The mission of PLANT IT WILD is to foster greater awareness and appreciation of the fragile natural environment of our region. Through direct efforts we work to preserve, protect, and promote the natural beauty of the area and its plant communities.
We promote the use of native plant species by producing educational materials available at our meetings, booths, presentations, and through our website. Programs are offered from May through September featuring a wide array of speakers and topics on native plants.
Not sure which plants are native to Michigan? Click Here to view a list of some of our favorite plants from this beautiful state.
Click Here to join Plant It Wild and help us preserve, protect, and promote the natural beauty of the area and its plant communities.
Click Here to read more about who we are and how we strive to help the community be a more natural and beautiful place.
Got out to do some pruning this week. Took before and after photos of a Red bud. Have no idea whether you will be able to tell the difference between the before and after of the two views. This pruning targeted crossed branches... and there were several. Also located a branch that curved back on itself and wrapped around another branch. Located the same branch growth on each Red maple we tackled. Only worked to a hight reachable on a 6 foot step ladder. Will be working in the back yard as the weather allows and then will be hiring a professional trimmer for the larger, higher branches on White pines and maples in the back. I believe that learning to prune "hands-on" is a really good idea! (OR have a better teacher/photographer leading you through the process.) Fun to garden in the off season!
Getting to know you...getting to know all about you... sing along with me. Blue Flag Iris works well with yellow, just NOT this yellow. The GTRLC Upper Herron Lake walk off of M-22 south of Frankfort offers a lovely display of Blue Flag Iris and Yellow Loostrife in early June.Today's Mistaken Monday features two water-loving plants - invasive yellow flag iris and native blue flag iris. When blooming, their difference is obvious! Simply look for the bright colors. When not flowering, however, the two irises can look very similar. Blue flag iris is typically smaller and only found sporadically. Yellow flag iris grows larger and often, can be seen starting to take over a wetland area or shoreline.
Within ISN's Go Beyond Beauty program, yellow flag iris is considered an "Awareness Species", meaning it has the potential to take over natural areas. Learn more about this program and see what local garden professionals have committed to not selling and/or using invasive ornamentals! www.HabitatMatters.org/go-beyond-beauty
#InvasiveSpecies #HabitatMatters #MistakenMonday
Have you met Bearberry? Let me introduce you. Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, is a low-growing, evergreen shrub. It likes sand and sun. (but I also have it growing in clay) It also grows in partial sun as you can find it in the shade on our Lake Michigan dunes. (Visit the Old Baldy Trail in the Arcadia Dunes in Arcadia, Michigan to see it wide-spread in full sun and shade.)
As you can see, it has small roundish-oval leaves and produces a small (tiny?) pale pink flower with a bit of red on it. These are pollinated by bees and form small red berries. This lovely low shrub will form a mass and works as a ground cover. As it spreads, it puts down more roots along the woody stem.
I hope you two get along.