Native Plant Expo Returns to Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds

The Washtenaw County Conservation District will host its seventh annual Native Plant Expo & Marketplace on Saturday, June 6, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds.

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road in Ann Arbor. Early bird shopping is available from 8 to 9 a.m. with a ticket.

The expo will bring together native plant sales, conservation education and community resources. It will include Michigan-based native plant nurseries, a speaker series on topics such as native landscaping and habitat restoration, and vendors offering design, installation and maintenance services for native plant landscapes.

The event also will feature community tables, kids’ nature activities, food, entertainment, pollinator resources and locally made products.

Entry is free, and visitors can receive two free potted milkweed plants while supplies last. Milkweed supports monarch butterfly habitat.

Hundreds of native plant varieties will be available for purchase, including perennials, grasses, shrubs, trees, fruits and seeds for landscapes of different sizes and growing conditions.

According to the Conservation District, native plants are adapted to Michigan’s soil and climate, which means they often need less water and maintenance. They also support birds, pollinators and other wildlife while helping protect water quality, reduce erosion and flooding, and restore soil and landscapes.

This year’s event also includes the Conservation District’s annual meeting and board of directors election. In-person voting will take place from 8 a.m. to noon during the expo, with the annual meeting at noon.

Candidates for the board are Shannon Brines and Jill Dohner, both of Webster Township. Washtenaw County residents who are 18 or older may vote with proof of residency.

Absentee voting is available at the Conservation District office, 705 N. Zeeb Road in Ann Arbor, during regular business hours through noon June 5.

The Conservation District is a local unit of government that has worked with Washtenaw County residents on conservation and natural resource management since 1948.

More information about the event, vendors and exhibitors is available at nativeplantexpo.com.