Native Plant and Rain Barrel Sale held Saturday, Sept 16 from 12 – 3pm
By Friends of the St. Clair River
ST. CLAIR, MI – Friends of the St. Clair River is taking advantage of the end of the growing season by making a final push for wildlife and water with the sale of native plants and rain barrels. The Native Plant and Rain Barrel Pop-Up Sale is Saturday, September 16 from 12 – 3pm at Friends’ Thumb Coast Watershed Center, 301 N. Ninth Street, St. Clair.
There will be a selection of 45 – 60 different native plants species available for purchase, including wildflowers, shrubs, vines, and grasses. There will also be pre-assembled kits, specialized for butterflies and rain gardens, that take the guesswork out of choosing. The native plants are supplied by East Michigan Native Plants from Durand, MI. Native plants are those well-adapted to local growing conditions, require little maintenance, and are important to wildlife.
“End of summer is a great time to put native plants in the ground”, shared Melissa Kivel, Friends’ Education Manager. “Because of their high nectar content, they are a great last meal for pollinators before winter. We are going to have hot sellers like coneflower, milkweed, columbine and asters, many of which are monarch’s favorites. If someone is unsure which plants to purchase to fit a small space or are worried about the ‘wild’ look, we will have experts on hand to help you find the right plants”.
A limited supply of 58-gallon rain barrels will also be for sale. The rain barrels are up-cycled containers, supplied by Mi Rain Barrel, that come with everything needed to begin harvesting rain water. Rain barrels are placed under a downspout or gutter on a home or business to collect and reuse rainwater for outdoor tasks. Harvesting rainwater improves water quality, is better for plants, and provides a free water source for outdoor tasks.
The pop-up sale is part of Friend’s Pollinator Initiative, aimed at helping enhance habitat across St. Clair County for the protection and restoration of local wildlife and water quality. For more information about Friends of the St. Clair River’s Pop-Up Sale, visit www.scriver.org or contact Melissa Kivel at 810-531-6906 or melissa@scriver.org.
Founded in 2007, Friends of the St. Clair River is Michigan Thumb Coast’s largest environmental organization committed to protect and restore the St. Clair River watershed through community education, environmental monitoring, hands-on stewardship, and advocacy. Visit www.scriver.org and “Friends of the St. Clair River” on social.