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"
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!"
Common Mountain MintPycnanthemum virginianum By Joyce Tuharsky WORC Member Last year, during our Wild Ones River City (WORC) field trip to the Hudsonville Nature Preserve, I encountered common mountain mint for the first time. I was struck by its pretty white blossoms with purple spots and its lush minty fragrance. So, I was thrilled to […] Continue reading "Natives to Know: Common Mountain Mint"
White VervainVerbena urticifolia By Linda Shuster, WORC Board Member-at-Large (2022) White vervain (sometimes called nettle-leaved vervain or white verbena) is a member of the Verbenaceae family. It is found in most central to southern Lower Peninsula counties and in several counties in the Upper Peninsula. White vervain grows in different types of deciduous forests, as […] Continue reading "Natives to know: White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia)"
Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche: Witch-Hazel’s Trick Submitted December 2021By Ranger Steve Mueller (8/13/1950 – 6/16/2022) Editor’s Note: This is the last of the articles we have by Ranger Steve Mueller. He was such considerate person, that he submitted articles for the entire year of 2022—even as his health was failing fast. Rest in peace Ranger Steve, you […] Continue reading "Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche: Witch-Hazel’s Trick"