Wild Ones Wayne County Michigan Chapter

10/11/2026

WOWC had a great time this afternoon assisting the Schoolcraft Environment Club in resurrecting a Monarch Waystation in Clement Circle Park. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aMjTr81Hr/

10/05/2026

This article describes a very cool restoration project that’s happening in Ann Arbor. As from the project itself, I’m interested in knowing how all the groups originally came together to make this happen. Who originally conceived this idea and how were the other groups brought in. That’s a story in itself!

The team will hold an educational walk this Saturday, October 10th, at 11:00 a.m. to learn about Mill Creek Park’s ecosystem and restoration efforts at the site. Mill Creek Park South’s planned restoration project is officially underway and visible to pedestrians along the Mill Creek Trail. The ...

10/03/2026

Keep Growing Detroit's 5th Annual Fall Native Plant Market was held today, and what a beautiful day for for one of the final plant sales of the season! Many of the local providers were there, including Michiganense Natives and Friends of the Rouge. I had great conversations with both groups!

10/03/2026

With three months left, the Sibley Save Sibley Prairie Coalition is still a bit short. If you can help, please donate! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19mEGBkgPS/

SIBLEY PRAIRIE UPDATE: A CLARION CALL - Please Share

September 1, 2026

Dear Supporter,

We now have three months to raise the remaining funds needed to Save Sibley Prairie!

Just one year ago, saving Sibley Prairie seemed like a daunting challenge. Today, we believe that we have a clear path to success. But with only three months remaining, we must now focus on two critical priorities to ensure that we can purchase this remarkable 440 acres of Sibley Prairie by December.

THIS IS OUR CLARION CALL.

1. HELP US REACH $1 MILLION IN INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS.

Our goal is to raise a total of $1 million from individual donors. We have already raised $730,000, which means we have $270,000 to go.

That is a significant amount—but it is absolutely within reach.

Please consider making a donation if you are able--or an additional one. (Donate at SaveSibleyPrairie.org or mail a check to Michigan Land Conservancy, 10325 Cherry Hill Rd, Superior Township MI 49198.) And, just as importantly, please spread the word. Encourage your friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues to contribute.

If we can reach $1 million in individual donations, we believe we will have the flexibility needed to cover any remaining shortfall from our other fundraising efforts.

2. HELP US SECURE AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN LOANS.

If the full $6 million purchase price is not raised by December, we plan to finance any remaining shortfall with one-year bridge loans.

These loans would be repaid when the anticipated $5 million grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is received by Brownstown Township, which we expect will occur later in 2027.

We are exploring other financing options as well, but personal loans from supporters may provide the most certain path to ensuring that we can complete the purchase on time.

If you might be in a position to provide a larger loan, please contact me directly. Even if you are simply interested in learning more about how this would work, I would be happy to talk with you.

The Fundraising Committee of the Save Sibley Prairie Coalition will continue our intensive outreach to foundations, corporations, and major donors. And if you are in a position to make a six- or seven-figure donation, please know that your gift could be the one that puts us over the top—and could create a lasting legacy by helping preserve Sibley Prairie forever.

Thank you, so much, for your extraordinary support. We still have much work to do but, for the first time, we can clearly see the finish line.

Please help us reach our goal. With your help, we can protect Sibley Prairie—forever.

As we’ve said all along:

TOGETHER, we can Save Sibley Prairie!

With deepest gratitude,

Jack Smiley
President, Michigan Land Conservancy
[email protected]

for the Save Sibley Prairie Coalition
SaveSibleyPrairie.org

09/26/2026

Earlier today, Lisa Denys and I were graciously invited to Ann Arbor Wild Ones member Debra MacGregor's residence in Plymouth to view the absolutely beautiful native gardens that she created over +30 years! This is how you do it!
It was amazing to listen to Debra as she told stories of many of her plants, as well as the garden art she as collected over the +30 years that complemented her gardens perfectly and seemed to tie the elements of each garden together. Honestly, Lisa and I spent as much time taking photos of the garden art as we did the plants. It was a great way to spend the morning! Oh, before I forget, check out the photo of the stand of Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) in her backyard, Debra shared that that plant was over 30 years old!

Debra MacGregor, thank you for hosting us, and thank you Loris Damerow for arranging the visit!