Events

How do we best support native pollinators on lands we manage? Responses to this seemingly simple question depend on so many things! Pollinator-friendly habitats can and do look different depending on the role of the landscape, aesthetics, budget, and timeframe. In this presentation, Rebecca Tonietto, Assistant Professor of Biology in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Michigan-Flint will describe her work on how to best support pollinators in the Midwest across varied habitats from greenroofs to prairie restorations to residential landscaping choices. Come to explore some of the options for plants, groundcover, soils and nesting habitat, and how to recognize some of the amazingly diverse native bees that will come to visit!

This presentation will focus on the natural history of oak ecosystems in our area, and the important role oaks have played in our cultural history, from ancient times to the present.  Speakers are Tyler Bassett, botanist and plant ecologist with Michigan Natural Features Inventory and Tom Small, emeritus Professor of English, Western Michigan University, co-founder of the Kalamazoo Area Chapter of Wild Ones and co-author of Using Native Plants to Restore Community.

Glaciated regions of North America are devoid of native terrestrial earthworms. Earthworms such as the common nightcrawler and red worm are European species that arrived during settlement and have become naturalized. Jumping worms represent a second wave of invasion. Endemic to Japan and the Korean peninsula, these new earthworms are quickly invading deciduous forests in dozens of States, including all of the neighboring states to Michigan. They have also been reported in south-eastern and south-central counties in Michigan.

In his presentation, Brad Herrick, ecologist and research program manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum will focus on how jumping worms differ from other earthworms, how they spread, potential long-term impacts to the environment, and what steps we can take to minimize their spread and impact.

Monarch butterfly populations have been declining over the last 25 years—essentially the entire time that we’ve been monitoring them. It is important to move beyond documenting this decline, and toward responding to the challenge posed by monarch conservation and insect conservation in general. Karen Oberhauser, Director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum and Professor in the Department of Entomology, will describe the amazing biology of migratory monarchs, how we can use data collected by scientists and public to understand what is driving monarch numbers, and what we can do with that information. Our conservation efforts need to take both basic biology and ongoing change into account, and the take-home message from this talk will be how we can address habitat conservation in the face of climate and other human-driven changes.

Come enjoy the beauty of spring ephemerals with trip leader Paul Olexia, Emeritus Professor of Biology from Kalamazoo College.  This field trip is a joint activity with South Bend chapter of Wild ones.

Declining bird populations have many avian enthusiasts wondering what part they can play in reversing the trend. Dr. Jen Owen, Michigan State University, will provide some answers during her presentation at a joint meeting of Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones and Audubon Society of Kalamazoo.

The exchange will offer numerous plants from Tom and Ruth’s gardens, as well as plants brought by other Wild Ones members and supporters. Our goal is to encourage the planting of natives for the beauty they offer and to support the wildlife that depends on them.  In keeping with principles we’ve always emphasized, it’s not necessary to bring a plant in order to take one; and no plants will be for sale. You need not be a member of Wild Ones to participate in this event.

A wide selection of native plants will be available for purchase on a first come, first served basis.  Plants are provided by Wildtype Nursery.  We’ll also have several experts on hand throughout the event to help with your choices and questions.

Michigan State University’s 408-acre MacCready Reserve in southcentral Jackson County is ideal for fulfilling its mission of education, research, and outreach about natural ecosystems. Join us  on Saturday, July 9 to experience oak savanna restoration firsthand. An oak savanna restoration experiment was initiated at MacCready in 2010 by MSU professors Lars Brudvig and Doug Landis. The experiment compares the efficacy of two restoration approaches for restoring the savanna understory plant community - prescribed fire with and without mechanical tree thinning, as compared to unrestored controls. The difference between restoration approaches is clear to see, and this field trip will highlight those differences. Initial results show that while burning is clearly effective, thinning in addition to burning jump starts the restoration process. Without repeat thinning the gains are somewhat ephemeral. Restoration is a long-term process as ecosystems evolved with human management and still requires it.

The Lillian Anderson Arboretum is a 140-acre property located in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County. It is owned by Kalamazoo College and is used by the college and the public for research, education and recreation. A system of walking trails takes visitors through marsh, meadow, pine plantation and second-growth deciduous forest habitats. In 2019 a pollinator habitat enhancement project was begun along the powerline right-of-way that traverses the property. The easement was seeded with native plants in December 2020 and is still in the process of establishing. Biology professor Ann Fraser and her undergraduate summer researchers will highlight some projects underway at the arboretum as we explore the flora along the wetland boardwalk, powerline, and forested trails. In a survey conducted in summer 2019, some natives of note include white wild indigo, whorled loosestrife, hyssop hedge nettle, racemed milkwort and a variety of ferns. A follow-up survey is currently underway to see what new species are emerging from the habitat enhancement planting.

We will walk approximately 2.5 miles in total over relatively flat terrain. The trails are pretty well maintained but there are a few areas with uneven footing and a few small hills.  Sturdy shoes are recommended and long pants to protect against mosquitoes and poison ivy.

The workshop will be divided into two parts (seminar and greenhouse portions). Space is limited so pre-registration is required.

Seminar portion: 9:00-10:30 am, limited to 50 participants
Mike and Carol Klug (KAWO) and Laura Moss (WMU Landscape Services) will share their many years of experience growing native plants as they cover the basics on seed collection, cleaning and storage, seed stratification to enhance germination success, transplanting seedlings, growing out the plants and final installation of propagated plants.

Greenhouse portion: 10:30 am-12:00 pm, limited to 30 participants
Chris Jackson (Director of Finch Greenhouse, WMU) and Ann Fraser (KAWO) will demonstrate the seed sowing process and then guide participants in selecting and transplanting young seedlings into plug trays where the plants can be grown to size. Species available will depend on germination success of seeds we are currently preparing for the workshop. Participants will be able to take home a customized tray of 38 seedlings that will be ready to plant in the ground in October.

Our annual fall plant exchange will offer numerous plants from Jessie and Bill’s gardens, as well as plants brought by other Wild Ones members and supporters. Our goal is to encourage the planting of natives for the beauty they offer and to support the wildlife that depends on them.

In keeping with principles we’ve always emphasized, it’s not necessary to bring a plant in order to take one; and no plants will be for sale. You need not be a member of Wild Ones to participate in this event.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is key to the management and health of many urban and rural ecosystems. Scouting for insect pests, one of the key components of IPM, can be tricky because adult and immature life stages are often cryptic and difficult to identify. For example, phloem- and wood-boring larva are rarely seen because they live under tree bark. They do, however, leave behind gallery patterns and exit holes that are unique to their family, genus, and sometimes species. Other insects (e.g., four-lined plant bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus) feed on leaves in unique patterns which can give ecological caretakers insight into the types and species of insects inhabiting gardens and natural areas. In this session, Dr. Sara Tanis of Kalamazoo Valley Community College will teach you how to look for and interpret the clues that many insects leave behind.  

Our annual fall plant exchange will offer numerous plants from Jessie and Bill’s gardens, as well as plants brought by other Wild Ones members and supporters. Our goal is to encourage the planting of natives for the beauty they offer and to support the wildlife that depends on them.

In keeping with principles we’ve always emphasized, it’s not necessary to bring a plant in order to take one; and no plants will be for sale. You need not be a member of Wild Ones to participate in this event.

Our October program “Panel Presentation: A Wealth of Experience within KAWO” will provide thoughts on various subjects such as how to defend new plants from critters and how to garden with disability. The audience will be given the opportunity to ask questions and add comments about their own experience.  Mike Weiss, Marie Johnson, and Ruth Caputo are the panel members. This is a new format for KAWO and we hope you enjoy it.

Wild Ones has recently become an active supporter of the local Pocket Park located just off of Kensington in the Oakland Winchell Neighborhood. This month’s presentation will highlight the work being done at Glen Park by the Stewards of Glen Park with the support of Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones.  You will hear an overview of the recent history as well as the efforts to create a more sustainable environment. This park is a treasure hidden in plain sight. Come to learn more about Glen Park as well as the upcoming opportunities to work globally on a local level.  Speakers: Paul MacNellis and Karin Larsen.