Rouge Rundown – September 24, 2025: Fall Friends Fest | Ribbon Cutting | Native Plant Market & More

You are invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate a new mini-forest on the Addams Elementary school grounds planted by students, teachers and volunteers.

When: Friday, September 26th at 2 PM
Where: 14025 Berwyn Ave, Redford Township

This forest will buffer the playground and school from a busy freeway. These hardy trees will soak up rainwater, reducing the amount of water flowing into the Rouge River and downstream flooding.

Come plant some beautiful native gardens in front of the Canton Township Administration Building! The Michigan native plants used in these gardens will add colorful blooms and create food and habitat for native wildlife. There will be three days of planting fun. You are invited to join for any day or all of them!

When: October 3 and 4 from 9 AM – Noon and Sunday October 5 from 1 – 4 PM
Where: 1150 Canton Ctr Rd, Canton

All ages and gardening experience welcome! Gloves, tools, and water will be provided.

Fall is a fantastic time to plant Michigan Native Plants. Shop the Fall Native Plant Market at Keep Growing Detroit – right next to Eastern Market – on Saturday, October 4. Select from a variety of native plants sold on-site by multiple local vendors. Enjoy a beautiful Fall day at Eastern Market!

Select from a variety of native plants sold on-site by multiple local vendors. Enjoy a beautiful Fall day at Eastern Market! Available products will include: trees, shrubs, single plugs, flats, garden kits, quarts, pots, artisan goods, and garden tiles.

A limited number of Pawpaw saplings will be available at the sale!

THIS YEAR ONLY: Support your local watershed collaboration, the Rain Catchers Collective, with a LIMITED EDITION GARDEN TILE! Available only while supplies lasts. Buy your garden tile today.

Your Friends of the Rouge Fish Team was out at Fish Hatchery Park in Northville last week, engaging with community members about Johnson Creek and the fish that we find in the Rouge River. Fish Hatchery Park was recently restored through a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant awarded to the Alliance of Rouge Communities. Mayor Turnbull of Northville gave opening remarks, Chris Bobryk from Environmental Consulting & Technology highlighted the restoration work completed at the park, FOTR demonstrated fish sampling techniques in the river, and then showcased the fish captured in a viewing tank on the streambank.  Thank you to everyone who attended and made this event a success! 

To learn more about the Rouge River fish community, check out Bob Muller’s book, The Fish Community of the Rouge River: Metro Detroit’s Urban River.

Last week, Saunders Memorial and Allen Temple AME Church invited the community to see and learn about their new landscape designed to manage rainwater while providing a beautiful multi-use space for the church.  Through the Sacred Grounds initiative, led by National Wildlife Foundation, and in partnership with Sierra Club, Friends of the Rouge transformed the churchyard with three rain gardens, dozens of trees, a stone pathway and beautiful arbors last Fall.  The space will be used for outdoor weddings and events, yoga, and youth education and exploration.