By Jamie A. Hope
Michigan Capitol Confidential
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has suspended a plan to let a private firm convert 420 acres of trees near Gaylord to a solar farm after the project made national news.
Criticism of the project unfolded in early January as lawmakers and environmental groups called for more transparency and oversight of DNR operations.
RWE Clean Energy had planned to install a solar facility, but it withdrew its plan to use state land after facing opposition from environmental groups, according to Michigan Public Radio.
The plan also faced opposition from some legislators. Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, told Michigan Capitol Confidential that lawmakers were upset they found out about the DNR’s plans from the media. The Legislature did not conduct oversight of administrative agencies during the last two years, he said.
State law requires the department to submit a forest management plan to the Legislature, Roth said.
The DNR violated its own scientific study, according to Roth, when it began to cut down the forest on the state’s 420 acres in Gaylord. A DNR study concluded that cutting down trees to make way for solar panels increases carbon emissions, Roth told CapCon, added that the plan specifically stated not to remove trees and replace them with solar panels. Roth couldn’t provide the survey and the Department Natural Resources did not respond to a request for a copy of it.
Roth also criticized the DNR’s plans for the money it would receive from the lease. The department uses money from oil and natural gas profits for parks and recreation that residents and visitors can enjoy, he told CapCon. “But instead, it planned to use the profits from the solar lease to buy more state land.”
A Harvard University study of another state supports Roth’s claim.
In Massachusetts since 2010, more than 5,000 acres of natural and working lands have been destroyed for solar development, resulting in the emission of more than half a million metric tons of carbon dioxide — more than the annual emissions of 100,000 passenger cars, according to the study “Growing Solar, Protecting Nature.”
“Every acre of forest destroyed is a huge loss for birds and other wildlife, clean air and water, natural beauty, and recreation,” Harvard and Mass Audubon wrote in the report. “But most importantly, cutting forests and developing farmlands to build solar energy doesn’t make sense for the climate: natural ecosystems and farm soils absorb 10% of Massachusetts’ greenhouse gas emissions every year.”
The state will devote no more than 4,000 acres of state-managed public lands for solar development — less than one-tenth of one percent of the DNR’s overall public land ownership, public information officer Ed Golder told CapCon in an email.
The state has leased more than 350,000 acres of public lands for oil and gas development and issued more than 10,000 drilling permits, compared to two solar development leases on public lands that cover 1,324 acres, CapCon reported.
The Michigan United Conservation Clubs told CapCon in an email that it opposed the Gaylord development and said the department had, in this case, violated its mission.
“The Department’s mission statement is: ‘We are committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations.’ Unlike other forms of development and commercial use of public lands, solar arrays are closed for recreational access for the entirety of the lease,” the group said. “The proposal violates the Department’s mission statement.”
The club also called for the department to be more transparent in its selection criteria. The DNR should not let any leases until it releases its criteria for public review and scrutiny, said the MUCC, which added that it does not reject all such plans.
RWE Clean Energy will pursue its project on nearby privately-owned land, media reports indicate.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
Michigan Capitol Confidential
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has suspended a plan to let a private firm convert 420 acres of trees near Gaylord to a solar farm after the project made national news.
Criticism of the project unfolded in early January as lawmakers and environmental groups called for more transparency and oversight of DNR operations.
RWE Clean Energy had planned to install a solar facility, but it withdrew its plan to use state land after facing opposition from environmental groups, according to Michigan Public Radio.
The plan also faced opposition from some legislators. Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, told Michigan Capitol Confidential that lawmakers were upset they found out about the DNR’s plans from the media. The Legislature did not conduct oversight of administrative agencies during the last two years, he said.
State law requires the department to submit a forest management plan to the Legislature, Roth said.
The DNR violated its own scientific study, according to Roth, when it began to cut down the forest on the state’s 420 acres in Gaylord. A DNR study concluded that cutting down trees to make way for solar panels increases carbon emissions, Roth told CapCon, added that the plan specifically stated not to remove trees and replace them with solar panels. Roth couldn’t provide the survey and the Department Natural Resources did not respond to a request for a copy of it.
Roth also criticized the DNR’s plans for the money it would receive from the lease. The department uses money from oil and natural gas profits for parks and recreation that residents and visitors can enjoy, he told CapCon. “But instead, it planned to use the profits from the solar lease to buy more state land.”
A Harvard University study of another state supports Roth’s claim.
In Massachusetts since 2010, more than 5,000 acres of natural and working lands have been destroyed for solar development, resulting in the emission of more than half a million metric tons of carbon dioxide — more than the annual emissions of 100,000 passenger cars, according to the study “Growing Solar, Protecting Nature.”
“Every acre of forest destroyed is a huge loss for birds and other wildlife, clean air and water, natural beauty, and recreation,” Harvard and Mass Audubon wrote in the report. “But most importantly, cutting forests and developing farmlands to build solar energy doesn’t make sense for the climate: natural ecosystems and farm soils absorb 10% of Massachusetts’ greenhouse gas emissions every year.”
The state will devote no more than 4,000 acres of state-managed public lands for solar development — less than one-tenth of one percent of the DNR’s overall public land ownership, public information officer Ed Golder told CapCon in an email.
The state has leased more than 350,000 acres of public lands for oil and gas development and issued more than 10,000 drilling permits, compared to two solar development leases on public lands that cover 1,324 acres, CapCon reported.
The Michigan United Conservation Clubs told CapCon in an email that it opposed the Gaylord development and said the department had, in this case, violated its mission.
“The Department’s mission statement is: ‘We are committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations.’ Unlike other forms of development and commercial use of public lands, solar arrays are closed for recreational access for the entirety of the lease,” the group said. “The proposal violates the Department’s mission statement.”
The club also called for the department to be more transparent in its selection criteria. The DNR should not let any leases until it releases its criteria for public review and scrutiny, said the MUCC, which added that it does not reject all such plans.
RWE Clean Energy will pursue its project on nearby privately-owned land, media reports indicate.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
Anglers Anticipate First Fishing Opportunities of Late Winter
By Jack Payne
I guess that within two weeks we will have some open-water fishing opportunities. Both of these opportunities are perfect for anglers without a boat. We look forward to kicking off the season in a very relaxed manner.
Rivers and the piers will provide the first chance to wet a line. Both are fun and should be explored. The rivers are super-relaxing and you can fish on your schedule. While pier fishing can be done at any time of the day, the low-light periods generally offer the best fishing opportunities.
When fishing a pier there are a few things to consider. First, make sure that the pier is ice-free. An icy pier can be very dangerous. Yesterday’s rain can freeze over quickly, so please pay attention. Second, think about how you will get your gear to the pier and if you are successful, how you will get the fish back to the car.
I have a collapsible shopping cart that works well when you have a concrete approach. If you are crossing sand, then maybe one of the fancier wagons designed for an angler would be best. The wagons have tires designed for sand. Most have some vertical rod rack storage and other cool features. Of course, if you are handy, you could modify an old kid’s wagon.
A long-handled net is required on most of our piers. You might need to do some serious shopping to find a long-reach net. Trust me, the correct net will make your life easier. In our first experiences, we ended up lying on our bellies to net the fish.
When we fish the piers we come prepared. Little Cleo spoons are a favorite of mine to cast. Frozen smelt is my go-to bait for the brown trout. Worms for the suckers and spawn or wax worms if inclined to try for the steelhead. Slip sinkers, floats, and a variety of hooks will go a long way to success.
River fishing can be on the simpler side. I carry a five-gallon pail, a stringer, and a very small plastic tote with sinkers, hooks, and spinners. Generally, I take two rods and a net. I made rod holders using a three-foot piece of steel rod and a one-foot piece of PVC. We use PVC that has an inside diameter larger than our rod handles. PVC in the 1.5-inch diameter or two-inch diameter will work great. Take a few radiator clamps and tighten them to the steel rod. Now you have a rod holder for the river or the piers.
When you fish a river bank, wear boots or hikers with a solid traction sole. My buddy wore penny loafers last spring and enjoyed a slide down the bank on his butt with both feet landing in the river. I grabbed him just before he went backward and did a full-body dunk.
Steelhead will start running up the rivers and suckers will not be far behind them. If steelheads are present where I fish, I will cast one rod and set a second rod into a rod holder. I might use a spawn sac for the steelhead or a leaf worm for a sucker. My go-to bait for river steelhead is a spinner. It could be a Mepp’s spinner or one of my homemade spinners.
I enjoy casting for the steelhead. Rolling spawn or drifting a float is extremely effective but I enjoy feeling the “thump, thump” rhythm of the blade turning in the current. Throwing spinners successfully means reading the river.
Reading the surface can tell you where objects or current breaks might be. A bend in the river might indicate a deeper hole or pool. A fallen tree will create both a hiding spot and a current break.
Our best sucker locations have calm water and are normally slightly deeper. A bridge support is one of my favorites and a close second would be where a small feeder creek enters or a runoff drain. Get prepared for some easy and fun fishing and visit Grand Valley Sport Shop.
I guess that within two weeks we will have some open-water fishing opportunities. Both of these opportunities are perfect for anglers without a boat. We look forward to kicking off the season in a very relaxed manner.
Rivers and the piers will provide the first chance to wet a line. Both are fun and should be explored. The rivers are super-relaxing and you can fish on your schedule. While pier fishing can be done at any time of the day, the low-light periods generally offer the best fishing opportunities.
When fishing a pier there are a few things to consider. First, make sure that the pier is ice-free. An icy pier can be very dangerous. Yesterday’s rain can freeze over quickly, so please pay attention. Second, think about how you will get your gear to the pier and if you are successful, how you will get the fish back to the car.
I have a collapsible shopping cart that works well when you have a concrete approach. If you are crossing sand, then maybe one of the fancier wagons designed for an angler would be best. The wagons have tires designed for sand. Most have some vertical rod rack storage and other cool features. Of course, if you are handy, you could modify an old kid’s wagon.
A long-handled net is required on most of our piers. You might need to do some serious shopping to find a long-reach net. Trust me, the correct net will make your life easier. In our first experiences, we ended up lying on our bellies to net the fish.
When we fish the piers we come prepared. Little Cleo spoons are a favorite of mine to cast. Frozen smelt is my go-to bait for the brown trout. Worms for the suckers and spawn or wax worms if inclined to try for the steelhead. Slip sinkers, floats, and a variety of hooks will go a long way to success.
River fishing can be on the simpler side. I carry a five-gallon pail, a stringer, and a very small plastic tote with sinkers, hooks, and spinners. Generally, I take two rods and a net. I made rod holders using a three-foot piece of steel rod and a one-foot piece of PVC. We use PVC that has an inside diameter larger than our rod handles. PVC in the 1.5-inch diameter or two-inch diameter will work great. Take a few radiator clamps and tighten them to the steel rod. Now you have a rod holder for the river or the piers.
When you fish a river bank, wear boots or hikers with a solid traction sole. My buddy wore penny loafers last spring and enjoyed a slide down the bank on his butt with both feet landing in the river. I grabbed him just before he went backward and did a full-body dunk.
Steelhead will start running up the rivers and suckers will not be far behind them. If steelheads are present where I fish, I will cast one rod and set a second rod into a rod holder. I might use a spawn sac for the steelhead or a leaf worm for a sucker. My go-to bait for river steelhead is a spinner. It could be a Mepp’s spinner or one of my homemade spinners.
I enjoy casting for the steelhead. Rolling spawn or drifting a float is extremely effective but I enjoy feeling the “thump, thump” rhythm of the blade turning in the current. Throwing spinners successfully means reading the river.
Reading the surface can tell you where objects or current breaks might be. A bend in the river might indicate a deeper hole or pool. A fallen tree will create both a hiding spot and a current break.
Our best sucker locations have calm water and are normally slightly deeper. A bridge support is one of my favorites and a close second would be where a small feeder creek enters or a runoff drain. Get prepared for some easy and fun fishing and visit Grand Valley Sport Shop.
DNR to Host Open House March 12 on Hall Lake Dam Modifications
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a public information open house next Wednesday to share a draft plan for decommissioning Hall Lake Dam, which is located in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County.
The meeting will run 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hastings Public Library, 227 E. State St. in Hastings. DNR staff and project team members will be on hand to discuss the draft plan or any environmental concerns related to the lake and surrounding area. People will have opportunity to ask questions and provide comments throughout the two-hour period.
For those who can't attend the open house, a copy of the draft plan and a public feedback form – open through March 19 – are available online. Find links to both at Michigan.gov/YankeeSprings.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Dam Safety Unit has classified the Hall Lake Dam as a significant hazard dam. This means that if the dam fails, loss of human life is unlikely, but economic damage, environmental harm or disruption to essential services downstream are probable. Most funding for this project will come from a recently awarded EGLE dam risk reduction grant.
"The DNR has listened to the public feedback about maintaining recreation on Hall Lake, and has been working with EGLE and our design consultant on a solution that would address the dam deficiencies while still preserving an outdoor recreation lake experience at a new, lower lake elevation," park manager Joe Jandernoa said.
Public input is a valuable step in the planning process. Community members, park users, anglers and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the open house or provide feedback via email.
Before the original earthen dam was installed in 1964, Hall Lake was a natural lake about 8 acres in size with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The development of Gun Lake Road initially raised the water levels of the lake. In an effort to reduce winter fish kills, a water-control structure was added in the mid-1960s that raised the lake’s elevation approximately 6 more feet.
State inspections over the last few years identified the need for further repairs, prompting the DNR to explore options for addressing the dam's condition, while considering potential environmental and recreational impacts.
For more information about Yankee Springs Recreation Area or the March 12 open house, contact Joe Jandernoa at 269-795-9081 or JandernoaJ@Michigan.gov.
The meeting will run 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hastings Public Library, 227 E. State St. in Hastings. DNR staff and project team members will be on hand to discuss the draft plan or any environmental concerns related to the lake and surrounding area. People will have opportunity to ask questions and provide comments throughout the two-hour period.
For those who can't attend the open house, a copy of the draft plan and a public feedback form – open through March 19 – are available online. Find links to both at Michigan.gov/YankeeSprings.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Dam Safety Unit has classified the Hall Lake Dam as a significant hazard dam. This means that if the dam fails, loss of human life is unlikely, but economic damage, environmental harm or disruption to essential services downstream are probable. Most funding for this project will come from a recently awarded EGLE dam risk reduction grant.
"The DNR has listened to the public feedback about maintaining recreation on Hall Lake, and has been working with EGLE and our design consultant on a solution that would address the dam deficiencies while still preserving an outdoor recreation lake experience at a new, lower lake elevation," park manager Joe Jandernoa said.
Public input is a valuable step in the planning process. Community members, park users, anglers and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the open house or provide feedback via email.
Before the original earthen dam was installed in 1964, Hall Lake was a natural lake about 8 acres in size with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The development of Gun Lake Road initially raised the water levels of the lake. In an effort to reduce winter fish kills, a water-control structure was added in the mid-1960s that raised the lake’s elevation approximately 6 more feet.
State inspections over the last few years identified the need for further repairs, prompting the DNR to explore options for addressing the dam's condition, while considering potential environmental and recreational impacts.
For more information about Yankee Springs Recreation Area or the March 12 open house, contact Joe Jandernoa at 269-795-9081 or JandernoaJ@Michigan.gov.
State Awards $3.6 Million for Invasive Species Prevention and Control
The state of Michigan has announced that 32 projects will share $3.6 million in funding through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program for efforts that address the prevention, detection, eradication and control of aquatic (water-based) and terrestrial (land-based) invasive species.
To date, more than $40 million has been awarded to support 301 projects undertaken by units of government, nonprofit organizations and institutions.
The program – cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources – has four key objectives:
• Preventing the introduction of new invasive species.
• Strengthening the statewide invasive species early detection and response network.
• Limiting the spread of recently confirmed invasive species.
• Managing and controlling widespread, established invasive species.
Grant funds will support several early detection and response efforts for several watch list invasive species – those that pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan's economy, environment or human health and either have never been confirmed in the wild in Michigan or have a limited known distribution:
• Surveying and treating hemlock woolly adelgid on the northern edge of the infestation in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
• Conducting surveys for hemlock woolly adelgid along the southern coastal areas of the Upper Peninsula.
• Using environmental DNA monitoring to detect hemlock woolly adelgid in high-priority areas and to better identify and predict the insect’s spread.
• Conducting survey and treatment of mile-a-minute weed infestations in Calhoun County.
• Tracking the progress of beech leaf disease symptoms to determine survival rates and possible resistant strains of American beech.
Funding also will support efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species:
• Improving the effectiveness of Eurasian watermilfoil chemical treatments by genetically screening milfoil populations to determine their response to commonly used and emerging herbicides.
• Building a network to enhance information about, prevention and monitoring of, and response to aquatic invasive species in northern Michigan lakes.
• Sustaining the Go Beyond Beauty program, which raises awareness of high-priority ornamental invasive species in trade, as it expands regional hubs in several cooperative invasive species management areas across the state.
• Continuing support for the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, including its grant program and mobile boat wash crew, to educate boaters and anglers on invasive species prevention actions they can take.
• Supporting continued public reporting of invasive species detections and a growing library of identification resources and training opportunities through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network, housed at Michigan State University.
This year’s grants also support 22 regional cooperative invasive species management areas, the network of partnership organizations working to manage and control invasive species, actively serving all 83 counties in the state.
The program was initiated in 2014, when the state Legislature designated annual funding to address invasive species, with $3.6 million earmarked for grants. This support substantially enhanced Michigan’s Invasive Species Program for aquatic organisms, supported a formal program for terrestrial species and initiated the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program.
As a result of this program, more than 678,000 acres of land and water have been surveyed for invasive species, and more than 56,000 acres have been treated for invasive terrestrial and aquatic plants.
To date, more than $40 million has been awarded to support 301 projects undertaken by units of government, nonprofit organizations and institutions.
The program – cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources – has four key objectives:
• Preventing the introduction of new invasive species.
• Strengthening the statewide invasive species early detection and response network.
• Limiting the spread of recently confirmed invasive species.
• Managing and controlling widespread, established invasive species.
Grant funds will support several early detection and response efforts for several watch list invasive species – those that pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan's economy, environment or human health and either have never been confirmed in the wild in Michigan or have a limited known distribution:
• Surveying and treating hemlock woolly adelgid on the northern edge of the infestation in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
• Conducting surveys for hemlock woolly adelgid along the southern coastal areas of the Upper Peninsula.
• Using environmental DNA monitoring to detect hemlock woolly adelgid in high-priority areas and to better identify and predict the insect’s spread.
• Conducting survey and treatment of mile-a-minute weed infestations in Calhoun County.
• Tracking the progress of beech leaf disease symptoms to determine survival rates and possible resistant strains of American beech.
Funding also will support efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species:
• Improving the effectiveness of Eurasian watermilfoil chemical treatments by genetically screening milfoil populations to determine their response to commonly used and emerging herbicides.
• Building a network to enhance information about, prevention and monitoring of, and response to aquatic invasive species in northern Michigan lakes.
• Sustaining the Go Beyond Beauty program, which raises awareness of high-priority ornamental invasive species in trade, as it expands regional hubs in several cooperative invasive species management areas across the state.
• Continuing support for the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, including its grant program and mobile boat wash crew, to educate boaters and anglers on invasive species prevention actions they can take.
• Supporting continued public reporting of invasive species detections and a growing library of identification resources and training opportunities through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network, housed at Michigan State University.
This year’s grants also support 22 regional cooperative invasive species management areas, the network of partnership organizations working to manage and control invasive species, actively serving all 83 counties in the state.
The program was initiated in 2014, when the state Legislature designated annual funding to address invasive species, with $3.6 million earmarked for grants. This support substantially enhanced Michigan’s Invasive Species Program for aquatic organisms, supported a formal program for terrestrial species and initiated the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program.
As a result of this program, more than 678,000 acres of land and water have been surveyed for invasive species, and more than 56,000 acres have been treated for invasive terrestrial and aquatic plants.
Outdoor Truths
By Gary Miller
I found a warmer day to cruise a property that I hunt. While I initially went to look for deer sheds, I really just needed to get outside and take in anything that was not manmade.
But this time of year, it’s really more than that. During deer season, hunters normally sit still in a few specific places. After all, we don’t want to stink up our hunting area and cause the deer to leave.
What we miss, however, are new sights and sounds. After the season, we can just walk and notice anything and everything about the woods and water around us. It is extremely therapeutic for me to make these hikes and take my time to look deeper into this magnificent creation that we get to live and hunt in.
One of the things I noticed this time was the previous location of a tree stand. Years ago, I hunted this spot because of a well-worn trail that came from a thicket, across a small opening, and almost directly in front of me. While I couldn’t see in the thicket, I could most assuredly tell where the deer chose to exit.
I’m not sure why they chose this place, but I didn’t have to. I just positioned my hunting location according to what I could see at the time.
But now, years had passed since that stand was in place. Enough years to turn that thicket into a patch of woods that I could easily see in and through. Enough years to be able to understand why this path was the right path. And enough years to see the obstacles that caused the deer to take the route they did.
What I couldn’t see then, I could see now. That’s sounds a lot like life to me – especially now that I’m older.
I know of at least four built-in, God-given mechanisms, that we are all born with and show up in our early childhood and youth. One is freedom. Another is to dream. A third is the wonder of a higher power, we call God, and the last is for purpose.
I think there is no doubt that a child’s first question is “Why?” For anything we ask them to do, they will always follow up that ask with the question “Why?” And we usually just say “Because I said so.”
But in this elementary question is simply their desire to know purpose. And we will live our whole life after that seeking the same thing. Many times, it will be posited to God. “Why, God? Why me?
Why this? Why now? Why here?” And a host of other “whys.” All of these are our ways of asking for God’s purpose. And there’s nothing wrong with this. We ask it because of what we can’t see.
But what we can be assured of is that when we are uncertain about purpose, we can be certain God sees in and through our thicket. Our job is to trust Him now, and maybe one day, we’ll get to see what God saw all along.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 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@outdoortruths.org.
I found a warmer day to cruise a property that I hunt. While I initially went to look for deer sheds, I really just needed to get outside and take in anything that was not manmade.
But this time of year, it’s really more than that. During deer season, hunters normally sit still in a few specific places. After all, we don’t want to stink up our hunting area and cause the deer to leave.
What we miss, however, are new sights and sounds. After the season, we can just walk and notice anything and everything about the woods and water around us. It is extremely therapeutic for me to make these hikes and take my time to look deeper into this magnificent creation that we get to live and hunt in.
One of the things I noticed this time was the previous location of a tree stand. Years ago, I hunted this spot because of a well-worn trail that came from a thicket, across a small opening, and almost directly in front of me. While I couldn’t see in the thicket, I could most assuredly tell where the deer chose to exit.
I’m not sure why they chose this place, but I didn’t have to. I just positioned my hunting location according to what I could see at the time.
But now, years had passed since that stand was in place. Enough years to turn that thicket into a patch of woods that I could easily see in and through. Enough years to be able to understand why this path was the right path. And enough years to see the obstacles that caused the deer to take the route they did.
What I couldn’t see then, I could see now. That’s sounds a lot like life to me – especially now that I’m older.
I know of at least four built-in, God-given mechanisms, that we are all born with and show up in our early childhood and youth. One is freedom. Another is to dream. A third is the wonder of a higher power, we call God, and the last is for purpose.
I think there is no doubt that a child’s first question is “Why?” For anything we ask them to do, they will always follow up that ask with the question “Why?” And we usually just say “Because I said so.”
But in this elementary question is simply their desire to know purpose. And we will live our whole life after that seeking the same thing. Many times, it will be posited to God. “Why, God? Why me?
Why this? Why now? Why here?” And a host of other “whys.” All of these are our ways of asking for God’s purpose. And there’s nothing wrong with this. We ask it because of what we can’t see.
But what we can be assured of is that when we are uncertain about purpose, we can be certain God sees in and through our thicket. Our job is to trust Him now, and maybe one day, we’ll get to see what God saw all along.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 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@outdoortruths.org.
Celebrate the Year of the Asclepias by Planting Milkweed for Pollinators
Milkweed (Asclepias) supports monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com
By Melinda Myers
Grow milkweed (Asclepias) to support monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees while adding color, fragrance, and beauty to your landscape.
You’ll find native milkweeds throughout North and South America. In recognition of this garden star’s attributes, 2025 has been deemed the Year of the Asclepias by the National Garden Bureau.
With so many to choose from, select the milkweed that is best suited to the growing conditions, your landscape design, and garden maintenance. Some milkweeds are very aggressive and can quickly take over garden beds and large areas in the landscape, requiring time and effort to maintain their spread.
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is one of the tamer milkweeds with lots of ornamental appeal. This adaptable milkweed is hardy in zones three to ten and was named the 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year.
Grow butterfly milkweed in full sun with well-drained soil. You’ll appreciate its drought tolerance once it’s established. If you are gardening in clay soil, consider growing Asclepias tuberosa var. clay, a natural variant found growing on clay soil. Mark the location of any butterfly milkweed in the garden or plant some spring flowering bulbs nearby to avoid accidentally digging up this late-to-emerge perennial.
You’ll enjoy the orange blossoms in meadow, prairie, and even semi-formal gardens. Combine this beauty with yellow, purple, and blue flowers. Deadhead faded flowers to extend bloom time and prevent reseeding if this is a concern.
When looking for a bit larger plant that tolerates moist to wet and occasionally dry soils, check out red milkweed (Syriaca incarnata), also known as pink and swamp milkweed. You’ll enjoy the fragrant reddish-pink flowers and the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds that visit the flowers.
It’s hardy in zones three to nine plus red milkweed grows three to five feet tall in upright clumps. The flowers are followed by narrow pods that release silky-haired seeds like other milkweeds. It grows best in full sun with moist soil and is less aggressive than common milkweed. Grow this milkweed in sunny mixed borders, natural gardens, rain gardens, and alongside ponds. And best of all, the deer and rabbits tend to leave it, and other milkweeds, be.
Common milkweed Asclepias syriaca is a favorite of monarchs, hardy in zones three to eight, but very aggressive, spreading by deep rhizomes and seeds. The purple-pink flowers are fragrant at night, and you will find a variety of butterflies stopping by for a visit. Keep it contained by persistently removing unwanted suckers and seedpods before they open to prevent reseeding.
Sullivant’s milkweed Asclepias sullivantii is similar but a bit less aggressive. It has the same great butterfly appeal and is hardy in zones four to seven.
These are just a few of the more than 100 native milkweed species, many of which you may want to add to your gardens. You can find out more about the species native to your region in the Milkweed Regional Guides located on the Xerces Society website. You are sure to find one or more to add to your garden beds.
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Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Revised Edition, and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Grow milkweed (Asclepias) to support monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees while adding color, fragrance, and beauty to your landscape.
You’ll find native milkweeds throughout North and South America. In recognition of this garden star’s attributes, 2025 has been deemed the Year of the Asclepias by the National Garden Bureau.
With so many to choose from, select the milkweed that is best suited to the growing conditions, your landscape design, and garden maintenance. Some milkweeds are very aggressive and can quickly take over garden beds and large areas in the landscape, requiring time and effort to maintain their spread.
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is one of the tamer milkweeds with lots of ornamental appeal. This adaptable milkweed is hardy in zones three to ten and was named the 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year.
Grow butterfly milkweed in full sun with well-drained soil. You’ll appreciate its drought tolerance once it’s established. If you are gardening in clay soil, consider growing Asclepias tuberosa var. clay, a natural variant found growing on clay soil. Mark the location of any butterfly milkweed in the garden or plant some spring flowering bulbs nearby to avoid accidentally digging up this late-to-emerge perennial.
You’ll enjoy the orange blossoms in meadow, prairie, and even semi-formal gardens. Combine this beauty with yellow, purple, and blue flowers. Deadhead faded flowers to extend bloom time and prevent reseeding if this is a concern.
When looking for a bit larger plant that tolerates moist to wet and occasionally dry soils, check out red milkweed (Syriaca incarnata), also known as pink and swamp milkweed. You’ll enjoy the fragrant reddish-pink flowers and the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds that visit the flowers.
It’s hardy in zones three to nine plus red milkweed grows three to five feet tall in upright clumps. The flowers are followed by narrow pods that release silky-haired seeds like other milkweeds. It grows best in full sun with moist soil and is less aggressive than common milkweed. Grow this milkweed in sunny mixed borders, natural gardens, rain gardens, and alongside ponds. And best of all, the deer and rabbits tend to leave it, and other milkweeds, be.
Common milkweed Asclepias syriaca is a favorite of monarchs, hardy in zones three to eight, but very aggressive, spreading by deep rhizomes and seeds. The purple-pink flowers are fragrant at night, and you will find a variety of butterflies stopping by for a visit. Keep it contained by persistently removing unwanted suckers and seedpods before they open to prevent reseeding.
Sullivant’s milkweed Asclepias sullivantii is similar but a bit less aggressive. It has the same great butterfly appeal and is hardy in zones four to seven.
These are just a few of the more than 100 native milkweed species, many of which you may want to add to your gardens. You can find out more about the species native to your region in the Milkweed Regional Guides located on the Xerces Society website. You are sure to find one or more to add to your garden beds.
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Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Revised Edition, and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
