2023 Schedule
Meeting are held at the Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, Portage, MI unless otherwise noted. View Map
Download our schedule as a printable bookmark (PDF) | View past programs on our YouTube Channel
Wednesday, January 25 • Planting Native Species Using Real Ecosystems as a Guide • Kim Chapman, Principal Ecologist, Resource Environmental Solutions (Wisconsin) • 7:00 pm on Zoom (view recording; presentation slides and resource page with links)
Wednesday, February 22 • Designing Native Plant Gardens: Minimizing the Error in Trial and Error • Mike Weis, Dropseed! Native Gardens and Ecological Restoration • 7:00 pm on Zoom (view recording of presentation)
Wednesday, March 22 • Get On the Map: Be Part of the Homegrown National Park • Noel Ocen, Dave Wendling and Mel LUna, KAWO members • 7:00 pm, Portage District Library (view recording of presentation)
Wednesday, April 26 • Growing Wildflowers from Seed • Tom Noland, Research Scientist, retired, Ontarion Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Canada • 7:00 pm, Portage District Library (view recording of presentation)
Saturday, May 13 • Field trip to Little Grand Canyon • Matt Dykstra, Field Station Manager, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute • Little Grand Canyon near Hastings, MI • 8:30 am – 11:00 am. Participants will meet at the Visitors Center of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute at 8:00 am to car pool to the Little Grand Canyon site. IMPORTANT: This 1.5-mile hike descends down through a 60-ft deep glacial gorge. PLEASE be prepared to hike on a narrow path, uneven terrain, and steep stairs, but the view is worth it!
Saturday, May 20 • Wild Ones 9th Annual Community Native Plant Sale • People’s Food Co-op, 507 Harrison St, Kalamazoo • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Wednesday, May 24 • Eating Wild for the Future • Brenna Pixley, Community Herbalist and Wild Food Advocate • 7:00 pm, Portage District Library (view recording of presentation)
Sunday, June 4 • 30th Annual Spring Plant Exchange and Celebration • Tom and Ruth Small’s Residence • 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 17 • Field trip for Eating Wild for the Future • Brenna Pixley, Community Herbalist and Wild Food Advocate • Asylum Lake • 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. Meet at the Asylum Lake South Parking Lot at 10 am. View Map. Parking is limited so please carpool to the site if possible. Learn more.
Saturday, July 29 • Tour of Kalamazoo Native Plant Gardens • Five locations (see link for map and addresses) • 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Saturday, September 9 • Annual Fall Plant Exchange, Jessie and Bill’s Residence • 1:00 – 5:00 pm. Everyone welcome!
Saturday, September 16 • Field trip to Sarett Nature Center • Nate Fuller, Executive Director and Naturalist • Location Sarett Nature Center, 2300 N Benton Center Rd, Benton Harbor, MI • 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (not including travel time to the site). A carpooling option from Kalamazoo will be announced closer to the date
Wednesday, September 27 • Healthy Soils Lead to Healthier Food and a Healthier Environment • Mike Klug, Professor Emeritus, MSU • 7:00 pm, Portage District Library
Wednesday, October 25 • When is Natural Landscaping Truly Natural? • Tom Small, Professor Emeritus, WMU • 7:00 pm, Portage District Library • (view recording of presentation)
Wednesday, November 29 22 • On the Brink of Local Extinction: Interventions for the Weakest Links to Plant Species Survival • Todd Barkman, Professor of Biological Sciences, WMU • 7:00 pm, Portage District Library • (view recording of presentation)
NOTE: The location for our monthly speaker presentations has been changed from Kalamazoo First United Methodist Church to Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, Portage, MI. The PDL facility has free parking and is wheelchair accessible. Come early to enjoy some social time, information tables and snacks, beginning at 6:30 pm; program begins at 7:00 pm View Map
Recordings from previous presentations can be viewed on our KAWO YouTube channel.
Event cancellation policy: If Kalamazoo Public Schools or the meeting venue are closed, our Indoor Program will be canceled. Field Trips and Plant Exchanges proceed rain or shine unless alternate date noted in advance. If the weather is questionably severe, please watch WWMT Channel 3 or our website and Facebook page for confirmation. Time permitting, there may also be an email cancellation notice.