Keweenaw Wild Ones stresses importance of native plants

Plant this, don’t plant that! Sigrid Resh from Michigan Tech and the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA) will be giving a presentation on the subject tomorrow evening. The virtual talk is being sponsored by Keweenaw Wild Ones. Marcia Goodrich says that unfortunately some of the area’s most popular plantings can have large negative unintended consequences for the Copper Country.

Nonnative plants spread in different ways. Many rely on wildlife to do most of the work. What start as berries, turn into seeds as they pass through the digestive tract of birds, or even foxes.

Goodrich was at the public hearing for Hancock’s new zoning ordinance Monday night. She praised the emphasis placed on using native species in landscaping and other beautification efforts in the document.