It's Fishing Season! 

Native Plants in Agriculture 

After much anticipation, spring has finally sprung in northern Michigan. With bloom right around the corner, it's important to have excellent habitats established in order for bees to pollinate the flowers that result in the bright red fruit we all desire. 

Native plants play an important role in providing the optimum habitat for native bees and pollinators to thrive. Growers in northern Michigan work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to develop native plantings to provide food and shelter for the busy bees. Increasing the number of active pollinators can also be accomplished by growers working closely with their neighbors to protect native plantings around the borders of the farm.  

Did you know? MAEAP growers are actively protecting pollinator habitat. Numerous MAEAP growers have dedicated specific buffer strips planted with native plants and flowers to create a thriving pollinator habitat. Happy bees = happy trees!

Learn more about sustainable agriculture. 

Go Beyond Beauty

For many people, a garden's purpose begins and ends with beauty. However, we believe it is possible to create beautiful spaces that transcend beauty alone. Go Beyond Beauty... for wildlife habitat, healthy waters, and bountiful gardens. Did you know that as many as half of the plants that are most invasive in local natural areas arrived originally by way of our gardens? Go Beyond Beauty by purchasing from local nurseries that have committed not to sell high-threat invasive ornamental plants. You won't be alone - you'll be joining with conservation organizations, nurseries, landscapers, and gardeners throughout northwest Michigan.

Participating nurseries for 2013 are: Bellwether Gardens, Garden Goods, Greystone Gardens, Green Lake Gardens & Goods, Northwoods Landscape & Nursery, Misty Ridge Greenhouse, Four Seasons Nursery, and Pine Hill (Village Garden and Kewadin locations). To learn more about these nurseries, visit HabitatMatters.org and click on "Go Beyond Beauty." 

Let's make northwest Michigan an example that inspires across the state... and beyond!

Learn more about the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network. 

Invasive plant species don't just bully native plants, they also have a tendency to steal the spotlight. All too often on a hike, after pointing out an interesting plant, we get the follow up question of, "Is it invasive?" but rarely do we hear, "Is it native?" While educating about invasive species is hugely important, we have a similar, if not more exuberant passion for educating about native plants. 

Native plants give us the perfect opportunity to show the harmonious relationship that occurs between a native plant, the insects that depend on it for survival and propagation, and lastly the native birds and animals that depend on those insects for their own survival; and so on throughout the food web. 

The lesson goes from plant identification to food webs and ecosystems. People young and old get to see first-hand the positive impacts of native plants. When we host programs at our native butterfly garden, people are always amazed to find a caterpillar munching on a leaf, a butterfly sipping nectar, or the giant wings of a moth flying by. Native plants are more than just something to identify, they remind us how intertwined nature is; how beautiful and strong it is, and how important it is for us to minimize human impact. In a healthy native ecosystem, every living thing is connected. Step aside invasive plants, it's time for native plants to shine! 

Interested in learning more? Check out our education programs!

Native Plant Sale This Weekend! 

Every month, the Boardman River Nature Center plays host to an array of exciting education and conservation themed programs. From birding excursions to native habitat restoration and our annual Seedling and Native Plant Sales, there's always something for everyone at the Nature Center.  

 Check out our upcoming programs and register online today!

Get the inside scoop on a full year's worth of programs, summer camps, and volunteer opportunities, plus details on all of our parklands in one place! The 2013 Outdoor Guide is essential for the outdoor enthusiast or casual hiker's toolkit.

Pick them up at the Boardman River Nature Center, Traverse City Visitors Center, and at Black Star Farms locations in Suttons Bay and Traverse City. Make 2013 your best year ever.