National Pollinator Week — held annually in June — is a time dedicated to informing the public about the benefits and struggles of pollinators.

In Michigan, pollinators are essential for crops like apples, blueberries and more. They produce around $1 billion in crops each year for the state, according to a collaborative study between Wayne State and Michigan State universities.

Although pollinators provide many benefits, their populations are shrinking because of human activity. Insecticides kill off swaths of the bee population, and pollinators in general also deal with habitat loss and intense heat waves. 

One of the best ways to help save bees, birds, butterflies and other pollinators is planting a tree that will house and feed them for years to come.

The need for trees

Trees provide more than just flowers and nectar. According to Michigan-based Master Arborist Luke Brunner, several bee species depend on tree leaves for nourishment during their early stages. They also provide fruit that birds and other pollinators eat, as well as shelter.

Some of the native trees Brunner recommends to plant on behalf of pollinators include: 

• Eastern redbud
• Tulip tree
• Crabapple
• Hawthorn
• Northern Catalpa
• American basswood
• Black tupelo

These trees range in size and provide different benefits. Brunner notes that the Black tupelo isn’t seen much in Michigan these days. Its range lies mostly to the south, but it notably provides early spring blooms for pollinators to gather nectar from.

Right plant, right place

Brunner encourages planters to think about the size of the tree they’re placing years in the future to make sure they pick an appropriate space for it. Knowing the height of the species when it’s mature will help determine a good placement so that it can be enjoyed by people and pollinators for years to come.

There is a simple alternative for those who don’t have the room or ability to care for a tree but still want to help pollinators: put native flower and grass seeds in a pot and let them grow. 

“Just one square foot will hold a lot of flowers and you can put that on your porch, on your apartment balcony, in your backyard, just about anywhere,” Brunner said. “If you can do your part to plant some wildflowers or a small tree or something to bring them into your yard, it’s really going to help the environment.” 

In late March, a severe ice storm struck the northern part of Michigan.

Tree branches and limbs, weighed down by ice, broke and fell to the ground, leaving towering toothpick trees behind. Many roads, campgrounds, forests, boat launches and other facilities managed by the state were closed as a result. 

Months later, most areas have reopened to the public, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is warning visitors to be cautious and expect some trail and road closures to still be in place for their safety. 

Most trails, campgrounds open

The DNR staff went to work to ensure all campgrounds opened at the start of the season on May 15. Some state forests and boat access sites lagged behind, but most are open and ready for Fourth of July weekend.

Kerry Heckman, from the DNR’s Ice Storm Response team, said that travelers should be aware that some roads running through state forests are blocked off. Likewise, some trails may be blocked for visitor safety. 

“If you are going to be just in the forest itself, just be aware that there are a lot of hazards that remain,” Heckman warned, adding that trees that are leaning or limbs caught in the tree canopy are still at risk of falling suddenly. 

She said parts of State Parks Onaway, Clear Lake and Petoskey are temporarily closed. Additionally, Cheboygan State Park is closed for the summer for regularly scheduled updates unrelated to the ice storm. 

Forest recovery efforts continue

It will take a while for the forest to fully recover from the cold snap, Heckman said.

 ”We’ll be working for many years to replant, and bringing the forest back to what they were prior to the storm,” she said.

Heckman says the DNR is also working to salvage fallen trees for timber as fallen limbs are cleared.

Finding new uses for the fallen wood and clearing it out is essential to minimize potential harms to the environment, though the dead branches have benefits as well. 

Long-term impacts on the environment

The influx of fallen timber and moisture leads to a number of environmental impacts, Heckman said.

Forest health is a concern due to the rapid change, but the woods are resilient. 

The dead wood will provide food for woodpeckers and pests like the pine bark beetle, whose population is expected to explode and cause further damage to trees. Exposed wood is also vulnerable to diseases.

One additional danger of having so much timber on the forest floor is providing fuel for potential wildfires, she said.

The open canopy gives room for new plant growth, including that of invasive species.

As the fallen branches decompose, they will replenish the soil. This — in addition to the moisture delivered by the storm — will promote the growth of fungi.

“For people who love morel mushrooms, that’s going to be amazing,” said Heckman.

This story is part of WDET’s ongoing series, The Detroit Tree Canopy Project.

The two-year search is almost over for participants of the Big Tree Hunt. 

The contest, held by environmental nonprofit ReLeaf, challenges everyday citizens to try and find the biggest trees in Michigan. 

There are five prize-winning categories, including:

• Largest tree submitted by someone under 15
• Largest tree submitted by someone 16 and up
• Largest tree by county
• Largest white pine (Michigan’s state tree)
• Any tree that is equal to or greater than the current state champion of a species

“We wanted to get people outside and looking up and being aware of trees and their benefits,” said ReLeaf Executive Director Melinda Jones. She hopes that the friendly competition better connects people with nature and tree conservation.

Looking for trees is one way ReLeaf engages families with young kids, but contestants span all ages.

“It also appeals to a lot of retirees,” said Jones. “They get just as big of a kick.”

ReLeaf reports that they’ve gotten submissions from 70 counties in Michigan so far. They hope to see submissions from the remaining 13 counties: Baraga, Branch, Hillsdale, Lake, Luce, Menominee, Montcalm, Newaygo, Ontonagon, Osceola, Otsego, Schoolcraft and Tuscola. 

Crowning new champion trees

ReLeaf also wants Michiganders to work together to find new state and national champion trees.

Big Tree Hunt entries are sent to the Michigan Big Tree Register. Specialists then add additional information such as the height of the tree and its overall health before the tree is added to the national register. 

Michigan currently has five recognized National Champion Trees.

How to enter

All you need to enter the Big Tree Hunt is a tree’s circumference at “chest height” — that’s 4.5 feet above the ground — and the tree’s location. All entered trees have to be alive, accessible, and new additions to the Michigan Big Tree Register in order to win prizes.

After submissions close, the biggest trees entered into the contest are verified by volunteers, who verify the circumference and species of the nomination. 

The last day to enter online or through mail is August 22, 2025. 

A photo submission from the 2023-2025 Big Tree Hunt, provided by ReLeaf Michigan