Gardeners club to discuss ways to attract beneficial insects

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Shelby Gardeners Club is inviting helpful insects to its gardens this year.

The club will hold a presentation on insects that are beneficial for gardens with David Löwenstein at 1 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center, 4101 River Bends Drive in Shelby Township.

Löwenstein, affiliated with the Michigan State University Extension, will explain how to nurture and sustain beneficial insects to keep them returning.

“Having insects in the garden is a good thing. Pollinators and pest control are two of the most important services insects contribute. It does not require drastic changes to make a garden attractive to insects. A small undisturbed area, tolerating some messiness or adding the right types of flowers are steps in the right direction,” he said.

Magda O’Hanlon, of the Shelby Gardeners Club, said last year she removed all her landscaping plants and added all native plants.

“My goal is to have a feeding station for the insects and the birds. I have plants that flower at different times so that there is always something for them to eat. It has been exciting to see all the different bees and butterflies that I never had in my garden before. The native plants need less watering because of their deep roots. I don’t use fertilizer, herbicides or pesticides, as I want to keep all the beneficial insects around. If my garden is all eaten up, then I’ve done my job. The native plants can handle it,” she said.

Jennifer Ott, a club member who owns My Thyme Gardens, a garden coaching, designing and business consulting company, said she is excited to learn all about the insects that can help her garden and ways to attract them.

“I’m thrilled to dive deeper into the world of beneficial insects in the garden. It’s an essential aspect that has been overlooked for too long. I love this journey of learning to collaborate with nature, leading to healthier soil, critters and plants,” Ott said.

A $5 donation is appreciated to help support the ongoing Shelby Gardeners Club’s community talks.

For further information, contact Ivy Schwartz at (586) 873-3782.