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SCOTTVILLE — The Mason-Lake Conservation District will hold a native plant sale, giving homeowners an opportunity to buy perennial, native wildflowers and grasses that can be used in ornamental gardens or natural areas to add beauty and biodiversity.
Native plants provide healthier, more nutrient-rich food sources and suitable nesting habitat for wildlife such as birds and small mammals, as well as pollinator species like butterflies, moths, leafhoppers and others. As they are native, or naturally growing, in our area, these plants are well-adapted to our soils and climate. This means that they generally require much less watering and maintenance once they are established.
“Native plant species also offer environmental benefits that aren’t always seen,” said Dani McGarry, executive director of the Conservation District. “In addition to the wildlife benefits, many of our native species help to improve soil quality as well. They are much deeper rooted than something like a turf grass, and those deep roots can help to curb erosion by holding soil in place. Likewise, they are more robust plants, so can take up more water and help to slow or filter rain run-off near buildings or drainage areas.”
Over 30 varieties of plants will be sold in several sizes and quantities; individual plants in quart-size pots; single species plugs in flats of 38 total plants; garden kits of 38 plugs; and beachgrass (also known as dunegrass) which will be sold bare-root in bundles of 100 or 500.
“The garden kits are a really fun option, because it is a ready-made garden with a planting plan,” said McGarry. “We work with a wholesale supplier, Birdsfoot Nursery, and they do a great job putting the garden species together. You’ll have the right plants for a specific habitat and enough species variety that something will always be blooming.”
Garden kit options include butterfly garden, shoreline, rain garden and semi-shade garden.
To see some example plants in person, prior to placing an order, one only needs to stop by the Conservation District office, 655 N. Scottville Rd.
“Last year, staff replaced the non-native landscaping with native wildflowers and they are now full size and in full bloom,” McGarry said. “Two sides of the building were planted using plugs and another side was planting using seed, to demonstrate the difference in appearance and maintenance.”
The Conservation District is currently accepting pre-orders through Thursday, August 15 and plants can be picked up September 14, 2 to 6 p.m. at the district’s booth at Scottville Fall Celebration in downtown Scottville. The only items that will not be available for pick up at that time will be beachgrass plants, which the district will harvest and make available in October.
For species lists, further information or to place an order, call the Conservation District at (231) 757-3707 ext. 5 or visit www.mason-lakeconservation.org
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