The Final Flourish: Michigan’s Asters and Goldenrods
Monday, September 21, 2026
6:00 to 7:30 pm (ET) —Note earlier start time!
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
701 W Cloverdale Rd, Hastings, MI, 49058 Map
Public Welcome • Free Event Nature Walk/Hike • Public Restroom
Free Public Parking • Lots of Physical Activity
This field trip will be led by Ellen Holste, founder of EnviroSpeak LLC and former Research Community Engagement Manager at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute.
Goldenrod and aster flowers are the grand finale of the blooming season, with fields and forests flourishing with shades of yellow, pink, purple, blue, and white in the fall. Learn the key characteristics of these plant species, where to find them, a few common species, and their importance to wildlife and us!
Photos courtesy of Ellen Holste
Ellen Holste is the founder and owner of EnviroSpeak, a company committed to creating meaningful and memorable connections to science and nature. She has over a decade of experience engaging audiences through talks, walks, and workshops and is certified as an interpretive guide and trainer through the National Association for Interpretation. Ellen earned her Master of Science in Forestry and dual PhD in Forestry and Ecology from Michigan State University, where her fascination with fungi began with a question: Could fungi help make tropical restoration efforts successful? That curiosity grew into a passion for exploring the incredible diversity of fungi and many ways these fascinating organisms can support and strengthen the world around us. Today, she proudly considers herself a “fun-gal” and even holds a wild-foraged mushroom certification through the state of Michigan. Ellen resides in Haslett, Michigan with her husband and son and enjoys hiking, biking, practicing yoga, reading, and writing.