You Can Help Native Bees, Birds & Butterflies
Wild Ones River City Chapter will show you how
Creating a landscape with gorgeous, easy-care native plants is easier than you think. Adding native plants, shrubs, and trees to your garden provides food, shelter, and habitat for birds and beneficial insects. Removing invasive plants, reducing lawn size, and using natural care also helps heal the earth. Even small changes can make a difference. You can do it, and Wild Ones River City Chapter can help.
What is a Native Plant?
A native plant is a species that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem and/or habitat and was present prior to European settlement.
You’ll Love Growing Native Plants
Michigan’s beautiful native species have lived here for thousands of years. They are your heritage. Do you know them? Not only do they contribute to biodiversity, native plants flourish without fertilizers or synthetic pesticides and rarely need watering. Because of their deep roots, they absorb and filter excess rainfall—helping to provide clean water for everyone. Native plants help us celebrate the things that make our region unique, and teach us about the world of nature.
Grow with Us
- JOIN as a member to receive monthly River City Chapter updates, as well as access to national newsletters and other resources.
- LEARN from the experts at our educational programs and field trips.
- CONNECT with the best sources for native plants.
- MEET others who share your interests.
- VOLUNTEER at our Native Plant Education Garden (NPEG) or community projects.
FREE Grand Rapids Ecoregion
Native Garden Design
Wild Ones River City is proud to announce that one of the new Native Garden Designs provided by the National Wild Ones was designed by two of our very own River City members—Amy Heilman and Rebecca Marquardt! Their plan is specifically designed for the Grand Rapids ecoregion. They and the designers for other cities were given the basic dimensions of the yard and foot print of the house and it was up to their imagination what the specifics would be.
Although the fictitious property is on an inland lake, it has many design elements that can be applied to various sites even if they are not on a lake. The general purpose of the plan was to show ways that homeowners can mitigate climate change issues, such as, retaining water on a property, improving soil structure, downsizing lawn, decreasing erosion, planting to create habitat, and arranging native plant communities that are suited to a specific set of growing conditions. Amy and Rebecca hope that people find some element of the design that will inspire them to adapt these ideas to their own properties. Download their entire design here. Read more about National Wild Ones free Native Design plans for other cities.
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to Amy and Rebecca!
Grand Rapids Native Garden Design
Presented by Designers and Speakers: Amy Heilman and Rebecca Marquardt.
Hosted by Danielle Bell.
GET ON THE MAP CHALLENGE!
HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK™ is a grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity ad ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks.
“Catalyzing a collective effort of individual homeowners, property owners, land managers, farmers, and anyone with some soil to plant in…to start a new HABITAT™ by planting native plants and removing most invasive plants. It is the largest cooperative conservation project ever conceived or attempted.“
Wild Ones River City Chapter challenges it members and friends to GET ON THE MAP!
Visit homegrownnationalpark.org to GET ON THE MAP!
OUR MISSION
To promote environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities.
OUR MOTTO:
Connecting people and native plants for a healthy planet.
Wild Ones is a not-for-profit 501c3 environmental education organization.