Rouge Rundown – April 9, 2025: Volunteer Action | Paddle the Rouge | Get Ready for Spring & More

Are you ready to let the rain work for you? Now’s the perfect time to shop for rain barrels, Michigan native plants, and more! Let us help you make your garden beautiful—with a little help from the rain! 

Order plants and rain barrels for pick up and then join the fun at the “same-day sale” for plant art, individual plants, trees, shrubs, and more on Saturday, May 17th at the Livonia Department of Public Works – 12973 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI 48150.

ORDER DEADLINE:
Pick-up native plant flats, rain barrels & accessories:  Wed, April 30th

Interested in learning about rain gardens?  This workshop is for you! Come learn about rain gardens and how you can build one in your yard! This one-hour introductory workshop is free and open to the public – everyone is welcome. 

Rain gardens reduce neighborhood flooding and basement backups, while adding beauty to your yard. Learn how you can protect your home and your Rouge River with a rain garden. There are two more opportunities to attend. 

April 26 at Plymouth Twp. Hall
May 3 at Dearborn Performing Arts Center

Do you hear that? The River is calling you. Enjoy spring on the water with Friends. Connect with your River. Enjoy the peace of nature. Join your Friends for an upcoming paddle trip! 

May 10: Spring Birding Paddle Trip with Detroit Bird Alliance. Discover the birds of the Rouge on Nankin Lake, in Hines Park. 

May 17:  Pride Paddle with the Queer Outdoors

Paddlers have the option to rent a canoe or kayak or bring their own boat. Please note, fees are due in advance for all attendees. 

You are invited to build a clean water future with Friends! Plant a beautiful new rain garden on Saturday, May 10 at 9 am at the Southfield Civic Center. Rain gardens soak up the rain before it reaches the drain. These working gardens lessen local flooding, reduce water pollution, and provide critical butterfly and bird habitat. All ages and gardening experience welcome! Gloves, tools, and water will be provided. 

Are you ready to plant a more beautiful world with Friends? You are invited to join in on the planting fun on Thursday, May 15 at 5 pm at the historic Mary Thompson Farm in Southfield. Learn about native plants as you plant a beautiful garden. Create a living ecosystem that will provide food and habitat for native wildlife while looking beautiful! All ages and gardening experience welcome! Gloves, tools, and water will be provided. 

Application Now Open for 2025 Course! Be Part of a Green Future. This workforce development program is designed to provide you with pathways towards living wage employment through the maintenance of important landscaping features that protect the Rouge River, Detroit River, and Lake Erie. 

This 6 week, 12 class course will teach you how to weed native plant gardens, identify native plants vs. weeds, conduct photo monitoring, identify soil types,  transplant and thin garden plants, and more! NO prior experience needed!  There are three cohort options this year. Click the button below to learn more. 

April is a time to celebrate and encourage public participation in scientific research.  Participatory Scientists are vital to Friends of the Rouge monitoring programs. The data collected by caring volunteers shows decades long trends for benthic macroinvertebrates, frog & toads, water quality, and more!  Biological indicator species (bugs, frogs, fish, etc.) are used because their ability to live in the system reflects the long term health of the watershed. Participatory science data, collected by amazing Friends like you, is used to identify problem areas for additional investigation and to track restoration project success. Cheers to all of you for making the river a better place!

Dreaming about the seeing more color in your yard? As new life emerges from dormancy, you may ask yourselves, “What is the purpose of my yard?” There are many possible answers: enjoying beauty and colorful flowers,  impressing neighbors and friends, providing pollinator habitat, creating a safe space for the kids to play, or helping to save our Rouge River and our planet. Learn what steps you can take to bring more beauty, vitality, and joy into your outdoor life this spring, while benefiting your Rouge River.