Michigan Botanical Society,

Southwestern Chapter

The Southwestern Chapter, based in Kalamazoo, serves amateur and professional botanists and nature enthusiasts in the southwest corner of Michigan.

2025-2026 Winter Schedule

Field Trips

During the warmer months, the Southwestern Chapter organizes field trips to some of the most spectacular natural sites in southwestern Michigan, many of which are not open to the public. 

Meetings

Meetings occur in November, January, February, March & April, on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Western Michigan University, 2708 Wood Hall, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM and the presentation starts at 7:00 PM.

Membership

As members, you may attend field trips to some of the most spectacular natural sites in southwestern Michigan, many of which are not open to the public.  During colder weather, we have monthly meetings featuring presentations on botanical, ecological and conservation subjects.  Members also receive a subscribe to the peer-reviewed journal, The Great Lakes Botanist, a Journal of North American Botany, which is published twice a year and a subscription to the spring and fall newsletter Arisaema. 

Follow the Southwestern Chapter

Join the Southwestern Chapter

Use this link for the easy online payment. A small convenience fee of 3.5% will be added to your payment through the Cheddar-Up platform.

2025 Southwestern Chapter Officers

Executive Committee: Joe Trapp, Michael Dombos, Abbie Bristol, Wayne Roussel

Secretary / Treasurer: Wayne Roussel

Useful Links

Michigan Botanical Society

The Great Lakes Botanist https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/glbot/

The Michigan Botanist (1962-2006) https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000497763

Winter Wildflowers: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ldnum/WinterWildflowers%281973%29dblpgs.pdf

University of Michigan Herbarium https://michiganflora.net/home.aspx

State of Michigan

Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/services

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) https://www.michigan.gov/dnr

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) https://www.michigan.gov/egle

MSU Extension Service https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/

 W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS)  https://www.kbs.msu.edu/

 Kellogg Bird Sanctuary http://birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu/

Conservation

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) https://swmlc.org/

Michigan Nature Association (MNA) https://www.michigannature.org/

Chikaming Open Lands https://chikamingopenlands.org/

The Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/en-us/

Michigan Audubon https://www.michiganaudubon.org/

Land Conservancy of West Michigan https://naturenearby.org/

Michigan Wetlands Association https://miwetlands.org/

Michigan Prescribed Fire Council https://www.firecouncil.org/

Wild Flower Association of Michigan https://wildflowersmich.org/

Michigan Lakes and Stream Association (MLSA) https://mymlsa.org/

Kalamazoo River Watershed Council (KRWC) https://kalamazooriver.org/

Conservation Districts

Michigan Association of Conservation Districts https://www.macd.org/

Allegan Conservation District https://www.allegancd.org/

Barry Conservation District https://www.barrycd.org/

Berrien Conservation District https://www.berriencd.org/

Calhoun Conservation District https://www.calhouncd.org/

Cass Conservation District https://cassccdistrict.org/

Kalamazoo Conservation District https://www.kalamazooconservation.org/

St Joseph Conservation District https://stjoecountycd.com/

Van Buren Conservation District https://vanburencd.org/

Invasive Species & Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMA)

Michigan Invasive Species https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/take-action/local-resources/view-cisma-locations-as-a-list

Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) https://www.misin.msu.edu/

Barry, Calhoun & Kalmazoo CISMA contact: bckcisma@gmail.com

SW x SW Corner CISMA https://vanburencd.org/invasive-species/

Southern Michigan IST https://stjoecountycd.com/smist-cisma#:~:text=Southern%20Michigan%20Invasive%20Species%20Team,a%20multitude%20of%20regional%20partners.

West Michigan CISMA https://wmconservation.net/

Nature Centers

Kalamazoo Nature Center https://naturecenter.org/

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute https://cedarcreekinstitute.org/

Whitehouse Nature Center https://www.albion.edu/about/our-campus/whitehouse-nature-center/

Sarett Nature Center https://sarett.org/

Native Plants & Gardens

Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones (KAWO) https://kalamazoo.wildones.org/

Hidden Savanna Nursery https://www.hiddensavanna.com/

Adjacent

Michigan Entomological Society https://www.michentsoc.org/

Indiana Native Plant Society https://indiananativeplants.org/