Fishing licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchasing your license through the app. The 2026 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2027.
Michigan's new fishing license and regulation season begins Wednesday, April 1, so if you’re planning to hit the water, you’ll need to purchase a new fishing license. The 2026 fishing licenses are available for purchase now and are valid through March 31, 2027.
All anglers ages 17 and older are required to purchase a fishing license to fish public waters in Michigan; these licenses are good for all species, though additional reporting requirements apply to some species and fishing methods. Anglers can purchase:
• An annual fishing license at $26 for Michigan residents or $76 for nonresidents (both carry an additional $1 surcharge).
• A senior annual fishing license at $11 for Michigan residents 65 and older or residents who are legally blind (with additional $1 surcharge).
• A daily fishing license at $10 per day for Michigan residents and nonresidents 17 and older (valid for 24 hours).
• An optional youth fishing license, which is available at just $2 for anglers ages 16 and younger.
Fishing licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLi censes or by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchasing through the app. Make future online fishing license purchases even more convenient by selecting auto-renew at online checkout or in the Auto Renewals section of the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app to automatically buy future licenses as they become available.
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2026 fishing seasons
• The statewide trout opener and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open Saturday, April 25.
• In Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike seasons open Friday, May 15.
• Michigan’s muskellunge possession season on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers opens Saturday, June 6. (Remember that catch-and-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year.)
• The catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open all year on nearly all waters (unless otherwise closed to fishing — check the current Michigan Fishing Regulations for specifics).
• The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 23, except for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers, which open Saturday, June 20.
The 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations are available online, along with other helpful resources, including fishing locations, “how-to” tips and species identification. Visit the DNR website at Michigan.gov/Fishing to access these resources and the most up-to-date information. For fishing license questions, contact DNR licensing staff at MDNR-E-License @Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.
All anglers ages 17 and older are required to purchase a fishing license to fish public waters in Michigan; these licenses are good for all species, though additional reporting requirements apply to some species and fishing methods. Anglers can purchase:
• An annual fishing license at $26 for Michigan residents or $76 for nonresidents (both carry an additional $1 surcharge).
• A senior annual fishing license at $11 for Michigan residents 65 and older or residents who are legally blind (with additional $1 surcharge).
• A daily fishing license at $10 per day for Michigan residents and nonresidents 17 and older (valid for 24 hours).
• An optional youth fishing license, which is available at just $2 for anglers ages 16 and younger.
Fishing licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLi censes or by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchasing through the app. Make future online fishing license purchases even more convenient by selecting auto-renew at online checkout or in the Auto Renewals section of the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app to automatically buy future licenses as they become available.
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2026 fishing seasons
• The statewide trout opener and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open Saturday, April 25.
• In Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike seasons open Friday, May 15.
• Michigan’s muskellunge possession season on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers opens Saturday, June 6. (Remember that catch-and-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year.)
• The catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open all year on nearly all waters (unless otherwise closed to fishing — check the current Michigan Fishing Regulations for specifics).
• The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 23, except for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers, which open Saturday, June 20.
The 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations are available online, along with other helpful resources, including fishing locations, “how-to” tips and species identification. Visit the DNR website at Michigan.gov/Fishing to access these resources and the most up-to-date information. For fishing license questions, contact DNR licensing staff at MDNR-E-License @Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.
Ice-Out Perch Fishing
By Jack Payne
We were on the southwest corner of Muskegon Lake in late March. The waves kept the boat rocking, and the anchor held us fairly tight. The wind was blowing hard from the northeast, and the perch were proving to be challenging.
With the constant battering of the wind, the boat would slide forward a few inches with each wave. This resulted in us pulling anchor and resetting every twenty minutes or so.
Until the anchor got stuck. It was wedged in the rocks in 25 feet of water. We pulled and groaned, but it would not budge. We started the motor and tried to pull it free, but that failed.
All we got was soaked for our efforts.
Finally, I said to my friend Denny, “I will start the motor; you cut the anchor rope.” Of course, nothing goes to plan. The old two-cycle motor sputtered as soon as I put it into gear. That quickly, and we were on a straight course for the rocky rip-rap shoreline.
I jumped into the lake holding the side of the boat. Denny fired up the motor, and once my feet felt the rocks, I pushed us outward and told Denny to put it in gear. I said, “drag me out to deep water and help me back into the boat.” That part worked, and we called it an evening and headed to the dock. His son asked, “Is this a regular part of our trips?”
Over decades of on-again, off-again perch fishing excursions, things happen. Sometimes the results are a bucket full of perch, and other days not so much.
March kicks off ice-out perch fishing. At one point in history, perch were plentiful. Half a limit could be counted on each day out, with more days than not having a limit. But some things changed, and not always for the better.
Perch fishing is low-tech, simple, and a good way to catch fish early in the year. It's also a fish that requires patience. Lake Macatawa is a prime example. You can fish a spot and not get a bite in an hour, leave, try another spot with the same results, and go back to the first spot and catch a limit. The next day, maybe not a fish to be found.
I fished Grand Haven a few times with decent success, but it was not a daily occurrence. Spring Lake off the Grand River is a better bet. Silver Lake off the Kalamazoo offers steady action, but access will depend on water depth. Low water levels on Lake Michigan will make access tough.
Gun Lake is worth the time and effort. Once you figure out the pattern, it's a steady producer. Time on the water is paramount, and we like the shallower waters. Think of canals, channels, inlets, and areas with decayed vegetation and warm water.
Muskegon and White Lake are worth the drives. Both produce perch during the winter and at ice-out. Two areas produce the best. Areas close to the channel and the piers or areas near the mouth of connecting lakes, streams, culverts, and inlets. Giving the exact spots is like giving out your mushroom locations. However, if you see a pack of boats, go there!
I still enjoy fishing the 60-to-80-foot clay humps out of South Haven. You need a calm day or a day with an east wind. And you need patience and a milk run of spots.
We were limited out on one Saturday morning, about the same time the fog rolled in. I was glad that my partner had a compass. After that incident, a compass stays in the boat.
Perch Pounder rigs and perch flies fished on a tandem rig land plenty of perch. We also like the glow-in-the-dark teardrops. Some guys swear that a plain gold hook with a minnow is the best. Carry all of the mentioned items along with spikes and wax worms.
There are days when the perch are extremely picky. Also, carry enough sinkers so that your rig doesn't roll all over. We use bright-colored braid line so we can see the bite or any movement. Stop in and visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
We were on the southwest corner of Muskegon Lake in late March. The waves kept the boat rocking, and the anchor held us fairly tight. The wind was blowing hard from the northeast, and the perch were proving to be challenging.
With the constant battering of the wind, the boat would slide forward a few inches with each wave. This resulted in us pulling anchor and resetting every twenty minutes or so.
Until the anchor got stuck. It was wedged in the rocks in 25 feet of water. We pulled and groaned, but it would not budge. We started the motor and tried to pull it free, but that failed.
All we got was soaked for our efforts.
Finally, I said to my friend Denny, “I will start the motor; you cut the anchor rope.” Of course, nothing goes to plan. The old two-cycle motor sputtered as soon as I put it into gear. That quickly, and we were on a straight course for the rocky rip-rap shoreline.
I jumped into the lake holding the side of the boat. Denny fired up the motor, and once my feet felt the rocks, I pushed us outward and told Denny to put it in gear. I said, “drag me out to deep water and help me back into the boat.” That part worked, and we called it an evening and headed to the dock. His son asked, “Is this a regular part of our trips?”
Over decades of on-again, off-again perch fishing excursions, things happen. Sometimes the results are a bucket full of perch, and other days not so much.
March kicks off ice-out perch fishing. At one point in history, perch were plentiful. Half a limit could be counted on each day out, with more days than not having a limit. But some things changed, and not always for the better.
Perch fishing is low-tech, simple, and a good way to catch fish early in the year. It's also a fish that requires patience. Lake Macatawa is a prime example. You can fish a spot and not get a bite in an hour, leave, try another spot with the same results, and go back to the first spot and catch a limit. The next day, maybe not a fish to be found.
I fished Grand Haven a few times with decent success, but it was not a daily occurrence. Spring Lake off the Grand River is a better bet. Silver Lake off the Kalamazoo offers steady action, but access will depend on water depth. Low water levels on Lake Michigan will make access tough.
Gun Lake is worth the time and effort. Once you figure out the pattern, it's a steady producer. Time on the water is paramount, and we like the shallower waters. Think of canals, channels, inlets, and areas with decayed vegetation and warm water.
Muskegon and White Lake are worth the drives. Both produce perch during the winter and at ice-out. Two areas produce the best. Areas close to the channel and the piers or areas near the mouth of connecting lakes, streams, culverts, and inlets. Giving the exact spots is like giving out your mushroom locations. However, if you see a pack of boats, go there!
I still enjoy fishing the 60-to-80-foot clay humps out of South Haven. You need a calm day or a day with an east wind. And you need patience and a milk run of spots.
We were limited out on one Saturday morning, about the same time the fog rolled in. I was glad that my partner had a compass. After that incident, a compass stays in the boat.
Perch Pounder rigs and perch flies fished on a tandem rig land plenty of perch. We also like the glow-in-the-dark teardrops. Some guys swear that a plain gold hook with a minnow is the best. Carry all of the mentioned items along with spikes and wax worms.
There are days when the perch are extremely picky. Also, carry enough sinkers so that your rig doesn't roll all over. We use bright-colored braid line so we can see the bite or any movement. Stop in and visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
Consumers Warns Michigan: Dams Could Be Torn Down Unless Sold
Consumers Energy is debating the future of its 13 hydroelectric dams, including whether to sell the dams and keep the impoundments in place or remove them.
Map courtesy of Consumers Energy
Map courtesy of Consumers Energy
(Ed. note: this story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Take it or leave it.
That’s Consumers Energy’s response after state officials expressed reservations about the utility’s plan to sell 13 aging hydropower dams to a private equity firm.
If state regulators don’t approve the sale to Confluence Hydro as-is, a company executive wrote last week in testimony to those regulators, Consumers plans to decommission all 13 dams — a move sure to anger fans of the reservoirs created by the impoundments.
The ultimatum comes after several groups urged the Michigan Public Service Commission to reject the sale plan or impose conditions, contending Consumers’ proposed terms put the public at risk by failing to ensure Confluence or subsequent owners will maintain the hulking structures.
In his testimony, Consumers Executive Director of Engineering Richard Blumenstock wrote that those terms are non-negotiable.
“Any conditions or adjustments to the transaction are not appropriate and Confluence Hydro and Consumers Energy are not open to their consideration,” Blumenstock wrote.
That irked sale critics, who said the ultimatum reinforces their concerns about transferring the dams from a state-regulated utility to a private buyer not subject to state oversight.
“They’re doing a disservice to their customers by framing it this way,” said Daniel Abrams, an attorney with the Environmental Law and Policy Center, which represents five river conservation groups that oppose the sale.
Confluence itself did not submit any testimony and company spokesperson Natalie Joubert declined to answer questions from Bridge Michigan about the proposed conditions on the sale.
Joubert touted Confluence’s “long-term vision to own, upgrade and relicense all 13 dams” and said the company has “the tools, track record and experience to be successful in Michigan.”
For years now, Consumers has been looking to exit the hydropower business as costs to maintain its 13 dams on the Muskegon, Manistee, Au Sable, Grand and Kalamazoo rivers exceed revenues from the electricity they generate.
Last fall, the company announced a plan to sell the dams for $1 apiece to Confluence, a subsidiary of Maryland-based private equity firm Hull Street Energy, then sign a 30-year contract to buy back their power at double the market rate.
The arrangement would cost Consumers and its customers $1.25 billion in today’s dollars, but company officials estimate that’s at least $500 million cheaper than keeping or decommissioning the dams.
Ratepayer advocates and environmental groups dispute that math, contending Consumers has dramatically overestimated costs to keep or decommission the dams. By their estimate, selling is the most expensive option.
Other critics of the sale agreement, including staff within the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Department of Attorney General, have warned that the proposed sale terms leave the dams vulnerable to unscrupulous owners.
Commission staff have “significant concerns about the long-term future of the Hydro fleet, including the potential for these dams to become stranded assets with significant liabilities that could ultimately become the responsibility of the State,” commission staffer Jonathan DeCooman wrote in testimony last month.
While Confluence has vowed to keep the dams for the long term and invest in needed maintenance, the sale agreement doesn’t hold the company to those vows.
Monopoly utilities like Consumers have a financial incentive to spend money maintaining their dams, because captive ratepayers typically cover those costs plus a guaranteed profit margin. They’re also subject to strict state oversight.
Neither is true for private hydropower owners.
That creates a risk they will underinvest in the structures, resulting in dangerous situations like the 2020 Midland dam failures and bankruptcies that leave taxpayers holding the repair tab.
Hoping to avoid that outcome, commission staff and representatives for Attorney General Dana Nessel have recommended a host of conditions on the sale agreement, including financial assurances, a “parent guarantee” through which Hull Street Energy would inherit liability if Confluence goes bankrupt, restrictions on the company’s ability to sell the dams and a requirement that land surrounding the dams be given to the state if it ceases to be used for hydropower generation.
In his testimony, Blumenstock called those proposed conditions unreasonable and unnecessary, while stating that there is “no reason” to believe Confluence would accept them.
“We need to move forward in a timely fashion with the sale,” Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler told Bridge Michigan.
A spokesperson for Nessel countered that her office’s proposed conditions “matter a great deal for Consumers Energy customers, and she stands by the necessity of those recommendations.”
“It is our hope the MPSC will advocate for those same customers, even if Consumers Energy recommends disregarding their interests,” said Nessel spokesperson Danny Wimmer.
While Consumers officials have said they would pursue decommissioning if the Michigan Public Service Commission rejects the sale, such a plan would also likely need commission approval.
If presented with such a proposal, commissioners would weigh its impact on ratepayers’ power bills and Consumers’ capacity to deliver reliable energy before deciding whether to approve it, MPSC spokesperson Matt Helms said.
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Take it or leave it.
That’s Consumers Energy’s response after state officials expressed reservations about the utility’s plan to sell 13 aging hydropower dams to a private equity firm.
If state regulators don’t approve the sale to Confluence Hydro as-is, a company executive wrote last week in testimony to those regulators, Consumers plans to decommission all 13 dams — a move sure to anger fans of the reservoirs created by the impoundments.
The ultimatum comes after several groups urged the Michigan Public Service Commission to reject the sale plan or impose conditions, contending Consumers’ proposed terms put the public at risk by failing to ensure Confluence or subsequent owners will maintain the hulking structures.
In his testimony, Consumers Executive Director of Engineering Richard Blumenstock wrote that those terms are non-negotiable.
“Any conditions or adjustments to the transaction are not appropriate and Confluence Hydro and Consumers Energy are not open to their consideration,” Blumenstock wrote.
That irked sale critics, who said the ultimatum reinforces their concerns about transferring the dams from a state-regulated utility to a private buyer not subject to state oversight.
“They’re doing a disservice to their customers by framing it this way,” said Daniel Abrams, an attorney with the Environmental Law and Policy Center, which represents five river conservation groups that oppose the sale.
Confluence itself did not submit any testimony and company spokesperson Natalie Joubert declined to answer questions from Bridge Michigan about the proposed conditions on the sale.
Joubert touted Confluence’s “long-term vision to own, upgrade and relicense all 13 dams” and said the company has “the tools, track record and experience to be successful in Michigan.”
For years now, Consumers has been looking to exit the hydropower business as costs to maintain its 13 dams on the Muskegon, Manistee, Au Sable, Grand and Kalamazoo rivers exceed revenues from the electricity they generate.
Last fall, the company announced a plan to sell the dams for $1 apiece to Confluence, a subsidiary of Maryland-based private equity firm Hull Street Energy, then sign a 30-year contract to buy back their power at double the market rate.
The arrangement would cost Consumers and its customers $1.25 billion in today’s dollars, but company officials estimate that’s at least $500 million cheaper than keeping or decommissioning the dams.
Ratepayer advocates and environmental groups dispute that math, contending Consumers has dramatically overestimated costs to keep or decommission the dams. By their estimate, selling is the most expensive option.
Other critics of the sale agreement, including staff within the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Department of Attorney General, have warned that the proposed sale terms leave the dams vulnerable to unscrupulous owners.
Commission staff have “significant concerns about the long-term future of the Hydro fleet, including the potential for these dams to become stranded assets with significant liabilities that could ultimately become the responsibility of the State,” commission staffer Jonathan DeCooman wrote in testimony last month.
While Confluence has vowed to keep the dams for the long term and invest in needed maintenance, the sale agreement doesn’t hold the company to those vows.
Monopoly utilities like Consumers have a financial incentive to spend money maintaining their dams, because captive ratepayers typically cover those costs plus a guaranteed profit margin. They’re also subject to strict state oversight.
Neither is true for private hydropower owners.
That creates a risk they will underinvest in the structures, resulting in dangerous situations like the 2020 Midland dam failures and bankruptcies that leave taxpayers holding the repair tab.
Hoping to avoid that outcome, commission staff and representatives for Attorney General Dana Nessel have recommended a host of conditions on the sale agreement, including financial assurances, a “parent guarantee” through which Hull Street Energy would inherit liability if Confluence goes bankrupt, restrictions on the company’s ability to sell the dams and a requirement that land surrounding the dams be given to the state if it ceases to be used for hydropower generation.
In his testimony, Blumenstock called those proposed conditions unreasonable and unnecessary, while stating that there is “no reason” to believe Confluence would accept them.
“We need to move forward in a timely fashion with the sale,” Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler told Bridge Michigan.
A spokesperson for Nessel countered that her office’s proposed conditions “matter a great deal for Consumers Energy customers, and she stands by the necessity of those recommendations.”
“It is our hope the MPSC will advocate for those same customers, even if Consumers Energy recommends disregarding their interests,” said Nessel spokesperson Danny Wimmer.
While Consumers officials have said they would pursue decommissioning if the Michigan Public Service Commission rejects the sale, such a plan would also likely need commission approval.
If presented with such a proposal, commissioners would weigh its impact on ratepayers’ power bills and Consumers’ capacity to deliver reliable energy before deciding whether to approve it, MPSC spokesperson Matt Helms said.
Outdoor Truths: Certainty
By Gary Miller
I’ve noticed lately how the fishermen are getting amped up for the spring tournaments.
A recent trip to my local bait shop confirmed my suspicions. There were brochures everywhere promoting those upcoming events.
But another thing I’ve noticed is how bad the weather has been lately. I guess it’s normal for this time of year, but there are usually some good weekends when the fishermen can get on the lake, find where the fish are, and experiment with what they might be hitting. If everything stays the way it is now, there will be no early preparation. It will be practice as you go.
There are, however, a few things that most anglers already have in their bag of tricks; namely that they have done this before. They will begin their pursuit at the places that have produced in times past.
That doesn’t mean that success will be certain, only that they will be able to begin with a certain amount of confidence, which is crucial. In fact, one of phrases I’ve heard all my life when it comes to fishing, is “Fish with what you’re confident in.” That is, if you are casting some bait without the expectation of a fish biting it, you need to switch; no matter what someone else might tell you.
Confidence is undoubtedly important because it affects so many other things. It affects the speed to which you fish, your concentration, and your overall attention you must have to set the hook. Really, you can’t say too much about confidence.
On the other hand, while confidence might win the moment, it might just lose the day and the tournament. If one has to choose between confidence and certainty, he better choose the latter and adjust his confidence. And this especially goes for things that hold more weight than a fishing tournament.
It amazes me sometimes how individuals can be so set in their ways without any real confirmation that what they are settled on is valid. Many times, their confidence comes from another individual who also has no foundation for his or her beliefs. They simply believe something because so and so said so – be it a friend or family member. Or this unwarranted confidence has come from a moment of success.
For a fisherman it means that just because you had a good day with that bait before, it doesn’t mean it will work every time. Again, it is better to be certain than have confidence.
Now, what about things of eternal consequence? If you have confidence and cannot adequately defend why you have such confidence, then you may be fooling yourself. Certainty will always come from a statement of fact based upon testable evidence. If this is not true in fishing, you may be casting in a bathtub. If this is not true in matters of your faith, you may wake up one day to find that what you put confidence in, left you holding an empty bag at God’s weigh-in.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoor truths.org.
I’ve noticed lately how the fishermen are getting amped up for the spring tournaments.
A recent trip to my local bait shop confirmed my suspicions. There were brochures everywhere promoting those upcoming events.
But another thing I’ve noticed is how bad the weather has been lately. I guess it’s normal for this time of year, but there are usually some good weekends when the fishermen can get on the lake, find where the fish are, and experiment with what they might be hitting. If everything stays the way it is now, there will be no early preparation. It will be practice as you go.
There are, however, a few things that most anglers already have in their bag of tricks; namely that they have done this before. They will begin their pursuit at the places that have produced in times past.
That doesn’t mean that success will be certain, only that they will be able to begin with a certain amount of confidence, which is crucial. In fact, one of phrases I’ve heard all my life when it comes to fishing, is “Fish with what you’re confident in.” That is, if you are casting some bait without the expectation of a fish biting it, you need to switch; no matter what someone else might tell you.
Confidence is undoubtedly important because it affects so many other things. It affects the speed to which you fish, your concentration, and your overall attention you must have to set the hook. Really, you can’t say too much about confidence.
On the other hand, while confidence might win the moment, it might just lose the day and the tournament. If one has to choose between confidence and certainty, he better choose the latter and adjust his confidence. And this especially goes for things that hold more weight than a fishing tournament.
It amazes me sometimes how individuals can be so set in their ways without any real confirmation that what they are settled on is valid. Many times, their confidence comes from another individual who also has no foundation for his or her beliefs. They simply believe something because so and so said so – be it a friend or family member. Or this unwarranted confidence has come from a moment of success.
For a fisherman it means that just because you had a good day with that bait before, it doesn’t mean it will work every time. Again, it is better to be certain than have confidence.
Now, what about things of eternal consequence? If you have confidence and cannot adequately defend why you have such confidence, then you may be fooling yourself. Certainty will always come from a statement of fact based upon testable evidence. If this is not true in fishing, you may be casting in a bathtub. If this is not true in matters of your faith, you may wake up one day to find that what you put confidence in, left you holding an empty bag at God’s weigh-in.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoor truths.org.
Learn About Raptors This Spring, Summer at Kellogg Bird Sanctuary
A red-tailed hawk perches on the top of an enclosure at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary.
Photo provided
Photo provided
Join Kellogg Bird Sanctuary staff for a special glimpse into caring for the Sanctuary’s resident birds of prey.
“Behind the Scenes: Raptors” will take place on Saturdays this spring and summer, from 10 to 11 a.m. on the following dates: March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18 and Aug. 15.
Participants will join a Sanctuary avian caretaker as they feed and look after the resident eagles, hawks, and owls.
Attendees must be able to walk half a mile along our Paved Path. Or, individuals may require assistance with a wheelchair for the half-mile route and should be prepared to navigate a hill.
The cost of attendance for Sanctuary members is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $4 for children ages 2-17.
For non-members, admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $6 for children ages 2-17.
No registration is required.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 East C Ave., one mile north of M-89 and just west of 40th Street. To learn more, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu. edu. Direct questions to bird sanctuary@kbs.msu.edu or 269-671-2510.
“Behind the Scenes: Raptors” will take place on Saturdays this spring and summer, from 10 to 11 a.m. on the following dates: March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18 and Aug. 15.
Participants will join a Sanctuary avian caretaker as they feed and look after the resident eagles, hawks, and owls.
Attendees must be able to walk half a mile along our Paved Path. Or, individuals may require assistance with a wheelchair for the half-mile route and should be prepared to navigate a hill.
The cost of attendance for Sanctuary members is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $4 for children ages 2-17.
For non-members, admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $6 for children ages 2-17.
No registration is required.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 East C Ave., one mile north of M-89 and just west of 40th Street. To learn more, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu. edu. Direct questions to bird sanctuary@kbs.msu.edu or 269-671-2510.
Bee-Friendly Shrubs Boost Landscape Beauty
Kalm's St. John’s Wort is a bee-friendly shrub.
Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com
By Melinda Myers
Plant a variety of bee-friendly shrubs and enjoy year-round beauty and loads of pollinator appeal. Include a mix of spring, summer and fall bloomers, providing nectar and pollen for visiting bees throughout the season. Selecting bee-friendly shrubs suited to the growing conditions and the available space also boosts your landscape’s beauty and reduces maintenance.
Start the season off with dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia). Its honey scented white flowers first appear before the leaves, offering food to early foraging bees and other pollinators. The blue-green leaves turn shades of red, orange and yellow in the fall.
Include black (Aronia melanocarpa) and red chokeberries (Aronia arbutifolia) with white flowers in spring, great fall color and the black or red fruit that persists into winter. These plants tolerate some shade, wet and occasionally dry soil.
Grow the native ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) in those sunny well-drained locations. This durable drought-tolerant shrub also tolerates occasionally wet soil. White flowers with a pinkish tinge appear in late spring and the rugged exfoliating bark adds texture to the winter landscape.
If you are dealing with black walnut toxicity and dry locations, consider planting New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus). This North American native shrub is deer-resistant and prefers full-sun and well-drained soil. White flowers appear in summer that not only support bees and other pollinators, but this plant is also a host for several butterflies.
Your garden will be abuzz with bee activity when growing Kalm’s St. John’s Wort (Hypericum kalmianum). This small shrub is covered with bright yellow flowers in mid-summer. Grow this drought-tolerant shrub in full to part sun and well-drained soil.
For moist to wet locations consider Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Its round white flowers appear mid-summer, inviting a variety of pollinators to the garden.
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) and Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) are two more summer-blooming shrubs that are shade and moist to wet soil tolerant. Look for varieties of these deer-resistant shrubs that fit your available space and garden design.
For dry shade consider dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). This is not one of the invasive honeysuckles but rather a native plant with yellow summer flowers and leaves that turn from yellow to orange and red then purple in fall.
Brighten your late summer and fall landscape with Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). This large shrub appeals to several specialized bees, prefers full sun to partial shade and is moderately deer resistant.
Finish off the season with Seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides) considered a large shrub or small tree. You and the many visiting pollinators will appreciate the late season fragrant white blossoms. The rosy-purple calyx persists and the attractive exfoliating bark extends its ornamental appeal through winter.
Protect shrubs that are susceptible to animal damage with an organic repellent like Plantskydd (plantskydd.com). It is safe for pollinators and rain and snow resistant, which means fewer applications are needed. Apply any repellent you select before animals start feeding and according to label directions for best results.
Adding bee-friendly shrubs is an excellent way to support these important members of our community. Don’t stop there. Consider including some pollinator-friendly flowers in your gardens to further extend the bloom time and beauty of your landscape.
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Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Tree World Plant Care for her expertise in writing this article. Her website is MelindaMyers.com.
Plant a variety of bee-friendly shrubs and enjoy year-round beauty and loads of pollinator appeal. Include a mix of spring, summer and fall bloomers, providing nectar and pollen for visiting bees throughout the season. Selecting bee-friendly shrubs suited to the growing conditions and the available space also boosts your landscape’s beauty and reduces maintenance.
Start the season off with dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia). Its honey scented white flowers first appear before the leaves, offering food to early foraging bees and other pollinators. The blue-green leaves turn shades of red, orange and yellow in the fall.
Include black (Aronia melanocarpa) and red chokeberries (Aronia arbutifolia) with white flowers in spring, great fall color and the black or red fruit that persists into winter. These plants tolerate some shade, wet and occasionally dry soil.
Grow the native ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) in those sunny well-drained locations. This durable drought-tolerant shrub also tolerates occasionally wet soil. White flowers with a pinkish tinge appear in late spring and the rugged exfoliating bark adds texture to the winter landscape.
If you are dealing with black walnut toxicity and dry locations, consider planting New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus). This North American native shrub is deer-resistant and prefers full-sun and well-drained soil. White flowers appear in summer that not only support bees and other pollinators, but this plant is also a host for several butterflies.
Your garden will be abuzz with bee activity when growing Kalm’s St. John’s Wort (Hypericum kalmianum). This small shrub is covered with bright yellow flowers in mid-summer. Grow this drought-tolerant shrub in full to part sun and well-drained soil.
For moist to wet locations consider Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Its round white flowers appear mid-summer, inviting a variety of pollinators to the garden.
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) and Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) are two more summer-blooming shrubs that are shade and moist to wet soil tolerant. Look for varieties of these deer-resistant shrubs that fit your available space and garden design.
For dry shade consider dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). This is not one of the invasive honeysuckles but rather a native plant with yellow summer flowers and leaves that turn from yellow to orange and red then purple in fall.
Brighten your late summer and fall landscape with Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). This large shrub appeals to several specialized bees, prefers full sun to partial shade and is moderately deer resistant.
Finish off the season with Seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides) considered a large shrub or small tree. You and the many visiting pollinators will appreciate the late season fragrant white blossoms. The rosy-purple calyx persists and the attractive exfoliating bark extends its ornamental appeal through winter.
Protect shrubs that are susceptible to animal damage with an organic repellent like Plantskydd (plantskydd.com). It is safe for pollinators and rain and snow resistant, which means fewer applications are needed. Apply any repellent you select before animals start feeding and according to label directions for best results.
Adding bee-friendly shrubs is an excellent way to support these important members of our community. Don’t stop there. Consider including some pollinator-friendly flowers in your gardens to further extend the bloom time and beauty of your landscape.
—————
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Tree World Plant Care for her expertise in writing this article. Her website is MelindaMyers.com.
