Chapter Events

Event hosted by all Minnesota Chapters.  Presented by Lucas Rhoads.

Featuring Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team. 

Learn about the environmental impact of neonicotinoid insecticides, the leading causes of pollinator and wildlife declines, and advocacy strategies to influence policies at both state and federal levels. This presentation will cover neonics’ effects on pollinators, birds, aquatic ecosystems, and human health, as well as solutions to reduce their use in agriculture and landscaping. 

During his Dec. 12 national Wild Ones webinar, Lucas talked about this issue on a national scale. Link to webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kIJ9kisAr8

Our Jan. 21 MN zoom meeting will focus on Minnesota-specific issues. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about what’s going on in Minnesota, with a discussion format. There is also a Minnesota-specific neonic contamination report coming out shortly.

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Amy Westbrook, presenter.

 6:30 pm meet & greet, 7:00 program

Learn about the soft-landing concept and the difference they make for healthy trees and the soft spot homes they provide pollinators.

Join local native plant and pollinator promoter, Amy Westbrook, as she explores soft landings, what they are and why they’re essential to pollinator life cycles. This talk defines the concept, outlines plot development, who the plots benefit and what plants to include. Handouts provided.

Amy Westbrook is a native plant consultant and pollinator promoter and educator in Duluth.
She is inspired by the natural world and the animals and insects we share our outdoor spaces with and provides practical tips on supporting pollinators including starting native gardens and enhancing existing ones using local resources. Contact her at 218-213-5056 or email [email protected].

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

6:30 pm meet & greet/sale, 7:00 video  Popcorn provided!

Spring cleaning book sale of chapter's gardening library (new & used) - Best books sell first, bring cash or check book!

6:30 pm meet & greet/sale, 7:00 program

Wild edible harvest, such as gathering mushrooms, fruits, nuts, and other native and non-native plant-based foods, can play a key role in conservation by 1) reducing reliance on monoculture agriculture and 2) promoting biodiversity awareness and protection in the places we live. By valuing and utilizing wild resources in a careful and respectful manner, individuals and communities can be inspired to restore natural habitats and protect them from invasive species, deforestation, and other threats. Wild harvest can also foster a deeper connection between people and the ecosystems they rely on, ultimately contributing to both societal and ecological well-being. With that context in mind, the bulk of this talk will introduce several key wild edibles in our region, including identification, preparation, sustainable foraging practices, and more. We will discuss both native and non-native species, and how ecological context greatly influences conservation-focused harvest approaches. 

Sarah Foltz Jordan is a conservation biologist in the Duluth area. She currently serves as conservation director of a small study abroad company (Enlight Global) that provides immersive travel experiences around the world focused on traditional ecological knowledge, ecosystem restoration, and other key issues. Previously, Sarah worked for 15 years at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation where she led Xerces’ Upper Midwest Pollinator Team, largely focused on restoring native habitat, reducing pesticides, and key policy and education initiatives. Sarah teaches a wide range of natural history topics, especially focused on insect conservation, insect-plant interactions, and wild edible mushrooms & plants. An avid forager, Sarah loves how wild food provides both exceptional nourishment and deeper connection to ecological communities.

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Duluth Garden Flower Society Plant Sale at the Rose Garden parking lot.

It's our Arrowhead chapter's fundraiser selling our own native plants; dig, pot & label your plants, and help sell them at our Wild Ones table.  Look for our banner. Prices will be set when plants arrive.  Set up at 7:30 am., pack up approx. 9:30 am.  Dress for Lake Superior weather!  Bring a table, if you can.

Spring maintenance/planting at our Wild Ones demonstration gardens.

Bring a pruner, trowel, shovel, bin, work gloves, water bottle, kneeling pad if you wish. Dress for the weather. Meet in the parking lot.  

Rain date: Thurs. May 29 same time.

Alex Carroll, Monarch Joint Venture’s Midwest Science Coordinator will give a special keynote speech, Drones, Milkweed & Monarchs: How drones are used to evaluate milkweed availability for monarch habitats. Join the talk to learn about the science in action and experience a demonstration of a drone in flight. Free event!

ACTIVITIES • Keynote Presentation at 10:30am: Drones, Milkweed, & Monarchs • Children’s activities • Live eggs, caterpillars, monarchs • Monarch movies & popcorn • Locally grown native plant sale with Shoreview Natives • Informational tables with local environmental groups

MORE INFORMATION website duluthmonarchbuddies.org email [email protected]

Arrowhead Wild Ones members can host our info table and help at the plant sale.

Bring a trowel, shovel, work gloves, kneeling pad, water bottle, & jug of water for plants.  Wear a safety vest, if possible. Planting bars & plants provided.  

This is a partnership between Wild Ones, MN DOT & Duluth Monarch Buddies.

Interested volunteers should bring gloves, shovels, and any supplies (water bottle, knee pads, etc.) you'll need for getting down and dirty as we bare root these Wild Bergamot plants. We'll have some extra gloves and shovels if needed, and we'll have plenty of 5 gallon buckets for moving the transplants.

Then, we'll hopefully host the transplanting up at Hartley Nature Center that afternoon from 1:30 - 3:00 pm.  Bring jugs of water, a shovel, trowel, water bottle, gloves, etc.

This is a partnership between Duluth Parks dept., Wild Ones, Hartley and others.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!