Habitat Discovery Center Grounds: Observations 2025

 

Over the past two years the grounds of the Habitat Discovery Center have entered an active phase of ecological transition. The three-acre property carries a long history of disturbance that shaped its current condition. For nearly a century the land was farmed. In later decades it was bulldozed and seeded with non-native turf grasses and maintained through regular mowing. Small “native plant gardens” were later installed, though many of the plants used were not actually native to northern Michigan and the gardens eventually received little ongoing care.

As a result, the site consisted largely of turf grass, agricultural remnants, and invasive species, with very little functioning native plant community remaining.

Beginning two years ago, restoration efforts focused on two main objectives:

  • introducing native plant diversity
  • suppressing invasive species

Approximately 8,000 native plants have now been added to the site using several methods and sources.

Plant sources include:

  • plants grown from locally collected seed
  • plugs from native plant suppliers
  • container plants from regional native plant nurseries including WildType, Michigan Wildflower Farm, Black Cap Farm, Crevice Gardens, and Four Season Nursery
  • native seed obtained from suppliers in Wisconsin and Minnesota
  • woody plant whips from Alpha Nursery and Cold Stream Farm

This multi-source approach has allowed the site to establish a wide range of species representing multiple ecological layers.

Suppression of Turf and Invasive Species

A large portion of the work has involved repeated suppression of turf and invasive grasses. The site was initially dominated by turf grasses maintained through mowing, along with species such as:

  • crabgrass
  • quack grass

These grasses are now gradually declining as native perennials and grasses establish and begin competing for space and resources.

One persistent competitor remains Hungarian brome, a rhizomatous pasture grass typical of old agricultural landscapes.

Native Plant Establishment and Reproduction

The site now appears to be approaching an important turning point. Several species introduced during the initial plantings are now reproducing successfully and producing seedlings. Because the surrounding landscape is largely agricultural, these seedlings represent local reproduction rather than colonization from nearby populations.

Examples include:

  • Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense)
  • Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)

Natural regeneration of woody plants is also occurring. Hundreds of seedlings of:

  • Paper Birch
  • Chokecherry

have appeared across the site. Birch is a classic pioneer species that often establishes in disturbed open ground, while chokecherry seeds are typically dispersed by birds.

Early Successional Species

During the past year the site experienced a large influx of Horseweed, a native annual species that frequently colonizes newly disturbed ground. Although sometimes viewed as a weed, Horseweed is a typical pioneer plant that temporarily occupies open soil before longer-lived perennials establish.

Development of Meadow and Ground Layers

Several native grasses are now establishing across the property, including:

  • Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
  • Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
  • various woodland sedges (Carex species)

These grasses will play an important role in stabilizing the developing plant community and gradually suppressing invasive grasses.

Shrub and Tree Layer Development

Shrubs and trees being introduced or expanding on the site include:

  • Dogwoods (Cornus species)
  • Viburnums
  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier species)
  • Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)
  • Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
  • Basswood (Tilia americana)
  • Oaks (Quercus species)
  • New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Additional native shrubs now expanding naturally include:

  • Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
  • Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina)

Woodland Floor Recovery

One particularly instructive area on the property is a small woodland patch approximately 30 × 30 feet in size. This area had been used heavily for events and was repeatedly trampled and cleared of leaf litter.

After traffic was stopped and leaf litter allowed to accumulate, hundreds of native woodland spring ephemerals emerged. These included:

  • Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
  • False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
  • Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
  • Hepatica
  • Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
  • Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)

Additional woodland species now expanding include:

  • Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum and Trillium erectum)
  • Meadow Rue (Thalictrum species)
  • Bellflower (Campanula species)
  • Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

Adaptive Plant Selection

Some species initially introduced are now being de-emphasized after observing how they perform under local conditions. These include:

  • Ironweed
  • Silphium species
  • Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)
  • Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)
  • False Boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides)
  • Baptisia species
  • American Hazelnut (in favor of Beaked Hazelnut)
  • Rigid Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)
  • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Current Stage of Development

The site now contains a mixture of:

  • early pioneer species
  • establishing native perennials
  • developing shrub and tree layers
  • recovering woodland understory communities

Although the landscape still appears transitional, these changes indicate that the ecological processes necessary for long-term habitat recovery are now underway.

Outlook

As native plants continue to mature and reproduce, they are expected to occupy more of the site and further reduce invasive species. The increasing diversity of plant life is already creating more complex habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Plant and Seed Sources

Native plants used in the development of the Habitat Discovery Center grounds have come from a variety of regional growers and seed sources, including: