Ziigwan – it is spring!
As the Northern Hemisphere officially welcomes the spring equinox today, March 20, 2026, the world outside our homes is beginning to wake up. We believe a healthy planet starts with healthy native plant populations. The first day of spring offers a time to sit, reflect, and celebrate our natural landscapes as they come alive.
Recently, Michigan Nature Association (MNA) acquired an additional 33 acres of habitat at Bigelow Creek, adding to the sanctuary’s already protected lands in Newaygo County. During the preservation dedication, members of Wild Ones West MI Shore-to-Prairie were out exploring the area and doing some clean up. While there, skunk cabbage was observed! It’s one of the early risers from the banks of rivers and wetlands in West Michigan. The plant actually creates its own heat, allowing it to poke out of the ground as early as February. It flowers in early spring, attracting insects for pollination. As its name suggests, skunk cabbage emits a foul odor, which benefits the plant because many early-emerging insects are drawn to it. But by late spring, the plant is in full bloom, and its large leaves unfold, blanketing the wet landscape.
While Spring is a season of new growth, it is also a call to action. Below are some ways to celebrate and support native plant life this spring:
1. Slow Down and Actually Look
Go outside, find a spot, and just sit for a few minutes. Watch for early bloomers pushing up through the dirt and leaf litter. Listen for the first buzzing visitors checking out what’s available in your yard or garden. Listen to the chorus of high-pitched chirping coming from a nearby pond or ditch; those are spring peepers, and they are one of the best spring sounds in the world.
2. Spring Native Checklist
Not sure where to start? Looking to pick up some native plants? Just have questions? We’ve rounded up some of the best local resources to help you get going:
- Check out the local native plant sales brought to you by your local conservation district.
- Newaygo Conservation District Native Plant Sale
- Muskegon Conservation District grasses and wildflowers for sale
- Oceana Conservation District – Native plant sale is on May 22nd; stay tuned for a link!
- Michigan Master Gardener Association resources for native plant sales and questions
- MSU Extension Native Plants and Ecosystem Services plant selection help
And of course, you can always reach out to us directly. We love talking plants.
Let’s make 2026 the year we dig in to support healthier native plant populations, biodiversity of our local areas, and a healthier planet. Remember that every native plant you add is a seed of change, no matter how big or small, you are supporting pollinators, wildlife, and future generations.
Happy Spring from all of us at Wild Ones West MI Shore-to-Prairie. Now go find some skunk cabbage.
Picture Below: Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) emergence. To learn more about this amazing plant → https://www.canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/uploads/files/American_skunk_cabbage.pdf
