Chapter Events

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. 

Presented by Joe Walewski, Teaching & Learning Coordinator and Naturalist at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN.

Zoom link:

https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/86587584573?pwd=NUdJbU53Yi9JbURROXpjYjAwTGcvQT09

Meeting ID: 865 8758 4573
Passcode: 6?Febw
One tap mobile
+16513728299,,86587584573# US (Minnesota)

Presenter: Alan Branhagen, Executive Director, Natural Land Institute in Illinois  
   
We are members of Wild Ones because we need Nature close by to enrich our lives. This program provides some additional ideas about how we can capture the spirit of our place and bring more nature into our landscapes. Insects run the world after plants. Learn about some keystone plants to nurture more insects and create a more sustainable landscape. Know maintenance that embraces Nature to create a flourishing ecosystem: what does it take to have a diversity of bees, butterflies and moths at one’s home? Lastly, have faith in a seed, understand that plants migrate and know if you plant it they (nature!) will come. Let’s have fun and bloom where we’re planted!

Join Zoom meeting     https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/82950950370?pwd=NjVWNHA0UWduMzNCZlBBUzQ1ZjZkUT09

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. 

Presenter: Mandy McDonald, founder and owner of Rusty Patch Natives in Hermantown.
 6:30 pm socialize, 7:00 program
>You will learn how to use grasses, sedges, and cool season plants as ground covers, to add structure, texture, habitat, winter interest and movement to gardens.

>Margaret West, chapter member, will do a short presentation about "neighbors helping neighbors"; a community project to jumpstart native plant gardens.

Presenter: Mandy McDonald, founder and owner of Rusty Patch Natives in Hermantown.
 6:30 pm socialize, 7:00 program  (rescheduled from March)

>You will learn how to use grasses, sedges, and cool season plants as ground covers, to add structure, texture, habitat, winter interest and movement to gardens.

>Margaret West, chapter member, will do a short presentation about "neighbors helping neighbors"; a community project to jumpstart native plant gardens.

Host: Jen Stenersen, nursery manager. Open to the public for plant sales.

They are dedicated to helping home and business owners transform outdoor spaces into landscapes that support aesthetic, ecological, economic, and social goals. They specialize ininstalling gardens that feature local and regional native plant species, including flowers, grasses, sedges, shrubs, and trees.

Opportunity afterward to walk through their great home gardens to see the process of converting areas of lawn to pollinator habitat.
Dress for the weather & bugs.

Rain Date: Tues. July 30 same time.  Open to the public.

"I have a pretty large garden, that is well over half native plants. The first things I planted twenty some years ago were natives from the Prairie Nursery, most of which are still doing well. My focus has been to attract hummingbirds and bumblebees, and other pollinators. I have lots of Monarda, Heliopsis, mountain mints, Joe-Pye, Ironweed, spiderwort, and many more. I have several kinds of milkweed in my garden. The bumblebees and other bees seem to be doing well, and we get lots of visits from our neighbors' honeybees.  There are six or seven native ferns. I have also been adding berries to use for jams and jellies, so I have Nannyberrry, highbush cranberry, chokeberry, blueberry cultivars. They have yet to produce enough , but I'm ever hopeful! We have a small pond stocked with goldfish to eat the mosquito larvae, that usually attracts six or seven frogs by the end of the season. At the top of our garden hill, we have a grape arbor with a swing, where I love to sit and watch all the garden activity.  Our front lawn is planted with the no-mow seed mix from the Prairie Nursery."

"I grew up in New England, but lived most of my adult life in Arizona.  When My husband (a Duluth native) and I moved here 4 years ago, I was excited to plant a garden full of the azaleas, bleeding hearts and peonies of my youth.  But then I visited the home of a friend in Minneapolis who has a beautiful property filled with many native plants in a cottage garden style that truly inspired me.   I was particularly interested in the plight of pollinators and how I could help.  I hoped to create an attractive, educational, ecologically beneficial space for insects and humans alike.    I started attending Wild Ones meetings, read Sara Stein, Douglas Tallamy and Benjamin Vogt among others,  joined several FB groups and poured over Prairie Moon Catalogs.  
I started with two 4' x 14'  beds on either side of the front walkway.     I planted garlic in the fall and then native plugs in the spring.   From there, madness ensued. Bit by bit,  I proceeded to cover more and more lawn with  cardboard and  4 truck loads of arborist chips.  I'd spend the summer and fall hauling and spreading wood chips then plant plugs the next season.  The last 2 seasons, most of my plants have come from winter sowing .  Over 100 jugs and lettuce containers with seeds collected whenever possible, and purchased when not.   Stepping stone paths through the "meadow" make it possible for the mail carrier to cut the corner, and for  interested neighbors  to wander through and get to know the plants that used to be all around us.    
I look forward to sharing my progress!"

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. 

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. 

This session will provide an overview of the Lawns to Legumes program and walk through the technical resources available to assist with the installation of pollinator habitat where you live.

Erin Loeffler is an Ecological Science Conservationist for the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources and has 20 years of experience working on conservation issues in Minnesota.  Erin is currently a Program Manager for Minnesota’s own Lawns to Legumes Program as well as a U of M Extension Master Gardener in St. Louis County.

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!