Stories from Matthaei-Nichols

The University of Michigan, in collaboration with the College of Menominee Nation, is set to play a pivotal role in the newly announced National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science (CBIKS): a five-year, $30 million...

Our Great Lakes Garden is awash in yellows and purples of goldenrod and liatris, both of which have been providing many nectaring opportunities for our pollinator friends.   The Herb Knott Garden has blooming allium, dill, and great blue lobelia, to name a few.   The...

Cooperation is often valued as the key to success in many human endeavors and now perhaps insect endeavors too, thanks to new research at the University of Michigan. Wasps aren’t the first critters that usually come to mind when one pictures a prosocial insect, but...

Last week our beloved Nichols Arboretum was impacted by intense storms that swept through our region. As the Director of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, I feel it is essential to reach out to you and provide an update on the situation.

Calla Butler (she/her/hers) is a dedicated Native Plant Gardens Technician at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. Calla's daily tasks encompass a variety of responsibilities, from planting and removing invasives to collecting seeds and working alongside...

One of the most effective ways to directly benefit our local bird populations is through the thoughtful planting of native plants and the restoration of natural areas. When we choose to incorporate native plants into our yards and green spaces, we are providing essential resources and habitats for our feathered friends and other wildlife. The implications of such choices can be profound, as these plants serve as vital hubs for biodiversity, nurturing a complex web of life.

By adding native plants back to urban landscapes, private landowners can make a difference and help restore native ecosystems. The Great Lakes Gardens are a testament to the impact that native plants have even in a single plot of land. There, myriad butterfly, moth, fly, and bee species flit from flower to flower. “The insects just showed up. We did not introduce any insects,” said Kost. “It really shows you that if you plant it, they will come.”

Great Lakes Garden Edition The Great Lakes Garden is embracing July with all its colors.  There are blooms, bees, and butterflies all around the garden as pollinators visit the space to enjoy the native plants.Dasiphora fruticosa Calopogon tuberosusPrickly PearCommon...

The research is a race against the spread of HWA, which has steadily progressed eastward since it was first discovered in Richmond, Virginia. The bug is already present in some western counties in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and was recently discovered in the Nichols Arboretum. Although Cernak and Kannan see potential in the molecular arsenal of hemlock species from Asia, they caution that it will take years before they can develop insecticides that specifically target HWA, and Cernak worries that HWA could harm ecologically and culturally important hemlock stands in Michigan before they can develop more precise insecticides.