Amy Lipson, LTC Conservation Specialist, and her husband Joe Lipson, owner of Mycotorphy LLC (a local business offering guided mushrooming adventures) will co-lead a foraging adventure to look for interesting fungi, and maybe even find some choice edibles! This mushroom hike will be primarily an on-trail guided walk. If there are not many mushrooms out due to dry weather, we will shift to a standard nature hike. Hopefully we will have good mushroom weather and be able to find lots of honey-mushrooms! ADDRESS: 10251 Brutus Road, Brutus

Please register for this free event hosted by the Little Traverse Conservancy at https://landtrust.org/events-template/mushrooming-with-amy-and-joe-lipson-4/

We will meet at the Boyne City Veteran’s Park pavilion and take a short walk to Sunset Park to see the Shoreline Greenbelt Demonstration Garden. Gow Litzenburger, and NMMGA members Mike Costa and Nancy Cunningham, will talk about the design and planning of this garden – which now enhances both the ecological resilience and visual charm of the shoreline. This garden works to filter runoff, prevent erosion, and protect the health of Lake Charlevoix’s watershed.

1. Shoreline Greenbelt Demonstration Gardens on Lake Charlevoix shore in Sunset Park in Boyne City. The address for Sunset Park is 8 S. Lake Street. Here are the directions. This garden was revitalized in 2025 thanks to the leadership of NMMGA member Mike Costa, who organized and led this effort with incredible dedication, and the generous contributions of Ryan’s Landscape, NMMGA Nancy Cunningham, Gow Litzenburger, the City of Boyne City, the Wood Shop, and our amazing volunteers, the gardens have been beautifully renewed. Through thoughtful replanting with native species, this refreshed space now enhances both the ecological resilience and visual charm of the shoreline—helping to filter runoff, prevent erosion, and protect the health of Lake Charlevoix’s watershed

2. As long as you are in Boyne City, take a short drive to the The Rain Garden of the Boyne River Nature Area which is nestled at the back of the Boyne City Business Park off M-75. Click for directions. The BRNA features a rain garden, a pavilion and a scenic trail leading to steps that descend to three boardwalks, allowing visitors to experience the wetland habitat up close as they make their way to the river. Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Trail was added in 2026. This permanent kid-friendly nature walk designed to teach youngsters about native plants and local wildlife. Follow the signs along the path to hunt for specific natural items.

3. Established in 2014 by Friends of the Boyne River, the Boyne River Nature Area was created to showcase the beauty of the river and surrounding wetlands and educate visitors on the vital role wetlands play in our ecosystem. This project was made possible through the generous support of the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Frey Foundation, Oleson Foundation, Great Lakes Energy People Fund, the City of Boyne City, and an anonymous private donor. A recent addition to this garden is a scavenger hunt for plants. Find the seven plants and take a picture of each. Send th

Stay connected with the latest monarch conservation topics by attending our free monthly online webinars. The Monarch Conservation Webinar Series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs.

All webinars are one hour long and start at 1:00 PM Central Time. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change.

Sign up once (with only 1 ticket) and attend the webinars that you are interested in. No need to sign up each month. This event is FREE. Donations are not expected but very appreciated.

All webinars are recorded and available to view on the MJV webinar archive page.

Waldron Fen is a well-known destination for birding, and this should be prime time to catch the migration of warblers on their route to their southern homes.  Quinn will share his wealth of knowledge about our winged friends! ADDRESS: 9417 Banwell Road, Alanson

Register for this free event hosted by Little Traverse Conservancy at https://landtrust.org/events-template/warbler-walk-with-quinn-sommer/

This class is at the North Central Michigan College Health & Science Building room 335. Fall is a great time to start planning out your garden beds for spring and for establishing perennials in the soil to make a perfect pollinator garden! In this class, participants will learn about the importance of pollinator species, their roles in the natural world, and how best to plant a nourishing garden that supports pollinator lifecycles. The instructor will discuss how to incorporate native plants into landscaping designs, planting tips and tricks, and the basics of how to manage pollinator-friendly habitats in your backyard. 

Instructor: Lauri Juday

No one works harder than Lauri Juday of Walloon Lake to nurture and protect Monarch butterflies and other pollinator species. Last fall, she was awarded the Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc., President’s Award for “Monarch Butterfly Protection.” She has extensive knowledge of pollinators and has been a guest speaker and lecturer on Monarch butterfly and other conservation efforts across Northern Michigan. 

To register for this class: https://www.ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-6736985

Meet at the Heritage Village Pavilion, Mackinaw City
Join us for “Conservation After Hours!” This partnership event with Greater Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce, Little Traverse Conservancy, Mackinaw Area Historical Society, and Headlands International Dark Sky Park will begin at Heritage Village near the pavilion (ample parking is available). A Conservancy guide will offer a hike along the Tip of the Mitt Trail to Little Traverse Conservancy’s Hathaway property, and back, where there will be snacks and refreshments at the Heritage Village Pavilion. Afterward, at 8pm, participants are invited to continue for the Headlands Full Moon Hike, which the Headlands team will lead participants down the Frog Pond trail/Tip of the Mitt trail under the light of the full moon. Address to Heritage Village:  1425 W Central Ave, Mackinaw City

Register for this free event at https://landtrust.org/events-template/tip-of-the-mitt-trail-hike-and-full-moon-walk-at-the-headlands/

This $40 class is held at North Central Michigan College at the Health & Science Building room 333. To register for the class go to https://www.ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-6778392

Transform Your Garden This Autumn! Set up for success in 2027

Who says gardening is just for spring and summer? Autumn is bursting with possibilities, and it’s a great time to make improvements for next year. Dive into the vibrant world of fall gardening, where you’ll discover how to turn this often-overlooked season into your ultimate secret weapon for a stunning, year-round landscape.

In this energizing class, you’ll unlock pro tips and creative strategies to prepare and elevate your garden—not just for winter, but to set the stage for breathtaking spring blooms and lush summer growth next year. Get ready to maximize your outdoor space with color, texture, and all-season interest!

Topics include:

Fall Maintenance

• What & how to prune

• What to protect & how to overwinter your most prized plantings

• Planning for next year

What to plant now

• Leveraging hearty shrubs as an alternative to flowers

• Using leaf color and texture in lieu of flowers

• Winter interest – plantings for all seasons

• Planting now for spring surprises

Fearless with Bulbs, Tubers & Rhizomes

• Understanding their growth habits & know the difference

• How & where to use them

• How to manage/split & store them

Online via Zoom with recordings available for registrants two weeks after airing.

This FREE class is only for certified Extension Master Gardener volunteers.

Join MSU Extension Consumer Horticulture staff for this year-long series of 1-hour presentations. Each online class includes an exciting educational topic that counts towards your EMG continuing education. Register once for the entire series. To register go to this link: https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=5FE0BCA45C0054B52066DD1D23ED47C5EDC34155B1FAD56DC581C3C4977A3B5B

This month’s topis is Horticultural Horrors: Tales of Plants, Pests, and Poor Decisions presented by Barbara Gregerson, Barslund Judd, and Lindsey Kerr - Consumer Horticulture, MSU Extension

Join MSU Extension Educators for a fun look at the dark side of gardening! Cringe as they share a collection of downright disturbing photographs of pruning blunders, disfiguring plant diseases, terrifying invasive species, and more. Treat yourself to an evening of learning tricks and tips to keep your own garden from becoming a horror show.

Join LTC environmental education staff at the Charlevoix Public Library for an evening exploring what is actually happening inside a tree when northern Michigan turns color. Fall foliage is one of the most visible biological events of the year, yet the mechanisms driving it are surprisingly little discussed. We’ll look at why some years blaze more brilliantly than others, and what soil, moisture, and temperature have to do with it. This all-ages program is designed for anyone who has ever pulled over on a northern Michigan road in October and wanted to understand what they were actually seeing.. Charlevoix Public Library address: 222 Clinton Street, Charlevoix

Please register for this free event at https://landtrust.org/events-template/wild-wednesday-leaves-changing-photoperiod-tree-biology/

Explore the preserve and discover the fascinating fungi found in Northern Michigan forests and the ecological roles they play. This free event hosted by Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy is at the Wildwood Harbor Nature Area 3899 Wildwood Harbor Road, Boyne City.

Please register at https://www.walloon.org/event/wander-walloon-guided-mushroom-foray/#rsvp-now

Stay connected with the latest monarch conservation topics by attending our free monthly online webinars. The Monarch Conservation Webinar Series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs.

All webinars are one hour long and start at 1:00 PM Central Time. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change.

Sign up once (with only 1 ticket) and attend the webinars that you are interested in. No need to sign up each month. This event is FREE. Donations are not expected but very appreciated.

All webinars are recorded and available to view on the MJV webinar archive page.

Online via Zoom with recordings available for registrants two weeks after airing.

This FREE class is only for certified Extension Master Gardener volunteers.

Join MSU Extension Consumer Horticulture staff for this year-long series of 1-hour presentations. Each online class includes an exciting educational topic that counts towards your EMG continuing education. Register once for the entire series. To register go to this link: https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=5FE0BCA45C0054B52066DD1D23ED47C5EDC34155B1FAD56DC581C3C4977A3B5B

This month’s topis is Michigan Natural Features Inventory and their Resources for Michiganders presented by Joshua Cohen, Senior Conservation Scientist for Michigan Natural Features Inventory, MSU Extension  
Join MSU Extension's Senior Conservations Scientist, Joshua Cohen, to learn about the interesting and important work the Michigan National Features Inventory (MNFI) team does to guide the conservation of Michigan's biodiversity. Their mission is to serve as the authoritative source of information on biodiversity that is widely used to conserve Michigan's unique natural heritage for current and future generations. Joshua will discuss MNFI resources for the public, including his work creating 'A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan.’

Details to come soon! Save the date for our annual meeting and holiday luncheon

The topic for this session will be posted as soon as we know what it is! Stay connected with the latest monarch conservation topics by attending our free monthly online webinars. The Monarch Conservation Webinar Series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs.

All webinars are one hour long and start at 1:00 PM Central Time. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change.

Sign up once (with only 1 ticket) and attend the webinars that you are interested in. No need to sign up each month. This event is FREE. Donations are not expected but very appreciated.

All webinars are recorded and available to view on the MJV webinar archive page.

The topic for this session will be posted as soon as we know what it is! Stay connected with the latest monarch conservation topics by attending our free monthly online webinars. The Monarch Conservation Webinar Series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs.

All webinars are one hour long and start at 1:00 PM Central Time. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change.

Sign up once (with only 1 ticket) and attend the webinars that you are interested in. No need to sign up each month. This event is FREE. Donations are not expected but very appreciated.

All webinars are recorded and available to view on the MJV webinar archive page.