November Mid-Mitten Chapter Program: Annual Meeting
Monday November 10, 6 pm to 8 pm, Chippewa Nature Center
Meet in the Visitor Center at Chippewa Nature Center. Please bring a dish to pass for our dinner starting at 6:00 pm. At about 6:45 we will start the Annual Members’ Meeting, with a photo review of 2025 activities, reports from the officers, election of 2026 officers; and planning for 2026 programs. We will also accept volunteers for standing committees, to be approved later by the officers. If you have any photos from programs over 2025, send them via email to [email protected]. Be sure to bring your ideas for programs for next year as well. We want to hear from you! The public is welcome to attend but cannot vote for officers unless they are a member in good standing.
Still time to nominate yourself or someone else
If you are interested in running for office, there is still time to nominate yourself or someone else who you think would be a good officer. All positions, president, VP/membership chair, secretary and treasurer are open to members in good standing. All you need is an interest in native plants and a willingness to serve. Nominations are open until November 5th. Contact either Randy Kursinsky or Karol Walker via e-mail, our nominating committee, to be added to the ballot.
Plant sales by appointment at Hoffman Farms Native Plants
Hoffman Farms, 6358 Mackinaw Rd., Saginaw
If your native plant garden still needs some additional plants, there is still time to purchase them. Craig Shafer, Mid-Mitten Wild Ones member and owner of Hoffman Farms Native plants has the plants for you! He has hundreds of plants, and dozens of species of natives and shrubs grown from locally sourced seeds at reasonable prices. Plants range in age from one to three years and are priced accordingly. Contact Craig through Facebook at Hoffman Farms Native Plants to arrange a time to pick up plants to finish up your garden. These opportunities will be coming to an end quickly!
Volunteers needed for 2026- pencil us onto your calendar!
Our volunteer opportunities are completed for the year 2025. As you look toward 2026, there are several opportunities already for you to volunteer with the Wild Ones Mid-Mitten chapter that you might consider. Coming at the end of February, the Great Lakes Bay Seed Swap is scheduled to be held here in Midland. We hand out our native seed packages and information about Wild Ones Mid-Mitten Chapter. Earth Expo at Dow High is in April where we make bird bedding bags with the public. We also participate at the plant sales both at Nature Niche and the Chippewa Nature Center in May and June. Finally in August, we participate at the Dow Garden’s Pollinator event.
You don’t need to be an expert, just enthusiastic about native plants and pollinators to participate. And I promise you’ll learn along the way! Exact dates will be communicated once available via our Facebook page or newsletter. We can’t do this without you!
Wild Ones Mid-Mitten Grant Opportunity
Are you planning on putting in a new native plant garden locally? The Wild Ones Mid-Mitten chapter will be opening a request for proposals (RFP) November 1st for a maximum of $500 per project. All proposal should be submitted by February 28, 2026, to [email protected]. Final decisions for successful proposals will be announced by the end of March 2026.
Wild Ones Mid-Mitten Chapter in the News!
In case you didn’t get a chance to read about your own Wild Ones Chapter, attached is the article from Catalyst -Midland in September. I was interviewed by Amy Hutchinson of Catalyst about Wild Ones. I think I was able to convey our mission well. Feel free to send out the link to friends or family who might be interested in becoming a part of our chapter. Amy did a great job of presenting the Wild Ones and our mission.
Wild Ones Mid-Mitten Chapter connects people and native plants – Catalyst Midland
Return of the Karner Blue Butterfly in Michigan
In case you haven’t heard, a rare blue butterfly is making a comeback to the Great Lakes State. A population of Karner Blue has been found in a restoration area in Muskegon! The link below goes into more detail. When people ask you why you’re putting in native plants, you can point to this. Another step in improving biodiversity here in our own back yard!
This tiny, rare, blue butterfly is making a comeback in Michigan
Chapter Membership
Tell your friends and neighbors about the Wild Ones and bring them to a meeting, which almost all are open to the public. Youth are welcome when accompanied by an adult. New ideas about attracting and retaining members can be sent to Rachel LeClair ([email protected]). Welcome to our new member Travis LeClair and renewing member Rachel LeClair! We appreciate your support!
Putting our gardens to bed
The time has come to put our gardens to bed. It’s time to get those last plants you bought into the ground and prep the beds for the winter. Most native plants don’t need too much help. If there are still seed heads, collect some of them to use or share with others next winter- early spring. Be sure to leave some behind for the creatures who use them over the winter. When I lived in Indiana, our house had a large bed of purple cone flowers at the side of the house. Throughout the winter, I would see the goldfinches out there using the seed to fuel them through the season. Cutting the seed heads down can wait until the spring. And finally, of course, leave the leaves. In Doug Tallamy’s presentation earlier in October, he spoke about how many moths and butterflies overwinter as pupae in the leaves as well as other insects. So, leave the leaves where you can and be rewarded in spring. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to that long winter’s sleep I’ve heard talked about.
Yours in nature,
Susan Erhardt
President, Wild Ones Mid-Mitten Chapter
[email protected]
