Resources & Downloads
Michigan Native Plant Garden Guides & Other Helpful Resources
One of our frequently asked questions is where can I get a garden plan. We have resources that has helped many new gardeners with a guide to plant their first native plant garden.
Three Helpful Garden Guides
1. Rochester Pollinators Pollinator Garden Download
Check out our complete, downloadable garden guide with free garden designs, places to buy plants, and other resources.
2. Wild Ones Michigan Native Plant Garden Design Download
Wild Ones is offering a collection of FREE regional native garden designs! The site was developed with the first-time gardener in mind, but has excellent resources and downloadable professional garden designs that are great for seasoned native gardeners, too. Find their landing page here.
3. Michigan Audubon Society: Michigan Native Garden Design for the Birds and Pollinators Download
OR Order printed copies at $2 each directly from them at:
Michigan Audubon Society Native Plants
They also have this great resource for Bird Friendly Landscapes here:
Michigan Native Plants for Bird-Friendly Landscapes
Other Helpful Resources:
Powerhouse Native Plants for Michigan Landscaping (North Oakland Wild Ones)
Managing Michigan Wildlife: A Landowner's Guide
A very comprehensive guide from the Michigan DNR that has everything you need to know about Michigan native plants and wildlife. A free resource that is used by Master Gardeners!
Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan's Inland Lakes
If your property lies along a shoreline, this guide from the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership is an excellent resource for restoring and maintaining native ecology.
"RoundUp" Glyphosate Information
RoundUp is no longer available for residential use. It was extremely harmful to pollinators AND people. ConsumerNotice.org details the damage to humans. They also offer alternatives here: "Alternatives to RoundUp" but we must caution you that some of these may still not be ok for pollinators.
Recommended Books:
Cohen, Josh, Michael A. Kost, Bradford S. Slaughter and Dennis A. Albert. Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan. East Lansing, MI: MSU Press, 2014.
Dziedzic, Brenda. Raising Butterflies and Moths in the Garden, 2nd Edition. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, March 2023.
Holm, Heather. Pollinators of Native Plants: Attract, Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants. Minnetonka, MN: Pollinator Press, 2014. (link includes other publications and resources by Holm)
Steiner, Lynn. Landscaping with Native Plants of Michigan. Voyageur Press, 2006
Steiner, Lynn and Robert W. Domm. Rain Gardens: Sustainable Landscaping for a Beautiful Yard and a Healthy World. Voyageur Press, 2012
Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. Timber Press, 2009. (link also shows other Tallamy books)
Tallamy, Douglas W. Natures Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. Timber Press, 2020.
Native Plants:
Our list of Michigan Native Plant Sources
A bunch of great sources for native plants for garden projects!
Rochester Pollinators Brochure
Why pollinators and the Monarch butterfly need our help; the Rochester Pollinators' mission.
A list of 18 pollinator plants with heights, sun and water needs perfect for your home garden!
Native Plant Finder for Your Area
A great source for locating plants that are the best for your area on his website.
Garden Planning
Components of a Butterfly Garden
Original starter pollinator garden layout.
Various garden plans based on your space, sun and soil type.
A list of preferred nectar rich pollinator annuals.
Information about garden essentials to support wildlife, examples of gardens and how to certify your garden as a "certified wildlife habitat"
Videos:
Presentation: Saving Our Pollinators by Saving Their Natural Resources
by Marilyn Trent and Valerie Malaney at the Southfield Public Library, Garden Guru Series, Spring 2022. Video production by Southfield Cable 15
Part 1: Why We Are Losing Our Pollinators and Birds (18:53)
Part 2: Who Are Our Pollinators? (17:35)
Part 3: How to Plant a Pollinator Garden (22:18)
Presentation: Nature's Best Hope: Conservation Starts in Your Own Backyard
Well worth watching! It's informative, interesting and inspiring. Presented by Doug Tallamy, the founder of the Backyard Pollinator Plant Movement
Links to Other Resources:
Explore and share your observations of the natural world. Engage in seasonal Citizen Science Projects by choosing a project and contributing your observations as data.
National Wildlife Federation: Wildlife Guide to Pollinators
A great overview of pollinators, including kinds of pollinators, why they are important, the challenges that threaten them, what we can do.
National Wildlife Federation: Schoolyard Habitats Planning Guide
Part of the NWF Schoolyard Habitiat Program: "To help reconnect today's children to the outdoors, the National Wildlife Federation assists schools in developing outdoor classrooms called Schoolyard Habitats®, where educators and students learn how to attract and support local wildlife."
Nesting & Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators & Other Beneficial Insects
A Comprehensive Guide to Move Beyond Flowers and Create Overwintering Habitat in Your Landscaping
Put your garden on the Map! This is a program led by Doug Tallamy.
Join others across the nation by adding your pollinator garden on the map. They do not ask for personal information—only location and size.
Heather Holm's resource on Creating Soft Landings underneath native trees, especially Oak Trees, which is crucial to so many butterflies, moths and more.
Great Local Pollinator Support Organizations You Can Join:
Have fun and make new friends while learning about Michigan native plants, shrubs and trees.
A local group to join in educating and promoting the benefit and use of Michigan native plants. They have local speakers and organize field trips to nearby locations, including parks and members’ homes.
Michigan Wildflower Association
This is a member-based non-profit organization formed in 1986. In other words, we are a bunch of enthusiastic volunteers! "Our mission is to encourage the preservation and restoration of Michigan's native plants and native plant communities"
Blogs:
This is a wonderfully written and informative blog by Cami Mannino about the beautiful Oakland Townships green spaces that are publicly owned.
https://oaklandnaturalareas.com/
Other Important Organizations:International organization advocating for insects Extensive Monarch advocacy and education Their mission is "to promote the health of pollinators, critical to food and ecosystems, through conservation, education, and research." Other Websites: |
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If you know of any great resources that we ought to include here,
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