PLANTS

They can even help you diagnose and treat your plant

Get into the Halloween spirit with baby doll planters.

It’s not too late to get a look at the peak color change in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

When is the best time to view the fall color change in Michigan in 2022?

Rude, inconsiderate, hungry deer are turning landscaping into salad bars.

We are at the height of summer, and many of you probably think planting season is over... but that is not the case. Now is actually the perfect time to plant some crops for the late fall harvest.

Giant Hogweed has been found in several counties around Michigan over the last decade, but since funding for tracking these invasive plants ended, it’s up to residents to report.

On Saturday, June 25, the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation will help local pollinators by clearing weeds and invasive plants at two parks.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) wants gardeners to be on the lookout for invasive plants, pests and diseases when they head to their local greenhouse or nursery this summer.

Applying fertilizer derived from nutrient-rich urine could have environmental and economic benefits, say the professors.

This year, Flower Day will happen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, and coincides with the weekly Sunday Artisan Market.

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Now that people have heard about the sunny weekend and warm week ahead, I’ve been hearing all sorts of chatter about people intending to do their planting this weekend.

There's a giant greenhouse in Belleville.

Residents of the city of Detroit can request to have a tree planted in front of their home, thanks to a citywide program focused on improving neighborhoods.

A nonprofit working to improve the environment and Detroit community by planting trees has joined forces with NBC’s Today Show to set a new world record this Earth Day.

Local company is serving up drinks that span the colors of the rainbow.

Several nursies, vendors and exhibitors will be at the event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to more than 180 types of native seeds, plants and plant services.

A bonsai exhibit and workshops are coming to Matthaei Botanical Gardens in June.

Help Tree Town get closer to carbon neutrality with free saplings from the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations.

Hazel Park City Council passed a resolution that decriminalizes psychedelic plants and fungi, including magic mushrooms.

The Plant House shared popular ways to bring trendy plants into the home.

There's a shop in Hartland that is all about carnivorous plants.

Fresh-food made by your own two hands with the EVE indoor garden

Ann Arbor Farm & Garden presents its Fall Garden Walk this weekend.

Learn about goatscaping in Ann Arbor with a special event.

This historic building has three new plants added to the conservatory.

The city of Ann Arbor announced Monday that it will plant 40 new trees in front of 40 homes in honor of Arbor Day and the city’s leafy nickname.

Leaf Me Plant Boutique provides plant wisdom to practice self-care

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has a list of invasive species in the state that residents should be aware of and report if spotted.

Hear how Luke Marion turned his high school hobby into a budding business.

Find the perfect flowers for your garden at the historic Eastern Market

From April 30 to May 2, the City of Ann Arbor is giving away free trees to residents to plant on private property during several Arbor Day weekend giveaways.

A prescribed burn will take place Thursday afternoon at the Ann Arbor Skatepark.

(Rolf Peterson/Michigan Technological University via AP)A look at Michigan’s endangered or threatened species. The Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act) describes two categories of declining species of plants and animals that need the Act’s protections – endangered species and threatened species – and provides these definitions:Endangered - any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range;Threatened - any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Endangered species are at the brink of extinction now. Threatened species are likely to be at the brink in the near future. Related stories:

ANN ARBOR – It’s nearing the end of February, and you know what that means in Ann Arbor: controlled burn spring season. The volunteer program with the city’s Natural Area Preservation will kick off virtual training on Thursday, Feb. 18 from noon to 5 p.m. The Spring 2021 Controlled Ecological Burn season begins on Friday, Feb. 19 and ends on Friday, May 29. During the Spring 2021 Controlled Burn Season, NAP has permits to conduct burns in the following locations: Arbor Hills Nature Area, Argo Nature Area, Berkshire Creek Nature Area, Bird Hills Nature Area, Black Pond Woods Nature Area, Botsford Nature Area, Buhr Park, Buttonbush Nature Area, Cedar Bend Nature Area, Earhart Nature Area, Gallup Park, Huron Parkway Nature Area, Kuebler Langford Nature Area, Leslie Woods Nature Area, Marshall Nature Area, Maryfield Wildwood Park, Miller Nature Area, Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area, Stapp Nature Area, Sunset Brooks Nature Area, Swift Run Park, and the NAP office at 3875 E. Huron River Drive. The local fire department is notified before each burn, and cell phones and two-way radios are carried by staff conducting a burn.

ANN ARBOR – Who remembers field trips? Luckily, University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens staff are organizing virtual field trips for classrooms and groups. Virtual field trips are offered Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here are the topics and recommended grade levels, according to its website:Roots and Shoots : Explore plants and their needs. For more information or to schedule a field trip, contact Youth Education Coordinator Liz Glynn at lizglynn@umich.edu.

ANN ARBOR – Air plants, succulents, cacti, oh my! The University of Michigan’s Matthaei-Nichols 2020 Greenhouse Sale has kicked off with a large selection of houseplant varieties. Once purchases are made, you can select a time to stop by the Matthaei Visitor Center for a contactless pick up. See the full online sale here. For more information about the gardens and upcoming events, visit www.mbgna.umich.edu.

FERNDALE, Mich. – If you’ve jumped on the plant bandwagon during the coronavirus pandemic, this is the pop up for you. Soil & Trouble, a customizable plant boutique, will make its debut this weekend in Ferndale with a two-day pop up event at Ace High. It will be the first series of pop-ups for the business, which aims at helping you become a better plant parent. The boutique will also feature locals including Ace High Co. grooming products and art scattered amongst the plants by Sarah Alcodray. House plants need love and affection from those who have a lot to give.”To do this, customers had to craft their own perfect plant and learn to sustain it, she says.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The city of Ann Arbor has decriminalized psychedelic plants and fungi, including magic mushrooms, and police officers will no longer make them an enforcement focus. City Council voted unanimously Sept. 21 in favor of a resolution declaring it the city’s lowest law enforcement priority, MLive.com reported. It means that authorities won’t investigate and arrest anyone for planting, cultivating, buying, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with or possessing “entheogenic plants” or plant compounds. A grassroots group called Decriminalize Nature Ann Arbor, or DNA2, has been lobbying city officials to take up the issue. READ MORE: Ann Arbor News

Michigan environmental officials announced they have recently confirmed the presence of an invasive aquatic plant in at least four lakes. European frog-bit was first detected in southeast Michigan in 1996 and has since spread along the coastal areas of lakes Erie and Huron up to the eastern Upper Peninsula. Aquatic invasive species have the potential to harm Michigans environment, economy and human health. While waterfowl, currents and stream flow can spread the plant and its seeds, European frog-bit, like most invasive species, travels farther and faster by human movement. Reports also can be made to EGLEs Aquatic Invasive Species Program by email to EGLE-WRD-ANC@michigan.gov or by calling 517-284-5593.

It's funny how during this time I've picked up one of the hobbies I never could imagine was an option for me. Not to say that I've "mastered" this hobby, not even close - but that's the goal. If you’re unfamiliar with my background, I’ve successfully killed succulents, Jade Trees and cacti. But that’s all behind me now... what I lack in natural ability I will make up for with effort and education. With the help of advice from good friends and YouTube University, I will make it to be my goal of having a mini jungle in my apartment.

A new website can help you identify potentially invasive plants in your backyard in Michigan. Across the eight Great Lakes states and Ontario, 28 woody plant species are regulated as invasive by at least one jurisdiction. Multiflora rose, black locust, Tatarian honeysuckle and glossy buckthorn are just some of the woody invasive species found in Michigan. Now these plants pose a serious threat to natural areas in the Great Lakes region, outcompeting native plants and damaging wildlife habitat. The Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative is one of several regional invasive species initiatives supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

MEXICO CITY General Motors announced Thursday that it is gradually restarting operations at engine and transmission plants at two of its four manufacturing complexes in Mexico. The Mexican government had said that auto companies could start preparatory work for reopening their operations May 18, but that a full re-opening wouldnt occur until June 1. U.S. officials have pressured Mexico to allow factories to resume operations after shutdowns to stem the spread of the coronavirus. They argue that the integrated supply and production chains throughout the three nations of North America make plants in all three countries dependent on each other. GM, whose Mexican plants have been shuttered for almost two months, said it is complying with all the government requirements.

WARREN, Mich. After nearly two months, the Big Three will restart production Monday and thousands of line workers will be back on the job. It wont be business as usual -- GM, Ford and FCA have implemented new safety procedures to limit the possibility of COVID-19 exposure. READ: President Trump to visit Ford plant in Ypsilanti ThursdayExtensive safety protocols are being used at every plant. The UAW will continue to do everything we can to protect the health and safety of all members as plants reopen. We will continue to be vigilant in protecting the health and safety of our members, their families and their communities.

DEARBORN, Mich. After nearly two months, the Big Three will restart production Monday and thousands of line workers will be back on the job. It wont be business as usual -- GM, Ford and FCA have implemented new safety procedures to limit the possibility of COVID-19 exposure. The Big Three of the automotive industry will cautiously restart production Monday. The UAW will continue to do everything we can to protect the health and safety of all members as plants reopen. We will continue to be vigilant in protecting the health and safety of our members, their families and their communities.

Safety measures will be in place including social distancing practices, frequent disinfections and heath screenings. The Big Three have all been preparing for the restart of factories by testing safety protocols in the plants that have remained in operation to produce personal protection equipment and ventilators. Inside the General Motors Warren Transmission plant United Auto Workers and GM volunteers churned out face masks for hospitals all over the state. Where our coronavirus safety protocols have been in place we have not seen a confirmed case of community spread in our facilities, said General Motors CEO, Mary Barra. Workers will also work from opposite ends of a vehicle instead of being inches apart to stay socially distant.

The high-pitched ultrasounds, which are too high for human ears to detect, “may serve as potential signals or cues to their environment,” the researchers write, meaning plants can communicate danger to each other.

Sugar maples have dark gray bark with furrowed ridges, not as easily identifiable compared to other Michigan tree species. More on Sugar maples here from the Michigan DNRBeechIn southern Michigan, American beech trees grow in beech-maple forests. It is an ashy gray color and, compared to some Michigan species, is easier to identify due to its blocky bark. When comparing the white oak leaf to the red oak, it is easy to tell the difference because the red oak has pointed leaf tips. Jack pine needles are much shorter than red pine needles at a length of to 2 long.