Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center • Michigan State University • East Lansing, Michigan

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2015 CONFERENCE SPONSORS and SUPPORTERS

American Roots

Better Finds

CDE Nature

Creating Sustainable Landscapes

David Borneman LLC

ecoChic

Hidden Savanna Nursery

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

Michigan Garden Clubs

Michigan Native Plant Producers Association

Michigan State University

Michigan State University Extension

Native Connections

Native Lakescapes

2015 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs ……………………….. Esther Durnwald, Trish Hacker Hennig

Program Development . . . . Chad Hughson, Laura Liebler, Bill Schneider

Advertising & Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trish Hacker Hennig

Audio-Visual/Technical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Darwyn Heme, Val Reed

Exhibitors/Vendors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Johnson, Joyce Janicki

Drawing/Door Prizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trish Hacker Hennig

Grant Awards . . . . . . . . Bill Schneider, Maryann Whitman, Jean Weirich

Registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Liebler

Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chad Hughson, Laura Liebler

Conference Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Johnson

Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paula Hadley

Mission Statement…By increasing awareness and knowledge, the Wildflower Association of Michigan encourages the preservation and restoration of Michigan’s native plants

and native plant communities.

WELCOME28th Annual

Michigan WildflowerConference

WAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chad Hughson, PresidentKalamazoo

Trish Hacker Hennig, 1st Vice PresidentOrtonville

Jean Weirich, TreasurerMuskegon

Esther DurnwaldPortland

Craig ElstonHudsonville

Cheryl EnglishDetroit

Darwyn HemeGrand Ledge

Robert KruegerBig Rapids

Laura LieblerAnn Arbor

Bill SchneiderMason

Tom SmallKalamazoo

Maryann WhitmanRochester

Find Wildflower Association ofMichigan on Facebook

Cover photos by D.L. Drake and Landscape Plan by Darrel Morrison

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The Wildflower Association of Michigan traces itsroots back to March of 1986, when an exploratorymeeting was held during Agriculture and NaturalResources Week at Michigan State University. Eightyindividuals from various organizations and agencies,including Michigan Department of Transportation,Michigan State University Department of Parks andRecreation, and Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc., gath-ered to discuss wildflower-related programs, chal-lenges and potential, and to formulate a plan.Professor Louis F. Twardzik, MSU, was chairpersonand Kim Herman, MDOT, was recorder of thisgroup. The interest generated at this first meetingwarranted forming a Wildflower Alliance.Additional meetings were held throughout theremainder of that year.

The first Michigan Wildflower Conferencewas held March 24, 1987 during ANRWeek. After this conference, thegroup formally organized, creatingbylaws and electing officers.Harry Doehne, founding mem-ber of Michigan WildflowerFarm, presided as interim pres-ident. Elected officers wereGlenn Goff, President; KimHerman, Vice President; BettyDick, Secretary; and RobertWelch, Treasurer.

Because attendees at the 1988Michigan Wildflower Conferencenoted an increasing interest in the avail-ability of native Michigan seed, and a lack ofcommercial growers, the first Wildflower SeedGrowers Workshop was held during the 1989 con-ference. As an outgrowth of this workshop, theWildflower Association of Michigan received fund-ing to prepare a Wildflower Production PositionPaper, presenting the results of a survey on thepotential usage of wildflower seed in Michigan.The WAM Seed Committee published this reportand sent it to the Michigan Department ofAgriculture in January of 1990, documenting thecurrent and future status of Michigan native wild-flower seed production and recommendations.The outgrowth of this interest in native Michiganseed and plant production resulted in the formationof the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association(MNPPA) in 2000.

The Wildflower Association of Michigan awardsgrants annually to fund projects involving the cre-ation of an outdoor classroom, the enhancing of anexisting site, or other educationally directed proj-ects that support the WAM Mission. It is our goal toreach as many of Michigan's youth and citizenry aspossible through the use of our grant program. It isour desire not only to educate Michigan's studentsin the areas of recognition and preservation of ournative species, but also to support projects thatpass on the appreciation and respect for ournative flora that will ensure survival of thesespecies in the future.

The Michigan Wildflower Conference, held annu-ally in March, includes the WAM annual meeting andtwo days of workshops and seminars featuring

knowledgeable speakers with expertise in properprinciples, ethics and methods of land-

scaping with native wildflowers andassociated habitats on various levels

of understanding, from novice toprofessional. The conference hasbeen host to other groups inter-ested in native plants, includingthe Michigan Invasive PlantCouncil, Wild Ones and theStewardship Network. Duringpast conferences, WAM has

sponsored a concurrentEducators' Workshop to help

teachers plan and develop out-standing outdoor educational facili-

ties, improve grant-writing skills, andget feedback on individual projects. At the

conference's grant awards luncheon, education-al grants are awarded to qualifying organizations.

Operation Wildflower, the Michigan Garden Club'scooperative effort with the Michigan Department ofTransportation to plant native wildflowers alongMichigan's roadsides, received WAM support whileit was active. WAM’s newsletter, Wildflowers, fea-tures articles on native Michigan wildflowers, habi-tats, legislative updates, book reviews, upcomingevents, and related stories. An official website,www.wildflowersmich.org, presents the latest infor-mation about WAM activities, along with links to otherhelpful web sites. The Wildflower Association ofMichigan received 501(c)(3) status in 2001.

• • • •

Wildflower Association of Michigan ~ Our History

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Darrel Morrison

Darrel has been a long-time advocate of designing land-scapes based on native plant communities and their botan-ic and aesthetic characteristics. He grew up on an Iowafarm and received his BS in Landscape Architecture fromIowa State University. He earned his MS in LandscapeArchitecture from the University of Wisconsin, where he alsotaught, 1969-1983. From there he went to the University ofGeorgia as Dean of the School of Environmental Design; healso taught planting design and field courses on native plantcommunities. In 2005, he moved to New York, where hetaught in the Landscape Design Program at ColumbiaUniversity from 2007 to 2014, and continues to practicelandscape design.

He is a two-time winner of the “Outstanding Educator”Award of the Council of Educators in LandscapeArchitecture (CELA); and also is the recipient of theAmerican Horticultural Society’s Teaching Award and itsLandscape Design Award.

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

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8:00 – 9:00 Registration and Refreshments – Red Cedar Room

9:00 – 9:10 Greetings and Announcements – Big Ten A

9:10 – 10:15 Landscape Design: Where Art and Nature Meet (Keynote Presentation) – Big Ten ADARREL MORRISON, Landscape Architect and two-time winner of the “Outstanding Educator”award of the Council of Educators in Landscape ArchitecturePlant distribution patterns and plant succession in nature can inform and inspire designed landscapes.The relationship between ecology and design will be explored, looking at characteristics of the naturallandscape as inspiration for designed landscapes. The characteristics of natural landscapes whichseem to appeal to people, based on the work of environmental psychologists Steve and Rachel Kaplanat the University of Michigan who have identified the characteristics of mystery, complexity, coherenceand legibility will be introduced. Darrel’s more recent projects including the Native Woodland Gardenat New York University, the Old Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Garden and the new Native FloraGarden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden will be highlighted as well.

10:15 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 11:45 Reading the Landscape, Sense of Place Literacy (Concurrent Session #1) – Big Ten BDAN KETO, 9th Grade Biology Teacher, Kalamazoo Central High SchoolWe become literate when we derive meaning from words and sentences. We begin reading the land-scape, or become “landscape literate,” when we understand why a particular plant is growing in a cer-tain place, in the same way we know why this sentence should end in a period. As any reader buildsconfidence, expands their interest and becomes motivated to keep reading, so does the avid gardenerbuild upon their thirst for knowledge. The quantity of resources available for learning about nativeplants and their communities can be overwhelming, and it sometimes feels like learning a foreign lan-guage. Using literacy education strategies, we will explore fun, easy and effective ways to quickly makemeaning of our native landscapes and all that has been written about them.

Bringing Nature to Your Garden Party – Casual or Formal (Concurrent Session #2) – Big Ten CRICK MEADER, Landscape Architect and owner of Ecological Edge LLCDid you know that native plants can be used in casual as well as formal landscapes? The basics oflandscape design will be reviewed and Rick will share ways to incorporate native wildflowers, grasses,shrubs and/or trees into your yard to add interest and attract birds, bees and butterflies.

11:45 – 1:30 Grant Awards Lunch and Break – Big Ten A

1:30 – 2:30 My Really Big Year (Concurrent Session #1) – Big Ten BMICHAEL KIELB, Faculty Member of the Biology Department at Eastern Michigan UniversityFor years Michael has participated in “big year” challenges with others attempting to see as many birdspecies as possible in a year. Why limit the big year concept to birds, he thought? In 2014 thisresulted in his recording as many species of plant, animal and fungi as possible. This talk will focus onthe thousand or so plants that were noted in the course of his wanderings in pursuit of diversity.

AGENDA ~ Sunday, March 8, 2015

THANK YOU FOR TURNING OFF YOUR CELL PHONE.

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AGENDA ~ Sunday, March 8, 2015 (continued)

1:30 – 2:30 Soil Health Biology, With Special Reference to Listening to Nature (Concurrent Session #2) – Big Ten CGEORGE W. BIRD, Professor,Department of Entomology,Michigan State UniversityProfessor Bird will provide an overview of the rapidly emerging imperative of Soil Health. He willdescribe the types of organisms that reside in soil and the nature of their functions. This will befollowed by a discussion of the types of analyses used to measure soil health and procedures forsoil health remediation and maintenance. The presentation will conclude with comments relatedto listening to nature in regards to successful wildflower systems.

WAM Grant Writing Workshop (Concurrent Session #3) – Room 106MARYANN WHITMAN, JEAN WEIRICH & BILL SCHNEIDER, WAM Grant Committee MembersWAM Grants fund projects that involve creating outdoor classrooms, enhancing an existing site, ordeveloping other educationally directed projects that support the WAM Mission. This workshop willwalk participants step by step through the application form and provide insight into the reviewprocess. Attendees will come away better prepared to submit a grant in less time while being morecompetitive.

2:30 – 2:45 Break

2:45 – 3:45 Putting Your Native Garden to Work: Designing for Conservation, Sustainability and Beauty(Concurrent Session #1) – Big Ten BBOB GRESE, Director of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum and Professor ofLandscape Architecture at the University of Michigan. Native gardens are frequently proposed for novel situations, such as green roofs and lawn extensionsand often serve key functions such as filtering stormwater and preventing erosion on difficult sites.Design and functional characteristics of these new native gardens with an eye to their aesthetics andvalue as part of larger conservation and sustainability initiatives will be explored.

Michigan Reptiles & Amphibians Up Close (Concurrent Session #2) – Big Ten CJIM MCGRATH, Nature Discovery founder and wildlife biologist. Over 50 species of reptiles and amphibians can be found within Michigan’s borders, yet, nearly allpopulations are in decline due to human influences. The more citizens learn about the identification,necessary habitat, behavior, and ecology of each, the better their chances of survival. BeautifulPowerpoint images, original audio recordings and live specimens of a cross-section of Michigan-nativesnakes, turtles, frogs and salamanders are used to educate and captivate audience members throughoutthis dynamic presentation.

3:45 – 4:00 Break

4:00 – 5:00 Annual Meeting (Cash Bar Offered) – Red Cedar Room

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AGENDA ~ Monday, March 9, 2015

8:00 – 9:00 Registration and Refreshments – Red Cedar Room

9:00 – 9:10 Greetings and Announcements – Big Ten A

9:10 – 10:15 Landscape Design: The Four-Dimensional Art (Keynote Presentation) – Big Ten ADARREL MORRISON, Landscape Architect and two-time winner of the “Outstanding Educator”award of the Council of Educators in Landscape ArchitectureWhereas paintings are essentially two-dimensional, and architecture and sculpture are three-dimension-al, designed landscapes are four-dimensional, with time being the fourth dimension. Growth of indi-vidual plants, reproduction and migration, and shifting patterns over time characterize the designedlandscape, just as they also occur in nature. Hence, a landscape design is always a “work in progress”.The Native Plants Garden at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum in Madison, WI will provide illustra-tions of the dynamics of a planted native garden from its initial installation in 2002 up to the present.

10:15 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 11:45 Restoring and Protecting Inland Lakes with Natural Shorelines (Concurrent Session #1) – Big Ten BJULIA KIRKWOOD, Senior Environmental Quality Analyst, Michigan Department of EnvironmentalQuality Water Resources Division: Nonpoint Source Program and Chair - Michigan NaturalShoreline PartnershipDid you know that the biggest threat to the overall health of inland lakes is lakeshore development? Thepractice of hardening inland lake shorelines with vertical sea walls and the removal of native vegetation hasresulted in water quality problems and the cumulative loss of important habitat for fish, birds, reptiles andamphibians. The Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership (MNSP; www.mishorelinepartnership.org), formedin 2008, has created educational programs and supporting resources to promote, protect and implementnatural landscaping and erosion control techniques to protect Michigan’s inland lakes. Learn how theMNSP is promoting the use of native plants and helping to make native plant choices easier in the naturalshoreline landscape.

All About Rain Gardens (Concurrent Session #2) – Big Ten CDREW LATHIN, Owner of Creating Sustainable Landscapes, LLCRain gardens are shallow depressions that collect rain water before it enters the municipal stormwatersystem. Rain gardens alleviate problems associated with flooding and drainage; recharge the groundwater supply on site; keep water clean by filtering stormwater before it enters local waterways; providehabitat and food for wildlife, including butterflies and pollinators when populated with native plants;and enhance the beauty of individual yards and communities. Participants will learn how rain gardenswork as well as how to design and build a rain garden.

11:45 – 1:30 Lunch and Break - Door Prize Drawing – Big Ten A

1:30 – 2:30 The Power of Community (Concurrent Session #1) – Big Ten BSTEVE KETO, Natural Areas and Preserves Manager, Western Michigan UniversitySteve will trace the rise of native plant awareness and the modern Land Ethic through selected works offamous environmental writers from Thoreau and Leopold to Tom and Nancy Small. The use of differentnative plant forms, including trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals, and their importance and function ina diverse and sustainable natural landscape will be discussed.

THANK YOU FOR TURNING OFF YOUR CELL PHONE.

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AGENDA ~ Monday, March 9, 2015 (continued)

1:30 – 2:30 Landscape Design: Getting Closer to Nature in Artificial Environments (Concurrent Session #2) – Big Ten CKEN WEIKAL & BETH HAGENBUCH, Kenneth Weikal Landscape ArchitectureIntroducing native plants and landscapes into the non-indigenous environments in our cities and sub-urbs presents many challenges: harsh man-made conditions, disturbed and compacted soils, contami-nated brownfields, client demands, and not least, human perceptions. In this session we will look athow landscape architects create opportunities for greater understanding and acceptance of nativelandscapes through the art of landscape design. Recent Kenneth Weikal Landscape Architecture proj-ects, including Lafayette Greens in Detroit, illustrate how artificial hybrid environments incorporatingnative plants and plant communities can draw people into closer relationships with nature.

1:30 – 3:45 Botanical Drawing: Seeing What’s Really There (Concurrent Session #3) – Pre-Registration Required – Room 106GAIL GUTH, Freelance artist and principal and owner of Guth Illustration & DesignThe first step to good botanical illustration — or any illustration, for that matter — is accurate observa-tion. Plants are incredibly complex structures, and drawing them is a challenge; sometimes it seemsimpossible to capture the correct form and detail. Through a series of visuals and exercises, Gail willlead participants through the process of accurately observing plants and flowers, analyzing structureand form, and translating that analysis to paper, from rough sketches to more finished work. She willincorporate suggestions on layout (placing the image on the page), media and techniques to use,whether to use backgrounds or not, light and shadow, and rendering textures. Participants in this work-shop will work in black-and-white, using graphite pencil and paper; using color and color media willbe discussed.

2:30 – 2:45 Break

2:45 – 3:45 Eastern Lake Michigan Dune Ecology and Restoration (Concurrent Session #1) – Big Ten BSHAUN HOWARD, Nature Conservancy Eastern Lake Michigan Project ManagerThe Great Lakes contain the world’s largest freshwater dune system, totaling 275,000 acres of perched,parabolic, and linear dunes with the majority of these ecosystems located throughout Eastern LakeMichigan. This region is also a crucial component of Michigan’s growing eco-tourism economy, provid-ing innumerable recreation and quality-of-life benefits. Unfortunately, Eastern Lake Michigan also facesthe ongoing threat of habitat degradation, with one of the largest factors being the introduction andproliferation of terrestrial invasive plant species. The Michigan Dune Alliance has implemented land-scape-scale invasive plant control across over 500 miles of Eastern Lake Michigan shoreline and thesemanagement efforts are implemented over 36,000 acres of coastal land in Eastern Lake Michigan. Futureefforts include creating a healthy set of semi-contiguous natural areas, incorporating Lake MichiganIsland management, and exporting lessons learned to other Great Lakes coastlines.

Bringing Natives Home (Concurrent Session #2) – Big Ten CCHERYL ENGLISH, President Emeritus of Master Gardeners of Greater Detroit and Owner of BlackCat PotteryPerhaps the greatest barrier to including native plants in the traditional home garden is the typical gar-dener’s mistaken impression that natives are somehow “different” from the plants more commonly seenin the cultivated landscape. While they are different, their differences lay in their benefits to the widerlandscape and the minimal care they require, when properly sited, once established. Explore somecombinations – some planned, others fortuitous – of native species and traditional garden plants toinspire your own gardening adventures.

2014 Grant Awardees WAM President Chad Hughson

Speaker Tony Reznicek2014 WAM Board Members Laura, Jean, Tom,

Darwyn, Trish and Robert.

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2015 SPEAKER PROFILES

George W. BirdGeorge is a Professor at Michigan StateUniversity. He spent much of his childhoodyears on a poultry-dairy farm in southeasterVermont and his teenage years in the applegrowing community of Granville,Massachusetts. He obtained his B.S. andM.S. from Rutgers and a Ph.D. from Cornell.Before becoming a faculty member atMichigan State University in 1973, he was aresearch scientist for Agriculture Canadaand a faculty member at the University ofGeorgia. His laboratory and students are involved in research on soilhealth biology: with special reference to nematodes. He served asNational Director of SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research andEducation), as a member of the Rodale Institute Board of Directors andis recipient of the MSU Distinguished Faculty Award.

Cheryl M. EnglishCheryl is a certified Advanced MasterGardener and Master Composter living inDetroit, Michigan. Formally educated as anArt Historian, Cheryl has parlayed her variedtraining and experience into a career as aprofessional gardener, artist, writer and gar-den and art educator. She is PresidentEmeritus of Master Gardeners of GreaterDetroit, has volunteered with The DetroitGarden Center and The Greening of Detroitin various capacities and is a member of theWAM Board of Directors. Cheryl penned the first article on native plantsto appear in Michigan Gardener in May 2012 and continues to writerelated articles for that publication on a regular basis. She opens her gar-den - which includes over 200 species of native plants - to the public,free of charge, twice a year, as well as providing private tours for smallgroups by appointment. She can be reached at cenglish@blackcatpot-tery.com.

Bob Grese Bob is Director of the University’s MatthaeiBotanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretumat the University of Michigan. He is alsoProfessor of Landscape Architecture andthe Theodore Roosevelt Chair in EcosystemManagement in the School of NaturalResources and Environment. Bob has lec-tured widely on the design of native gar-dens, ecological restoration, and early eco-logically-based landscape architects suchas Jens Jensen and O.C. Simonds. He is theauthor of Jens Jensen: Maker of Natural Parks and Gardens(1992),wrotethe introductory essay for republishing O. C. Simonds’s bookLandscape Gardening(2000), and edited the recent volume The NativeLandscape Reader(2011).

Gail Guth Gail is a freelance artist and principal andowner of Guth Illustration & Design, special-izing in natural science illustration andgraphic design. Her work combines tradi-tional techniques with computer graphics,and ranges from small design projects toinformation graphics, brand identity design,maps, academic publications and bookillustrations. Gail holds a BA in ArtEducation from Michigan State University.She has been a member of the Guild ofNatural Science Illustrators since 1976. She has served as the group’spresident and is currently the Outreach Director and MembershipSecretary, and is the Editor In Chief of the organization’s quarterlyJournal of Scientific Illustration. Gail works from her home studio inBattle Creek, MI. Website: www.guthillustration.com

Beth Hagenbuch Beth is a Partner at KWLA, President of GrowTown, Inc. and was awarded 2013Emerging Professional of the Year byMichigan ASLA. GrowTown is a non-profitLandscape Architecture studio dedicatedto transforming neighborhoods and land-scapes in post-industrial cities. Design andimplementation of the Local FoodEconomy is the catalyst for growing resilientand sustainable communities.

Shaun Howard A Michigan native, Shaun earned his B.S. inZoology through the Lyman Briggs Collegeat Michigan State University. In the summerof 2010 he joined The Nature Conservancyto lead their Dune Restoration Teams’ inva-sive plant control efforts along the shores ofNorthwest Lower Michigan. His current roleis that of Eastern Lake Michigan ProjectManager, aligning the invasive plant removalefforts of The Conservancy and otherMichigan Dune Alliance partners along all500 miles of Eastern Lake Michigan shoreline.

CONTINUED

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Michael KielbMichael is on the faculty of the BiologyDepartment at Eastern Michigan Universitywhere his primary teaching responsibilitiesare human anatomy & physiology andhuman neuroanatomy. Over the years he hasserved on the boards of numerous naturalhistory groups including Michigan AudubonSociety, Holiday Beach (Ontario) MigrationObservatory and Whitefish Point BirdObservatory. He has also been involvedwith writing books on birds and natural his-tory, as well as illustrating one. In his earlier life he also lead natural his-tory tours throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Daniel KetoDaniel has been working in the field of envi-ronmental science and education ever sincehis first summer camp job at 17 years of age,on the North Fork of Long Island’s East end.He came to Michigan in 1986 to attendMichigan State University, graduating with aBachelor of Science in Biology. Since thoseearly years and many experiences workingwith outdoor education centers, state parks,Daniel found employment with theKalamazoo Nature Center where he workedfor seventeen years as the Nature Up-Close Camp Director andOutreach’s Lead Interpretive Naturalist. In 2011, the National Associationfor Interpretation named him Master Front-Line Interpreter of the Year.Daniel left the Kalamazoo Nature Center in the spring of 2014 when heaccepted the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship, a master’s levelprogram training him to teach STEM subjects at the secondary schoollevel. He currently is halfway through his mentorship program atKalamazoo Central High School, where he teaches 9th grade biology.

Steve Keto Steve has been a student of nature sincechildhood caring for wild animals and gar-dening with his father. Steve earned a B.S.degree in Wildlife Management, AnimalScience and a M.S degree in Poultry Scienceall from Michigan State University. Steveworked in the greenhouse industry for 20years where he developed a specialtypropagating native Michigan plants. Stevejoined Western Michigan University in 2008and is now Natural Areas and PreservesManager, overseeing the management of 500 acres of University land. Hehas two boys 23 and 19 and a wife of 29 years. He is an active outdoorenthusiast and enjoys camping, hiking, and gardening. He is a frequentspeaker on many horticulture and environmental topics her in Michiganand a past President of WAM.

Julia KirkwoodJulia has worked as a natural resource pro-fessional for 20 years. For the past 13 yearsshe has worked for the MDEQ Non-PointSource Pollution Program working withwatershed stakeholders to protect andrestore rivers and lakes that have beenimpacted by non-point source pollution.She also serves as the chair of the MichiganNatural Shoreline Partnership and as co-chair of the MNSP Outreach and EducationSub-Committee. In that role Julia trains andcoordinates the MNSP’s statewide “Shoreline Educator Network” of nat-ural resource professionals who conduct workshops for lakefront prop-erty owners on the benefits of natural shorelines to Michigan’s InlandLakes. She holds a B.S in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan StateUniversity.

Drew Lathin Drew Lathin is the General Manager ofCreating Sustainable Landscapes. He is asustainable landscapes consultant who iscreating ecologically restorative urban andsuburban landscapes. As an outspoken crit-ic of conventional landscaping practiceswhich destroy habitat, result in speciesextinction, and threaten the biodiversityupon which humanity and all life depends,Drew utilizes native plants in his beautifullyinstalled landscapes that support wildlife, and reduces or eliminatesresource inputs such as pesticides and supplemental water.

Jim McGrath Jim is a wildlife biologist with a degree fromMichigan State University, and founder ofNature Discovery, a Michigan-specificwildlife education facility dedicated toenhancing awareness and sensitivity towardMichigan’s living resources. He and wife,Carol, operate the business out of theirhome near Williamston. Within a privatehome-based nature center, they maintain acomprehensive, interactive zoo ofMichigan-native reptiles and amphibians. Inaddition to programs at their facility, Jim & Carol travel throughout thestate educating on native “herps” as well as on Michigan birds, insectsand other wildlife topics. Venues include schools, libraries, parks, adultand youth organizations, and private individuals and families. Jim is alsoa popular weekly specialist Michigan natural science teacher atMontessori Children’s House in Lansing, Stepping Stones Montessori inEast Lansing and Okemos Nursery School in Okemos. Jim’s enthusiasmfor his subject matter is infectious to audiences of all ages!

2015 SPEAKER PROFILES (continued)

CONTINUED

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Rick Meader Rick is a licensed landscape architect andowner of Ecological Edge LLC. He has over13 years of experience in designing corpo-rate, church, hotel and residential land-scapes. Whenever possible, he likes toincorporate native plants in his designbecause they’re attractive, they’re local, andbecause they provide wildlife with foodand homesites. At home, he tries to get asmany native species as he can for his yard toadd nature to the expanse of lawn that is hissubdivision.

Kenneth Weikal Kenneth is a Partner at Kenneth WeikalLandscape Architecture [KWLA], founded in1989 and the 2013 winner of OutstandingFirm of the Year by Michigan ASLA. KWLAsees Landscape Architecture as the frame-work for integrating environmental responsi-bility, social-well being and creative designthat results in successful projects for clientsand healthy communities. KWLA receivedthe ASLA National Honor Award for“Lafayette Greens: Urban Agriculture, UrbanFabric, Urban Sustainability” in 2012. Ken is Vice President of Grow Town, Inc.

2015 SPEAKER PROFILES (continued)

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PROGRAM BOOK SPONSORS

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TOM SMALL ~ SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Tom Small has been a “Civic Player” in so many arenas of hisextraordinary life – artistic, professional, environmental, andpolitical. The Wildflower Association of Michigan would like tothank Tom for all his wisdom and support, which he has gener-ously shared with us.

Tom was born in San Francisco, and grew up in Denver. Hereceived his undergraduate degree in English from PomonaCollege in California. After college in 1954, Tom, short of fundsand concerned that he might be drafted, signed up for a three-year stint in the army. With help from the GI Bill, Tom attendedUniversity of Colorado, Boulder, earning his master’s degree inEnglish Romantic Literature. Tom went on to the University ofCalifornia, Berkley (during the 60’s, which explains a lot) wherehe earned his Ph.D. Tom’s Berkeley years were formative. It wasduring this time, as part of his involvement in the peace move-ment, that Tom was introduced to a group of Quakers (Friends).Quaker thought, ideals, ethics and practice, to this day, proba-bly remain the strongest influence on Tom’s character, thoughtand actions.

In 1966, Tom took a faculty position at Western MichiganUniversity, where he taught English Romantic Literature andShakespeare for 30 years.

Concurrent with his professorship, Tom continued to pursuehis lifelong interest in acting. He acted in the Kalamazoo Civic

Theatre, The Civic Black Theater that he helped to create andestablish, was a Repertory Theater actor in Kansas City, Missouri,and also acted in Chicago.

This community knows Tom best through his environmentalaction and work with native landscape. Tom, along with his latewife Nancy, turned their yard into a native plant habitat. Theyalso co-authored a book, Using Native Plants to RestoreCommunity and co-founded the Kalamazoo, Michigan chapterof Wild Ones. Tom has created a Memorial Fund in Nancy’smemory to support the endeavors of school and other non-profit projects.

The Wildflower Association of Michigan is honoring TomSmall this year. Tom has been a familiar face at this conferencefor many years. Nancy Small was a board member until herdeath in 2009, when Tom filled her board position. AmongTom’s many talents he brought to the WAM board are his clearand articulate voice, creativity, and ability to connect peopleand ideas. Tom is always the first to listen, the last to speak andhas been a mentor to all of us. Tom has decided it is time tostep down from WAM’s board. We acknowledge his enormousand sustained contributions with this award. He will bemissed.

We would like to thanks Ruth Small for helping us write thistribute to Tom.

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WILDFLOWER ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATION MEMBERS

American RootsTrish A. Hacker-HennigOrtonville(248) 627-8525 or (248) 882-7768www.americanrootswildflowers.com

Better Finds, LLCLynnette Fouch BugenskeSaginawPhone: (989) 980-6228www.miwildflowers.com

Black Cat PotteryCheryl M. EnglishDetroit (313) 885-3385www.blackcatpottery.com

Blossom Home Preschool & AdventuresBuhr Park Children’s Wet Meadow ProjectJeannine PalmsAnn Arbor(734) 971-5870www.wetmeadow.org

Brenda’s Butterfly HabitatBrenda DziedzicWestland(734) 326-0578www.ButterfliesInTheGarden.com

Canton TownshipLeigh ThurstonCanton(734) 394-5170

CardnoSteve NyczakWest Olive(616) 847-1680www.cardno.com

Creating Sustainable Landscapes, LLCDrew LathinNovi(734) 717-8000www.CreatingSustainableLandscapes.com

David Borneman LLCDavid BornemanAnn Arbor(734) 994-3475www.restoringnaturewithfire.com

Designs by NatureVern StephensLaingsburg(517) 651-6502

ecoChic Landscape Design Inc.Laura Zigmanth(248) 978-2300www.ecochiclandscape.com

Edsel & Eleanor Ford HouseJoe KosiaraGrosse Pointe Shores(313) 884-4222

EverGreen Nursery, Inc.Cheryl NoltaMunising(906) 387-4350

Four Season NurseryBrian ZimmermanTraverse City(231) 929-7400www.fourseasonnursery.biz

Fresh Start HerbsSusan BetzJonesville (517) 849-2470

Full Circle GardensLibby RiceLansing(517) 487-5012Geum Services, Inc.Steve AllenRichland(269) 370-0150www.prairiesmoke.com

Hidden Savanna NurseryChad HughsonKalamazoo(269) 352-3876www.hiddensavanna.com

Huron-Manistee National ForestPat Ruta-McGhanBaldwin(231) 745-4631

Kalamazoo Nature CenterSarah RedingKalamazoo(269) 381-1574www.naturecenter.org

Kathryn Lund Johnson PhotographyKathryn Lund Johnsonwww.KLJnaturephotos.com

Kellogg Bird SancturaryKimberly GinnAugusta(269) 671-2510www.kbs.msu.edu/visit/birdsanctuary

Michigan Audubonwww.michiganaudubon.org

Michigan Wildflower FarmEsther DurnwaldPortland(517) 647-6010www.michiganwildflowerfarm.com

Native ConnectionsJerry StewartThree Rivers(269) 580-4765www.nativeconnections.net

Native Lakescapes, LLCJim BrueckClarkston(248) 736 3014www.nativelakescapes.com

CONTINUED

Thank YOU forattending

the 28th AnnualWildflower

Conference!

SAVE THE DATE...March 6 & 7

WAM Conference2016

16

EXHIBITORSAmerican Roots • Creating Sustainable Landscapes • Four Season Nursery

Hidden Savanna Nursery • Michigan DNR Wildlife Division, Invasive Species ProgramMichigan Native Plant Producers Association • Monarch Watch • Native Connections

WILDTYPE Native Plant Nursery • Wild Ones, Red Cedar Chapter

EXHIBITORS & VENDORS

VENDORSBlack Cat Pottery • Brenda Dziedzic • CDE Nature

Etc. Designs • French Garden Creations • Michigan Audubon SocietyKathryn Lund Johnson Photography & Jewelry • MCG Graphics

Snow Fairy Cottage • Still Chasing Butterflies Photography Wildflower Association of Michigan Book Table

WILDFLOWER ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATION MEMBERS

Native LandscapesRandy CountermanPaw Paw(269) 929-3455www.native-landscapes.org

Natural Community Services, (NCS)John DeLisle, PWSSouthfield(248) 672-7611naturalcommunityservices.webs.com

Natural GardensMike CushistClarkston(248) 672-0624

Oakland County ParksStephanie S. MackeyPontiac(248) 431-1268

Pierce Cedar Creek InstituteDan Auer(269) 721-4170www.cedarcreekinstitute.org

Puddingstone FarmCleve HayesLawton (269) 423-2124www.puddingstonelawton.com

Reed Ecological Design LLCPat Reed(734) 730-7104www.reedecologicaldesign.com

Sandhill FarmCheryl TolleyRockford(616) 691-8214

Saving Birds Thru HabitatKay CharterOmena(231) 271-3738www.savingbirds.org

The Native Plant InstituteMichael SaintOakland(248) 605-5591www.thenativeplantinstitute.com

Watervale InnDori TurnerArcadia (231) 352-9083www.watervaleinn.com

Wetlands NurseryJewel RichardsonWellston(231) 848-4202

Wildscapes, LLCGeorge WiseClimax(269) 746-4149www.wildscapesmi.com

WildtypeBill SchneiderMason(517) 244-1140www.wildtypeplants.com

PROGRAM BOOK SPONSORS

Wildflower Association of Michigan…Encouraging the preservation and restoration of Michigan’s native plants and

native plant communities