WILDFLOWER ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN PRESENTS

Growing in a Post-Wild World

31st ANNUAL WILDFLOWER CONFERENCEMARCH 4 & 5, 2018

KELLOGG HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER • MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Claudia WestKeynote Speaker

Enco

uraging th

e pres

ervati

on and

resto

ration of M

ichigan

’s

nati

ve plan

ts an

d native

plan

t communitie

s.

CongratulationsWildflower Association of Michigan

for over 30 years of

inspiration and education!

WELCOME31st Annual

Michigan Wildflower Conference

WAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Drew Lathin, President Novi

Trish Hacker Hennig, 1st Vice President Ortonville

Craig Elston, 2nd Vice President Hudsonville

Jane Giblin, Treasurer Rochester Hills

Cheryl English, Secretary Detroit

Michael Cushist Clarkston

Robert KruegerBig Rapids

Rick MeaderYpsilanti

Elizabeth (Betty) Seagull Okemos

Allene SmithManchester

Jenny Van DusenRochester Hills

1

Mission Statement: By increasing awareness and knowledge, the Wildflower Association of Michigan encourages the preservation and restoration of Michigan’s native plants and

native plant communities.

2018 CONFERENCE SPONSORS and SUPPORTERS

CDE NatureCreating Sustainable Landscapes

David Borneman LLCFour Season Nursery

Grass River Natural AreaHidden Savannah

James Toppin & Janet TraubKellogg Bird Sanctuary

Michigan AudubonMichigan Botanical ClubMichigan Garden Clubs

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural DevelopmentMichigan Department of Transportation

Michigan Native Plant Producers AssociationMichigan State University

Michigan State University ExtensionMichigan Wildflower Farm

Native ConnectionsNative LakescapesOakland Township

Ray Wiegands NurseryReturn the Landscape

Southwest Michigan Land ConservancySpringfield Township

University of Michigan PressWildscapes, LLC

2018 CONFERENCE COMMITTEECo-Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Craig Elston, Trish Hacker Hennig

Program Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Craig Elston

Advertising & Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Craig Elston

Exhibitors/Vendors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Betty Seagull

Grant Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Meader

Registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Allene Smith

Website and Publicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny Van Dusen, Michael Cushist

Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Craig Elston

Find Wildflower Association of Michigan on Facebook

2

Wildflower Association of Michigan ~ Our HistoryThe Wildflower Association of Michigan traces its

roots back to March of 1986, when an exploratory meeting was held during Agriculture and Natural Resources Week at Michigan State University . Eighty individuals from various organizations and agen-cies, including Michigan Department of Transporta-tion, Michigan State University Department of Parks and Recreation, and Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc ., gathered to discuss wildflower-related programs, challenges and potential, and to formulate a plan . Professor Louis F . Twardzik, MSU, was chairperson and Kim Herman, MDOT, was recorder of this group . The interest generated at this first meeting warranted forming a Wildflower Alliance . Additional meet-ings were held throughout the remainder of that year .

The first Michigan Wildflower Con-ference was held March 24, 1987 during ANR Week . After this con-ference, the group formally organized, creating bylaws and electing officers . Harry Doehne, founding member of Michigan Wildflower Farm, presided as interim president . Elected officers were Glenn Goff, President; Kim Herman, Vice President; Betty Dick, Secretary; and Robert Welch, Treasurer .

Because attendees at the 1988 Michigan Wildflower Conference noted an increasing inter-est in the availability of native Michigan seed, and a lack of commercial growers, the first Wildflower Seed Growers Workshop was held during the 1989 conference . As an outgrowth of this workshop, the Wildflower Association of Michigan received fund-ing to prepare a Wildflower Production Position Paper, presenting the results of a survey on the po-tential usage of wildflower seed in Michigan . The WAM Seed Committee published this report and sent it to the Michigan Department of Agriculture in January of 1990, documenting the current and future status of Michigan native wild-flower seed produc-tion and recommendations . The outgrowth of this in-terest in native Michigan seed and plant production resulted in the formation of the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association (MNPPA) in 2000 .

The Wildflower Association of Michigan awards grants annually to fund projects involving the cre-ation of an outdoor classroom, the enhancing of an existing site, or other educationally directed proj-ects that support the WAM Mission . It is our goal to reach as many of Michigan’s youth and citizenry as possible through the use of our grant program . It is our desire not only to educate Michigan’s students in the areas of recognition and preservation of our na-tive species, but also to support projects that pass on the appreciation and respect for our native flora that will ensure survival of these species in the future .

The Michigan Wildflower Conference, held annu-ally in March, includes the WAM annual meeting

and two days of workshops and seminars featuring knowledgeable speakers with

expertise in proper principles, ethics and methods of landscaping with native wildflowers and associat-ed habitats on various levels of understanding, from novice to professional . The conference has been host to other groups inter-ested in native plants, including

the Michigan Invasive Plant Council, Wild Ones and the Stewardship Net-

work . During past conferences, WAM has sponsored a concurrent Educators’

Workshop to help teachers plan and develop outstanding outdoor educational facilities, improve grant-writing skills, and get feedback on individu-al projects . At the conference’s grant awards lun-cheon, educational grants are awarded to qualifying organizations .

Operation Wildflower, the Michigan Garden Club’s cooperative effort with the Michigan Department of Transportation to plant native wildflowers along Michigan’s roadsides, received WAM support while it was active . WAM’s newsletter, Wildflowers, fea-tures articles on native Michigan wildflowers, hab-itats, legislative updates, book reviews, upcoming events, and related stories . An official website, www .wildflowersmich .org, presents the latest in-formation about WAM activities, along with links to other helpful web sites . The Wildflower Association of Michigan received 501(c)(3) status in 2001 .

3

KEYNOTE SPEAKER ~ Claudia WestClaudia West is a leading

voice in the emerging field of ecological planting de-sign . Known for her passion-ate advocacy of plant-driv-en design, Claudia is a widely sought out speaker and consultant who applies the technologies of plant systems to bring essential natural functions back into our cities and towns . She

has worked on all sides of the green industry—as a de-signer, a grower, installer, and land manager—ground-ing her innovative work in pragmatic solutions that ad-dress the realities of our urbanizing world . She is the co-author of the critically acclaimed book, Planting in a Post-Wild World .

Having grown up on a family-owned nursery, flo-rist business, and design/build firm in eastern Germa-ny, Claudia was propagating plants before she could

walk . Her love of American native plants brought her to the U .S . where she worked at Blue Mount Nurser-ies in Maryland and immersed herself in the study of American flora and mid-Atlantic ecosystems . Claudia holds a Master’s Degree of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the Technical University of Munich, Germany . Her intense studies of plant habi-tats and the science of plant community-based de-sign strategies at the renowned school for horticulture in Weihenstephan, Germany, built a solid foundation for her current work . Before co-founding Phyto Studio, Claudia was ecological sales manager at North Creek Nurseries, a wholesale perennial grower in Landen-berg, PA . Her work was focused on bridging the gap between growers, designers, and land managers as well as introducing more functional and beautiful eco-logical plants into the nursery trade .

Claudia is a Principal at Phyto Studio, a niche land-scape architecture firm dedicated to crafting artistic & technical solutions for the next green revolution: the creation of the plant-covered city .

Claudia West

THOUGHTS FROM OUR WAM PRESIDENT

I am sitting in my office on this snowy February day, provisions on board, seeing no need to slide around the roads . The snow is clean and quiet and I can still see last year’s vegetation standing in my rain gardens and peren-nial beds . I know the cardinal flower and nodding on-ion are green underneath the snow and, as we enter late winter and increasing daylight, I know other plants are starting to stir as well . Of course, there are those plants that are still in their deep winter slumber . I’m thinking white wild indigo, Baptisia alba, which doesn’t emerge from the ground in my rain garden until late May . I think forward to the time later this year when my landscape will be abuzz with pollinators, full of birds hunting in-sects, and speckled with roving hawks looking for lunch .

We are here these two days in East Lansing because I think we share a longing for the natural world and work to approximate this around us to the extent possible . Some of us create in our front and backyards and oth-ers at schools and places of work and worship . We are land owners, volunteers, students, teachers, profession-

als, and observ-ers . Together the sum of our ef-forts add up and here, these two days, we can lis-ten, share, learn, laugh, collabo-rate, and make new friends .

I am very excited to hear what Claudia West has to say about bringing wildness and ecological value back into our landscapes while still meeting aesthetic goals . And I look forward to hearing from our other speakers on a wide range of fascinating topics . I hope you leave with some solutions to issues you have struggled with, more questions than you came with, and a couple new friends .

Enjoy the conference .

4

AGENDA ~ Sunday, March 4, 20188:00 – 9:00 Registration and Refreshments - Red Cedar Room

9:00 – 9:10 Greetings & Announcements - Big Ten A

9:10 – 10:15 Planting in a Post-Wild World (Keynote Presentation) - Big Ten A CLAUDIA WEST, Co-author, Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

We live in a global city and few wild places remain in today’s world . Planting designers have the oppor-tunity and responsibility to bring wildness and ecological value back into our landscape . This challenge requires a new form of planting design that works with natural principles and marries horticulture with ecology . Join us as we explore how native and ecological plants will fit into our future landscape and how plant community based design strategies can help you meet aesthetic and ecological goals during your next planting project .

Learning objectives:• Analyze differences between the way plants grow in the wild and the way they grow in de-

signed landscapes .• Examine strategies for creating aesthetic frames around mixed planting to make them attractive

and appealing to the public .• Understand how to use site constraints as assets and minimize site preparation resources .

10:15 – 10:45 Break – Marketplace Shopping and Networking

10:45 – 11:45 The History of Our Local Forests (Concurrent Session #1) - Big Ten B LARRY CORNELIS, horticulturalist and habitat specialist, “Return the Landscape” Sarnia, Ontario

Larry’s presentation looks at both the ecological and cultural impacts on our region’s forests over the last 15,000 years, which includes climate change at both ends of that time frame, native people’s land care, a great re-wilding and European exploitation . He will finish up with a focus on southern Michigan and southern Ontario indigenous “Carolinian” tree species .

Wildflowers and Their Toxins (Concurrent Session) - #2 Big Ten C PETER CARRINGTON, MSU Beal Botanical Garden Assistant Curator

Join Beal Botanical Garden assistant curator Peter Carrington in an examination of the beauty and toxicity of our Michigan Wildflowers . When one can’t run away, and yet you have to be striking enough to attract pollinators, how do you keep from having the reproductive parts end up as some herbivore’s lunch and who become the unintended targets?

11:45 – 1:30 Grant Awards Lunch & Break - Big Ten A

1:30 – 2:30 Grass River Natural Area’s Native Plant Gardens: A WAM-funded Project after 5 years (Concurrent Session) - #1 Big Ten B JULIE HURD

In 2012 Grass River Natural Area in Bellaire, Michigan received a WAM grant to support a project to design, plan, and implement native plant landscaping around the then new Grass River Center . Learn how a group of volunteers was able to leverage that beginning to create habitat gardens that bring beauty to the new building and support the educational initiatives of the organization . The planning process will be outlined as well as successes and challenges encountered .

THANK YOU FOR TURNING OFF YOUR CELL PHONE

CONTINUED

Don’t forget to visit our vendors in the Centennial Room

5

AGENDA ~ Sunday, March 4, 2018 (continued)

Invasive Species? Weed Issues? Poor Soil? Rehabilitate your Land with Stewardship and Thoughtful Transition (Concurrent Session #2) - Big Ten C MIKE BALD, Owner and founder, “Got Weeds”?

Stewardship is the path; enjoy the journey . People have managed landscapes for thousands of years . Agriculture, and virtually any land management activity, is a dynamic undertaking: the land, the people who work it, the weather, the plants and their seeds, all are shifty and ever-changing . Throw climate change into that scenario to create quite the moving target for anyone pursuing management visions . So how do we keep our lands on a path toward improved health, resilience, and functionality? How do we advantage native species while stemming the advance of opportunistic and unbound invasives? How do we fund the effort and build community? Presence . Simple, curious, humble, energetic, and persistent presence builds deep connections . These connections are the roots of Stewardship; our Presence and our understanding of the dynamics at play on the land allow us to take a role and bring our influence to bear . Management practices and singular actions define our notion of Presence; thus, an open, receptive mindset is crucial to informing and guiding our approaches .

2:30 – 2:45 Break – Marketplace Shopping and Networking

2:45 – 3:45 Native and Naturalized Plants for Topical Use (Concurrent Session #1) - Big Ten B JIM MCDONALD, Owner Herbcraft

Topical applications of plants has always been a mainstay of herbalism . Join herbalist Jim McDonald in an exploration of poultices, oils, salves, and soaks that can easily be prepared from the plants that sur-round us .

Lawn Alternatives for the Midwest (Concurrent Session #2) - Big Ten C DAN CARTER, Ecologist, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

Blur the separation between daily life and nature by thinking about your lawn differently, and learn how to create lawns and lawn-like spaces in your landscape that promote biodiversity . This presentation will introduce grasses, sedges, and wildflowers that can be used to create lawns and lawn-like spaces that are inspired by natural plant communities in the Midwest . Establishment, management, cultural requirements, and species availability will be discussed .

4:00 – 5:30 WAM Annual Meeting in registration/breakfast room. All are welcome to share ideas and comments about your organization. Cash bar offered.

7:30 – 10:00 Join the WAM Board and speakers for an informal gathering/networking time in the Red Cedar Room. Cash bar offered.

2014 WAM Grant, Hudsonville Library Butterfly Garden

6

AGENDA ~ Monday, March 5, 20188:00 – 9:00 Registration and Refreshments - Red Cedar Room

9:00 – 9:10 Greetings & Announcements Big Ten A

9:10 – 10:15 Wild and Neat: Bridging the Gap between Great Garden Design and Ecology (Keynote Presentation) Big Ten A CLAUDIA WEST, Co-Author, Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Our planet is rapidly losing its foundation of life – the very plants that sustain us and most other crea-tures on earth . We know that planting more native plants in our gardens is an important part of the solution . However, many native plant gardens that focus on ecological benefits often suffer for aesthetic challenges and fail to inspire the public . Great planting design is an essential part of the solution . Join us as we dig deeper into inspiring design principles derived from wild plant communities that resonate deeply within us and trigger stunning emotional responses . We will analyze archetypal landscapes and translate their principles into smaller garden spaces to help you create the native plant oasis of your dreams that will blow you away with stunning beauty!

Learning objectives:• Understand the reasons for aesthetic and functional challenges surrounding native planting .• Discover the principles behind inherently beautiful archetypal landscapes .• Apply principles of stunning wild landscapes to smaller garden spaces and learn how to spark

strong emotional responses .• Explore countless inspiring design solutions that bring nature back into our gardens .

10:15 – 10:45 Break – Marketplace Shopping and Networking

10:45 – 11:45 Small World: Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts (Concurrent Session #1) - Big Ten B JAMES TOPPIN and JANET TRAUB

Looking for adventure? You can start by exploring the bryophytes growing in your back yard! Mosses are small plants that are part of virtually every landscape, even in the heart of the city . Many are drought-toler-ant . A few species are aquatic . Most mosses are perennial and thrive throughout the year . About 400 kinds are reported in Michigan . Most of the 160 species of liverworts in Michigan grow in moist habitats . Fossil liverworts represent the earliest known land plants, dating back over 450 million years . Three species of hornworts are known from Michigan, usually observed in late fall on bare soil in places such as old fields . We’ll explore the diversity and interesting natural history of these lesser-known plants .

Conservation Planning for Rare Native Plants along I-75 in Monroe County (Concurrent Session #2) - Big Ten C DAVID SCHUEN, MDOT

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has created a conservation plan guiding the re-construction of I-75 as it passes just west of Lake Erie . The plan calls for MDOT to perform its largest plant mitigation program ever . Learn how native plants have enjoyed a revival in the I-75 right of way and how MDOT plans to manage the plants during and after construction .

11:45 – 1:30 Luncheon & Break - Big Ten A - Door Prizes

THANK YOU FOR TURNING OFF YOUR CELL PHONE

Don’t forget to visit our exhibitors in Big Ten A

CONTINUED

7

AGENDA ~ Monday, March 5, 2018 (continued)

1:30 – 2:30 Act Locally: Land Preservation and Stewardship Through Local Government (Concurrent Session #1) - Big Ten B BEN VANDERWEIDE, Oakland Township and MIKE LOSEY, Springfield Township

Local land preservation and management has traditionally been left to private individuals and non-prof-it conservation organizations, but local governments play a vital role in protecting natural communities . Ben VanderWeide and Mike Losey work for local governments in southeast Michigan to manage protected natural areas, control invasive species, and provide outreach to residents . They will explore how local governments can provide conservation services to benefit local flora and fauna, enhance quality of life for residents, and increase property values .

Using Livestock to Tackle Invasive Species (Concurrent Session #2) - Big Ten C AMY MCINTIRE, Owner, City Girls Farm

Amy will be sharing the success achieved using livestock (goats) to help control invasive species, the pros and cons and the obstacles to overcome when proposing using livestock instead of Round-Up .

2:30 – 2:45 Break – Marketplace Shopping and Networking

2:45 – 3:45 Nature’s Palette: Native Plants as Textile Dyes (Concurrent Session #1) - Big Ten B JULIE HURD

Prior to 1856, when the first synthetic dye was produced in a laboratory, all colors in clothing, house-hold, and ceremonial textiles were derived from naturally occurring sources . Whether for the medieval tapestries of Europe, the glowing colors of ancient Scottish tartans, or the silken kimonos of Asia, skilled dyers practiced their craft and passed on their knowledge of dyeing fiber using materials found in nature . Plant sources were employed most often, but insects, other animal sources, and naturally occurring inor-ganic substances sometimes played a role in bringing color into human surroundings . Learn how color can be extracted from natural sources to create a predictable and lasting dye on fiber . It may look like magic, but is really chemistry, physics, botany, and more .

Parsing the Particulars of Pollinator Populations: Dynamics of Wild Insect Pollinator Communities in Natural and Human Altered Environments. (Concurrent Session #2) - Big Ten C PAUL GLAUM, Phd. Candidate University of Michigan, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Wild insect pollinators play critical roles in supporting both agricultural output and general plant biodi-versity . Unfortunately, numerous pollinating insect species are experiencing alarming declines . Protecting pollinators requires a better understanding of how their abundance and biodiversity is maintained in natural habitats as well as what might be expected when these natural habitats are altered due to human land use . In this talk I will explore both of these issues and detail some efforts which may offer support for these essential organisms .

A special thank you to Chad Hughson,

Esther Durnwald and Laura Liebler for

their service on the WAM board. Thanks

for all your time and hard work!

8

Kel

logg

Hot

el &

Con

fere

nce

Cen

ter

• Mic

higa

n St

ate

Uni

vers

ity •

Eas

t Lan

sing

, Mic

higa

n

Reg

istra

tion

& M

orni

ng C

offee

Vend

or/S

ales

Exhi

bits

, Lun

ches

& K

eyno

te

Con

curre

nt S

essi

ons

9

2018 SPEAKER Profiles

Michael BaldMichael Bald founded his compa-

ny, Got Weeds?, in early 2011 to offer non-chemical weed management op-tions to landowners in central Vermont and New Hampshire . His focus is on long-term site stewardship, soil health, and native plant diversity; Mike seeks to integrate the worlds of invasive species, youth education, organic farming, and sustainable operations . With a BS in Biology from the University of Notre Dame, four years of service in the Army Corps of Engineers, and nine years working for the US Forest Service in Vermont, Mike appreciates the importance of healthy habitats, site specificity and ecosystem resilience . Got Weeds? has offered manual and mechanical weed control alternatives for seven growing seasons . Although Mike has worked with invasive plant species for the past fourteen years, he has narrowed his focus to the “danger plants”, solarizing as a refined technique, and an “economic opportuni-ties” approach regarding invasive plant species .

In the educational realm, Mike seeks to inform communities on potential economic uses for invasive species, thus empowering them to broaden management efforts, employ local people, and generate income to feed back into the control program .

Peter Carrington, Ph.D.Peter was born in Toronto, Ontario,

but as he grew up, his family moved further and further west, with him finally starting school and spending his child-hood in St . Joseph, Michigan . From his earliest years, Peter was an avid insect collector, joining the Michigan Entomo-logical Society in the seventh grade and dedicating himself to studying silverfish and their relatives (Thysanura and Diplura) . The family moved to East Grand Rapids for his high school years, and it was there that he started his first experiments in science illustration and art . In 1967 he began his undergraduate career at Michigan State Uni-versity, finally graduating in 1992, in Zoology, although by then, he was already twenty years into a career in biological and med-ical illustration . As his career in scientific illustration began, he became interested in edible wild plants, becoming the edible plant and wilderness survival techniques instructor at Lansing Community College in 1977 . Carrington did become a biomed-ical illustrator, first with the MSU Department of Anatomy in 1972, later for the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Depart-ment of Fisheries at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 1975, and ultimately in the MSU College of Natural Science . In 1988 he combined science illustration with science writing to become the

editor of Natural Science magazine at the MSU College of Natural Science . Carrington moved on from his thirty-five year career in science illustration and science writing to pursue a Ph .D . in the Department of Plant Biology researching an ancient extinct Native American crop cultivar . He retired from his thirty-six-year career as instructor of edible and toxic wild plants and wilderness survival techniques at Lansing Community College in 2013 . He finished his Ph .D . in 2015 . Since 2008, he has been assistant curator at the W . J . Beal Botanical Garden at Michigan State University; that he would describe to anyone as the ‘dream job,’ specializing in edi-ble and toxic plants for people and animals . He is a consultant to the regional poison control centers and to several zoos concern-ing plantings and food plants, and teaches toxic plants to MSU College of Veterinary Medicine students and emergency residents from the University of Michigan School of Medicine and the Mc-Laren Hospital System in Lansing . On February 3, 2016, a retro-spective show from Carrington’s science illustration career, Pursu-ing Your Passion, showcasing 26 works from 1969 through 2015, opened in Brody Hall on the Michigan State University campus as part of that year’s MSU Science Festival . He was the assistant cura-tor of the W . J . Beal Botanical Garden, but with the ascendance of the Curator to Director, he is now the Curator . He is writing about the toxic plants for people and animals of eastern North America .

Dan CarterDan Carter earned his doctorate in Bi-

ology from Kansas State University and presently works as an ecologist for the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Plan-ning Commission . He has been garden-ing with native plants for twenty years and has given presentations and led field tours about natural plant commu-nities, ecological restoration, and land-scaping with native plants for Wisconsin chapters of Wild Ones and other conservation groups . He presently lives on a typical half-acre lot in exurban southeastern Wisconsin with his family and more than 450 species of plants native to eastern North America .

Larry CornelisLarry Cornelis is the horticulturist and

habitat specialist for the “Return the Landscape” (RTL) program of which he is a co-founder . RTL is a plant rescue and ecological restoration program . Larry was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario but his passion for nature was born on the family farm which is situated on the banks of the Sydenham River near Walla-

Don’t forget to visit our vendors in the Centennial Room

CONTINUED

2018 SPEAKER Profiles (continued)

ceburg . Larry has been active over the years with many naturalist clubs and conservation associations including Carolinian Canada Coalition, Lambton Wildlife, Ontario Nativescapes, Ontario Nature and the Sydenham Field Naturalists . He is a popular speaker and field trip leader for clubs across Ontario . Larry has been involved in many conservation projects and has been instrumental in pro-tecting ecologically significant properties in Southwestern Ontar-io . His many conservation awards are a testament to his unfailing support of and work for nature .

Paul GlaumMy name is Paul Glaum and I am a

soon-to-graduate Ph .D . candidate from the University of Michigan in the de-partment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology . My research focuses on wild pollinating insects and the external influ-ences on their population dynamics in both natural and human altered settings . While honey bees may be the most well-known pollinating insect, numerous pollinating insects play essential roles in agricultural systems and in the general mainte-nance of plant biodiversity . Wild pollinating insects include na-tive bee species, lepidopterans, pollinating flies, etc . All of these different organisms have unique biological characteristics which cause them to cover a broad range of interactions in their native ecosystems . Studying this broad range of biodiversity requires in-tegrating both theoretical and empirical approaches . Using this integrative approach I attempt to study how pollinator diversity is maintained in natural settings and how pollinator communities react to humans altering their native habitats . Beyond the research, my work has provided fantastic outreach opportunities with com-munity gardeners, local apiarist clubs, student groups, and more . Using the connections made throughout my time in Michigan, my colleagues and I have held various informative talks and educa-tional events aimed at audiences of all ages . I am excited to be a part of the 2018 Wildflower Association of Michigan Conference . Thank you very much for the invitation . I look forward to meeting everyone and learning all about the diverse set of topics present-ed .

Julie Hurd, Ph.D.Julie Hurd retired from a university

career in teaching, research, and ad-ministration . She now enjoys supporting arts and environmental organizations through volunteer activities . She leads weekly wildflower hikes at Grass River Natural Area in Bellaire during blooming season as well as teaching gardening, weaving, and dyeing classes and work-shops at meetings and conferences . She is a Master Gardener and a member of the Handweavers Guild of America and the Michi-gan League of Handweavers .

Mike LoseyMike Losey is the Natural Resourc-

es Manager for Springfield Township . Mike’s work efforts in Springfield Town-ship focus on managing the natural ar-eas in parklands for the benefit of native plants and wildlife, working with other landowning agencies and organizations through collaborative conservation proj-ects, and providing education and out-reach related to natural resources for residents and groups within the Township . Prior to his work with Springfield Township, Mike has been fortunate to work for and learn from The Nature Conser-vancy, Michigan DNR and the Institute for Regional Conservation .

Jim McDonaldJim has been practicing the art of herb-

craft since 1994, and offers a knowl-edge of herbalism that blends western folk and indigenous views of healing with the Vitalist traditions of 19th cen-tury western herbalism . He has taught classes and workshops throughout the Great Lakes bioregion and the US, hosts the website www .herbcraft .org and is currently writing (alternately) “A Great Lakes Herbal” and “Founda-tional Herbcraft” . Jim is a community herbalist, a manic wildcraft-er and medicine maker, and has been an ardent student of the most learned teachers of herbcraft . . . the plants themselves .

Amy McIntire He was in sales and she was a book-

keeper, and in 2011 John and Amy McIntire became goat farmers when they bought their first goat, Winnie . They have been following their dream of building a sustainable, socially responsi-ble business together ever since . In June of 2014, John and Amy moved City Girls Farm to the city of Pontiac Michigan . Us-ing fresh goat milk from their small herd of Oberhasli dairy goats, herbs and honey from local Pontiac and Detroit farms .

In 2016, when they had 6 goat kids of which 4 were males, John and Amy launched their Conservation Grazing program . Using up to 15 dairy goats, City Girls hit the trails, bluffs and backyards of Oakland County to tackle the projects no human would . In 2018 City Girls Farm will continue to grow with a vision of being “a de-lightfully natural goat enterprise” .

10

CONTINUED

Find Wildflower Association of Michigan on Facebook

www.facebook.com/WildflowersMich

Ben VanderWeideBen VanderWeide is the Natural Ar-

eas Stewardship Manager for Oakland Township Parks and Recreation . During his time with Oakland Township Ben has led prairie and oak savanna restoration projects, controlled priority invasive species, developed a volunteer pre-scribed fire crew, launched the town-ship Phragmites Outreach Program, and built collaborations with other conservation-minded groups in the area . He earned his Ph .D . in Biology from Kansas State Univer-sity, focusing on how fire, grazing, and drought affect prairie plant communities . Ben brings practical experience with botanical sur-veys and ecological restoration in the Great Lakes region, hands-on science education, invasive species management in Idaho with the US Forest Service, and prescribed burning in Michigan and Kansas .

11

2018 SPEAKER Profiles (continued)

David SchuenDavid Schuen is the Threatened and

Endangered Species Specialist for the Michigan Dept . of Transportation . It all started 33 years ago at WMU in a Bota-ny 102 lecture which lead to a B .S . with minors in botany and psychology . He then took a teaching position for several years while he earned his M .S . in plant systematics and ecology . Before gradu-ation he started working for MNFI as their assistant botanist fol-lowed by the MDNR where he performed stream and water qual-ity monitoring . Within a year David became MDOT’s botanist and wetland monitoring specialist . As the years passed his position expanded to include T/E species and NEPA project clearance . David completed his masters certification in project management which allowed him to explore new roles in the development of major action documents (EA’s and EIS’s) . As MDOT’s program continued to grow, he focused on the management and recovery of T/E species and the protection of Michigan’s unique coastal resources and shorelines . In his free time David loves to chase his wife of 26 years and four kids all over the earth for school, sports and fun stuff . They enjoy everything together including camping, hunting, fishing, boating, everything outdoors . In Dave’s top-se-cret shop he’s building a supercharged 825 horsepower prostock 2014 Mustang GT . Grateful for his family, friends and all the awe-some people he works with at MDOT, Dave really believes he has the best job on earth .

James Toppin & Janet TraubJim Toppin and Janet Traub have

been studying mosses around Ohio and especially in the Oak Openings for de-cades . Ohio Moss and Lichen Associa-tion supports all Ohio bryologists and gives novices a stress-free introduction to mosses and lichens . We are always working to bring our local flora closer to real conditions and to map our new species confirmations on OMLA’s web-site .

Follow Wildflower Association of Michigan on Twitter

@ WildflowersMich

12

Creating Sustainable Landscapes, LLC Specialists in landscaping with native plants

Native perennial beds Natural plantings Rain gardens Natural shorelines Lawn alternatives Invasive species removal Landscape design

www.CreatingSustainableLandscapes.com For more information, contact: Drew@CreatingSustainableLandscapes.com (734) 717-8000

Be Part of the Solution

Our plantings must now not just look good, but also do double duty to provide for pollinators, serve as a genetic reservoir for diversity, and clean our stormwater.

For more information and upcoming events visit:www.michiganaudubon.org/BFC

Michigan Audubon2310 Science Parkway, Suite 200Okemos, MI 48864 | tel: 517-580-7364

rg/BFC

4www.michiganaudubon.org | www.wpbo.org

David Borneman LLC

______________________________________________________________

www.RestoringNatureWithFire.com

Offering a full range of ecological restoration services throughout the Midwest

specializing in controlled burns

PH: 734-994-3475 Email: DavidBorneman@yahoo.com

13

EXHIBITORS & VENDORS

EXHIBITORSCreating Sustainable Landscapes, LLC. / Drew Lathin • Hidden Savannah Nursery / Chad Hughson

Michigan Audubon Society / Rachelle Roake Michigan Botanical Club, Huron Valley Chapter / Andrea Matthies

Native Connections / Jerry Stewart • Plant Wise, LLC. / Dave Mindell Wild Ones, Ann Arbor Chapter / Andrea Matthies • Wild Ones, North Oakland Chapter / Jane Giblin

Wild Ones, Red Cedar Chapter / Mary Leys • Wildscapes, LLC. / George Wise Wildtype Nursery / Bill Schneider

VENDORSBittersweet Botanicals / Jim McDonald • Black Cat Pottery / Cheryl English

CDE Nature / Craig Elston • ETC Designs / Renate Favour • Everybody Reads / Scott Harris Full Ark Tees / Matt Schellenberg • MCG Graphics / Marie Gougeon

Michigan Wildflower Farm / Esther Durnwald • Michigan Wildflowers / Dee Howe Pieceful Inspirations / Melany Mack • Snow Fairy Cottage / Tonya Baumhardt

Still Chasing Butterflies / Michele Nowak • The Pollen Path, LLC. / Frederick Ericksen Tree Trunk Arts / Collyn DeBano • Turtle Creek Artisans / Bernath-Plaisted

11770 Cutler Road | Portland, MI 48875 Ph: 517.647.6010

email: michiganwildflowerfarm@gmail.com www.michiganwildflowerfarm.com

Providing Native Michigan Seeds and Landscaping Services

Since 1988

14

WILDFLOWER ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATION MEMBERS

American RootsTrish HennigOrtonville248-882-7768www .americanrootswildflowers .com

Better Finds, LLC.Lynette Fouch BugenskeSaginaw989-980-6228

Black Cat PotteryCheryl EnglishDetroit313-690-3385www .blackcatpottery .com

Black River HabitatsKeith KlutingHolland269-208-6275www .blackriverhabitats .com

Blossom Home PreSchool & Adventures Buhr Park Children’s Wet Meadow ProjectJeannine PalmsAnn Arbor734-971-5870www .wetmeadow .org

Creating Sustainable Landscapes, LLC.Drew LathinNovi734-717-8000www .creatingsustainablelandscapes .com

DFD Architecture, LLC.David DyeSpring Lake616-821-0936

EcoChic Landscape Design, Inc.Laura ZigmanthWhite Lake Twp .248-978-2300www .ecochiclandscape .com

Evergreen Nursery, Inc.Cheryl NoltaMunising906-387-4350www .evergreennurserymi .com

Kalamazoo Nature CenterAnna KornoeljeKalamazoo928-830-9526www .naturecenter .org

Kellogg Bird SanctuaryGinn KimberlyAugusta269-671-2510www .kbs .msu .edu/visit/birdsanctuary

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.LaDuke RosemaryPlainwell269-808-2206www .michigangardenclubs .org

Michigan Wildflower FarmEsther DurnwaldPortland517-647-6010www .michiganwildflowerfarm .com

Native ConnectionsJerry StewartThree Rivers269-580-4765www .nativeconnections .net

Native Lakescapes, LLC.Jim BrueckClarkston248-736-3014www .nativelakescapes .com

Natural GardensMike CushistClarkston248-672-0624 www .facebook .com/naturalgardensllc

Oakland County Parks and RecreationSue GreenleeWaterford248-565-6098facebook .com/ocparks

Plantwise RestorationAshley SchillingAnn Arbor517-795-9938www .plantwiserestoration .com

Fen View Design, LLC.Michael BrugginkHoward City616-803-5353

Four Season NurseryBrian ZimmermanTraverse City231-929-7400www .fourseasonnursery .biz

Giblin & Company LandscapingFrank GiblinOxford248-877-1434

Hidden Savanna NurseryChad HughsonKalamazoo269-352-3876www .hiddensavanna .com

Thank YOU for attending

the 31st Annual Wildflower

Conference!

SAVE THE DATE...Sunday, March 3rd

& Monday, March 4thWAM Conference 2019

15

Radrick Farms Golf CourseKatharine StewartAnn Arbor734-478-5802www .radrick .umich .edu

Rave’s ConstructionJoe D HutsonHighland248-887-0644www .ravesinc .com

Ray Wiegand’s NurseryErma RhadiganMacomb586-286-3655www .wiegandsnursery .com

Restoring Nature with FireDavid BornemanAnn Arbor734-994-3475www .restoringnaturewithfire .com

WildtypeBill SchneiderMason517-244-1140www .wildtypeplants .com

WILDFLOWER ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATION MEMBERS

Rochester Garden ClubJane GiblinRochester Hills248-877-1434www .rochestergardenclub .org

The Living GardenAmy HeilmanAda

Water Resources Commissioner’s OfficeCatie WytychakAnn Arbor734-222-6813www .ewashtenaw .org

Wildscapes, LLC.George WiseClimaz269-746-4149

16

2017 Grant Recipients

Blandford Nature Center, Grand Rapids, Detention basin plantingsErickson Elementary School, Ypsilanti, Playground rain gardenGrand Traverse Conservation District, Traverse City, Native woodland plant gardenGrosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, Grosse Ile, Outdoor learning gardenHolmes Elementary School, Ypsilanti, Rain gardenHuron-Clinton Metroparks - Kensington, Brighton, Expand native garden at Nature CenterIngham Conservation District, Mason, Native shrub restoration projectLittle Traverse Conservancy, Harbor Springs, Meadowgate Gateway Preserve wildflower plantingMichigan Wildlife Conservancy, Bath, Native prairie plantings near Bengel CenterNovi Woods Elementary School, Novi, Butterfly garden

2017 WAM Grant, Ingham Conservation District, Native Shrub Restoration Project

17

By increasing awareness and knowledge, the Wildflower Association of Michigan (WAM) encourages the preservation and restoration of Michigan’s native plants and native plant communities . The WAM Grant Pro-gram is a cornerstone of this mission . It provides funds to educational organizations and non-profit groups to improve public garden spaces with native planting designed to educate the general public about the benefits of native plants .

Please help us keep the WAM Grant Program growing! In your registration packet is a donation envelope . Any help you can provide is welcome . You can place it in the donation box or mail the donation to our trea-surer . If you would like to use a credit card, see our registrar in the breakfast room .

Thank you for supporting the WAM Grant Program!

2017 WAM Grant, Holmes Elementary School, Rain Garden

2017 WAM Grant, Novi Woods Elementary School,

Butterfly Garden

18

Hidden Savanna NurseryMichigan Native Plants

Located in southwest Michigan near Kalamazoo, we sell wildflowers, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees native to our region. Nearly all of the plants we propagate will be Michigan genotype with most of our seed being sourced from southwestern Michigan. Please visit our website for more information including our 2018 retail dates and a list of the over 280 native species we plan on offering this year.

From sand dunes to wetlands, and from forests to prairies, we have the plants to fulfill your native landscaping needs.™

postal address: Hidden Savanna Nursery

18 N Van Kal St

Kalamazoo MI 49009

web: www.hiddensavanna.com

email: info@hiddensavanna.com

phone: (269) 352-3876

Chad and Kristin Hughson, Owners

19

20

Use code umwildfl ower through March 23, 2018 to save 30% online during checkout

michigan ferns and lycophytesA Guide to Species of the Great Lakes Region

Daniel D. Palmer

Covering all 120 taxa found in the state, it features detailed keys, species descriptions, and range maps alongside precise illustrations that show a complete picture of species’ morphology. Throughout, attention is given to making the book an appealing resource for amateurs and professionals alike. This is a must-have reference for anyone who wishes to learn about these important components of the Great Lakes fl ora.

6 x 9 / 368pp. 81 plates, 104 maps, 16 tables.

Paper May 20189780472037117 / $29.95 $20.95 w/discount

michigan shrubs and vinesA Guide to Species of the Great Lakes Region

Burton V. Barnes, Christopher W. Dick, and Melanie E. Gunn

The essential book for anyone who wishes to identify and learn about these fascinating plants. This attractive, easy-to-use book gives detailed descriptions of 132 species, providing concise information on key characters, habitat, distribution, and growth pattern. Precise line drawings accompany each species description and illustrate arrangement and characteristics of leaves, fl owers, and fruits in addition to stem structure to assist with identifi cation. This long awaited companion to Michigan Trees will appeal to botanists, ecologists, students, and amateur naturalists alike.

6.125 x 9.25 / 440pp. 158 B&W illustrations; 139 maps; 3 tables.

Hardcover 2016 9780472117772 / $65.00 $45.50 w/discount

Paper 2016 Available9780472036257 / $26.95 $18.85 w/discount

michigan trees revised and updatedA Guide to the Trees of the Great Lakes Region

Burton V. Barnes and Warren H. Wagner, Jr.

This is the must-have reference book for anyone who wants to learn about the trees of this unique North American region. Elegant line drawings, contrasting key characters, and vegetative keys to genera and species all encourage reliable year-round identifi cation. The updated edition adds thirteen tree species, including three of the rarest: pumpkin ash, shumard oak, and swamp cottonwood. In addition to its new sections on fall color and hybridization, Michigan Trees calls attention to counterparts of the region’s trees that are worldwide in the Northern Hemisphere.

6 x 9 / 456pp. 125 drawings, 7 tables, 3 maps.

Hardcover 2004 9780472113521 / $65.00 $45.50 w/discount

Paper 9780472089215 / $19.95 $13.95 w/discount

Books on plant life from u n i v e r s i t y o f mi c h i g a n p r e ss

To order, call

800.621.2736 or go to

www.press.umich.edu

9780472037117 / $29.95 $20.95 w/discount

9780472117772 / $65.00 $45.50 w/discount

9780472036257 / $26.95 $18.85 w/discount

9780472113521 / $65.00 $45.50 w/discount

9780472089215 / $19.95 $13.95 w/discount

21

Wildflowers, Pollinators, and Gardeners A BEAUTIFUL TEAM EFFORT

Plant America – Grow and Share.

We support Wildflower Association of Michigan.

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. www.michigangardenclubs.org

Photo by Janet Hickman © MGC 2018.