Category: Blog

Native versus Nativar: What’s the Difference and Does It Matter?

Posted on | Blog

Native versus Nativar: What’s the Difference and Does It Matter? By Linda Shuster, WORC member One dilemma that native plant gardeners face is how and where to acquire plants. As Heather McCargo notes in her article for Maine’s Wild Seed Project (https://wildseedproject.net/2022/02/navigating-the-nurseries-how-to-find-native-plants/), the number of small growers of nursery stock of any kind has shrunk […] Continue reading "Native versus Nativar: What’s the Difference and Does It Matter?"

Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan – Program Recap

Posted on | Blog, Program Recap

MANOOMIN: THE STORY OF WILD RICE IN MICHIGAN * Notes from Sr. Lucille Janowiak OP with additions by Linda Shuster, WORC Members I do not recall paying much attention to the growing of Manoomin (wild rice) in Michigan, but I paid attention to researcher and author, Barbara J. Barton, as she shared her findings and stories […] Continue reading "Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan – Program Recap"

Is it a Beetle or a Bee?

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IS IT A BEETLE OR A BEE? By Amy Heilman, WORC Garden Co-Chair Have you ever been fooled by an insect’s appearance, assuming it was one thing and then learning it was something entirely different? This happened to me one day when I heard a buzzing sound near a compost pile in my garden. As […] Continue reading "Is it a Beetle or a Bee?"

Natives to Know: Sweetfern

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Sweetfern Comptonia peregrina By Joyce Tuharsky WORC Member Despite its name, Sweetfern is not a fern but rather belongs to the bayberry family: Myricaceae. It gets its name from its leaves which are up to 4 inches long, simple, zig-zagged, pinnatifid, and a lustrous olive green…. looking very much like “fern” fronds. And “sweet” because the […] Continue reading "Natives to Know: Sweetfern"

New Native Garden Design by Two Wild Ones Members!

Posted on | Announcement, Blog

ANNOUNCING THE NEW 2023 NATIVE GARDEN DESIGNSfrom Wild Ones – National Offering Free Designs for the Ecoregions of GRAND RAPIDS, MI and 9 other cities!The Designs Support Pollinators and Promote Climate Resilience Wild Ones is proud to introduce a free to use, professionally designed, native garden plan specific to the Grand Rapids ecoregion. The design was created with the […] Continue reading "New Native Garden Design by Two Wild Ones Members!"