April 2018
Railroad Point, Beulah Photo by: Katie Grzesiak
Invasive Species Network News

 

The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network works directly with over 40 partners in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Manistee counties. Our mission is to  protect, enhance, and promote northwest Michigan's natural communities through terrestrial invasive plant management and outreach.

In this month's issue you will find information on the availability of dumpsters dedicated to garlic mustard disposal and details on ISN's papermaking event featuring artist Jane Kramer. The field season is upon us as well so be sure to check out additional upcoming ISN and partner events! 

As always, please contact ISN if you have any questions regarding identification, treatment, or upcoming events. You can also report plant sightings to the  Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN).

Yours in Conservation,

In This Edition:
VolOpps2Volunteer Opportunities & Upcoming Events

April Events

Where: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 I 6:00pm-8:00pm
Where:  Boardman River Nature Center
Guest Speaker:
Tom Ford, "Creating a Wildlife Friendly Backyard"

Planning your spring garden
When: Saturday, April 28 | 10:00am-noon

May Events
 
Garlic Mustard Workbee and lunch - Benzie County
When:  Friday, May 11, 2018 | 9:00am-noon
Where:  Frankfort (Tank Hill) | Meeting Place: First Congregational Church

Garlic Mustard Workbee and lunch - Grand Traverse County
When:  Saturday, May 12, 2018 | 9:00am-noon 
Where:  Natural Education Reserve (Oleson Bridge Trail Head)
Meet at the Boardman River Nature Center and then we can car-pool to the workbee location.

When:  Friday, May 18, 2018 - 9:00am-noon 
Where:  Magoon Creek  |  Meeting place: First United Methodist Church

When:  Saturday, May 19, 2018 - 9:00am-noon
Where:  Clay Cliffs Natural Area | Meeting place: Leland Public Library 

When:  Thursday,  May 31, 2018 | 10:00am - noon
Location:  Elberta beach

 
Visit our events page to add other ISN events to your calendar.
For more information on all ISN and partner-hosted events, including how to RSVP,  please visit our website .

GMD
Dumpsters Available for
 Invasive Species Disposal

The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN) is happy to announce that there will be dumpsters available in Benzie, Leelanau, and Manistee Counties for community members to use for the disposal of invasive garlic mustard. 

Community members are encouraged to remove garlic mustard where possible and dispose of them at any of these sites. When dropping off your bagged garlic mustard, there will be signs on the dumpsters requesting you answer a short survey about the garlic mustard and where it came from. This survey is accessible through a QR code app on a smartphone or you may call the phone number provided. This information is invaluable to the work ISN and other organizations do involving invasive species. 

ISN was awarded a  Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant (administered by the US Forest Service), which provides $1,000 to go toward the dumpsters as a cost-share. Benzie Lake Township, Leelanau Conservancy, the City of Frankfort,  Manistee Conservation District, and the  Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network have been generous enough to host the dumpsters and cover any additional costs and organization. ISN truly appreciates their efforts-Thank you!

The dumpsters will be in place during May and June, although the time-frame may vary slightly with individual hosts. See more details below.

Clay Cliffs garlic mustard workbee 2016

Dumpster Locations:

Benzie Lake Township: Township Hall | Benzie County | May, June

City of Frankfort: Location TBD | Benzie County | May, June

NW MI Invasive Species Network: Grand Traverse Conservation District/Boardman River Nature Center parking lot | May, June

Leelanau Conservancy: Clay Cliffs parking lot | Leelanau County | May 18th - June 8th

Manistee Conservation District: Manistee Conservation District parking lot | Manistee County | May, June


These dumpsters are for invasive species disposal ONLY. Garlic mustard MUST be bagged and is NOT to be pulled once it has gone to seed. Transporting the plant once it's in seed GREATLY increases the risk of spread. 
PM
Invasive Species Papermaking with Jane Kramer
Join ISN for a presentation and class in June
Gallery Opening and Presentation
Friday, June 1st, 6:30-7:45pm
Boardman River Nature Center

Arrive before the presentation, which starts at 7:00pm, to browse Jane's art which will be on display at the Boardman River Nature Center. Meet the artist, enjoy some food, and learn about the process of collecting invasive species, turning plant biomass into pulp and paper, and photographing the shadows of endangered plant species. The presentation will also include a demo of an alcohol gel transfer onto invasive plant species paper.

This event is open to the public and entirely free. 
Garlic Mustard Papermaking Class
Saturday, June 2nd, 10:00am-12:00pm
Boardman River Nature Center

Take part in a papermaking class, led by Jane Kramer, to see the process first-hand! Each participant will take home a piece of archival-level paper they made themselves. Class space is very limited and filling up quickly. To see availability and to register, please visit our website. The cost is $10.00 per person and the class is capped at ten people. 

For more information on either event, please contact ISN Outreach Specialist, Emily Cook - (231)941-0960 x20 or ecook@gtcd.org
gbbGo Beyond Beauty

For many people, a garden's purpose begins and ends with beauty. However, we believe it is possible to create beautiful spaces that transcend beauty alone. Did you know that many of the plants that are most invasive in local natural areas originally arrived as ornamental garden plants? You can prevent the introduction and spread of invasives by purchasing plants at local nurseries and through landscapers that have committed to not selling high-threat invasive ornamental plants. Additionally, commit to not using invasives in your own landscape. Let's make Northwest Michigan an example of natural beauty, wildlife habitat, healthy waters, and bountiful gardens that inspires across the state of Michigan... and beyond!

We invite all nurseries, landscapers, businesses, organizations, and concerned landowners that are located in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Manistee Counties to participate in Go Beyond 
Beauty.  Contact us or  visit our website for details.

FB
fbFind ISN on Instagram and Facebook!

Help the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network get seen and heard-follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 

Social media is a great way to share with our friends and family. Let them know your interest in ISN by following us and liking our pages. The more you get involved with ISN and our social media, the more your friends and family will learn about why and how habitat matters. Sharing posts from our page is also a great way to get others around you to see what ISN is up to and to further educate them on topics such as invasive species and habitat.

Thanks for your support!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWMISN/
               Instagram: NW MI Invasive Species Network
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