Welcome to the Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association!
It is our mission to share our knowledge to educate people about Lepidoptera and their habitats. To instill and foster a passion for nature in others. To establish and preserve the environment for butterflies, skippers, and moths.
2026 Meeting Dates and Topics
Meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of the month - January thru October at 6:30pm
at Crosswalk Community Church - 38600 Palmer Rd. Westland Mi
Meetings available on Zoom (members only)
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January 15 - "Gardening Through the Seasons" - Jean Persely, Master Gardener, Rain Gardener and Landscape Designer
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February 19 - "Nocturnal Moth Pollination" - Karma Thomas, MSU Research Assistant
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March 19 - "How to get more native plant gardens established in the Plymouth area" Carly Cirilli, Co-founder Plymouth Pollinators
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March 31 - Grant Application Deadline - ​
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April 16 - "After the Caterpillar, Cool Chrysalis and Cocoons" Dr. Erwin (Duke) Elsner, MSU Executive Board Member representing the Department of Entomology
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April 16 - Announce Grant Award Recipients
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May 21 - "Prairie Restoration" John Blair documenting his experience reestablishing a prairie on his property
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June 18 - TBD
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​July 11 - Garden Walk - Dick and Barb Groen, 12:00 noon - 2:00pm
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July 25 - Garden Tour and Plant Sale - Jean Persely, 10:00am - 1:00pm.
July Garden Walks - Brenda Sattler, Elmer Grimm. Bill Beauregard and Burt Sloan hosting virtual tours. Date and time TBD
​August 22 - Saturday Picnic Meeting and Garden Tour at John Blair's Prairie. Bring your lunch and a drink
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September 17 - TBD
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October 15 - Butterfly Garden Grant Fundraiser and Pot Luck
Past Meeting Topics
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Butterflies, Ants, and Aphids by Brenda Sattler
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How to Make a Butterfly Garden by John Blair
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Guess What Butterflies are Drinking, Plant Nectar and/or Fruit Juice by Caryle Spence
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The Beauty of Native Plants by Drew Lathin, Owner of Creating Sustainable Landscapes
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How We Can Help the Butterflies by Brenda Sattler
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Good Bug, Bad Bug by Kristine Hahn, an MSU Extension Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator
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Growing for Wildlife by John DeLisle, Owner/Ecologist at Natural Community Services
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Designing and Maintaining Residential Native Landscapes by Bill Schneider - Owner of Wildtype Nursery
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The Milkweed Community by Independent Naturalist and Blogger Don Drife, 'The Michigan Nature Guy'
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Movie viewing of "Toward Harmony with Nature, Native Plants, and Natural Landscapes" - by Doug Tallamy, author of "Bringing Nature Home".
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Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden by Brenda Sattler - Owner of Brenda's Butterfly Habitat and author. Then shopping at Barson's Greenhouse for butterfly host and nectar plants.
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Field Trip to Brenda Sattler and John Blair's gardens
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Maintaining Butterfly Gardens by SEMBA Pres., Carolyn Sohoza. The dos and don’ts of maintaining a butterfly garden.
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Movie viewing of Wings of Life. An intimate look at flowers, butterflies, bats, & other flying pollinators and their critical importance to the world's food supply.