Missaukee
Conservation District
Welcomes You

Calendar of Events to print & save

Christmas Tree Growers Field Day
When: Friday, September 10, 2010
Where: Vultaggio Brothers Tree Farm, Boon, MI
Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
MAEAP Phase One Verification/4 RUP Credits given-
private core, community core, forestry specialization & ornamental specialization. RSVP 231.839.7193
Click here for an agenda

Nature Festival / Native Plant Sale / Workshop
Join us for a fun filled, educational day
Cost: free, except native plants
When: Saturday, September 25
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Missaukee County Offices

Native Plant Sale is first come, first serve -
3.5" pots are $4.50 each
Fall planting reduces plant shock. Plants are starting dormancy, but the warm soil acclimates the root system for next spring.

Workshop: Fruit Tree Frenzy
You asked and we delivered, come and learn how to maximize your fruit tree potential
Guest Speaker: Steve Fouch, MSUE County Extension Director,
                            Agriculture & Natural Resources
Workshop Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 pm

Crafts
Pressed flower book marks
Face Painting
Fantastic Friendly Garden Club Activity

Healthy Snacks
More details to follow soon.......................

Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Sept 25, 9 am-1 pm
Missaukee County Road Commission
Click the above title for more information

Yellow Jug Collection
Bring your Outdated and unused non-narcotic drugs
to the following pharmacy's for proper disposal:

        *Jerry's Pharmacy in Lake City
    5760 W Houghton Road (located inside Foster's market)
    Lake City, MI 49651 
    ph:  839-5800
or
  *Cadillac Family Pharmacy
    108 N Mitchell
    Cadillac, MI 49601
    ph: 775-8200

Unused & outdated narcotics need to be taken to:

        *Michigan State Police Post
    7711 US 131 South
    Cadillac, MI  49601
    Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
    ph: 779-6040

Board Meetings
The public is welcome to attend.
The August meeting will take place at the Missaukee County Offices, Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 10:00 am.

Geocaching on the Foot Trail

Native Gardens and Foot Trail
Maps are available for the trail outside the office.
Visit the native gardens to see what is in bloom.

Come explore the trail! It is an interpretive trail with 10 sites. There are benches placed around the trail so you can just sit and listen to the sounds of nature.

Photo by Chere Elenbaas

Missaukee Conservation District
6180 W. Sanborn, Suite 3
Lake City, MI 49651
sherry.blaszak@macd.org
231.839.7193

Native Plants
are pollinators favorite.

The following website has eco-region specific information regarding bees  (pollinators) and the plants they feed on.  http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm Just scroll down the main page and type in your zip code.
 

Ever wonder.....
how much do trees & shrubs benefit my home, the environment, etc......
click here to find out
 

Check your UV index here
Monitor the UV index and keep your skin healthy

Burning Permits
Call: 866.922.2876

TTY/TDD Users
are now able to call with
their questions and inquiries by dialing 7-1-1

Enviro-weather Stations
check up to the minute weather in
McBain and Arlene

Large Capacity Water Use Questions
contact Jim Williams for Missaukee and Wexford Counties.

Reeder’s Corner
Rain Gardens

A water filtration system the natural way!

Rain gardens at the corner of M-55 and M-66 are installed. The purpose of the gardens is to collect the runoff from parking lots and roads and filter the water before contaminants can seep into the groundwater.

Native plants are used in rain gardens and have very deep root systems able to reach over ten feet deep. When compared to groomed lawns with a four inch root system at best, native plants have a greater chance to collect gas, oil, salt, etc., things we do not want in our drinking water.

Native plants also require no fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. The extensive root systems are capable of finding nourishment. Beneficial insects are drawn to natives and devour insects that could harm your plants. This does not mean insects will not feed on the plants. The larval stage of many beneficial insects need to feed on native plants. This is part of the cycle. You may also find a few aphids somewhere. Just keep an eye on them. Before you know it a lady bug, lacewing or praying mantis will find them.

You can actually help with this process by planting native grasses such as Little Bluestem, Indian Grass or Canadian Wild Rye. This provides additional cover for insects you want to keep around.