Events

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

What better way to kick off our 25th anniversary celebrations than with a presentation by veteran champion of native plants and native landscaping, Neil Diboll. Neil is co-author of a recently published book “The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants”. He will share his wealth of knowledge and experience working with native plants, with particular focus on prairie and savanna plants for pollinator gardens. 

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

David Karowe, Professor of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University will speak on effects of climate change on native plants.

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

Christopher Hart, Horticulturalist, HartScapes will provide a program on getting started with native plants, but the content will also appeal to those already on board!

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

Mitch Lettow, Stewardship Director, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy will speak about ecological restoration projects that his organization has carried out in southwest Michigan over the years.

Sue Hodapp, Conservation Steward for the Kal-Haven Trail and fellow volunteers from the Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail will lead tours to view spring wildflowers along a section of the Kal-Haven trail.  There are four tour times: Saturday, April 27, 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm; Sunday, April 28 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.  We will have sign up sheets for each tour to limit group size to 20 per tour.  We encourage parking at the the 10th Street trailhead and carpooling to the F Avenue starting point.

Sue Hodapp, Conservation Steward for the Kal-Haven Trail and fellow volunteers from the Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail will lead tours to view spring wildflowers along a section of the Kal-Haven trail.  There are four tour times: Saturday, April 27, 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm; Sunday, April 28 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.  We will have sign up sheets for each tour to limit group size to 20 per tour.  We encourage parking at the the 10th Street trailhead and carpooling to the F Avenue starting point.

Sue Hodapp, Conservation Steward for the Kal-Haven Trail and fellow volunteers from the Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail will lead tours to view spring wildflowers along a section of the Kal-Haven trail.  There are four tour times: Saturday, April 27, 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm; Sunday, April 28 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.  We will have sign up sheets for each tour to limit group size to 20 per tour.  We encourage parking at the the 10th Street trailhead and carpooling to the F Avenue starting point.

Sue Hodapp, Conservation Steward for the Kal-Haven Trail and fellow volunteers from the Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail will lead tours to view spring wildflowers along a section of the Kal-Haven trail.  There are four tour times: Saturday, April 27, 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm; Sunday, April 28 10:00 - 11:30 am AND 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.  We will have sign up sheets for each tour to limit group size to 20 per tour.  We encourage parking at the the 10th Street trailhead and carpooling to the F Avenue starting point.

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

Bethany Earl-Moody, RN, CNM, MSN, Enrolled member of the Piqua Shawnee Tribe, Traditional forager and plant wisdom keeper will present a program on "Seeking Spiritual Connectedness with the Plant Nation"

The exchange will offer numerous plants from Tom and Ruth’s gardens, as well as plants brought by other Wild Ones members and supporters. Our goal is to encourage the planting of natives for the beauty they offer and to support the wildlife that depends on them.  In keeping with principles we’ve always emphasized, it’s not necessary to bring a plant in order to take one; and no plants will be for sale. You need not be a member of Wild Ones to participate in this event.

Get inspired and learn more about growing native plants by visiting established gardens of Wild Ones. 

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

Mitch Lettow, Stewardship Director, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy will highlight interesting plants and ongoing restoration projects at this ecological preserve.

Paul MacNellis, former Director of Landscaping Services at Western Michigan University will provide a tour of a 25 acre savanna restoration project he and neighbors have undertaken in recent years. 

Get inspired and learn more about growing native plants by visiting established gardens of Wild Ones. 

KAWO member Mike Weis will lead a tour of arguably one of the highest quality Black Oak Savannas in the country. Miller Woods, a 1,000-acre site in the City of Gary, is the western property of the Indiana Dunes National Park. This property has three globally rare ecosystems - black oak savanna, dune and swale habitat, and pannes. The hike from the nature center to the lake is like walking through ecological succession history. From the oak savanna you will pass through ancient dunes, ancient shorelines, interdunal wetlands, lagoons, ridge and swale, pannes, a brief pine forest, dune blowouts, foredunes, sedge meadow and finally the beach (which is typically secluded at this spot with a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline).

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

Get inspired and learn more about growing native plants by visiting established gardens of Wild Ones. 

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

Laura Moss, Landscaping Services at Western Michigan University, will lead a session on how to collect, clean and store native plant seed for future propagation.  Participants will have a chance to collect seed for their own use from the diverse plantings at the Parkview campus site.

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

Larry Cornelis will present a program on "Trees: Their Identification, Their Roles, and Our Relationships with Them"

Our annual fall plant exchange will offer numerous plants from Jessie and Bill's gardens, as well as plants brought by other Wild Ones members and supporters. Our goal is to encourage the planting of natives for the beauty they offer and to support the wildlife that depends on them.

In keeping with principles we've always emphasized, it's not necessary to bring a plant in order to take one; and no plants will be for sale. You need not be a member of Wild Ones to participate in this event.

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

George Hedgepeth, Naturalist, Educator, and Cultural Historian will present a program on "Invasives as a Resource"

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One's national webinar, "Matrix Landscape Design" with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot! 

Mike Weis and a panel of KAWO members will host a Q&A session on native plants and native landscaping.

Native plants have an incredible ability to adapt to climate extremes, offering sustainable solutions for resilient landscapes. Join Wild Ones and the Native Plant Society of Texas to explore the power of native plants to thrive in challenging conditions.

This event features Christy Ten Eyck, founder of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. Drawing from her latest Dallas-Fort Worth native garden design, Christy will share insights into designing low-maintenance, ecologically rich spaces that withstand intense climate fluctuations.

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

An informal meet-up group one Thursday a month to have a drink together and talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.