Join this panel discussion to learn about winter restoration techniques and how to use the conditions of the season to your advantage. Presenters Steven, Matt and Robb draw from a variety of experiences and will talk about techniques, helpful timelines, photo documentation, herbicide use and considerations, and winter brush burns. Equipment advice such as using brush hogs, chain saws, and even grant-funded excavators equipped with forestry mulchers will be covered. Presentations will focus primarily on shrub control for natural areas including fens, bogs, wet meadows and upland sites as well. Plenty of time will be allotted for Q&A and broader group discussion and sharing.
Presenters
Steven Parrish University of Michigan Botanical Gardens and Arboretum
Steven is a natural areas specialist at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. His interest in the natural world began in the backyard of his Ann Arbor home turning over rocks with his twin brother and comparing how many creatures his rock held. At age eight, his interest in nature was further supported when his father pointed out the three distinct variations of the leaves of the Sassafras tree. Steven earned a Natural Resources degree from the U of M. His interests include insect macrophotography and natural wood art, and he loves to share the spirit of the natural world with people using a “free-association” in nature, where one discovery leads to another.
Matt Demmon Feral Flora
Matt has been working outdoors since 2004. His work experience includes organic farming, landscape design, installation and maintenance, native plant propagation, prescribed fire, invasive plant control, natural areas management planning, growing mushrooms, and botany. His current main focus is in designing and installing ecologically sustainable landscapes that nourish wildlife and humans alike. In past years, Matt worked at Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation, Plantwise, and currently works at Feral Flora.
Robb Johnston Stantec
Robb is the project manager for environmental services in Stantec’s West Olive office (Ottawa County). Robb has been an ecological restoration professional for the past 15 years, although passion for, and appreciation of, the natural world have been lifelong constants. In the past, Robb has worked for municipalities (City of Ann Arbor NAP), non-profits (Michigan Nature Association), and private companies (PlantWise). In his current position at Stantec, Robb puts his years of field experience to use managing projects large and small for a wide variety of clients in West Michigan and beyond.
Steven Parrish
Matt Demmon
Matt Demmon
Robb Johnston