Wild Ones West Michigan Shore-to-Prairie is the local chapter of the non-profit Wild Ones Natural Landscapers. This tri-county group of enthusiasts is looking to build a community of gardeners and landscapers to help restore native plants across Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana Counties.
“Native plants have a naturally beautiful quality about them,” said acting President Connie Crancer, a native plant specialist. “They’re hardy, rewarding to grow and provide a multitude of beneficial impacts. Native plants help protect and restore biodiversity, improve air and water quality and provide wildlife with quality food and shelter. Wild Ones West Michigan Shore-to-Prairie envision native plants and natural landscapes in every community. Our goal is to encourage gardeners to consider incorporating native species into their gardens and landscapes.”
The local Wild Ones chapter will offer gardeners and landscapers the camaraderie of working together, teaching and sharing expertise within the three counties. Presentations, field trips and hands-on activities are scheduled monthly throughout the year, rotating within the three counties. January’s program will include an introduction to the Wild Ones West Michigan Shore-to-Prairie chapter and a brief tutorial about seed stratification, including a take-home project.
This inaugural program will be held in each of the three counties, running from 10 a.m. to noon each of those Saturdays. The first program will be Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 at the Oceana Conservation District in Shelby, followed by Jan. 24, 2026 at the Muskegon Conservation District in Twin Lake and Jan. 31, 2026 at Fremont Area Public Library in Fremont. All subsequent gatherings will be held the third Saturday of each month.
In February, participants will view two short films from Michigan State University, including "Smart Reasons to Choose Native" and "Matching Native Plants to Your Yard’s Needs." This program will be held at the Oceana Conservation District in Shelby on Feb. 21, beginning at 10 a.m. Nancy Roggers will explain why to "Plant This, Not That," March 21 at the Muskegon Conservation District office in Twin Lake. Roggers' presentation introduces people to a number of native Michigan species that can be a replacement for typical non-native, and often invasive, ornamentals.
Rounding out the spring programming will be an April 18 webinar, "Next Steps for Nature," featuring Doug Tallamy. Tallamy is a speaker and proponent of using native species for gardening and landscaping to support native insect species, which in turn support birds. He is the founder of the Home Grown National Park Program. This program is offered at the Fremont Public Library beginning at 10 a.m.
Native plants are sustainable and are adapted to thrive in a specific region’s soil and weather conditions. Since many native plants are deep-rooted, they sequester carbon and work to slow stormwater runoff, reducing erosion and improving water quality by filtering out excess nutrients. Native plants create wildlife habitat and need no fertilizer or extra watering once established. They act as natural pest controls, reduce the need for pesticides and many are deer resistant. Critically, native plants provide quality food and shelter for birds and wildlife and are a source of pollen and nectar for butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
