Advertise on podcast: We Have A Plant For That

Bugs aren't gross; they're essential, and that includes butterflies and moths! National Wildlife Federation naturalist and TV host David Mizejewski joins We Have a Plant for That, powered by Rochester Pollinators, to explain why insects are the heart of a healthy backyard. We talk about how monarch butterflies taste milkweed with their feet, why one pair of chickadees needs thousands of insects to raise a single nest, and how our native bees are quietly disappearing. David also shares simple ways to help kids (and grown-ups!) get over a fear of bugs, and why planting even one native plant makes a real difference. Plus, free family resources at www.nwf.org: the Green Hour program, Ranger Rick magazine, and the Wild Critters USA podcast. Whether you have a backyard, a balcony, or just a windowsill, every little bit helps. We can save the planet one garden at a time.

Andrew Berg wears three hats in Michigan's native plant world — Chief Storyteller for Save Sibley Prairie Coalition, Director of Development for Friends of the Rouge, and Executive Producer of the Oak Park Garden Tour. In this episode, he shares how a childhood surrounded by nature grew into a backyard prairie with 227 native species, why the 440-acre Sibley Prairie is worth fighting to preserve, and how the Oak Park Garden Tour is built around radical inclusivity — no yard, budget, or expertise required to get started. A conversation full of practical tips and small ways to make a big difference for local wildlife. savesibleyprairie.org | oakparkgardentour.com

What if changing your front yard could change your whole neighborhood? In this episode of Moving Hope Forward, host Marilyn sits down with Kelly Konieczki — aka Momcat Kelly — a self-described art major who knew nothing about native plants just five years ago. Today, she's a City Beautification Commissioner, community science volunteer, and passionate pollinator advocate. Kelly shares how watching a monarch emerge from a chrysalis sparked an entire journey — from a small backyard garden to removing 1,000 square feet of lawn, launching Detroit Butterfly Nursery with her daughter, and installing free native plant kits for her elderly neighbors. This episode is full of joy, wonder, and practical encouragement. You don't need a degree. You don't need a big yard. You just need to start. Just plant one or two. You'll get to know them. You might like them.

Botanist Abraham Stone of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory joins us to unpack the wild, layered world of Isle Royale National Park. From billion-year-old basalt lava flows to rare native orchids, Boreal forests, and the famous Wolf-Moose dynamic, Abraham reveals why this remote island is one of Michigan's most precious natural treasures — and what it teaches us about the power of large, undisturbed conservation land. A must-listen for plant lovers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone who cares about the future of wild spaces.

Not everything green is good. We sit down with Dr. Shikha Singh, biologist with the Jackson County Conservation District, recorded live at the 39th Annual Wildflower Conference of Michigan. She walks us through three invasive species quietly threatening Michigan's native landscapes: Mile-A-Minute weed, Stiltgrass, and Lesser Celandine — a pretty yellow flower many people once planted intentionally. We cover how invasive species spread, how homeowners unknowingly help them, and how Michigan's conservation districts and CISMAs are working to fight back. Plus, find out Dr. Singh's favorite native plant and its surprising connection to an endangered butterfly. Find your local Michigan CISMA or contact the Jackson County Conservation District for help, resources, and speaker requests. We Have a Plant for That — growing awareness, one native plant at a time.

What if one plant could change your yard — and help restore biodiversity at the same time? In this launch episode of We Have A Plant For That, Marilyn Trent and the leadership of Rochester Pollinators discuss why native plants matter, how small local actions create real ecological impact, and why supporting pollinators starts right at home. Small action. Real change. We Have A Plant For That.