“As the community of Grayling grows, so should these special native plant populations." - Amanda Vanaman, Community Project Manager

Huron Pines led the effort in May 2024 to establish a native plant garden at the Crawford County Commission on Aging (CCCOA). The project was one of many completed in Grayling that spring as part of the Michigan AmeriCorps’ Russ Mawby Signature Service Project, a statewide community service event. Huron Pines AmeriCorps members, working alongside volunteers and community partners, cleared trails at the Grayling School Forest, removed litter from nearby public lands, painted bridges and picnic tables at the Grayling Fish Hatchery, expanded the community garden and installed this native garden at the newly built CCCOA building.

To create the garden, volunteers worked the soil, scattered native seeds and installed over 300 native plants including wild bergamot (bee balm), yarrow, purple love grass, June grass, western sunflower, common milkweed and others. With time, these seeds and plugs will develop into a lush, prairie-like garden, attracting wild pollinators like monarch butterflies, bumble bees, beetles and a host of other beneficial insects. Once established, this site will also be a source of native seed which volunteers will collect in the fall from spent plants to be propagated and planted the following spring. Taking care to use plants and seeds from natural native gardens keeps local plant genetics strong. Many of these species were once common throughout Michigan but now can only be found in more remote areas. Working with community institutions such as the Commission on Aging to promote native plants and educate the public on the importance of biodiversity helps ensure Michigan’s native species can thrive.

This project was made possible with the support of the Michigan Community Service Commission, Crawford County Commission on Aging, and Birdsfoot Native Nursery. To learn more about volunteering to help with projects like this, visit our volunteer page.