Events

Planting native species is an important step toward creating habitat, but how can you tell what’s working, what’s missing, and where to focus your efforts next?

Join Wild Ones and Wildr Places for The Habitat Check-up, a free webinar exploring a practical, science-informed approach to evaluating your home landscape. Presenter Zoe Evans will introduce five key areas to consider when assessing habitat and share how thoughtful observations can help guide your next steps.

Whether you’re just getting started with native plants or have been gardening for years, this webinar will help you look at your landscape through a new lens.

Pints & Native Plants is an informal meet-up that takes place on the third Thursday of each month. It’s a chance to have a drink together and chat about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. Everyone is welcome–come by and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

"Native Plants as Restoration Tools for Healthier Soils," with Dr. Kathryn Docherty

The tallgrass prairie biome was once one of the largest continuous ecosystems on the planet, which was responsible for forming the most fertile and productive soil type in North America. Today, 99% of that original ecosystem has been disrupted. With that disruption, many soil health benefits such as water infiltration, soil carbon storage, and specialized microbial communities, have also been altered. But, through the efforts of many non-profit groups, farmers, and individual property owners, native prairie plants - and the ecosystem benefits they provide - are making a come-back. In this talk I will discuss several of ongoing projects in my research group at WMU that highlight the work of many dedicated land stewards and community partners. First, we’ll examine how prairie strips, or prairies installed the length of an agricultural field adjacent to crops, can help improve soils while providing pollinator habitat. Next, we’ll think more about the choices that farmers and conservationists face when installing a prairie, and how those choices might affect soils, plants, and microbes in the long term. Finally, we’ll explore an exciting project that is examining how native plants installed by home owners in the City of Kalamazoo affect soil health compared to traditional lawns.

Dr. Kathryn Docherty is a soil microbial ecologist and a faculty member at Western Michigan University since 2011. Her research interests are in understanding how restoring disturbed land to native grassland installations influences soil microbial communities, plant-soil-microbe interactions, and soil health. Before joining the faculty at WMU she conducted her PhD research at the University of Notre Dame (2001-2007) 
and then postdoctoral work at the University of Oregon (2007-2010) and the National Ecological Observatory Network (2010-2011).

Program begins at 6:30pm; doors open at 6:00 for social time

Pints & Native Plants is an informal meet-up that takes place on the third Thursday of each month. It’s a chance to have a drink together and chat about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. Everyone is welcome–come by and get to know other native plant enthusiasts and KAWO members.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.