By Monica Schultz The day native plants arrived was the day my garden buzzed to life. Insects had found the butterfly weed, prairie clover, lupine, maidenhair fern, and other assorted tagged sprouts and seedlings that stood potted, ready to be planted. Standing on our hillside property, within an invisible sound field of countless pollinators, I heard their wings hum and actually felt their vibrations. Our hillside garden had never been so alive. <\/p>\n I now understand why it is easy to get hooked on gardening with native plants. <\/p>\n Residents and visitors alike know that conservation and beauty run deep in Benzie County. Efforts by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy have saved\u2014and continue to save\u2014large tracts of land, such as Arcadia Dunes (along Lake Michigan) and Railroad Point (adjacent to Crystal Lake). Even national organizations such as The Nature Conservancy have a presence here (think Zetterberg Preserve, near Point Betsie Lighthouse).<\/p>\n But just as important are a multitude of smaller, less visible efforts to save and reclaim wildlife habitat on patches of land that consist of fractions of an acre. These are the native plant gardens\u2014patchworks of vital habitat\u2014 scattered amongst our homes, cottages, and cabins. <\/p>\n Over the past 15 years, a dedicated group of individuals have created a regional network of native plant education and restoration efforts that now crosses counties and forms a bridge between private and public entities. This network allows owners of small plots of land to play a part in habitat restoration and preservation, too.<\/p>\n Some say local interest and passion for native plants\u2014and their landscape possibilities\u2014began with Suz McLaughlin, a caterer specializing in organic and local foods via her business Still Grinning Kitchens, whom The Betsie Current profiled back in a 2015 Q&A. (Read here: bit.ly\/2qGoQLi<\/a>) McLaughlin, a longtime Frankfort resident, humbly denies this, however.<\/p>\n \u201cI learned a lot from a group of women on Leelanau Peninsula who worked with developers,\u201d McLaughlin says. \u201cThe women harvested native plants on properties prior to new construction, then they sold the plants. When I worked for the Benzie Conservation District, I thought native plant sales were a good way to raise money, and so did Mary Pitcher, the Conservation District\u2019s executive director at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cTo promote our fundraising and conservation efforts,\u201d McLaughlin continues, \u201cI gave talks about native plants and invited folks who were interested in native species gardening to a local Benzie Audubon meeting. It took off from there.\u201d<\/p>\n Did it ever.<\/p>\n Carolyn Thayer, a landscape designer and owner of Designs in Bloom in Frankfort, was one of the people who showed up to the meetings. Soon, an informal native plant gardening group had formed under the umbrella of the Benzie Conservation District.<\/p>\n \u201cEventually, we decided we wanted something more formal,\u201d Thayer says, laughing. \u201cWe thought of joining a national organization, but\u2014well\u2014there were all these rules. Where\u2019s the fun in that?\u201d <\/p>\n Hence the group formed its own board, and Plant It Wild was born in 2000. <\/p>\n Plant It Wild is an independent, nonprofit, native plant group, based in Benzie and Manistee counties in Northern Michigan. The mission of Plant It Wild is to foster greater awareness and appreciation of the fragile natural environment of our region. Through direct efforts, Plant It Wild works to preserve, protect, and promote the natural beauty of the area and its plant communities. <\/p>\n Whereas there were few (if any) online resources when McLaughlin got started, Plant It Wild\u2019s website now offers a multitude of links to specialists who assist those who are interested in preserving and restoring habitat. The list includes local native plant nurseries and organizations, such as the Invasive Species Network, Master Gardeners, the Benzie Conservation District, the Grand Traverse Conservation District, and many others.<\/p>\n But back then, the network was less established. Especially when it came to growers. <\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have a huge inventory of harvested plants,\u201d McLaughlin says. \u201cWe needed a native plant nursery to supply us. Mary Pitcher was able to develop a relationship with Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota\u2014it was the only nursery that would ship to us! But we both wanted a more local supplier, so I approached Paul and Jody Zemsta of Misty Ridge Greenhouse in Mesick.\u201d Misty Ridge Greenhouse, Mesick Greystone Gardens, Honor Four Season Nursery, Traverse City Designs in Bloom, Frankfort Plant It Wild Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership<\/strong> Benzie Conservation District<\/strong> Michigan Wildflower Association<\/strong>
\nCurrent Contributor<\/strong><\/p>\nCreating A Network<\/h2>\n
Growing The Network<\/h2>\n
\nPaul Zemsta confirms this. <\/p>\nFind Native Plants<\/h4>\n
\n<\/strong>Jody & Paul Zemsta
\n231-885-2290<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Tom Brodhagen
\n231-326-5855<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>fourseasonnursery.biz<\/a>
\n231-932-7400<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Carolyn Thayer
\ndesignsinbloom.biz<\/a>
\n231-352-6962 <\/p>\nNative Plant Resources<\/h4>\n
\n<\/strong>plantitwild.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nmishorelinepartnership.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nbenziecd.org<\/a><\/p>\n
\nwildflowersmich.org<\/a><\/p>\n