John Delisle, principal of Natural Community Services, told attendees at the Farmington Hills Beautification Awards that native plants can deliver both “visual functions and biological functions,” allowing landscapes to be both attractive and ecologically productive. Delisle described design choices that favor pollinators and long-term resilience, and he outlined practical maintenance tactics to lower weed pressure and long-term costs.

Delisle explained that selecting plants native to the local region or state increases the likelihood that insects and birds will benefit. “The closer that that provenance is, the more likely that you're actually supporting bees and pollinators,” he said, noting that native plantings help backyard crops and flowering plants reproduce.

The presentation covered three practical topics: plant selection and design, establishment and maintenance, and invasive-species management. On design, Delisle recommended balancing aesthetic values (color, texture, bloom timing) with ecological fit (soil, moisture, swale vs. upland). He described planting matrices that layer short early-bloomers, mid-season perennials and taller late-season species to maintain color across the season while providing habitat structure for wildlife.

On establishment and materials, Delisle recommended denser initial planting and, where appropriate, biodegradable aspen-fiber weed mats to suppress weeds during the first two-to-three years. He said those mats, combined with groundcover species, can reduce long-term maintenance costs compared with persistent synthetic mats that fragment and become environmental contaminants.

Attendees asked site-specific questions about invasives and herbicide options. Delisle identified common woody invasives in the region — including glossy buckthorn, oriental bittersweet and phragmites — and advised active control of adjacent infestations. For problematic woody invasives he recommended targeted cut-stump or basal-bark treatments and cited herbicides such as triclopyr, aminopyralid (sold as Milestone/Grazon), and imazapyr for species that resist simpler treatments; he emphasized timing and method matter for effectiveness and for avoiding damage to desirable plants.

On deer browse Delisle said planting diverse prairie or mixed native seedings reduces the risk that deer will eliminate a planting, and he discussed repellents and tree guards for woody species. “Biodiversity management can be effective on deer depending on what the design context is,” he said. Delisle closed by directing attendees to regional resources (Missouri Botanical Garden, Wild Ones, local CISMA programs) and offering to share product references and handouts he left on the event tables.

The presentation was given as part of a larger awards program and was followed by a public Q&A in which Delisle responded to attendees’ specific site concerns.