Educational and Community Events

Rochester Pollinators 
Fall Seed Collection Meet Up

WHAT: Native Seed Collection in Howlett Park

Meet up with Marilyn Trent of Rochester Pollinators for our annual seed collection in the prairie restoration project at Howlett Park. Seeds we collect help to replenish the Native Seed Library at Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve. You can also take seeds home for a winter sowing project, and expand your own pollinator garden in the spring!

WHERE: Howlett Park in Rochester, which is nestled in the neighborhood that lies east of Rochester Rd and North of Romeo Rd. The park is bounded by Inglewood Ave, Romeo Rd, Sycamore Dr, and Holy Family School

We'll park on Inglewood Ave, between Linwood Ave and Terry St., and meet on the west side of the park to begin.

WHEN: Sunday, October 26, 1-2pm (feel free to stay longer!)

WHAT TO BRING:

  • Gloves if you want them
  • boots or shoes for wet, spongy areas
  • scissors
  • dress for the weather

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MONARCH MIGRATION AND BUTTERFLY/POLLINATOR GARDENS

Presenter:
Lori Smith visited the Monarch overwintering sites in Mexico in 2023

Lori has also developed wonderful butterfly/pollinator gardens at her garden site

DATE:
NOVEMBER 1ST, SATURDAY
TIME: 10:00 AM 

LOCATION: BURGESS-SHADBUSH NATURE CENTER, 4101 RIVER BENDS DR., SHELBY TWP.

The nature center needs a count of attendees. (space is limited)

RESERVATION IS NEEDED, email: marietta.crabtree@gmail.com 
INCLUDE YOUR NAME, NAMES OF ANY GUESTS, PHONE NUMBER 
If needed, you can cancel your reservation.

Please reply as soon as possible to help with planning. 

  • Learn about the 3,000-mile migration to Mexico, overwintering and return to Michigan
  • See Lori’s beautiful photos of Monarchs overwintering in oyamel fir trees in Mexico
  • Learn how to raise monarchs and tag them to scientifically study and track their migration
  • Receive a free fourteen-page booklet with amazing information about Monarchs
  • Learn about butterfly/pollinator gardens
  • Receive a free handout about How to Plant a Pollinator Garden with design and plant list
  • Learn how to help the declining Monarch butterfly populations survive and increase  

Any questions, please contact marietta.crabtree@gmail.com  or phone 586-612-1848

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FREE Wild Ones Free Webinar: 
Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard
w/ Larry Weaner

Discover the power of ecological garden design in this free national webinar, Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard, with award-winning landscape designer Larry Weaner

About the Webinar

All too often, in our gardens and landscapes, we think of static compositions of carefully placed, managed plants. But our approach can be more dynamic—and arguably more rewarding than that —by taking advantage of plants’ natural abilities to reproduce and proliferate. Learn how to design gardens that consider the reproductive abilities of plants, the ecological processes that affect those plants, and the wildlife that those plants can support. Drawing from 35 years of observation and analysis on his home property, Larry will show how this interactive approach can result in experientially rich, easily managed landscapes that give new meaning to the phrase “partnership with nature.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, November 20th, 2025
Time: 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT / 5 PM MT / 4 PM PT
Join Us Virtually: A link will be provided upon registration. This webinar will be recorded and available to watch after the premiere. And join the Live Chat: During the webinar premiere, join the live text-based chat on YouTube Live. Connect with a knowledgeable, hands-on, and supportive community.

REGISTER