1. Gardening with Native Plants
Pittsfield Charter
Township
Demonstration Gardens
Janet Gettel, Senior Gardener
Jan BenDor, Storm Water Program Coordinator

2. What is a native plant?
 A plant that was growing in the Great Lakes
region before 1700.
 There are about 1,800 native plants in
Michigan.
 Cultivars of native plants add further options
for gardening.

4. Pittsfield is a Phase II Community
 The native plants growing here provide
wildlife habitat, water quality protection,
storm water control, and natural beauty. The
Township is conserving labor costs,
equipment, and fossil fuels, while complying
with the pollution prevention requirements of
the federal Clean Water Act.

5. Why garden with native plants?
 Acclimated to our conditions  Natural heritage-a sense of
 Deep roots Infiltrate water place
 Remove pollutants  Beauty in all seasons
 Rebuild and hold soil  Self-seeding annuals
 Prevent flooding  Hardy perennials
 Protect water quality  Beneficial wildlife habitat
 Less money & work over the  Unique landscaping
long run  Fun and exciting!

7. Gardens can help to protect native
plants from extinction (Source: MDNR)
Category Quantity Percentage
Extirpated species 46 2.6
Endangered species 51 2.8
Threatened species 210 11.7
Special concern species 110 6.1
Secure plant species 1,383 76.8
Total native plant species 1,800 100
Established non-natives 800
Total plant species 2,600

8. Types of native plant gardens
“Plant communities” suited to local conditions:
soil Ph, moisture, sun, phosphorus, nitrogen
 Butterfly Garden
 Prairie Garden
 Rain Garden / Bog Garden
 Parking Lot Island Garden (Bioswale)
 Formal Garden

9. The butterfly garden

10. Changing seasons

12. Photos by Janet Gettel, Jan BenDor, and James Walter

15. The prairie garden

18. March, 2006

19. Prescribed burn

22. The rain garden

24. The bog garden

26. The island...before and in progress

27. Formal gardening with native plants

28. Public Safety Building Entrance

29. Wildlife habitat

33. Gray tree frog waiting for a moth meal. Coneflowers attract a
variety of insects. Photo by Sean Zera

34. Native plant resources--government
 Washtenaw County Conservation District
Spring and Fall Plant Sales, 761-6721 X5
 Michigan Association of Conservation
Districts www.macd.org/nativeplants
 Michigan Department of Natural Resources
www.michigan.gov/dnr
 Center for Environmental Study, Grand
Rapids, 616/988-2854

35. Private native plant resources
 Michigan Wildflower Farm--Portland, MI--
www.michiganwildflowerfarm.com
 Native Plant Nursery—Ann Arbor MI—
www/nativeplant.com
 JFNew—Full service native plant nursery,
restoration, and ecological consulting—
www.jfnew.com

36. Get involved! Call 822-3122
 The Pittsfield Natural Resources Commission
has established the Landscape Resources
Committee to conduct demonstration native
plant garden projects on public land.
 2006: Lillie Park North—formal garden
 2007: Montibeller Park—restoration of
riparian vegetation along Paint Creek
 The community is welcome to participate!

37. Lillie Park Demonstration Garden