A new bill would redefine temporary living at campgrounds as housing pressures grow. The effort comes after regulators warned that longer stays could violate public health rules.
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com)
By Janelle D. James
Bridge Michigan
As Michigan faces housing and worker shortages, state lawmakers are weighing a proposal that would allow people in areas of need to live in campgrounds for more than half a year.
Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Rachelle Smit, R-Shelbyville, would allow longer campground stays by amending the Michigan Health Code, which currently only allows temporary campground living for up to six months.
“In many situations, people have turned to their RVs and Michigan campgrounds as temporary housing solutions,” Smit said during a recent hearing in the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee.
“People who seek these alternative living arrangements include utility linemen and women sent to northern Michigan for nine months following last year’s ice storm, (and) visiting nurses and other health care providers temporarily serving in a rural community.”
Under the bill, prolonged says would be allowed at campgrounds within 50 miles of communities facing specific challenges, such as states of emergency, housing shortages, worker shortages or tight rental markets based on government data.
The proposal comes months after state regulators clarified how they interpret “temporary” stays at campgrounds, setting off concerns among some campground owners and lawmakers about how the rule is being enforced.
In an October 2024 letter to campgrounds and local health departments, the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said stays of more than 180 days in a year could trigger possible enforcement action.
Smit argued the department “arbitrarily interpreted” Michigan law in a way that “people seeking necessary housing in a campground are being booted out prematurely, with nowhere else to go.”
Changing the law now could “help solve the housing problem in our state,” said Smit, whose legislation is co-sponsored by four other lawmakers, including Democratic state Rep. Will Snyder, D-Muskegon.
While the bill aims to provide a temporary solution for individuals who may have been displaced due to a natural disaster or an emergency, opponents caution that campgrounds used outside of their intended purpose may present public safety concerns.
“Providing residency at campgrounds designed for temporary use has many consequences that must be carefully considered,” Dylan Gebhard, legislative liaison for EGLE, said during the committee hearing.
“Residency will change the type of water supply under the campground and subject the campground to much more stringent regulations.”
Currently, Michigan campgrounds are required to provide a drinkable water supply that meets the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act standards, according to the state’s Public Health Code. Modern campgrounds with sewer connections must either connect to a municipal sewer system when available or install an onsite sewage disposal system approved by EGLE and the local health department.
Individual campgrounds that would like to extend temporary housing to people for more than six months would need to establish an individual water-site, sewer and electrical connection and place fire hydrants within the campground based on local specifications.
“Water and sewer systems that serve campgrounds are usually designed to be operated seasonally and are not designed for year-round operations through the cold temperatures experienced in Michigan,” Gebhard said. “Converting year-round sewer service may require significant source water distribution upgrades, along with collection and treatment upgrades.”
—————
A housing shortage Band-aid?
Smit’s proposal would also allow individuals to seek permanent residence at a campground in counties where the rental vacancy rate is below 5 percent and the median gross rent exceeds 30 percent of the median family income, benchmarks commonly used to measure housing strain.
While the bill does not explicitly authorize permanent residency, such as allowing individuals to list a campground as their home address or receive mail there, some lawmakers worry that broadening the definition of “temporary” would not address the state’s larger housing shortage.
“There is a documented affordable housing shortage for the entire state, and it has been for a long time,” said Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips, D-Detroit. “If we begin to shift the affordable housing shortage to the campgrounds, I don’t know if we’re moving the ball forward as a state.”
An analysis of census data from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority suggests that the state has a housing shortage of about 119,000 units, even after adding 22,000 additional units in recent years.
Supporters of the bill note that campgrounds are intended for recreational purposes, but individuals who have been displaced may need more than six months to find permanent housing.
“We are not operating a manufactured housing community, nor do we wish to have the authority to permit customers to occupy campsites permanently,” said Jeff Sweitzer, park president of Sandy Pines
Recreational Community in Hopkins. “That said, there are situations that arise in the state of Michigan routinely that don’t comply with the divine 6-month timeline.”
By Janelle D. James
Bridge Michigan
As Michigan faces housing and worker shortages, state lawmakers are weighing a proposal that would allow people in areas of need to live in campgrounds for more than half a year.
Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Rachelle Smit, R-Shelbyville, would allow longer campground stays by amending the Michigan Health Code, which currently only allows temporary campground living for up to six months.
“In many situations, people have turned to their RVs and Michigan campgrounds as temporary housing solutions,” Smit said during a recent hearing in the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee.
“People who seek these alternative living arrangements include utility linemen and women sent to northern Michigan for nine months following last year’s ice storm, (and) visiting nurses and other health care providers temporarily serving in a rural community.”
Under the bill, prolonged says would be allowed at campgrounds within 50 miles of communities facing specific challenges, such as states of emergency, housing shortages, worker shortages or tight rental markets based on government data.
The proposal comes months after state regulators clarified how they interpret “temporary” stays at campgrounds, setting off concerns among some campground owners and lawmakers about how the rule is being enforced.
In an October 2024 letter to campgrounds and local health departments, the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said stays of more than 180 days in a year could trigger possible enforcement action.
Smit argued the department “arbitrarily interpreted” Michigan law in a way that “people seeking necessary housing in a campground are being booted out prematurely, with nowhere else to go.”
Changing the law now could “help solve the housing problem in our state,” said Smit, whose legislation is co-sponsored by four other lawmakers, including Democratic state Rep. Will Snyder, D-Muskegon.
While the bill aims to provide a temporary solution for individuals who may have been displaced due to a natural disaster or an emergency, opponents caution that campgrounds used outside of their intended purpose may present public safety concerns.
“Providing residency at campgrounds designed for temporary use has many consequences that must be carefully considered,” Dylan Gebhard, legislative liaison for EGLE, said during the committee hearing.
“Residency will change the type of water supply under the campground and subject the campground to much more stringent regulations.”
Currently, Michigan campgrounds are required to provide a drinkable water supply that meets the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act standards, according to the state’s Public Health Code. Modern campgrounds with sewer connections must either connect to a municipal sewer system when available or install an onsite sewage disposal system approved by EGLE and the local health department.
Individual campgrounds that would like to extend temporary housing to people for more than six months would need to establish an individual water-site, sewer and electrical connection and place fire hydrants within the campground based on local specifications.
“Water and sewer systems that serve campgrounds are usually designed to be operated seasonally and are not designed for year-round operations through the cold temperatures experienced in Michigan,” Gebhard said. “Converting year-round sewer service may require significant source water distribution upgrades, along with collection and treatment upgrades.”
—————
A housing shortage Band-aid?
Smit’s proposal would also allow individuals to seek permanent residence at a campground in counties where the rental vacancy rate is below 5 percent and the median gross rent exceeds 30 percent of the median family income, benchmarks commonly used to measure housing strain.
While the bill does not explicitly authorize permanent residency, such as allowing individuals to list a campground as their home address or receive mail there, some lawmakers worry that broadening the definition of “temporary” would not address the state’s larger housing shortage.
“There is a documented affordable housing shortage for the entire state, and it has been for a long time,” said Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips, D-Detroit. “If we begin to shift the affordable housing shortage to the campgrounds, I don’t know if we’re moving the ball forward as a state.”
An analysis of census data from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority suggests that the state has a housing shortage of about 119,000 units, even after adding 22,000 additional units in recent years.
Supporters of the bill note that campgrounds are intended for recreational purposes, but individuals who have been displaced may need more than six months to find permanent housing.
“We are not operating a manufactured housing community, nor do we wish to have the authority to permit customers to occupy campsites permanently,” said Jeff Sweitzer, park president of Sandy Pines
Recreational Community in Hopkins. “That said, there are situations that arise in the state of Michigan routinely that don’t comply with the divine 6-month timeline.”
A Go-To Tackle Box for Perch and Crappie
Jack Payne shows off a perch caught on a spinner.
Photo provided
By Jack Payne
It was cold, winter jacket weather, gloves, the whole bit. The bite was steady with a few doubles thrown in. And then the fog rolled in. I was glad that my buddy had a compass with him.
We were using the Perch Pounder rigs tipped with minnows. A bell sinker on the bottom. The Perch Pounder rigs are built with fish skin and a glow bead. This is a steady and top producer when perch are targeted.
Perch flies are another great lure. Finding a place that sells them can be a challenge. A perch fly is a small hook wrapped with tinsel and or flashabou. Some flies might have a strand of marabou, but not all.
The key is the crystal flash or the flashabou. It reflects light much like a real minnow. If you search Etsy, you will find plenty of folks who tie crappie and bluegill flies.
I suggest a glow bead. Slide a small glow egg bead onto your line, tie on the fly, and slide the glow bead down over the eye of the hook.
Ice-fishing teardrops are another of my perch favorites. I like a bright, multi-colored teardrop or a glow-in-the-dark teardrop. Perch are curious by nature, and bright, flashy colors attract them. Metallics, silvers, and golds, or a combination of the three, will also deliver big results.
In place of a sinker, use a Hali Jig. Tip the Hali with a wax worm or a spike. Do not be surprised if half of your fish come on the Hali. And remember, if it glows, it goes. Any of the glow in the dark colors will work.
A small mini worm harness is another fun perch bait. Think of a crawler harness, only much smaller. This little spinner/harness rig can be cast, drifted, or slow trolled. Tipped with a fat worm, this is often my summer favorite.
Hands down, my favorite crappie bait would be the Charlie Brewer Crappie Grub. A close second would be the action tail/twister tail. When we start casting our small jigs, it’s a toss-up between the slider grub and the action tail.
Both of these are incredible crappie baits and must-have items. We use chartreuse or yellow 80 percent of the time. After that, maybe a white, blue, or pink color. We carry five colors.
If plastics aren’t working, it’s time to break out a small spinner. A favorite of mine is the Charlie Brewer Charlie Bee. This little spinner has a small willow-style blade.
A small spinner adds flash and has just a different feel on the retrieve. At times, a spinner will make a monstrous difference. Some anglers will use the old pony or horse-head style jig and spinner.
During ice-out and just before freeze-over, a marabou or hair-style jig works well. Think of the old Pinky style jig. A marabou jig dances, pulsates, and breathes. Downsize your jig. My go-to jig size is the 1/32-ounce jig.
And yes, a slip float has a place in every angler’s tackle box. At ice-out, a near-stationary bait will attract crappies. Tipping a marabou jig with a minnow works wonders during the first six weeks of open water or when the fish develop lockjaw.
Slip floats work great on perch. Early in the season, we find perch in areas with decaying vegetation. The slip float keeps your bait just off the bottom.
Being honest with you, I can’t remember the last time I used a plain hook with a minnow for either crappies or perch. If I use a minnow, it’s an add-on.
Tube jigs are popular with some anglers and I really should use them more. They fish faster than a marabou jig but can be fished slower than a plastic grub or action tail. They also work well under a slip float.
One plano tote will cover both species. You can keep things simple and light, and still catch a pile of fish. Stop in at Bob’s Gun and Tackle Shop before spring arrives.
It was cold, winter jacket weather, gloves, the whole bit. The bite was steady with a few doubles thrown in. And then the fog rolled in. I was glad that my buddy had a compass with him.
We were using the Perch Pounder rigs tipped with minnows. A bell sinker on the bottom. The Perch Pounder rigs are built with fish skin and a glow bead. This is a steady and top producer when perch are targeted.
Perch flies are another great lure. Finding a place that sells them can be a challenge. A perch fly is a small hook wrapped with tinsel and or flashabou. Some flies might have a strand of marabou, but not all.
The key is the crystal flash or the flashabou. It reflects light much like a real minnow. If you search Etsy, you will find plenty of folks who tie crappie and bluegill flies.
I suggest a glow bead. Slide a small glow egg bead onto your line, tie on the fly, and slide the glow bead down over the eye of the hook.
Ice-fishing teardrops are another of my perch favorites. I like a bright, multi-colored teardrop or a glow-in-the-dark teardrop. Perch are curious by nature, and bright, flashy colors attract them. Metallics, silvers, and golds, or a combination of the three, will also deliver big results.
In place of a sinker, use a Hali Jig. Tip the Hali with a wax worm or a spike. Do not be surprised if half of your fish come on the Hali. And remember, if it glows, it goes. Any of the glow in the dark colors will work.
A small mini worm harness is another fun perch bait. Think of a crawler harness, only much smaller. This little spinner/harness rig can be cast, drifted, or slow trolled. Tipped with a fat worm, this is often my summer favorite.
Hands down, my favorite crappie bait would be the Charlie Brewer Crappie Grub. A close second would be the action tail/twister tail. When we start casting our small jigs, it’s a toss-up between the slider grub and the action tail.
Both of these are incredible crappie baits and must-have items. We use chartreuse or yellow 80 percent of the time. After that, maybe a white, blue, or pink color. We carry five colors.
If plastics aren’t working, it’s time to break out a small spinner. A favorite of mine is the Charlie Brewer Charlie Bee. This little spinner has a small willow-style blade.
A small spinner adds flash and has just a different feel on the retrieve. At times, a spinner will make a monstrous difference. Some anglers will use the old pony or horse-head style jig and spinner.
During ice-out and just before freeze-over, a marabou or hair-style jig works well. Think of the old Pinky style jig. A marabou jig dances, pulsates, and breathes. Downsize your jig. My go-to jig size is the 1/32-ounce jig.
And yes, a slip float has a place in every angler’s tackle box. At ice-out, a near-stationary bait will attract crappies. Tipping a marabou jig with a minnow works wonders during the first six weeks of open water or when the fish develop lockjaw.
Slip floats work great on perch. Early in the season, we find perch in areas with decaying vegetation. The slip float keeps your bait just off the bottom.
Being honest with you, I can’t remember the last time I used a plain hook with a minnow for either crappies or perch. If I use a minnow, it’s an add-on.
Tube jigs are popular with some anglers and I really should use them more. They fish faster than a marabou jig but can be fished slower than a plastic grub or action tail. They also work well under a slip float.
One plano tote will cover both species. You can keep things simple and light, and still catch a pile of fish. Stop in at Bob’s Gun and Tackle Shop before spring arrives.
Outdoor Truths
By Gary Miller
Over the years of traveling, I have stayed in so many homes and hotels. So many, I can’t remember them all.
I do remember one stint in Texas where I stayed in five different places over a 16-day period. Sometimes you wake up in the morning, and before you get out of bed, you have to think about where you are.
There are also those times when you get up in the middle of the night, head to the bathroom, only to find out the door you opened didn’t lead to the bathroom, but to the hallway of the hotel. And now you know why I try to get fully awake in the morning, before I bust any moves that might expose my Hanes.
Yes, it’s all different, except my storm. My storm is what I take with me everywhere I go. It puts me to sleep at night and wakes me up in the morning with its surety. My storm is the nature sound on my phone app.
Some listen to brown or white noise, but mine is this soft thunderstorm. And why me of all people would be calmed by a thunderstorm, I have no idea. But I am.
My wife started this habit years ago. Back then, it was a CD that she let play through the night. I also remember deer hunting with my friend Jason. At night he slept with a hair dryer running. True story. I know it was his wife’s because Jason was nearly bald. (Love you, Jason.)
Some of you like a fan running. I like that too. There are a lot of sounds that people find comforting. But my go-to nighttime sound is my thunderstorm.
Here’s what I’ve noticed. No matter where I am, most of the time, I sleep pretty well. And I believe it’s because no matter where I go, and no matter where I stay, I have something that is consistent, ever-present, and never changing. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this.
While my storm is a soothing sound that helps me sleep, what my storm cannot do is calm the internal storms I may lay down with each night. The ones that race through my mind. The ones that can cause anxiety, worry, and dread. These storms crash louder than the ones on my app. Their realness drowns out the manufactured versions. And they can be just as frightening at home.
The truth is our ability to sleep doesn’t come from what we hear from some created sound. It does, however, come from what we hear. When those internal storms have threatened my sleep at night, here is what I have listened to. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
My thunderstorm helps me fall asleep. God’s promised peace is what keeps me there.
—————
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@outdoortruths.org.
Over the years of traveling, I have stayed in so many homes and hotels. So many, I can’t remember them all.
I do remember one stint in Texas where I stayed in five different places over a 16-day period. Sometimes you wake up in the morning, and before you get out of bed, you have to think about where you are.
There are also those times when you get up in the middle of the night, head to the bathroom, only to find out the door you opened didn’t lead to the bathroom, but to the hallway of the hotel. And now you know why I try to get fully awake in the morning, before I bust any moves that might expose my Hanes.
Yes, it’s all different, except my storm. My storm is what I take with me everywhere I go. It puts me to sleep at night and wakes me up in the morning with its surety. My storm is the nature sound on my phone app.
Some listen to brown or white noise, but mine is this soft thunderstorm. And why me of all people would be calmed by a thunderstorm, I have no idea. But I am.
My wife started this habit years ago. Back then, it was a CD that she let play through the night. I also remember deer hunting with my friend Jason. At night he slept with a hair dryer running. True story. I know it was his wife’s because Jason was nearly bald. (Love you, Jason.)
Some of you like a fan running. I like that too. There are a lot of sounds that people find comforting. But my go-to nighttime sound is my thunderstorm.
Here’s what I’ve noticed. No matter where I am, most of the time, I sleep pretty well. And I believe it’s because no matter where I go, and no matter where I stay, I have something that is consistent, ever-present, and never changing. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this.
While my storm is a soothing sound that helps me sleep, what my storm cannot do is calm the internal storms I may lay down with each night. The ones that race through my mind. The ones that can cause anxiety, worry, and dread. These storms crash louder than the ones on my app. Their realness drowns out the manufactured versions. And they can be just as frightening at home.
The truth is our ability to sleep doesn’t come from what we hear from some created sound. It does, however, come from what we hear. When those internal storms have threatened my sleep at night, here is what I have listened to. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
My thunderstorm helps me fall asleep. God’s promised peace is what keeps me there.
—————
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@outdoortruths.org.
County Parks Tax Increase Proposed
Ottawa County voters will likely be asked this summer to approve an increase in the county’s parks and open space millage.
The county Parks and Recreation Commission voted Feb. 18 to recommend placing a 0.53-mill, 10-year levy on the August ballot, an increase from the current 0.33-mill levy. The county Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the official ballot language at an upcoming meeting.
The county parks millage was first approved by voters in 1996 and has been renewed twice, in 2006 and 2016, each time with increasing voter support, at a rate of 0.33 mills. In 2016, the millage passed with 72.3 percent support.
The proposed 0.53-mill rate is estimated to generate approximately $102,516,951 from 2027-2036. For a resident with a home market value of $400,000, the levy would have an estimated annual cost of $68.90 per year. Learn more about Ottawa County property tax rates at: miOttawa.org/taxes.
The recommendation follows a comprehensive strategic planning process informed by broad public input, scientific surveying, and stakeholder engagement. Community feedback highlighted strong demand for additional protected land, expanded trail connections, more accessible amenities, and enhanced stewardship, outdoor education, and engagement services.
While the existing millage remains the backbone of county parks funding, rising operational and maintenance costs now fully consume current revenues. As a result, the system has little capacity to expand trails, protect additional land, or respond to growing public demand, even as park use has exceeded two million visitors annually.
“Public feedback has been clear,” county parks director Jason Shamblin said. “Residents value our parks and want more access, better trails connections, and continued conservation. This recommendation reflects what we heard, and what it will take to deliver. To meet growing demand and deliver what residents are asking for, we need additional funding.”
Thanks to decades of voter support, Ottawa County has built a nationally respected system of more than 40 parks and open spaces that has grown alongside the county’s population. Parks play a vital role in quality of life and local prosperity, generating approximately $6 in local economic impact for every dollar invested through the millage.
If approved by voters, the millage would allow the Parks and Recreation Commission to respond directly to priorities identified through public engagement and scientific surveying, including:
•?Improved habitat through proactive natural resource management
•?More accessible parks through upgraded amenities
•?Expanded outdoor education and programming
•?Park enhancements and regional trail connections
•?Continued high quality maintenance of trails and facilities
Questions may be directed to the Ottawa County Parks Administrative Office at 616-738-4810.
The county Parks and Recreation Commission voted Feb. 18 to recommend placing a 0.53-mill, 10-year levy on the August ballot, an increase from the current 0.33-mill levy. The county Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the official ballot language at an upcoming meeting.
The county parks millage was first approved by voters in 1996 and has been renewed twice, in 2006 and 2016, each time with increasing voter support, at a rate of 0.33 mills. In 2016, the millage passed with 72.3 percent support.
The proposed 0.53-mill rate is estimated to generate approximately $102,516,951 from 2027-2036. For a resident with a home market value of $400,000, the levy would have an estimated annual cost of $68.90 per year. Learn more about Ottawa County property tax rates at: miOttawa.org/taxes.
The recommendation follows a comprehensive strategic planning process informed by broad public input, scientific surveying, and stakeholder engagement. Community feedback highlighted strong demand for additional protected land, expanded trail connections, more accessible amenities, and enhanced stewardship, outdoor education, and engagement services.
While the existing millage remains the backbone of county parks funding, rising operational and maintenance costs now fully consume current revenues. As a result, the system has little capacity to expand trails, protect additional land, or respond to growing public demand, even as park use has exceeded two million visitors annually.
“Public feedback has been clear,” county parks director Jason Shamblin said. “Residents value our parks and want more access, better trails connections, and continued conservation. This recommendation reflects what we heard, and what it will take to deliver. To meet growing demand and deliver what residents are asking for, we need additional funding.”
Thanks to decades of voter support, Ottawa County has built a nationally respected system of more than 40 parks and open spaces that has grown alongside the county’s population. Parks play a vital role in quality of life and local prosperity, generating approximately $6 in local economic impact for every dollar invested through the millage.
If approved by voters, the millage would allow the Parks and Recreation Commission to respond directly to priorities identified through public engagement and scientific surveying, including:
•?Improved habitat through proactive natural resource management
•?More accessible parks through upgraded amenities
•?Expanded outdoor education and programming
•?Park enhancements and regional trail connections
•?Continued high quality maintenance of trails and facilities
Questions may be directed to the Ottawa County Parks Administrative Office at 616-738-4810.
Blackhawks Big Bluestem Adds Bold Color and Interest to the Landscape
By Melinda Myers
No matter your garden style you are likely to find a place for this year’s Perennial Plant of the Year, Blackhawks big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’). You’ll enjoy the beauty it adds to your gardens and low maintenance it requires to thrive.
This cultivar of our native big bluestem provides vertical interest, motion and bold color to the landscape. Its leaves start out dark green and develop reddish-purple tips throughout the growing season. Flowers appear in August and by September the leaves and stems of the plant turn a deep purple hue.
Hardy in zones 3 to 9, it prefers full sun and adapts to a wide range of soil but may flop in fertile, moist conditions. Once established, it is drought tolerant. Make sure it receives needed moisture and proper care for the first two years while developing its robust, more drought-tolerant root system.
In addition to drought tolerance, Blackhawks big bluestem has no major pests or disease problems. Just cut it back to the ground in late winter before new growth begins. Its overall excellent performance made it one of the top-rated ornamental grasses in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Evaluation Study of Hardy Ornamental Grasses.
Big bluestem was the dominant grass of the prairies and largely responsible for the formation of prairie sod. This drought-tolerant grass is a host plant for many skippers and provides shelter and food for songbirds.
It grows 5-to-8 feet tall and reseeds readily, making it hard for many home gardeners to include in their landscape.
It is smaller in size than the big bluestem species, just 5 feet tall and 24 inches wide, making it more suitable for home landscapes. Use it as a screen, backdrop in garden beds or as part of mixed borders. It combines nicely with other perennials, like Zagreb threadleaf coreopsis, calamint, liatris, Rudbeckia, sedum, asters and more.
Blackhawks big bluestem, like other Perennial Plants of the Year, was selected for its low maintenance, pest and disease resistance and ability to thrive in a wide range of climates. It joins past winners like little bluestem, butterfly weed, Millenium allium, American Goldrush Rudbeckia and Amsonia hubrichtii.
These winners are selected by Perennial Plant Association members, which include hundreds of horticulture experts like landscapers, designers, professors, plant breeders, growers, retailers and public garden curators.
Look for opportunities to include this year’s Perennial Plant of the Year in your gardens. You’ll enjoy its beauty and the benefits it provides whether your gardens are informal, naturalistic or cottage-style.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is MelindaMyers.com.
No matter your garden style you are likely to find a place for this year’s Perennial Plant of the Year, Blackhawks big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’). You’ll enjoy the beauty it adds to your gardens and low maintenance it requires to thrive.
This cultivar of our native big bluestem provides vertical interest, motion and bold color to the landscape. Its leaves start out dark green and develop reddish-purple tips throughout the growing season. Flowers appear in August and by September the leaves and stems of the plant turn a deep purple hue.
Hardy in zones 3 to 9, it prefers full sun and adapts to a wide range of soil but may flop in fertile, moist conditions. Once established, it is drought tolerant. Make sure it receives needed moisture and proper care for the first two years while developing its robust, more drought-tolerant root system.
In addition to drought tolerance, Blackhawks big bluestem has no major pests or disease problems. Just cut it back to the ground in late winter before new growth begins. Its overall excellent performance made it one of the top-rated ornamental grasses in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Evaluation Study of Hardy Ornamental Grasses.
Big bluestem was the dominant grass of the prairies and largely responsible for the formation of prairie sod. This drought-tolerant grass is a host plant for many skippers and provides shelter and food for songbirds.
It grows 5-to-8 feet tall and reseeds readily, making it hard for many home gardeners to include in their landscape.
It is smaller in size than the big bluestem species, just 5 feet tall and 24 inches wide, making it more suitable for home landscapes. Use it as a screen, backdrop in garden beds or as part of mixed borders. It combines nicely with other perennials, like Zagreb threadleaf coreopsis, calamint, liatris, Rudbeckia, sedum, asters and more.
Blackhawks big bluestem, like other Perennial Plants of the Year, was selected for its low maintenance, pest and disease resistance and ability to thrive in a wide range of climates. It joins past winners like little bluestem, butterfly weed, Millenium allium, American Goldrush Rudbeckia and Amsonia hubrichtii.
These winners are selected by Perennial Plant Association members, which include hundreds of horticulture experts like landscapers, designers, professors, plant breeders, growers, retailers and public garden curators.
Look for opportunities to include this year’s Perennial Plant of the Year in your gardens. You’ll enjoy its beauty and the benefits it provides whether your gardens are informal, naturalistic or cottage-style.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is MelindaMyers.com.
