Events

Over the past 38 years, the Wildflower Association of Michigan (WAM) has presented the annual Michigan Native Plant Conference at the Kellogg Convention Center in East Lansing Michigan. This conference has presented timely, actionable, and fascinating information about native plants, habitats, landscape design, wildlife, invasive controls, and much more.  Our 2025 conference will continue in that vein with the theme “If You Plant It, They Will Come.” Our presenters will focus on the role native plants play in establishing and supporting biodiversity in our world.

This year, we are offering two days of learning and fun.  On Saturday, March 1, we are holding a hands-on seminar titled “How and Why Natives – Getting Started “. This two-hour program will give those new to the native plant movement practical knowledge and insights on how to establish native plants on their properties. It will be run by two very experienced and knowledgeable people who will present techniques and answer questions. This seminar runs from 2 to 4 pm and is free with conference registration. Click here for details. Space is limited so sign up early.

After the seminar, we will present a Poster Session which is a presentation of current research into the native plant field by university students, conservation districts, and WAM Grant winners. Not only is it a wonderful opportunity to learn the newest thinking in the field, but it will also provide networking opportunities. The Poster Session is open to everyone and runs from 6 to 8 pm on Saturday, March 1. Appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

On Sunday, March 2, our Michigan Native Plant Conference will begin. We will offer a light breakfast starting at 8:00 am. Our keynote speaker will begin at 9:00 am followed by breakout sessions so attendees can select the session most interesting to them. Of course, a delicious lunch will be served and there will be an array of vendors selling artwork, jewelry, books, and more. During lunch, we will present the WAM Grant winners. These are non-profit organizations that will be using funds from our generous members and donors to create, install, and maintain native plant gardens throughout the state. We will also learn about a particularly insidious invasive plant called Lesser Celandine by the WAM president, Caroline Miller.

Our last event is the Annual WAM Board meeting. Plan to drop by and meet the board members and learn how the WAM organization is run. We value ideas and suggestions from our members.

To encourage year-long learning all registrants will receive invitations to watch three webinars featuring professional presentations on the relationships between native plant ecosystems and the enhanced biodiversity they provide.

Conference Pricing

We offer three levels of pricing. Every person who registers will have access to our Saturday seminar (space is limited, register early), the poster session, the full conference with food service and the webinar series.

Non-Members $130
WAM Members $100
Students $30

Conference Agenda

KEYNOTE SPEAKER is Dr. Todd Crail, PhD, a University Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Toledo. He is an ecologist and naturalist covering broad topics from non-game fish and mussels to landscape management. His focus is fostering undergraduate student engagement through field experiences both on campus and in the local community to solve local environmental issues. He works to employ inquiry and project-based learning through informal classroom environments to maximize the student’s experience.

He will present Plants, People, and Perseverance: Incorporating Native Plantings in Urban Environments – Greening Toledo Through Service.  Greening Toledo Through Service (GUTS) is a student-led project that works to increase native plantings on the Main Campus of the University of Toledo. Student employees convert turf to prairie, implement formal garden projects, and support these efforts through greenhouse cultivation of plant material. Much of the work is facilitated through service-learning opportunities where students experience real-life applications of what they have covered in class. In 2022-2024, GUTS facilitated 1000 student volunteer hours (600 for credit, 400 completely voluntary each year) to grow and plant ~20,000 native plant plugs. We will discuss what we’ve learned along the way about plants, people, and perseverance.

To view the detailed conference agenda, please click here.