One of the common invasives volunteers may remove in Michigan is Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This cool-season, biennial herb grows 12"-40" tall, has triangular shaped leaves with toothed edges, and smells of garlic when crushed. An invasive European species, humans introduced garlic mustard to the United States in 1868 as a food source. Preferring forested areas, savannas, roadsides, and disturbed areas, the herb blooms in early spring, shading out wildflowers such as trilliums and orchids and other native understory herbs before they have a chance to develop. Garlic mustard seeds disperse rapidly through animals or water and began to grow while snow is still on the ground. Best removal methods include pulling by hand in early spring before flowering.

May Field Trips and Events
The Nature Conservancy in Michigan will offer three field trips this month. The first, Make Friends at the Fen at Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve on June 16 at 9 am will allow participants to look at some of the early summer plant and insect species on a trip through this high-quality fen. During the second field trip at Coolbough Natural Areas on June 23 at 9:00 am Visitors will learn about the fire effects of prescribed burning and other management activities. Experience a different type of field trip, participants will get the chance to canoe the Shiawassee River with staff from our office in Owosso on June 23 at 1 pm. All field trips require registration. Trip costs are $10/person or $25/family. To register contact our volunteer field trip coordinator, Carol Bryson, at (517) 316-0300, ext. 206 or mifotrips@tnc.org.

Monitoring and Protecting Aquatic Habitats Workshop
June 2, 2007, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Northern Michigan University, University Center, Marquette Room
This workshop will provide participants with an introduction to watersheds and aquatic habitats and their conservation. During the indoor portion of the workshop, information will be presented on basic aquatic ecology as well as watershed planning and volunteer water monitoring opportunities. The outdoor portion of the workshop will include a field trip to practice protocols for monitoring streams and road stream crossings. This workshop is being organized by the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Space is limited; PLEASE RSVP by emailing Brian Beachy at beachyb@michigan.gov.

Isle Royale Botany Workshop
Registration is open for a botany workshop this summer on Isle Royale, an island National Park located in western Lake Superior. Botanist Janet Marr will teach this workshop that’s scheduled for June 18-23. Participants will spend one day in the Houghton, Michigan area and 4 days on Isle Royale learning native plant species. The workshop is open to adults with beginning or intermediate knowledge of plant identification and an ability to hike up to 7 miles. Cost for transportation from Houghton to the island, camping, and instruction is $500. For more information call the Isle Royale Natural History Association at 906-482-7860 or jburkland@irnha.org. Participants need to pre-register and send a $50 deposit to be received by 4 June in order to attend this workshop.

Workdays
Ives Road Fen Preserve near Tecumseh (East Michigan)
In June and July we will be cutting buckthorn and honeysuckle from the floodplain forest and shrub swamp next to the River Raisin, just south of Tecumseh. Besides cutting we will see many wildflowers and butterflies. Workdays include ice cold drinks and chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. All volunteers receive a free pair of garden gloves. To signup e-mail Rebecca at eastmichigan@tnc.org or call her at (517) 316-2282.
 
June
Saturday, 6/2
Saturday, 6/9
Saturday, 6/16
Saturday, 6/23
Saturday, 6/30

June 2nd
Plug planting work day at Ives propagation fields. For those of you who might not know what a plug is, it is essentially a baby plant started in a greenhouse.

Grand River Fen Preserve, Liberty Township, Jackson County
Saturday, June 9 and 23 from 9 am until 1 pm: Help Restore Natural Habitat! Join our Habitat Restoration Team! Volunteers ages 15 and up are needed to help remove invasive species at Grand River Fen Preserve. Our goal is to clear this area of invasives and restore it to its natural state.

Upper Peninsula
Please contact Danielle at 225-0399 or ddalgord@tnc.org for questions or to sign up. Carpooling from Marquette is available to sites in other counties. Please bring snacks and water.

• Saturday, June 2, 9am: Garlic mustard removal in north Marquette at the River Park Industrial Complex. Volunteers meet at the BioLife parking lot.
• Wednesday and Thursday, June 6 and 7, 5pm: Evening garlic mustard removal at Whetstone Creek. Volunteers meet at the old Marquette orphanage.
• Monday, June 11, 9am: Plant native species at Bay Furnace Campground, Hiawatha National Forest
• Saturday, June 16, 9am: Sand Point Spotted Knapweed Control at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising
• Tues - Thursday, June 19, 20, 21, 9am: Garlic Mustard Control, Au Train / 5 Mile Point, Hiawatha National Forest
• Saturday, June 30, 9am: Coast Guard Station Spotted Knapweed Control at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Grand Marais

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Want to help restore important natural areas in Southeast Michigan parks and recreation areas? Then join the DNR, Parks and Recreation Division, Stewardship Unit for the following volunteer stewardship workdays in May:
Sterling State Park, Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Monroe Co.)
Highland Recreation Area, Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Oakland Co.)
Algonac State Park, Sunday, June 3, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (St. Clair Co.)
Bald Mountain Recreation Area, Saturday, June 9, 9 a.m. to noon (Oakland Co.)
Highland Recreation Area, Saturday, June 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Oakland Co.)
Algonac State Park, Sunday, June 10, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (St. Clair Co.)
Waterloo Recreation Area, Sunday, June 10, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Washtenaw Co.)
Pinckney Recreation Area, Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Washtenaw Co.)
Brighton Recreation Area, Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Livingston Co.)
Island Lake Recreation Area, Sunday, June 24, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Livingston Co.)

Activities will include planting native grasses and wildflowers or pulling invasive weeds like garlic mustard! For workday details, to get directions, and to register, please visit www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers; and click on "Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays" under "Current Volunteer Opportunities". Questions? Please contact Laurel Malvitz at 248-359-9057 or malvitzl@michigan.gov for additional information.

Previous Workdays
Ives Road Fen Preserve From Chuck Pearson
On May 5 a record was set for the longest distance traveled for a workday, over 9000 miles, by David Rowlings from Brisbane. David won a Nature Conservancy hat and Russell won a new pair of boots in the prize drawing. On May 12 we saw the pitcher plants starting to bloom. Plants that we saw on May 19 included Solomon’s Seal, Golden Alexander, Wild Columbine, Hawthorne, Maidenhair Fern, Wild Geranium, and a Morel mushroom. This spring we have cleared the Trillium management area of all major concentrations of garlic mustard, Dame’s Rocket, Honeysuckle, and Multiflora Rose. Check out the photos at http://picasaweb.google...com/IvesRoadFen/ for wildflowers, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, and volunteers.