GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – This spring, the Delta Conservation District is partnering with U.P. Native Plants to host an inaugural wildflower sale.
By visiting the Conservation District website, the public can purchase an assortment of flowers, grasses, and hedges. The plants are available in quart pots, plug flats with 38 plants, and themed garden kits.
“The garden kits are themed-base,” explained Conservation District Manager Heather LeDuc. “There’s a night party theme, a kid sensory kit, a wildflower kit. Those have been pre-selected and it’s like paint by numbers; you just put them in however you want.”
The plants are native to the U.P. and serve as habitats for butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators. According to LeDuc, those animals pollinate two-thirds of the world’s crops. By providing habitats for them, humans can return the favor.
“Due to deforestation and rapid development, increased use of pesticides and herbicides, and just changing landscapes, there’s a lot of loss for their habitat,” she said. “Planting just a little bit of pollinator patch makes a huge impact.”
She says planting pollinator habitats also enhances the gardening experience.
“You can increase your biodiversity in your yard, learn the interesting critters that are coming into your yard, and it’s a natural pest control,” LeDuc said. “You bring these beneficial insects—they’re called predator insects—and they control a lot of the pests that would normally go into your home. They say ‘home is where the habitat is,’ so plant some pollinator habitats!”
Wildflower sale pickup will take place on June 21 at the Escanaba Marketplace. U.P. Native Plants will be on site to sell additional plants that are not listed on the virtual sale. Click here to browse the online plant sale.
The Delta Conservation District is also hosting a free pollinator garden workshop at Bay College on May 22. Spots are limited, so visit deltacd.org/events to register. A hands-on workshop is also being scheduled for the near future. For updates on that and other events, follow the Delta Conservation District on Facebook.
