 Photo and article by Donna Iverson It’s not the flashiest flower in the garden. But spiderwort (Tradescantia) has a lot to be said for it. Spiderwort is native to North America and acclimated to our soil and climate. It has grown from Maine to Texas for thousands of years. Spiderwort is drought resistant and a great choice for the beginning gardener or one who lacks the proverbial green thumb. It tolerates many soil conditions and is low maintenance. Aesthetically, it shines with ephemeral blue-purple flowers atop grasslike leaves. This perennial wildflower blooms from late spring through early summer. As for pollinators, it attracts hummingbirds as well as bees and butterflies. It also is deer resistant. Spiderwort can be found in woodlands, meadows and along roadsides. It freely self sows and might be found in your yard, even if you didn’t plant it there. Seasoned gardeners call this a volunteer. Its name is a bit of a mystery. Some say its leaves resemble a spiderweb. Others claim that the milky substance that flows from its leaves when cut, resembles a spiderweb. Spiderwort would work in a native wildflower garden, a pollinator garden, as an accent plant or in a garden featuring blue-flowered plants. These include Virginia bluebells, lupine, phlox, salvia and iris. Spiderwort can also be grown inside in water. Companion plants that are also easy to grow and would blend well with a spiderwort include coneflowers, bee balms, aster, and milkweed. All are pollinator friendly.
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 Photo and article by Donna Iverson A walk in the woods this time of year rewards you with more than fresh air, exercise and calming negative ions. The spring ephemeral wildflowers are in bloom. Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) is one of them. Also known as cranesbill, the wild geranium grows mostly along the edge of woodlands. Each plant grows to a height of about 12 to 28 inches high. It spreads to a width of about 12 to 18 inches. Like most spring wildflowers, wild geranium is short lived. It blooms for about a month. Unlike its larger cousin, it attracts pollinators ..especially bees. Its delicate five-petal pink flowers look nothing like the garden geraniums found in many a potted plant on our porch steps. It is, in fact, from a different plant family. The wild geranium is from the Geranium genus while the larger garden geranium is a Pelargonium. (The later cultivar is a native of South Africa.) If you have the right habitat, you can grow wild geranium in your yard. Later this summer, the wild geranium will produce brown seed pods. And collecting them on public land is permitted. Be careful not to damage the plants. Seeds can also be bought from nurseries that specialize in wild flowers. These include the Vermont Wild Flower farm and the Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota. Even if you don’t grow wild geranium, it is a treat to find it along woodland pathways. I found mine along the Fred Meijer Junction trail near Whitehall. It grew near columbine and pink honeysuckle.  Michigan Notable Author Daniel Clark at Fremont Library The Fremont Area District Library is proud to host Michigan Notable author Daniel Clark as part of the Michigan Notable Books Author Tour. Daniel Clark Presents: Listening to Workers - Using interviews and archival research, Listening to Workers: Oral Histories of Metro Detroit Autoworkers in the 1950s uncovers the personal and often overlooked lives of Detroit-area autoworkers in the 1950s. The book explores the complexities of their experiences, addressing issues like poverty, divorce, workplace dangers, and personal struggles, challenging the notion of the 1950s as a time of widespread prosperity. Offering a humanizing perspective, it presents workers as multidimensional individuals, with rich, personal stories that go beyond traditional labor history. This event will take place in the library’s Community Room on Tuesday, May 27th at 7:00 p.m. Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Library of Michigan, The Library of Michigan Foundation, and Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities.   Michigan Nature Association and local volunteers at a Prescribed Burn on the Newaygo Prairie Nature Sanctuary this past March 2025.- Photo courtesy of NCEC Newaygo County Environmental Coalition A Safety Class for those eager to volunteer at local prescribed burns will be held on Saturday, May 24, 10am – 3pm. It will take place at 432 Quarterline St, Newaygo, 49337 (Newaygo UCC Building). This Safety Class is for those who intend to volunteer at prescribed burns in the Newaygo Region, whether on preserves and nature sanctuaries or on private properties. Candidates must be able to follow prescribed burn leader directions, and handle equipment in the field. Hosted by the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition, and presented by Stuart Goldman of the Michigan Nature Association, the class will cover everything from what to wear, how to follow directions at a prescribed burn, equipment used, and avoiding and dealing with fire hazards. “Prescribed burns are important not only for restoring native habitats, but also for reducing the hazard and severity of wildfires that can threaten homes and neighborhoods,” stated Stuart Goldman. Registration is required and space is limited. The class is free, but donations are requested from those who are able to help cover the costs of materials and the provided lunch. To register, go to www.facebook.com/NCEC2/events, click on the Prescribed Burn event and follow the links to register. Or go to the Calendar at www.nc-ec.org, click on the Prescribed Burn event on May 24, follow the links to register. For questions, contact [email protected]; text or call 231-519-3419. Newaygo County Environmental Coalition is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the environmental beauty and sustainability of the Newaygo County Region. Keep up to date with events by signing up for Enews: email request to [email protected]. QR Code to Burn Safety Class Registration   Karner Blue Butterfly. -Photo by Sarah Pregitzer Michigan Nature Association
By Charles Vannette The following is an imaginary interview by NNN’s intrepid editor, and a long term volunteer with an organization known as the Michigan Nature Association. NNN :Chuck, please tell our readers about your involvement with MNA. Chuck: Well Ken, I have been involved with the Michigan Nature Association for nearly 20 years. I enjoy the company of the folks I meet at workdays and educational offerings. The conservation efforts are effective and significant. And I get to learn a great deal about interesting habitats here in our own Brooks Township. NNN : I do not believe I have heard about these MNA folks. Are they new in town ? Chuck: Michigan Nature Association is a non-profit which protects nature by owning and managing over 180 of the prettiest places in the state of Michigan. These folks began as bird watchers who saw their favorite birding spots being developed. They realized that if they wanted to protect their favorite places, they needed to own them. So in the 1960’s (remember them ? ) MNA began purchasing beautiful examples of important habitats from da UP to the lower peninsula. NNN: Sounds like a smart plan. Has their focus changed over the years ? Chuck: Yes, originally the goal was to simply ‘save’ some special places. Over the past 60 years a second threat to these places emerged. Quite a few plants have moved into Michigan from places where other plants or animals had kept them in check. But here, without anything to hold them back, they have taken over from the increasingly rare plants that MNA had bought to ‘preserve’ (see what I did there ?) As a result, MNA’s goal to preserve special areas is about twice as difficult to achieve as when it was started. Examples here in Brooks Township include spotted knapweed, honeysuckle, and autumn olive. NNN: You say that MNA has invested significantly here in Brooks Township and is doing a fine job of managing their investment? Chuck: Yes, definitely. MNA first came here in 1969 establishing the Newaygo Prairie Preserve on Poplar Avenue. They followed up in 1999 with the Karner Blue Preserve on Spruce Ave. And a few years later with the Brooks Oak Barrens Preserve. Rumor has it they are interested in one or two more parcels that are excellent examples of one of the most endangered plant groups in the world. NNN: In the world ? Chuck \: Yes, The surveyors who mapped out the sections and townships here found large open areas of beautiful wildflowers surrounded by park-like areas with a few huge mature oaks and surrounded again by oak and pine forests. All of these are now very rare. A few decades of very difficult farming resulted in the many pine plantations we see in our area. And almost no remaining examples of the oak barrens sort of thing. MNA’s interest here in Brooks Township is to keep alive these very special places. NNN: And you find this effort worthwhile ? Chuck: Yes, I do. The plants and butterflies are beautiful. The stewardship work is a significant responsibility. I enjoy the exercise, the company, and the chance to learn from experts about my own corner of the world here in Brooks Township. NNN: That sounds outstanding. How can someone be part of this learning and good work (and fun ?) Chuck: Contact me at [email protected] We have a full slate of work days coming up this summer. Folks can pace themselves, work as long or as short a time as they are comfortable. And enjoy themselves and learn a bunch.  Photo and article by Donna Iverson A part of the Paleozoic forest can still be found along West Michigan waterways, creeks, rivers and in moist woodlands. This prehistoric ancient plant is called horsetail. It is, in fact, a living fossil, dating back 400 million years. It dominated the prehistoric landscape, growing to the size of trees. It survived the Mesozoic era of the dinosaurs and grows everywhere in this country except the Deep South. But except for size, its appearance has little changed for millions and millions of years. Today horsetail stands about knee high. Other names for horsetail are snake grass, devils gut, horse pipe, horsetail fern, meadow pine, foxtail bottlebrush, and pine grass. A cousin of mine said it was one of her favorite plants to find when playing as a kid in the local creek. Her sisters and friends would weave the stalks into mats. It grows and spreads from rhizomes and once established is almost impossible to eradicate. There are also spore-bearing cones in the tips of its stems. A native perennial, it was used by Native Americans as an edible like asparagus, a medicinal for diuretic use and to scrub pots and pans. It is also used in modern-day Chinese medicine who brew it into a tea. But beware: chewing on raw horsetail is not recommended as it contains the neurotoxin Equisetum. It is, in fact, toxic to horses and sheep but rarely cattle. If you are interested in prehistoric plants, a book was published earlier this year called When the Earth was Green, by Riley Black. It examines the relationship between the green world and life on earth down to the present day. It won the Darwin prize in 2024. Horsetail isn’t the only prehistoric plant still in existence. Others include Magnolia, moss, many ferns, Gingko, and palm trees. So today, it is still possible to visit these prehistoric beauties for a real-time look at how the world looked in the age of the dinosaurs.  Terry Grabill (aka Birdgoober) was one of the four local birders who helped make this project happen. The sign is one of several throughout the county marking the Birding Trail Newaygo County Birding Trail to host Grand Opening event The Newaygo County Birding Trail will officially open May 3 with a Grand Opening celebration and Ribbon-Cutting at the Newaygo County Welcome Center on M37. 4684 Evergreen Dr, Newaygo. After years of planning and preparation, the committee of four birders is very excited to share Newaygo County’s beautifully diverse habitats and birds. The trail is a collection of 35+ locations in all corners of the county. Two trailheads are planned, the county welcome center on M37 in the southern region, and Kropscott Farm Environmental Center north of Fremont in the northern area. The committee, consisting of Charles Chandler, Andrea Grabill, Marie Rust, and Terry Grabill, have worked to include sites with diverse habitats and bird life. Newaygo County Environmental Coalition will have information available, Kropscott Farm Environmental Center will have an activity for kids, artist Marie Rust will have artwork on display and for sale, and BirdGoober will have bird field guides and bird feeders for sale. Binoculars will be available to borrow provided by Kropscott Farm and Fremont Middle School’s Beaver Island Group. Logistical and financial support for the birding trail development has been given by Newaygo County Tourism Council and Newaygo County Parks & Recreation. The logo artwork was completed by Trevor Grabill of Flat Mountain Press, photo images on the website are provided by local photographers Tori Martel, Jeniffer Selwa, and Marie Rust. The Grand Opening will be staged at the Newaygo County Welcome Center on M37 (4684 Evergreen Dr) on May 3 from 9am until noon. After some welcoming remarks from Newaygo County Tourism Counsel and Representative Joe Fox and the Ribbon-cutting, there will be a brief “Birding 101” discussion and a presentation of “Birds of Newaygo County”. The program will continue at the park with two birding walks guided by Terry Grabill and Marie Rust. Finally, after the activities in Newaygo, guided walks will be hosted at other trail sites, including Fremont High School and Croton Dam. You can connect with us at https://newaygocountyexploring.com/birding-trail/ and on our Facebook page, Friends of Newaygo County Birding Trail.   Vernal Pool Patrol in Action It's spring! The rain is here. The sun is warming the frozen ground and we are hearing and seeing signs of awakening with peepers, trillium and trout lilies. Best of all, the vernal pools are erupting with new life, filled with fairy shrimp, wood frogs and salamanders. “Vernal Pools are like our Coral Reefs of the Forest,” states Katie, Vice Chair and Program Manager of the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC). You can join Katie as she coordinates the Newaygo Region of the Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol, a pioneering program to monitor the health of this valuable resource. Anyone can participate as a citizen scientist to help protect and understand the benefits of vernal pools. You may have a vernal pool on your property. The health of that pool can reflect the health of your land. If you are interested in learning more please join Katie as she and others in our community inventory Newaygo as part of the Vernal Pool Patrol. Dates for training events are listed below. MI Vernal Pool Patrol of Newaygo Region Training Events. Each will have a family-friendly version and advanced patrol training options. These events are free, but have limited space: -Saturday, April 19-12 pm-4 pm at Kropscott Farm and Environment Center. Register here: https://www.facebook.com/share/12Gr23n4umB/ or contact. Katie Clark at [email protected]. -Saturday, April 26-10 am – 2 pm at McDuffee Creek Nature Preserve. Register at: https://www.facebook.com/share/18mSDoYLgG/ -Sunday, May 4th- 11 am to 2 pm at Nichols Lake, Bitely MI. Register here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BcRk8gqjR/ -Saturday, June 14th, 10 pm-2pm at Kropscott Farm and Environmental Center. Registration link to come soon. -Saturday, August 23- 1 pm to 4 pm at Kropscott Farm and Environmental Center. This is a fall training and MI Vernal Pool Patrol “Pool Party” to celebrate the 2025 monitoring season and all those who participated. Registration to come soon. “Vernal pool mapping and monitoring is like a treasure hunt in the woods,” chirps Katie Clark, MI VPP of Newaygo Region coordinator. “Except the treasure is something we get to help protect and preserve for future generations of creatures and humans.” Participation in this year's Vernal Pool Patrol is a partnership between the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition and the Newaygo Conservation District with a grant that provides Vernal pool Patrol kits for people to check out from the NCD that has all the equipment necessary for monitoring a Vernal pool. To become an official MI Vernal Pool Patrol Member. Contact coordinator, Katie Clark at [email protected] or go to https://vernal-pool-patrol-mnfi.hub.arcgis.com/ before 5/4/2025 to register for the training and program.  A Salamander  Article and photo by Donna Iverson Hellebore is one of the first garden plants to flower in early spring. A member of the buttercup family, it has a delicately beautiful wildflower appearance. The diminutive Hellebore is a long lived perennial that prefers winter sun and summer shade. It’s not a native plant, but it’s not invasive. It is also known as the Lenten rose. It will grow under trees and is perfect for a rock garden or a woodland slope. Once planted, it can take three to five years to bloom. But its rose-like flowers will give you pleasure for 40 years or more. In the summer, it retreats into dormancy. Flower color ranges from pink, to white, to purple, and yellow. Rabbits and deer leave it alone although squirrels have been seen to take a nibble or two. It is toxic to dogs and cats if eaten in large amounts. It can also cause skin irritation in sensitive humans. A native of the Balkans, the name Hellebore, has nothing to do with hell. Rather it is derived from the Greek word “hellebores.” The translation is injured flower food. Maybe referring to its toxic properties. On the other hand, Ancient Greek myth refers to some young women driven mad by Dionysus who were cured with a brew made from the hellebore plant. On a personal note, I am always drawn to flowers that most resemble the wildflowers of Western Michigan. They are small, unobtrusive and delicate like the Hellebore.
Morel Picking with the Champ – Anthony Williams: After winning the National Morel Hunting Championship five years in a row, Anthony retired undefeated from competitive picking to become the "Expert in Residence" for the National Morel Festival. His presentation is filled with stories from his 70+ years of picking. Tips on when, where, and how to pick include the personal, finer points that made him the champion of finding the elusive morel. This event will take place in the library’s Community Room on Monday, April 21st at 6:30 p.m. Andrew Kercher Presents Lighthouses of Michigan: Lighthouses are critical pieces of infrastructure and iconic pieces of architecture. Join historian Andrew Kercher to find out more about these sentries on the lakeshore. Learn the how and why of some of the most famous lights that have guided everything from 1,000 foot freighters to sailboats on the Great Lakes since the 1820s. Hear stories of ever-changing technology, government corruption, German saboteurs, and lifesaving rescues. This event will take place in the library’s Community Room on Thursday, April 24th at 7:00 p.m. |
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