MGANM Events
From the Fields to Front Yard
Join The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park Executive Director, Matthew Ross for an evening presentation that highlights the value of understanding how best to expand your native plant palette. For those of you seeking plants to integrate into an existing landscape or if you are looking to install a new native garden; a wide range of plants and their ecosystem services will be discussed. In addition to getting lists of versatile plants native to the Great Lakes, you will get a chance to see how field botany and learning more about the role plants play in the ecosystem can be of assistance in your own home garden.
About Your Speaker: Matthew Ross
Matthew Ross is the Executive Director of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City Michigan.
Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Lunch/Dinner
Planting Native Trees and Shrubs in Neighborhood Places
“Planting Native Trees and Shrubs in Neighborhood Places” with Dr. Josh Shields, Ph.D. Dr. Shields is a Certified Forester and Wildlife Biologist with the Forestry Assistance Program (FAP) in Michigan. He will discuss planting native trees and shrubs in neighborhood places, with an emphasis on those that provide the aesthetics that people often look for. He will also discuss the important considerations when planting trees and shrubs in the urban and suburban landscape (from the official Certified Arborist handbook and standards) and how this differs from planting such trees and shrubs in “natural areas”. He will have some slides about the risks associated with planting exotic species, as well as some information on climate change.
Gardening for Butterflies
The August 2nd Zoom presentation by Cheryl Gross, AEMG, and President of Plant It Wild, will take the listener from thinking of butterflies and nectar plants to the lifecycle of the butterfly. Where are the eggs laid? What do caterpillars eat? What happens to butterflies in winter?
Field Trip Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers
The MGANM will be hosting a field trip to Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers on Tuesday, July 19th at 6:30 pm. Michelle Shackelford, owner of LSCF will walk us through her outdoor and indoor gardens of cut flowers and explain to us what she grows, how she grows and how she goes to market with her flowers. Michelle has been farming flowers for 9 years at her Cedar, Michigan location. Tickets to this event will be limited to 30 spaces and will be $20.00. All proceeds will be split between LSCF and MGANM.
Because parking at LSCF is limited we will be coming up with a car pool plan.
Forage Sustainably
Wild Foraging is a growing practice. Kirk Waterstripe, adjunct Instructor of Plant Biology, speaks to the Master Gardener Association of Northwest Michigan on Tuesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will be accessible via Zoom.
Kirk Waterstripe M.S.-ecology, is currently the Science Lab Manager and adjunct Instructor of Plant Biology at Northwestern Michigan College. He has been an active organic gardener and composter since 1990. He has several plant videos on YouTube, is active in the local Audubon Society, and is currently interested in the possible of Biochar.
The earth, like the sun, like the air, belongs to everyone — and to no one.
— Edward Abbey (American writer and naturalist)
The idea of foraging promises food available simply for the taking. However, the very act of foraging reduces the ability of the land to produce forage. Learn the top ten plants and methods for reducing environmental stress. Through mapping and creating your own forage areas, learn methods for saving this important Natural Resource.
The virtual meeting is open to the public. The event is free to MGANM members and a $5.00 donation is suggested for non-members. To register go to MGANM.org. All those who register will receive a link to the meeting via email.
Past events
Recordings, when available, are only available for current MGANM members or event registrants. It is a benefit of membership.