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PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS, PRESERVATION & PROTECTION

Organizations work with volunteers to build gardens for native flora

From left, Great Lakes Climate Corps crew leaders Karol Rajski and Jacob Fooy are shown assembling raised beds for the new native plant garden at the Ishpeming High School garden site. Around 1,000 native plants were planted in the newly built beds. The plants included black-eyed Susan, four types of milkweed and Monarda, or bee balm. This effort is part of a larger project to build a series of “unprecedented community gardens” in Ishpeming and Marquette, organizers said in a news release. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Penrod)

ISHPEMING — Growing native plants — with the goal of collecting their seeds to spread across the Upper Peninsula — was the focus of a recent collaboration among the Superior Watershed Partnership, Partridge Creek Farm, the SWP’s Great Lakes Climate Corps and volunteers from the Great Lakes Recovery Center.­­

The groups recently worked together at the Ishpeming High School garden site to construct six new native plant beds from locally milled pine boards.

The GLCC and PCF volunteers and interns planted around 1,000 native plants in the newly built beds. The plants included black-eyed Susan, four types of milkweed and Monarda, or bee balm.

“There will be a tremendous amount of seeds that come from this, so then their interns will spread those seeds throughout the U.P.,” Partridge Creek Farm Director and Secretary Dan Perkins said.

The goal is to help improve wildlife habitats across the U.P. This effort is part of a larger project to build a series of “unprecedented community gardens” in Ishpeming and Marquette, organizers said in a news release.

GLCC crews and Partridge Creek Farm volunteers stand with the finished raised beds for native plants after multiple groups worked together at the Ishpeming High School garden site to construct six new native plant beds from locally milled pine boards. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Penrod)

“These plants will be used to create more resilient Great Lakes coastlines, protect water quality, enhance wetland habitat, stabilize coastal dunes and benefit important pollinators like bees and monarch butterflies,” the release states. “Projects will also help restore the watersheds of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.”

It’s critical to build these gardens and distribute the seeds because “there are very limited s

ources for native plants and native seeds from local genotypes,” in the U.P., organizers wrote. “Such genotypes ensure that transplanted species are best adapted to thrive in the harsh regional climate. When utilized for restoration purposes, native plants provide habitat and a food source for resident and migratory birds and threatened species of insects. Native plants also combat the spread of invasive plant species, prevent erosion and help stabilize coastal zones.”

The project is supported by a $22,500 grant from the Americana Foundation to distribute native pollinators throughout the U.P. The project is the first of its kind to focus on restoring native plants and wildflowers instead of the more commonly funded vegetable gardens for harvesting, organizers said.

Other project activities will include coordinating volunteers for events involving planting, regular garden maintenance, summer transplanting and fall seed harvesting. The winter months will be dedicated to seed sorting and preservation for future restoration projects, the release states.

The project also includes numerous educational and outreach activities. Ishpeming High School will be the site for three community native plant gardens with a fourth to soon be constructed in Marquette, organizers said.

Katie Segula can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is ksegula@miningjournal.net.

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