Kathie Albright and Mike Berst

Our Experience

I have always had an interest in native plants and Kathie is a longtime birder. We were fortunate to retire to a home on 10 acres of beech-maple mesic forest in Northern Michigan, just a stone's throw from the Saving Birds Thru Habitat Discovery Center. The previous homeowner had landscaped approximately half an acre, featuring an extensive lawn and mostly exotic plants. Ten years later, most of the alien plants were gone, only a few grassy paths remained, and over 180 native species bloom on the property every year. We enjoy finding and encouraging natives, like Boneset, Bluestem goldenrod, Jewelweed, Small-flowered buttercup, Virginia stickseed, Pokeweed and others that have shown up on their own.

The woods are full of spring ephemerals: Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Spring beauty, Hepatica, Dutchman’s breeches, Squirrel corn, Bloodroot, Large-flowered bellwort, Trillium, Sarsaparilla, Blue cohosh, Meadow rue, and other native forbs and graminoids. We take care to protect these plants. Each year we introduce additional natives—some purchased from native plant nurseries, others grown from seed, mostly collected locally. Our practice is to use plants appropriate to the locale and setting. We continue to watch and learn more about the interactions between insects and native plants, and it is gratifying to see increasing numbers of bird species foraging here for seeds, insects, and berries.

Year-round residents include Chickadees, Titmice, Cardinals, and both Nuthatches. Woodpeckers—Pileated, Red-bellied, Downy, and Hairy—overwinter here, while species such as Goldfinch, Brown Creeper, and Northern Flicker come and go. Warblers like American Redstart, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Yellow-rumped Warbler are heard and then glimpsed in spring before the woodland trees leaf out. The Redstarts and Black-throated Green Warblers nest here. Other reliable summer breeders include Eastern Phoebe, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and Wood Thrush. Serviceberry, Pokeweed, Dogwood, and Viburnum berries predictably attract Cedar Waxwings, Catbirds, and Red-eyed Vireos. Occasionally we witness something special. One year a pair of Barred Owls nested high in the trees. After breeding they perched together and “cooed” softly to one another—an unexpected and memorable moment.

We also encourage butterflies and moths by planting both host and nectar plants. For example, we planted Salix (willow) species for Mourning Cloak butterflies and Wood nettle for Red Admirals. Sunflowers and violets host Painted Ladies and Fritillaries. For Monarch breeding we established several milkweed species: Butterfly-weed, Common, Poke, Whorled, and Swamp Milkweed. I have often observed late-summer Monarchs preparing for their long journey to Mexico by fueling up on nectar from Joe-Pye-Weed (Eutrochium maculatum), so we added a stand of that plant. Every year newly emerged Monarchs raised on milkweed head straight for the Joe-Pye-Weed. Our Common Milkweed and Joe-Pye-Weed seed came from wild stands at Charter Sanctuary and other local spots.

Most butterflies, moths, and skippers have very specific larval host plants. The American Lady butterfly uses Pussytoes (Antennaria) as a host plant. A few years ago we purchased several Pussytoes plants from WildType nursery. When we arrived home I began unloading the plants. The Pussytoes were the first out of the car and I set them down about fifteen feet away. By the time I returned with the next plants—only seconds later—two American Lady butterflies were already laying eggs on them.

It has been quite a journey.

— Mike