Northern Michigan University will host a grand opening garden party for its new Campus Nursery as part of the 125th anniversary celebration at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. Participants are invited to tour the garden and learn about native plant species and efforts to increase biodiversity on our campus. There will also be an opportunity to get hands dirty by helping with fall tree and bush planting. Light refreshments will be served.
The nursery is a collaboration between NMU Grounds, Facilities and SHINE (Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment). The idea was an adaptation of multiple student-submitted Green Fund project proposals.
According to its website, The Campus Nursery grows native, nativar and cultivated native species to use in future landscaping projects on campus. The Nursery is located behind NMU's Central Receiving area, exactly where NMU grew a tree nursery decades ago. Today there is a 150-foot x 75-foot parcel to grow plant native trees, shrubs and bushes. A native plant intern will help to nurture the plants until they are large enough to be used in campus landscaping projects.