Exciting New Plants for 2026
Linda Andriacchi has been gardening for 55+ years; She fulfilled a long time dream when she opened a Certified Proven Winners Independent Garden Center -- The Plant Connection -- in Ishpeming in 2020. Linda is the chairperson of the Ishpeming Beautification Committee creating hanging baskets with Proven Winners plants placing them throughout the streets of the City of Ishpeming creating a welcoming appearance in the City.
Linda is a former member of the Michigan Master Gardener Association board of directors, a Master Gardener for 26 years and was influential in establishing the Upper Peninsula Master Gardeners Association. She and her husband Dom live in Ishpeming where they opened their law practice in 1984, they have four children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Their son joined the practice in 2012 and they continue working with him.
Linda will speak to us about the exciting new plants that Proven Winners is introducing in 2026. Join us by clicking this link to learn more colorful ways to brighten your garden and landscape.
Annual Meeting with Lunch and Volunteer Recognition Program
Join us for an afternoon of camaraderie and great food catered by Taproot Cider House. The annual meeting features guest speaker who will be announced later.
Come enjoy time spent with fellow gardening enthusiasts. The cost for members and guests is $35 a per person. A link to sign up will be posted closer to the event.
Taproot Cider House, the event caterers, use local farm providers in building their menu. Stop back as the menu and location will all be announced later in the year.
Bonsai with Rod Kivell
Have you ever wondered how bonsai are created? Try something new and expand your understanding of the botanical world. Join us for a presentation designed for anyone who is interested in learning more about the incredible art and fascinating science of bonsai. We will explore working with Michigan native trees, evergreen, deciduous and flowering. We will wrap up with an open question and answer period. Click here to join.
About the Instructors:
This presentation will be led by Ron and Janet Kivell, members of the Sakura Bonsai Society of Northern Michigan. The Society was founded in 1990 and is comprised of atists of all ages and years of experience.
A Day of Nature, Fall Colors and Community
Location: Outdoors at the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, MI 49685
Shop native conifers (balsam fir, red cedar, red pine, white pine, and white spruce), perfect for planting in autumn! We will also offer native wildflower plugs, perennial plants, and garden kits. Visit our website for more information and pricing!
Bring the whole family for cider & donuts and pumpkin painting, and discover the beauty of the season with self-guided hikes.
The Boardman River Nature Center will also be open for you to explore from 10:00am - 2:00pm!
Whether you’re looking to enhance your backyard habitat, enjoy the autumn air, or simply spend time outdoors, join us for this fall event on the Natural Education Reserve!
Preparing Your Garden for Winter
Via Zoom. Registration Opens on September 1. Just click this link.
Although frost seems far away, it’s never too early to start thinking about how you are going to get ready for winter and next year’s growing season. Let’s reflect back on this year’s garden, talk about collecting seeds, plant and soil care for colder months, and fall clean up of vegetable and flower gardens.
Lindsey Kerr is an MSU Extension Horticulture Educator for Wayne County. She coordinates Wayne County Master Gardener classes and volunteers, and is part of a statewide team dedicated to making research-based gardening practices more accessible to the public. Lindsey works with local community members and Extension Master Gardeners on initiatives to improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge resources of MSU to individuals, communities, and businesses Prior to joining the MSU Extension, Lindsey was the garden manager for a private estate in Oakland County. She brings her vast experience in the care and maintenance of annual and perennial gardens, vegetable production, and the care of woody plants and trees.
Caring for Trees in a Changing Climate
Ever wonder how the changing climate is affecting trees? Join us on September 8, 2025, for “Caring for Trees in a Changing Climate”, presented by Forester Ellie Johnson and Arborist Bo Burke.
We will meet at the Grand Traverse Conservation District, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City, MI.
To register for this event and learn more about the presenters, click here.
Meet and Greet -Learning about local MG Projects
You’re invited to the Master Gardeners Association of Northwest Michigan’s first annual get together for members, friends and interested gardeners. This will be a casual meet and greet where new and sustaining gardeners can chat with each other and the board, learn more about the organization, share ideas for future meetings, presentations and projects and suggest ways for the organization to better serve the gardening community.
You’ll also have the opportunity to explore MGANM committees and find the one that’s right for you.
Enjoy several short presentations about our projects and the opportunities they offer members in earning volunteer hours while they educate and beautify our community.
Please join us for this chat, the presentations and some refreshments in a casual atmosphere. Friends are welcome!
Incorporating Sedges and grasses into your andscape
Tour: at the Grass Lake Nature Center, a nature preserve offering over seven miles of trails, including boardwalks through wetlands, plus a center for educational programs.
Located at: 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire, MI 49615
IPM for Home Gardens
Please join us on Tuesday May 6 at 6:30 pm for a webinar on Integrative Pest Management, presented by MSU Extension Educator Erin Lizotte. integrative Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based strategy that combines various methods to identify, manage and prevent pests and their damage, while emphasizing long-term, ecosystem-based solutions that minimize environmental and human health risks.
Erin M. Lizotte develops and conducts research and integrative crop management training programs to address the needs of Michigan agriculture industries. As the MSU Extension leader for IPM education across Michigan and the Great Lakes region, Erin procures grant funding and develops educational materials and programming. Outreach areas include emerging minor crops, novice farmers, and IPM with special emphasis on web-based content including webinars and self-driven.
The webinar will be on Zoom. To join the meeting follow this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88153166563?pwd=69sepbsaCYWZ0KC7slbtDzSCoJRq1T.1
Meeting ID: 881 5316 6563
Passcode: 976296
The Importance of Soil
Thanks for your interest. This session is filled. Check out the rest of the calendar for future events.
"Soil is not dirt! Soil is our life support system. It is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, living organisms and water that are vital for healthy plant growth, human nutrition, and regulation of the Earth’s climates. As one of the most significant components of the earth’s ecosystem, human life without soil would be very difficult. Productive and healthy soil is a key to environmental sustainability and helps in the creation of a healthier world." (Source: https://theimportantsite.com/reasons-why-soil-is-important/)
This overview will help you better understand about the various components that make soil and how important it is in providing a healthy environment so for plants and vegetables can grow and handle pests. Learn about the soil in Northwest Michigan and the ways to improve it. Also tour the TC Community Garden located next to the Botanic Garden
John Caravetta received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Soil and Crop Science from Purdue University in Indiana. After graduation, John joined the Indiana Cooperative Extension Service as an Agricultural Extension Agent in northeast
Indiana. John's experience beyond his time in Extension includes technical and management positions with a global agricultural chemical manufacturer, and, before retiring to the Traverse City area in late 2020, John served 22 years as Associate Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture. John is currently a Consulting Agronomist volunteering with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and other local organizations.
This event is held at the TC Community Garden. The garden is fenced, so please close the gates after you enter. We will meet at the large shed.
Wild About Backyard Conservation
Via Zoom
We will be discussing the basic steps for conservation planning on your property, no matter what the size of it is. Whether you have a large piece of property or a small piece of property, some of that planning is similar to landscape planning, instead of just planning for beauty, for our own enjoyment, we’ll be incorporating things that will be attractive to native species and how we can prevent the spread of Invasives.
Winter Sowing
Winter Sowing is a gardening technique where we plant seeds outdoors during the winter using recycled plastic jugs. Join Shelly Stusick for a MGANM members-only Winter Sowing Workshop. Did you know that most native plant seeds need a period of cold and moist conditions to trigger germination. You can satisfy your urge to garden in winter by sowing native seeds in containers.
Attendees will learn about the importance of native plants, experiment with the process of cold-stratifying native wildflower seeds in containers, and create two containers to take home and overwinter until Spring. This method mimics nature and helps seeds along, especially seeds that need cold stratification to germinate. This is a hands on class and takes place at the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Ave. Traverse City.
Please bring with you:
1 gallon milk jug
garden gloves
a pen/pencil to take notes
your own seeds - if you want. We will also be providing seeds
MGANM will provide:
seeds
soil
duct tape
scissors
UV pen
