Events

Mitchell Swindell, of Detroit Wildflower Nursery, will begin by explaining why he started a native wildflowers nursery and how it fulfills his vision of seeing native more plants in the Detroit area.  He will share his advice on site preparation, planting considerations, plant installation, and garden maintenance. He will talk about plant selection for various types of natural landscapes by focusing on the right plant for the right place. He will also offer strategies for coping with deer and lists of deer-resistant plants.

About Our Presenter

Mitchell Swindell, born and raised in metro-Detroit and University of Michigan alumnus, has been growing native plants for nearly a decade and sharing them with others for almost as long. He is the owner of Detroit Wildflower Nursery, a backyard retail nursery located at his one-acre home in Farmington Hills, specializing in perennial wildflowers native to Michigan and the Great Lakes region. The nursery’s mission is to raise awareness, provide education, and make Michigan native plants more accessible throughout the metro-Detroit area—empowering everyone to create meaningful wildlife habitat right in their own backyards. For Mitchell, this work is about more than just gardening; it’s about restoring balance and reconnecting people with the natural world.

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

Ever wondered how YOU can contribute to real scientific research? No matter what topic you're interested in, you can turn your curiosity into action with Community Science! In this presentation, you’ll learn about the importance of this growing movement and how you can start building your knowledge and expertise, all while contributing to local and global projects–anytime and anywhere! With Community Science people of all ages and experience levels can get involved and make a difference, all while spending time outside and connecting with nature.

About our presenter

Momcat Kelly Konieczki is an outdoor educator and citizen scientist who is passionate about pollinators and environmental stewardship. She does volunteer work and outreach as Detroit Butterfly Nursery and is a SciStarter Ambassador. Kelly enjoys combining her love of art and photography to share observations of nature and help others tune into the endless relationships within the natural world. She is the Community Science Chair for Wild Ones Wayne County Chapter and also serves on Grosse Pointe Park's Beautification Commission where she leads the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, a national initiative that helps guide cities toward being more pollinator-friendly. 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!