Sprout & Spruce

A gardening gathering

Saturday, May 16, 2026 starting at 10am

Join the Looking Glass Garden Club for a day of growth & community!

From 10am to 2pm, join us to learn from local experts as they discuss native plants, and sustainable gardening ideas during our guest panel.

We will have native plants on site for sale.

In the afternoon, the community is invited to join us while we install our new flower boxes on the local bridges.

Meet the Speakers

Connecting Community to Ecology

Carolyn Miller

Botanist & Restoration Leader

Carolyn Miller is a botanical technologist at Michigan State University’s W.J. Beal Botanical Garden and a leading voice for ecological stewardship. A graduate of MSU in Botany and Plant Pathology, she is currently completing a master’s degree focused on inspiring urban residents to replace traditional turf lawns with productive native landscapes.Carolyn is a driving force behind restoration projects on campus and beyond. She successfully established MSU’s program to manage invasive species in university woodlots, transforming a "do nothing" policy into a growing movement of volunteer-led restoration. Her work is dedicated to fighting "plant blindness" by teaching others to connect deeply with the native plants and insects that sustain our local ecosystems.

Constructing Prairies

Dan Zay

Native Grassland Specialist & Conservation Leader

Dan Zay is a distinguished conservationist with decades of experience in ecological restoration and federal resource management. Before retiring, Dan served as the State Resource Conservationist for the Michigan USDA-NRCS, where he led technical staff in implementing vital Farm Bill conservation programs.His extensive career includes roles as a State Biologist for the NRCS and a Project Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A graduate of Purdue University, Dan has been a lifelong advocate for native landscapes, establishing Indiana’s first native plant nursery and developing specialized expertise in prescribed burning for prairie health. Today, he remains a dedicated expert in native grassland restoration and sustainable land management.

The Truth About Earthworms

Ellen Holste

Founder and owner of EnviroSpeak

Earthworms are more than garden helpers — they shape soil, ecosystems, and even forests in surprising ways. This talk uncovers their biology, origins, benefits, invasive counterparts, and their hidden impacts.Ellen Holste is the founder and owner of EnviroSpeak, a company committed to creating meaningful and memorable connections to science and nature. She has over a decade of experience engaging audiences through talks, walks, and workshops and is certified as an interpretive guide and trainer through the National Association for Interpretation. Ellen earned her Master’s of Science in Forestry and dual PhD in Forestry and Ecology from Michigan State University. She considers herself a “fun-gal” and holds a wild-foraged mushroom certification through the state of Michigan. Ellen resides in Haslett, Michigan with her husband and son and enjoys hiking, biking, practicing yoga, reading, and writing.

Fred Cowles

The health of the Looking Glass River

Fred is the proprietor of Cowles Environmental with over 50 years of experience in water pollution control and stormwater regulation. A graduate of U of M and WMU, Fred has led initiatives in watershed management and pollution prevention, earning numerous honors including the Bedell Award for Outstanding Leadership. Since 2018, he has served as President of the Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds. An avid wilderness paddler and geocacher, Fred has explored waterways across North America, from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Boundary Waters.

Our Native Plant Selection

All plants are Michigan-natives from Wildtype nursery, these plants are beautiful, beneficial, and will thrive in our local ecosystem.

(First come, first serve, while supplies last)

Northern Blazing Star

(Liatris scariosa) A showstopper sun lover with tall spikes of fuzzy purple blooms. It acts as a magnet for Monarchs and hummingbirds in late summer.

Yarrow

(Achillea millefolium) A rugged beauty with feathery foliage and flat clusters of white flowers. It is incredibly drought-tolerant, loves the sun, and a favorite for butterflies and beneficial insects.

Showy Goldenrod

(Solidago speciosa) True to its name, this is one of our most elegant fall-bloomers. Don’t fear the sneeze! Goldenrod is often blamed for hay fever, but its pollen is too heavy to be wind-borne. It’s actually Ragweed doing the dirty work—Goldenrod is all beauty and zero allergies!

Swamp Milkweed

(Asclepias incarnata) The essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars, but with a bonus: fragrant pink clusters that smell like vanilla! It loves moist soil but handles average garden beds just fine.

Cardinal Flower

(Lobelia cardinalis) Known for its intense, "stop-sign" red blooms. If you want hummingbirds in your yard, this is the plant to have. It thrives in spots that stay a bit wetter.

Golden Alexanders

(Zizia aurea) One of the first to bloom in the spring! Its bright yellow, lace-like flowers provide essential food for early pollinators and serve as a host plant for Black Swallowtail butterflies.

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