Patches of green can be found throughout the city of Marquette, but they’re not always full of plants such as native prairie roses, blue asters and black-eyed Susans that formerly dotted the Michigan landscape.

Instead, invasive weeds often have take over these areas.

Fortunately, some people want to turn these areas into places where wildflowers flourish, hopefully attracting pollinators.

Marquette resident Tony Boyle is spearheading a new effort, Marquette City Wildflowers, to improve small habitats throughout the area.

Sunday marked what he called a successful first day of planting, with about a dozen people showing up at the Marquette Commons to work on that spot. Boyle gave a shout out to the Marquette Downtown Development Authority for making this garden possible. Beginning at 2 p.m. this Sunday, volunteers plan to tackle an even bigger space behind The Mining Journal, located at the corner of Fourth and Washington streets. Boyle said a good number of invasive tansies and spotted knapneed needs to be pulled, and turf needs to be removed.

Invasive plants are non-native and tend to push out native plants, so removing them and replacing them with plants that typically have grown in Michigan is a wonderful way to add habitat.

Areas in Marquette already have been turned into an oasis for wildflowers and grasses, including the Outdoor Learning Area at Northern Michigan University, and sections of the Lake Superior shoreline filled with beach grass because of the efforts of the Superior Watershed Partnership.

To get involved, fill out a form at https://forms.gle/Qid4pKkATCToYZgW9 or email Boyle at tonyboylemi@gmail.com.

There are many ways people can help, including physical labor, community outreach, sponsoring tools or a site, and donating items such as topsoil/compost, mulch, native plant seeds and starts, and even water and snacks.

When the new gardens take off, being native, they should require little to no maintenance. Birds, butterflies and other wildlife will find miniature respites in town, plus the colorful blooms should appeal to people as well.

Marquette isn’t going to return to its frontier days, but people can put a little bit of the frontier back in Marquette.

We support the Marquette City Wildflowers initiative and hope many individuals get involved.