The Michigan Wildflower Conference is open to all who are interested in Michigan native plants and their habitats. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., refreshments provided.
A concurrent Educators Workshop Sunday, March 8, is on developing native outdoor education habitats. A wide variety of vendors will offer high quality arts and crafts, books, photographs and original paintings. The many exhibits will bring educational information about native habitats.

Here is the tentative schedule and fees for the 2009 conference. The 2009 conference registration form is available here.

Sunday, March 8
7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Kellogg Center, Big Ten Wing
Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. in the Red Cedar Room
Refreshments provided.

Educators’ Workshop sessions:
As part of its commitment to education, the Wildflower Association of Michigan is pleased to offer its annual workshop for teachers and educators to develop outdoor learning sites using native plants. School sites provide unique advantages to get children outdoors, reducing the need for travel and increasing hands-on learning. The development of outdoor learning sites continues to grow on a national basis and will continue to be an important component in connecting children to the outdoors.

The morning program will provide educators direction on how to approach a school project by giving tips on identifying appropriate sites and selecting plants. Presentations will include examples of projects, lessons and activities that can be used on site.
Time is scheduled after lunch for participants to ask questions specific to their project or school’s site. To facilitate this discussion, we ask that you bring an aerial photo (if available) or a diagram of the school grounds.

Please join us in this exciting program about an innovative way for teachers and educators to “leave no child inside”. Ray Rustem, program chairman, WAM Director

General sessions:
Morning speakers: Dr. Douglas Tallamy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and Author of the book, Bringing Nature Home, How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in our Gardens speaking on Building a Butterfly Garden.

Kay Charter, Executive Director of Saving Birds Thru Habitat and WAM grant recipient, on Breakfast for Birds: The Importance of Native Plants to Native Birds

Dr. Scott Herron, Ferris State University, Biology Dept., Wild Rice RestorationProject

Grant Awards luncheon:
Vegetarian meals available
Project presentations and WAM/Glassen grant awards by Robert Krueger, Ph D., WAM Director.

Afternoon concurrent sessions:

Mark Carlson/Bob Grzesiak, Great Lakes Photo Tours, Wildflower Photo Workshop

Anton Reznicek, Ph.D. , University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Asters and Goldenrods

Ryan O’Connor, Conservation Scientist, MNFI, Oak Ecosystems

Melanie Good, Stewardship Coordinator, Land Conservancy of West Michigan, The Effect of Invasive Species on Nature’s Web

Evening program (open to all):
WAM annual meeting with election of board members

Monday, March 9
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Kellogg Center, Big Ten Wing
Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. in the Red Cedar Room
Refreshments provided.

General Sessions:
Morning Concurrent Sessions:
.
TBA

David Karowe, Ph.D. , Associate Professor, Western Michigan University Department of Biological Sciences, Climate Change

Diantha Martin, Senior Naturalist, retired, For-Mar Nature Preserve
and Arboretum, Spiders – Fascinating Animals

Chris Mensing, Fish & Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Jack Pine Ecosystems

Ray Rustem, Community Relations Manager, MDNR, Conservation Stewardship Program

Noel Mullet, Jr. , Wayne County Department of Environment,
Wayne County Crow Zone Program, Nature’s Web in the City

Monday Keynote luncheon:
Vegetarian meals available

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Immediately following the luncheon
Dr. Douglas Tallamy speaking on Gardening for Life What we do in our garden landscapes has become crucial to the continuing diversity and survival of plant and animal communities.

Afternoon sessions:
Panel on native plant garden design

Registration:

The registration form is available here.

Early-bird discount (applies to registrations post-marked by
February 3, 2009)
Members of WAM, Michigan Garden Clubs and Audubon
$55/one day or $100/both days
Non-members $75/one day or
$140/ both days.

Deadline for regular registration by mail is February 22, 2009
Members of WAM, Michigan Garden Clubs, and Audubon:
$65/one day or $120/both days
Non-members $85/one day or $160/both days.

On-site registration
Members of WAM, Michigan Garden Clubs and Audubon
$70/day: non-members: $90/day
(There is no discount for two-day registration at the door and no
guarantee of conference material availability. Lunch tickets
may be available at an additional $20)

Lunch is included in the early bird and regular registration rate.

For more information contact:
Jean Weirich, registrar, 3947 E.
St. Joseph, Grand Ledge, MI 48837
or phone 517-627-7927 or e-mail
Jean Weirich