Rouge Rundown – October 22, 2025: New Native Gardens | Inkster Park | Master Rain Gardener & More

The Fall Bug Hunt was held on October 11th.  With the help of our amazing volunteers, 15 teams were able to sample 29 sites, helping us to learn more about the long-term health of the Rouge River. We are deeply grateful for our participatory scientists’ roles in helping FOTR advance our mission to restore, protect, and enhance the Rouge River watershed through stewardship, education, and collaboration.  Keep a lookout for the summary report in the coming months!  Mark your calendars for the Stonefly Search on January 24th, 2026. Registration coming soon! 

A huge THANK YOU to the wonderful volunteers who came out to support two new native plantings this fall, and to the communities who worked to make these gardens happen! In September, 29 incredible volunteers planted over 500 native plants in two new rain gardens at the Henry Ford Centennial Library in the City of Dearborn. These rain gardens will capture stormwater runoff, create habitat, and provide beauty and education to library patrons. This is one of several projects with the City of Dearborn. We hope to see you at the next one!

October kicked off with nearly 100 awesome volunteers coming out over three days to plant over 2,000 plants at the Canton Township Administration Building! These native plants replaced the previous non-native landscaping and will create habitat for pollinators and improve infiltration around this municipal building. This project was in collaboration with Canton Township and the Canton Nature Society.

Thank you to the City of Dearborn and Canton Township for their efforts to create a more sustainable future and healthy Rouge River for all. 

In August, we let you know that 420 acres of the last remaining lakeplain prairie in Michigan, known as Sibley Prairie in Brownstown Township, were up for auction.  A group of concerned residents and land conservancies came together and have stopped the auction for now but MUST raise $6 million to permanently protect it.  To learn more or make a donation, please click the button below.  Every dollar makes a difference to protect this important land. 

You are hereby granted more time for fun this fall! Leave the leaves is a message about what you can do in your own yard to help out endangered pollinators and other beneficial insects over the winter. It’s so easy! You can help the good guys MORE this year by doing LESS work! Just leave the leaves right where they fall – especially in shrub and flower beds. A lot of beautiful and important living things spend their winter in and under the leaves. By letting them be, you can save the bees! 

Add a pop of year-round color to your native garden with this beautiful limited edition garden tile! All created locally by Pewabic pottery studio to celebrate the Southeast Michigan watershed collaboration: the Rain Catchers Collective. This 4×6 tile is the perfect way to bring a little joy to your outdoor space, while showing your support for our clean water mission! 

Hurry! Only a small batch is available. Buy yours today while supplies last.