.
Click here for more information and registration.
Top Plants for Insect Habitat
June 01, 2021, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Zoom presentation.
Join us for an informative discussion about plant selections to encourage insect habitat.
Registration for this event will open in May.
MGANM Book Club Book of the Month
March
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
Natures Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy
January
The Well-Gardened MIND: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart-Smith
MSU Extension
Tollgate Farm HomeGrown Gardening Series 2021
Second Saturdays, 10 – 11 a.m. EST
Join us for this virtual interactive series on home vegetable gardening.
Are you interested in starting a vegetable garden for the first time or are you an experienced veggie gardener looking to explore new ideas? All levels of experience are welcome at this new series designed to encourage and support home vegetable gardeners!
May 8 – Growing Fun with Kids
June 12 – Taking Growing to New Heights
July 10 – Season Extension for the Home Garden
Aug. 14 – Companion Planting
Sept. 11 – Veggie Harvest and Storage
$10 per session for one household, $75 for all eight sessions
Preregistration required. Recorded lectures available to paid registrants.
A link will be sent prior to the session.
Series will be virtual. If in-person programming resumes, some sessions may take place at the farm and virtually.
MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center
28115 Meadowbrook Rd., Novi, MI 48377
Register here
Evenings in the Garden Series
Zoom presentations on Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m.
$10 per session. Registration required.
There are 2 remaining sessions:
Apr. 15th– “Christmas Tree Production in Michigan with Dr. Bert Cregg, Professor of Horticulture and Forestry”
Apr. 29th– “A New Way to Farm: Why is Lavender Farming Growing in Michigan by Dr. Wynne Wright, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Community Sustainability”
Starting April 15, four Thursday evening sessions, 6 – 8 p.m. EST
Join MSU Extension staff as we explore basic concepts in gardening and introduce you to beginner-friendly plants. Each class covers topics that will help you understand your garden site and make informed choices on plants and plant care. We will share expertise and resources to help you start smart!
Backyard Fruit 101
The Backyard Fruit 101 Webinar series is an online class for introductory and beginning fruit gardeners. Six one-hour online classes will take place on Tuesdays beginning April 20 and going through May 25. All aspects of growing fruit will be covered: getting started, planning and preparing, plant selection, types of gardening, garden maintenance, soil preparation, starting with and maintaining healthy plants, and various gardening activities
Register here
MASTER GARDENER SOCIETY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Gardening and All That Jazz – In Harmony With Nature
Saturday, April 17, 2021, 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
2021 Educational Conference
Keynote Speakers:
Rick Darke • Doug Tallamy • Heather Holm • Susan Martin
Learn more and register here.
Let’s Learn About Invasive Plants!
April 19, 2021, 5:30PM – 6:30PM – Zoom Presentation
Join Patrick Scanlon (GiLLS CISMA) to learn about invasive plants that affect home gardeners. Patrick will not only cover some common invasive plants but will speak about how we can be responsible stewards in our own gardens.
Established in 2019, the GiLLS CISMA is a Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area for the Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, and Shiawassee counties. This position is funded by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program (www.michigan.gov/invasives). CISMA partnerships can include federal, state, and local government agencies, tribes, non-profit groups, individual homeowners, and various interested groups that manage invasive species (and weeds) in a defined area. This collaborative effort helps to combine resources and knowledge to decrease the threats of these exotic species. Through education, outreach efforts, and technical support, CISMAs aim to control or manage the dangers and damages from invasive species. We offer a range of services including information on preventing, identifying, reporting and managing invasive species.
This event is hosted by MSU Extension Consumer Horticulture in Genesee County.
Topics to be covered:
- What is GiLLS CISMA?
- What does CISMA do?
- How you can report invasive plants
- The features of an invasive plant
- Common invasive plants
- The horticultural industries role in preventing the introduction of invasive plants
- Being a more responsible gardener
The buzz about native bees: The multiple interacting factors that contribute to recent native bee declines
April 22, 7 PM EDT
Many of the key factors, including habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and increased spread of infectious diseases, that have led to recent honey bee losses are also contributing to broad declines in native bee biodiversity and population sizes. Native bees are surprisingly important pollinators of native plants and crops, and as a group they represent an incredible amount of diversity in the essential roles they play in our ecosystems
Go here more information and registration
2021 PLANT QUEST
April 26 – May 24 – 6:00 – 7:30 EDT
If you loved Plants of Distinction– you are going to love PLANT QUEST! With “Smart Plants” in mind, five dazzling on-line presentations will be featured for gardeners with every-type of growing environment. Nationally notable horticulture experts from across the country will provide career-long, plant expertise through a cavalcade of beautiful images, sure to inspire us. Easy access makes this live series available to you when it is most CONVENIENT too! The ZOOM platform is user-friendly, and if you miss a session that you registered for, recordings will be available for you to catch up when you choose.
Please plan to join all your fellow “plant GEEKS” for a thrilling exploration of plants for spring. Find out more and register here: https://events.anr.msu.edu/2021PlantQuest/
Improve your garden with MSU Enviroweather’s tools and information
Enviroweather’s weather-based models and forecasting interpret Michigan’s conditions to help gardeners make better decisions about plant care and pest management. www.canr.msu.edu/news/improve-your-garden-with-msu-enviroweather-tools-and-information
Smart Gardening with Vegetables 101 online course now available
Now is a great time to learn about growing your own vegetables. Plan to register for Michigan State Extension’s Smart Gardening with Vegetables 101 online course. This self-paced, introductory online course provides all you need to know to successfully start and grow a vegetable garden. Whether you have a large space, small space or plan to garden in containers, you will learn research-based practices for success. From seed starting to harvest, you will learn important concepts needed to select and grow fresh vegetables from start to finish.
Participants have appreciated the self-paced nature of the course. Six modules consist of video presentations, polls and Extension-based gardening resources that can be saved on your computer for future use. Topics include:
- Planning a vegetable garden and the importance of soil health
- Planning and plant selection
- Raised beds and containers
- Seeds or transplants
- Integrated pest management
- Gardening activities (organic gardening, composting and seasonal planning)
If you are new to vegetable gardening, take advantage of this opportunity to learn vegetable gardening basics in six easy to understand science-based sessions from the comfort of your own home. The entire course is only $30 for over six hours of instruction.
Sign up here for Smart Gardening with Vegetables 101
Starting A Grasses and Sedges Garden
An article by David Lowenstein, MSUE
An alternative to turf lawns for the home gardener.
Read the full article here
Avoid Invasive Hitchhikers
Note: if out hiking or snowshoeing to help curb the transfer of invasive species, observe these tips that were included in GTCD February e-newsletter, “Stopping Hidden Hitchhikers – All that effortless access and reduced foliage means something else too – seeds clinging to stems and pods are that much easier to brush up against while you’re out touring the season. But since our minds aren’t often on weeds, it’s easy to forget to be vigilant about cleaning our gear to prevent invasive species from spreading. Pay close attention to bindings, laces, and soft fabrics – when we wear a lot of slippery, water-resistant fabrics that don’t pick up much, it’s easy to forget about those nooks and crannies that do. Don’t forget – if you have a furry friend or other gear, they need cleaning too!”
MSU HORTICULTURE GARDENS
Annual Plant Sale
Apr. 26-27th (Mon.-Tue.) Members
Apr. 28th-May 6th (Wed.-Thur.) Public sale
What can you expect? Order Online with Curbside Pickup. Diverse Selection Grown by MSU Experts. Top Quality plants. Great Value.
Stay tuned for more information about the 2021 Spring Plant Sale.
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR)
Muddy Day Don’t Play
With warmer weather in the forecast, we wanted to remind everyone to help protect Michigan trails by not using them when muddy.
Riding or walking on a muddy trail destroys the surface. It leaves ruts/deep holes, uneven tire and footprints, contributes to erosion and creates a hard-to-fix trail surface. Hint: If you are leaving visible bicycle ruts, deep footprints or hoof tracks the trail is too muddy.
Spring is an especially sensitive time because frost layers often linger below the trail surface (even when air temperatures have warmed up). As a result, spring rains have trouble permeating the soil, creating muddy topsoil. Trail use and muddy conditions can erode trails very quickly.
Although you should avoid muddy trails altogether, please keep these tips in mind if you encounter a muddy section:
- Mountain biking – If you encounter a muddy section, dismount and tiptoe down the center, not to the sides because it widens the trail.
- Hiking – If you must traverse a muddy section of trail, go right through the center of the trail, rather than travelling around the mud and widening the trail.
- Horseback riding – Although most horses don’t mind getting their feet wet, you and your horse are encouraged to travel through the center of the trail so inadvertent trail widening doesn’t occur.
THE BOTANIC GARDEN AT HISTORIC BARNS PARK
Please check the website for Zoom presentations, www.thebotanicgarden.org. Please also check their Facebook page and Eventbrite.com since they may have quicker updates. The Garden and Labyrinth are still available to enjoy. The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park is always open to the public. Please check the website for current information on the gift shop. The Garden looks forward to welcoming visitors and is working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy while providing guests with the best possible experience.
TOUR THE GARDEN FROM YOUR ARMCHAIR
There is an exciting new feature on The Botanic Garden’s website – an audio tour of The Garden. Click on ‘Visit’ at the top of the home page, and then select ‘Self Guided Audio Tour’. You can access this feature on your cell phones as well. Whether you are walking The Garden or curled up at home, you can hear all about each garden and special feature, including an introductory historic background. Self-guided tour brochures are available at both the upper and lower level entrances of the visitor center, and are aligned with the audio tour.
April 22nd – 5:30-8:00 PM EARTH DAY with the Botanic Garden
In celebration of Earth Day 2021, we’re pleased to offer a double feature — 2 presentations for the price of 1! (Or both FREE for our Garden Members!) By reserving your ticket here, you will gain access to both events. Join us for one or both of these exciting Earth Day offerings. Read more about them here!
May 16th – 2:00-3:00 – Perennials for Challenging Growing Conditions with Melinda Myers
Selecting the right plant for the location is not as easy as it seems. Looking for perennials that will tolerate extremes of moisture, drought, sun and shade? Melinda will recommend plants and combinations best suited for your garden location.
More information and registration
Future Events – more information to follow
May 23rd – A Tour of The Botanic Garden for Plants Worth Getting
May 26th – How To Plant Your Own Herbal Pot
June 24th – Authors In The Park
July 14th – All About Roses Tour
September 9th – Shrubs That Grow Well in Northern Michigan
Questions? Please email our Program Committee at grow@thebotanicgarden.org.
Pollinator Partnership
Pollinator Week – June 21-27
An annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health. It’s a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them.
Read more to get ready
NORTHWEST MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES NETWORK
Garlic Mustard Workbees
Grand Traverse County
Partnering with the Grand Traverse Conservation District
Saturday, May 8, 2021 | 9am-noon
Location: Hickory Meadows, Traverse City
Benzie County
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | 10am-noon
Location: Tank Hill, Frankfort
Leelanau County
Partnering with the Leelanau Conservancy
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | 10am-noon
Location: Clay Cliffs Natural Area
Manistee County
Partnering with the Manistee Conservation District
Thursday, May 20 | 10am-noon
Location: Magoon Creek Natural Area
Join ISN and partners for an opportunity to give back to Mother Earth through stewardship activities at natural areas throughout northwest Michigan! Foster habitat improvements by controlling highly invasive garlic mustard.
More information and registration.
“Hemlock Woolly Adelgid”. The Zoom presentation from January is available online. Join ISN to learn about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), its impacts on our special hemlock trees, and how you can get involved with surveying on your own property. Winter is one of the best times to spot signs of the insect and we will review what to look for as well as look-a-likes, and how to report anything you find. You may also qualify for a free site visit. There is a landowner questionnaire available. Please see these websites for more information:
www.habitatmatters.org
www.natureiscalling.org
GRAND TRAVERSE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
“Plant-by-Number”
Plant by number flats are on sale now through April 30 on our website! These turn-key solutions for adding habitat are only available through this pre-sale, with pickup during the regular Native Plant Sale.
Click to shop now!
Thursday, April 22, 2021, 9:00 AM 12:00 PM, Grand Traverse Conservation District (map)
Join us on Earth day and help us spruce up the trails and plant bare-root seedlings along Miller Creek! Please email trails@gtcd.org to sign-up or with any questions!
Friday, April 30, 2021, 9:00 AM 1:00 PM, Grand Traverse Conservation District (map)
Help district staff continue restoration efforts in the recently exposed bottomlands of the Natural Education Reserve with a few hours of planting native trees and shrubs. Funded in part by Keep Michigan Beautiful.
Meet at the Beaver Pond trailhead on Cass (north side of the road).
Please contact trails@gtcd.org to RSVP and with any questions.
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 9:00 AM 1:00 PM, Grand Traverse Conservation District (map)
Help district staff continue restoration efforts in the recently exposed bottomlands of the Natural Education Reserve with a few hours of planting native trees and shrubs. Funded in part by Keep Michigan Beautiful.
Meet at the Beaver Pond trailhead on Cass (north side of the road).
Please contact trails@gtcd.org to RSVP and with any questions.
BENZIE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
2021 Events
Fri/Sat, April 23/24 — Spring Seedling Order Pick-Up (Fri: 9 to 4pm; Sat 9 to 12pm) at Beulah Park
Wed, May 6 — Volunteer Stream Monitoring Field Training Event
Sat, May 8 — Volunteer Stream Monitoring Field Collection Event
Sat, May 15 — Spring Hike: Limited to 10 participants, must pre-register
Thurs, May 27 — Platte River Clean Sweep
Sat, June 12 — Betsie River Clean Sweep
June 27 thru July 4 — Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week
Wed, July 7 — Aquatic Species Workshop
Sat, July 17* — Water Tour: Upper Betsie River
Sat, August 7* — Aquatic Plant & Snorkeling Water Tour: Herendeene Lake
Sat, Aug 14* — Volunteer Appreciation Bash at St Ambrose
Sat, Aug 28 — Fall Hike: Mushrooms in Benzie
Sat, Sept 18 — Adopt-a-Beach Clean Up
Fri, Sept 25 — Fall Seedling Sale Orders Due
Fri, Oct 8 — Fall Seedling Sale Pick Up Orders
Wed, Oct 14 — Volunteer Stream Monitoring Field Training Event
Sat, Oct 16 — Volunteer Stream Monitoring Field Collection Event
Wed, Nov 10 — Annual Meeting
Contact information:
By Phone:
231.882.4391
By Email:
benziecd@benziecd.org
By Mail:
280 Benzie Boulevard
PO Box 408
Beulah, MI 49617
LEELANAU CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Time For Our Annual Spring Seedling Sale!
Order until April 9: Bare-root Tree Seedlings, Shrubs, Wildlife Trees & Beachgrass!
1. Download our Spring Seedling Sale order form here
2. Fill out your order; include check or credit card info!
3. Scan and email; or mail; or drop off form to the LCD office.
NOTE: This is first come; first serve. Limited quantities are available!
Go to our seedling sale web page here to learn more about the species and browse the selections!
If you have any questions, please contact the office: Karen Long, 231.256.9783, klong@leelanau.gov
THANK YOU!
Note: These are Conservation Districts that serve many of the membership. Other Conservation Districts may also have an annual sale so check with your local office for details.
LEELANAU CONSERVANCY
Annual Wildflower Rescue Sale
May 28 – 29 – Held at the Leland Village Green. More information coming.
Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area
Remove Invasive Species Work Days
Beginning Tuesday, April 6th, there will be work days to remove invasive species at Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural area (www.glacialhillstrails.org) outside Bellaire. The work days will be every other Tuesday at 8:30am and will be partnered with CAKE CISMA . The first workday will take place Tuesday 6 April meeting at the Eckhardt Trailhead. We will work in small groups following Covid19 safety protocols. Bring your own garden or leather work gloves. This will be a good way to learn more about invasive species and their identification. Keep an eye on social media for more information and updates on the location for our biweekly invasive species work sessions. Other questions? contact Sue Haadsma-Svensson (317-442-6364, srhs49615@gmail.com) Facebook @glacialhillstrails Instagram: Glacial_Hills_Trails
The second workday will be on Tuesday, April 20th at 8:30AM from the Vandermark Trailhead.
The 3rd workday will be on Tuesday, May 4th at 8:30 AM from the Orchard Hills Trailhead.
North Central Michigan College
Gardening Series with Larry Dyer
Wednesdays, April 7th-28th • 7:00 – 8:15 PM
Building healthy soil in your garden, Managing weeds and insects in your garden, Planning your garden and the surrounding landscape, and Get your garden planted!
Register here
Vegetable Propagation
April 15, 7:30-9:30 & April 17, 12PM – 2PM
To spend less money on seeds, have a wide variety of edibles, and harvest them for a longer period of time then explore vegetable propagation and seed starting!
Register here
XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION
Creating Community with Our Insect Neighbors
Join Dr. Nancy Lee Adamson of Xerces Society to learn about common insects in our communities and how to support them. Nancy will highlight the difference between solitary and social wasps and bees, “beneficial” insects in agriculture, and ways we can support insects in our neighborhoods and broader communities.
Click here for more information and to register.
Insect Apocalypse? What Is Really Happening, Why It Matters and How We Can All Be a Vital Part of the Solution
April 22, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
With well over one million known species, insects and other invertebrates eclipse all other forms of life on Earth. They truly are the “little things that run the world.” Though they are indisputably the most important creatures on earth, invertebrates are in trouble. If we hope to stem the losses of insect diversity and the services they provide, society must take steps at all levels to protect, restore and enhance native plant habitat across landscapes, from wildlands to farmlands to urban cores. Join Xerces Executive Director, Scott Hoffman Black, as he explains the latest science on insect declines and how everyone can incorporate invertebrate conservation into their lives.
This webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
Click here for more information and to register.
Supporting Pollinators Over Time: How to Maintain Wildflower Diversity
May 6, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
Integrating habitat onto farms and other landscapes can support pollinators and the pollination services they provide. However, flower-rich plantings often require ongoing management to maintain wildflower diversity for pollinators over time. Come learn about a framework for selecting the most appropriate management techniques, and learn how landowners we work with are managing their pollinator plantings.
This webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
Click here for more information and to register.
Bee City USA & Bee Campus USA Series: Comparing Benefits and Costs of Pursuing Bee Campus USA Certification
May 18, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
While pollinator conservation efforts among universities continue to grow, many others remain unengaged. Demonstrating the value of pollinator conservations among students may help encourage university leaders to take action. Join Dr. Jerrod Penn to learn about the research that he and Wuyang Hu did to investigate the role of student interest in pollinator conservation actions. This webinar will include an overview of their study and their finding that certification generally creates positive benefits greater than costs.
Jerrod Penn, PhD – Jerrod is an assistant professor of environmental/resource economics and sustainability at Louisiana State University. His work focuses on individual behavior and preferences to understand economic values for changes in the environment such as species abundance and diversity. His collaborations include work on resource conservation for pollinators, sustainable forestry, outdoor recreation, beach management, and agriculture.
This webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
Click here for more information and to register.
Spring Foraging 101
With Clay Bowers
It’s just about that time of year again! Spring Foraging time is here (well, almost). A time of year that all of us eagerly anticipate. The foragers among us anticipate it for the explosion of foods that become available. It truly is a special time of the year and I hope you join me in what has become on of my most sold out classes each and every year.
In this class you will learn how to identify and safely harvest a variety of wild edible and medicinal plants (and potentially mushrooms) that grow in the Northern Michigan region. In addition to identification we will learn about the evolution, historical uses, and sustainability of each individual species. This class will end with a giant spread of pre-made wild foods by Madelyn Walters and myself.
Held in multiple locations:
Ann Arbor, MI – April 24, 2021 – 12:00 PM
Traverse City, MI – May 1, 2021 – 12:00 PM
Grand Rapids MI – May 15, 2021 – 12:00PM
MEADOW BROOK GARDEN CLUB
April 23, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Julia Hofley will present “Captivating Combinations.”
Monthly meetings will be held virtually through Zoom. Non-members wishing to attend, please send an email to MBGCmembers@gmail.com to request a link that includes a link to make a $5.00 guest donation.
MMGA E-NEWSLETTERS
If you are a member of MMGA (Michigan Master Gardener Association) there are a number of upcoming webinars. Please check the website for further information. www.michiganmastergardeners.org
