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1. Native Plant & Pollinator Garden at the Lake Michigan Recreation Area, Manistee National Forest Title text here 2010 Accomplishments The native plant and pollinator garden at the Lake Michigan Recreation Area is hopefully the first of many such gardens at recreation sites on the Manistee National Forest. The Lake Michigan Recreation Area is typically visited by 10,000 people every year, so it is a prime location to teach people about pollinators, native plants, and butterfly-host plant relationships. This garden contains sixteen species, including one milkweed and three grasses. This recreation area is also an archeological site, so species were chosen for interesting cultural uses as well as for their benefits for pollinators. The individual plant information signs will contain information about the cultural uses of the plants in addition to phenological and pollination information. Visitors have been very curious about the garden and are generally very excited to learn about native plants and pollinators. A sign explaining “Why Create a Native Plant & Pollinator Garden?”, developed in conjunction with the Chittenden native plant and pollinator gardens, will also be posted at this garden. Figure 2. Columbine and butterfly milkweed in the Lake Michigan Recreation Area Native Plant & Pollinator Garden Year Project Initiated: 2010 Project completion: 2011 Report number: 4 of 4 Expenditures (through 10/2010): $750 FY10 funding: $750 Contact Person & phone number: Carolyn Henne (231) 723-2211 Manistee National Forest Manistee Ranger District 412 Red Apple Rd Manistee, MI 49660 Figure 1. Site preparation for the Lake Michigan Recreation Area Native Plant & Pollinator Garden