Portage Library to host Keweenaw Garden Club butterfly presentation Apr. 4

A Monarch butterfly visits milkweed plants in the Keweenaw. (Photo © and courtesy Gustavo Bourdieu)

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library (PLDL) will host the Keweenaw Garden Club for an evening of learning about species of butterflies that live in our area.

Tim Eisele, an assistant professor in Michigan Tech's Department of Chemical Engineering, is also an entomology hobbyist. He will present "Keweenaw Butterflies in the Garden" at 7 p.m. Monday, April 4, at the PLDL.

Eisele will show slides and discuss which species are likely to come around in local gardens, what times of year to expect them, and what can be done either to provide food for their caterpillars, or to attract the adults. His slide show demonstrates that even though the Keweenaw does not have the diversity of butterflies that are seen further south, the area does have a nice selection of local species to enjoy. For local entomology photos and news, visit Eisele’s Web site.

The Keweenaw Garden Club was established by and for gardening enthusiasts. They have presentations at the Portage Lake District Library on the first Monday of each month September through May. Those who are interested in learning more about the club can visit their Web site.

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Portage Library to host Master Gardener presentation, workshop TONIGHT, Feb.2

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host the Keweenaw Garden Club for an evening of mid-winter landscaping wisdom and planning presented by certified Landscape Designer and Master Gardener at Michigan Technological University Quincy Higgins Arney.

Higgins Arney will present "The Do’s and Don’ts of Landscape Design" from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. TONIGHT, Monday, Feb. 2. An optional workshop will begin at 8 p.m. and graph paper, pencils, and rulers will be provided.

Winter is a great time to plan and design gardens, yards, and outdoor spaces, and Higgins Arney will guide participants through the landscaping design process. She will share tips and tricks that can save time, money, and energy while creating a landscape that enhances a home’s aesthetics and usability. She will also show how to reduce the amount of maintenance it requires as well as how to make the landscape more environmentally friendly.

The Keweenaw Garden Club was established by and for gardening enthusiasts. They have presentations at the Portage Lake District Library on the first Monday of each month, September through May. To learn more about the club, visit https://sites.google.com/site/keweenawgardenclub/.

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl,org.

Keweenaw Garden Club to meet Oct. 6 at Portage Library

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host the Keweenaw Garden Club for an evening of gardening tips and ideas for working with our short growing season.

James Niemela, commercial market farmer in Baraga County, will present "Season Extenders for Keweenaw Vegetable Gardens" at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6.

The Keweenaw’s shorter growing season and cool nights can make vegetable gardening challenging. Niemela, a local commercial farmer who uses organic methods, will share low-tech ideas that anyone can use to extend the harvest season in their home gardens. His focus will be on inexpensive options such as low tunnels, use of hardy cultivars that withstand freezing, and succession planting for continued harvest into the fall and early winter.

The Keweenaw Garden Club was established by and for gardening enthusiasts. They have meetings and presentations at the Portage Lake District Library on the first Monday of each month. Those who are interested in learning more about the club are welcome to attend the general meeting at 6:30 p.m. prior to the presentation at 7 p.m. or visit the Keweenaw Garden Club Web site.

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl,org.

Portage Library to host Keweenaw Garden Club Sept. 8

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host the Keweenaw Garden Club as it resumes its gardening programs for the public from September through May.

Rebecca Krans, Consumer Horticulture Educator from the Michigan State University Extension Office, will present "Winter Hardy Shrubs and Proper Pruning" at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8.

Krans will discuss proper pruning techniques to help shrubs look their best. She will also share "Smart Gardening" strategies for selecting the best winter hardy shrubs for the Keweenaw. Participants will also learn about gardening resources, programs, and events that are sponsored by the MSU Extension Office.

The Keweenaw Garden Club was established by and for gardening enthusiasts. They have meetings and presentations at the Portage Lake District Library on the first Monday of each month. Those who are interested in learning more about the club are welcome to attend the general meeting at 6:30 p.m. prior to the presentation at 7 p.m. or visit https://sites.google.com/site/keweenawgardenclub/. 

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl,org.

Portage Library to host Keweenaw Garden Club presentation on composting March 3

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host the Keweenaw Garden Club for an evening of learning how to turn food and yard waste into "black gold" for your garden.

Matt Manders will present "The Dirt on Composting" from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 3. Manders has been growing an organic vegetable garden and using composting techniques for over a decade in the Houghton area. He and his wife, Lynette Potvin, own and operate Superior Skills Workshops, which offers hands-on learning about gardening, landscaping, craftsman construction, and renewable energy.

The Keweenaw Garden Club was established by and for gardening enthusiasts. They have meetings and presentations at the Portage Lake District Library on the first Monday of each month. Those who are interested in learning more about the club are welcome to attend the general meeting at 6:30 p.m. prior to the presentation at 7 p.m. or visit https://sites.google.com/site/keweenawgardenclub/. 

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl,org.

Keweenaw Garden Club event scheduled for Portage Library Jan. 6 to be postponed

HOUGHTON --The Keweenaw Garden Club meeting and presentation, "Winter Sowing Your Way to a Beautiful Garden," scheduled for Monday evening, Jan. 6, at Portage Lake District Library, will be postponed to a further date, to be announced.

Since schools will be closed tomorrow, Jan. 6, because of inclement weather, the Portage Library will also be closed.

Editor's Note: Keweenaw Now announced this event earlier today. Thanks to Chris Alquist, Portage Library community program director, for the update.