Nature Niche

Happy Monday! The fun in fens continues as I share another summer adventure with Michigan Wetlands Association into one of Michigan's rare wetland ecosystems, northern fen at Cheboygan State Park. Learn about the landscape setting, soils, hydrology, and flora and fauna that make this type of habitat so unique!

Mondays with Martha #224 - Rare Michigan Wetlands: Northern Fen The fun in fens continues as I share another summer adventure with Michigan Wetlands Association into one of Michigan's rare wetland ecosystems, northern fen...

Last but certainly not least in our 2024 Nature Niche Educational Series is a fun Fall Foliage Prints Workshop with Julie Welsh. Using a gel plate, you will create one-of-a-kind prints of your favorite leaves that capture the essence of Fall. What a unique opportunity to experiment with art tools and techniques that you may not have tried before! Join us in one month on Saturday October 19th--only 3 spots left! Register here:

Registration Fee for Fall Foliage Prints Workshop - 2024 Come join us for this fun fall foliage art workshop and the last Nature Niche class for the 2024 season! Using a gel plate, you will create one-of-a-kind prints of your favorite leaves that capture the essence of Fall.

Happy Monday! This week I share a summer adventure with Michigan Wetlands Association into one of Michigan's rare wetland ecosystems, prairie fen at Fort Custer. Learn about the landscape setting, soils, hydrology, and flora and fauna that make this type of habitat so unique!

Mondays with Martha #223 - Rare Michigan Wetlands: Prairie Fen This week I share a summer adventure with Michigan Wetlands Association into one of Michigan's rare wetland ecosystems, prairie fen at Fort Custer. Learn abo...

Save 10% on Suet! Support fall migration with high energy suet. No coupon needed. Sale Ends Sunday Sept. 15th. While Supplies Last.
https://nature-niche.com/collections/vendors?q=Wildlife%20Sciences

Just 5 days left to vote for your favorite Midland Businesses. https://www.ourmidland.com/readerschoice/ #//

Nature Niche

Happy Monday! This week I chat with Todd Losee, President of Michigan Wetlands Association, about this organization's focus on Michigan's important wetland ecosystems and all of the great field-based, webinar, and conference learning opportunities they have to offer. Hope you are inspired to join us and get involved!

Mondays with Martha #222 - Introduction to Michigan Wetlands Association This week I chat with Todd Losee, President of Michigan Wetlands Association, about this organization's focus on Michigan's important wetland resources and a...

Happy National Hummingbird Day!! In the spirit of hummingbird education, I'm re-sharing my video on when to take hummingbird feeders down in the fall. Have a great day!

Mondays with Martha #68 - When to Remove Hummingbird & Oriole Feeders in the Fall This week I answer questions recently received from my customers about when best to pull down their hummingbird and oriole feeders in the fall. Learn how le...

Check out our test of our new Mammal Mayhem Seed Cylinders

Does Hot Pepper Bird Seed Prevent Squirrels and Raccoons? In this video we do a little test to see if hot pepper bird seed really works at preventing squirrels and raccoons from eating your seed. We tried two differ...

CANCELLED - Sorry to say this event has been cancelled!

Mingling with the Monarchs: Butterfly Tagging
Sat, September 7 • 10 am-2 pm

Come be a part of citizen science and learn about the amazing Monarch Butterfly, the only true migratory butterfly. With the cooperation of the monarchs and the weather, we will net the butterflies, give them a checkup, apply a tiny tag and then send them on their 2,000-plus mile journey to Mexico for their winter vacation. Tagged butterflies are reported to the University of Kansas, and their data helps us understand butterfly migration.

Join Denny Brooks at the Lanigan Pavilion at the Homestead Road turnaround.

FREE | All ages, under 18 w/adult

Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day! This week I'm introducing a new product line, Mammal Mayhem. Birds' pain receptors are different from those of mammals, and they are not triggered by the capsaicin in hot peppers. This product works well deterring mammals most of the time.

Mondays with Martha #221 - Introducing Mammal Mayhem Happy Labor Day! This week I'm introducing a new product line, Mammal Mayhem. Birds' pain receptors are different from those of mammals, and they are not tri...

Want some more shade and red fall color in your landscape? We have beautiful northern red oak and blackgum trees remaining in our native plant sale, plus butterfly, common, and swamp milkweed; fall blooming asters and goldenrods; and showy flowering and fruiting shrubs to support monarchs and wild birds during their migrations. Compared to yesterday's heat, the Growing Season Finale sales area is absolutely delightful today! Feel free to call us at 989-423-1477 to inquire about species availability.

Happy Monday! This week I chat with Central Michigan CISMA Coordinator Matthew Lindauer about a relatively new invasive species concern in the Midland, Michigan area, flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus). Learn how to identify this aquatic perennial plant and help aid in its control by reporting your observations! Be sure to participate in the CM-CISMA's Citizen Reporting Event over Labor Day Weekend!

Mondays with Martha #220 - Invasive Flowering Rush This week I chat with Central Michigan CISMA Coordinator Matthew Lindauer about a relatively new invasive species concern in the Midland, Michigan area, flow...

Happy Monday! This week I round out my series on native lakeshore shrubs with the small but mighty bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). This blueberry relative is a tough trailing shrub that forms a stabilizing groundcover on dry sites across a range of soil pH, supports pollinators with pollen and nectar in the spring, and provides important emergency food with its winter-persistent fruit to wildlife ranging from black bears to songbirds. Have room for this amazing plant in your yard?!

Mondays with Martha #219 - Native Lakeshore Shrubs - Bearberry This week I round out my series on native lakeshore shrubs with the small but mighty bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). This blueberry relative is a tough ...

Turtle dogs! Just love these trained canine conservationists!

LAST CALL - we still have a lot of untreated aspen wood fiber known as baled excelsior. If you need “browns” for your composting efforts, bonfire kindling, or base material for some awesome fire stater kits to give as gifts, please help yourself before 4pm tomorrow! On the east side of our building, there’s loose material underneath the plastic bags.

Want to learn more about invasive plant species and how to best manage them? Come join us tomorrow evening for this introductory class--only 3 spots left:

Registration Fee for Intro to Local Invasive Plant Species Class - 2024 Join Central Michigan CISMA Coordinator Matthew Lindauer to learn how to identify some of the most common invasives that are causing problems throughout our region and about their impacts, basic removal concepts, and additional resources and practices to help slow their spread.

Happy Monday! For my second fabulous native lakeshore shrub, I feature shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa). This uber adaptable, compact shrub puts on a multi-month floral show from late spring to early fall, supporting pollinators and adding beauty to both ecologically intact and harsh urban environments. I hope you consider incorporating it into your own native landscaping efforts!

Mondays with Martha #218 - Native Lakeshore Shrubs - Shrubby Cinquefoil For my second fabulous native lakeshore shrub, I feature shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa). This uber adaptable, compact shrub puts on a multi-month ...

It’s a beautiful morning at Dow Gardens! Join us until noon for the Viva la Pollination Event!

Looking forward to celebrating our native pollinators at this great Dow Gardens event tomorrow 10am-noon! Hope you can fly by!

Have you been wondering what plant species are growing on your property and whether they are invasive or not? Are you uncertain how to address invasive plants effectively? Then join us for this introductory class next Wednesday--only 2 spots left!
https://nature-niche.com/collections/classes/products/registration-fee-for-intro-to-local-invasive-species-class-2024

Happy Monday! This week I begin a little mini series focusing on lakeshore shrubs native to Michigan that are very adaptable to a variety of landscapes. First I feature common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), a showy summer bloomer offering great pollinator support and winter interest with its colorful textured bark and persistent winter fruit. I hope you consider incorporating it into your own native landscaping efforts!

Mondays with Martha #217 - Native Lakeshore Shrubs - Common Ninebark This week I begin a little mini series focusing on lakeshore shrubs native to Michigan that are very adaptable to a variety of landscapes. First I feature co...

As we prepare for our last native plant sale (starting August 23rd, 2024), I thought I would reshare this interview by Judy Wagley of WCMU Public Media. Hope this helps you select more native plants to feed our wild birds!

For the Birds! You can attract birds to your yard with native plants! Martha Holzheuer from Native Niche in Midland tells us how.