About
Our mission is to encourage the preservation and restoration of Michigan’s native plants and native plant communities.
About Wildflower Association of Michigan
WAM is a not-for-profit, member-based organization founded in 1986 and is run by board members who meet on a quarterly basis. We are committed to being a resource for residents in Michigan (homeowners, corporations, land managers, educators, naturalists, and others) who wish to learn more about native plants and their associated habitats. We advocate for and provide education on native plants and native landscaping through our conference, our website and other social media, our grant program, and our newsletter.
We are best known for our annual Michigan Native Plant Conference, which was previously called the Michigan Wildflower Conference. It is a two-day educational seminar that attracts hundreds of people from the Great Lakes area. Speakers include local, regional and national experts on various plant species, native plant communities, current research, invasive species control, environmental concerns, wildlife, native garden designs and more. We provide inspiration and practical information to residents, land managers and educators so they can pursue their own projects at home, work, school or in their own neighborhood.
Our grant program is an important function of the WAM mission. This self-funded program encourages educators to teach the value of native plants and habitats by providing grant money to classrooms or schools that make a commitment to using native plants on their school campuses. Grants are also awarded to nonprofit groups to improve public garden spaces with native planting designed to educate the general public about the benefits of native plants. Since its inception, WAM has donated more than $100,000 in grant funds.
WAM is working to improve its outreach through social media including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to broaden our audience and encourage membership growth.
WAM’s History
WAM traces its roots back to March of 1986, when an exploratory meeting was held during Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Week at Michigan State University. Eighty individuals from various organizations and agencies, including Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan State University Department of Parks and Recreation, and Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. (formerly Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan), gathered to discuss wildflower-related programs, challenges and potential, and to formulate a plan to promote awareness of wildflowers in Michigan. Through these discussions, the groundwork for WAM was developed.
The first Michigan Wildflower Conference was held March 24, 1987 during ANR Week. After this conference, WAM was formally organized, creating bylaws and electing officers. Harry Doehne, owner of Michigan Wildflower Farm, presided as interim president. Elected officers were Glenn Goff, President; Kim Herman, Vice President; Betty Dick, Secretary; and Robert Welch, Treasurer.
In 1989, WAM was instrumental in promoting Michigan native seed production. Through research and survey work, WAM documented the current and future status of Michigan native plant seed production and made recommendations to the Department of Agriculture in January of 1990. This effort resulted in the formation of the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association (MNPPA) in 2000 and supported growers in their efforts to produce high quality native Michigan wildflower seed stock for large volume plantings.
The Wildflower Association of Michigan has experienced phenomenal growth since those early years. The Michigan Wildflower Conference, held annually in March, includes the WAM annual meeting and two days of workshops and seminars featuring knowledgeable speakers with expertise in proper principles, ethics and methods of landscaping with native wildflowers and associated habitats on various levels of understanding, from novice to professional. The conference has been host to other groups interested in native plants, including the Michigan Invasive Plant Council, Wild Ones, and the Stewardship Network.
WAM regularly publishes a newsletter for its members that features articles on native Michigan wildflowers, habitats, legislative updates, book reviews, upcoming events, and related stories. The Wildflower Association of Michigan received 501(c)(3)) status in 2001.