Events

Members from the Root River Area Chapter will be hosting a booth at Milaegers Garden Center in Racine, WI to share native plant knowledge. The goal is to raise awareness of the organization's mission and promote upcoming meetings and events.  Membership will also be promoted.

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.

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.

Wild Ones members will provide information and be available to answer questions from visitors at the local farmers market. They will also encourage interested visitors to join their local chapter to support their mission.

Informational booth explaining benefits of native plants. Spoke with many people of all ages about Wild Ones. Many other organizations were present with activities. 

Join us for a joyful celebration of the season at the Milwaukee Public Market's very first Festival of Flowers, taking place Saturday, May 3 from 11am to 3pm at Riverwalk Commons, right across from the Milwaukee Public Market.

Wild Ones National Board Secretary Jermey Rappaport will present on how people can help support a healthy planet by transitioning away from traditional lawns and gardens to more sustainable alternatives featuring native plants. 

This free, family-friendly event is bursting with color, fragrance, and fun! Explore a vibrant flower market featuring locally grown blooms and botanicals perfect for brightening your home or garden. Enjoy live music from local artists as you wander, shop, and relax along the riverfront.

Bring the whole family- there’s something for everyone! From interactive activities for kids to garden-inspired crafts, the Festival of Flowers is designed to delight visitors of all ages. Grown-ups can savor seasonal beverages, while everyone can dig into a variety of tasty eats from local food vendors.

Whether you're a plant enthusiast, music lover, or just looking for a fresh way to spend your Saturday, the Festival of Flowers is the perfect spring outing.

Set up educational table to discuss native plants and encourage Wild Ones membership. 

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/ 

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

Date: Saturday, October 4th
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: 3606 Dyer Lake Rd. Burlington, WI 

Seno K/RLT Conservancy is excited to host our 5th Annual Autumn Open House at our Seno Woodland Center, and you're invited!
Join us for a fall afternoon of live music by Jon Dawley and Georgia Rae, beverages from The Runaway Microbrewery, and food provided by Beto's Baked Potatoes and Tacos and Fairy Floss Events. Enjoy trail rides through Seno Woodland Center's woodlands and prairies or explore our 127-acre preserve at your own speed and complete a fall-themed scavenger hunt. Other local conservation organizations such as Root-Pike WIN and Kettle Moraine Land Trust will be returning this year with activities and information for attendees along with Wild Ones. Nature-based crafts and activities such as corn husk dolls, a fall scavenger hunt, yard games, a kid’s stamping activity from Laura Z Stamps, and tree cookie jack-o’-lantern painting, fall face-painting for kids of all ages! will be provided for guests to enjoy.  In addition to our annual bake sale, our raffle fundraiser also returns this year with a variety of exciting items to take home, ranging from practical yard care items to tickets to sporting events and gift cards for local businesses. There's sure to be something for everyone to be excited to take home! Seno merchandise, bake sale, and raffle proceeds all go towards Seno K/RLT Conservancy’s mission of land conservation, sustainable forestry, and natural resources education. Stay tuned for sneak peeks of raffle prizes leading up to the event! There is no fee for admission. This is a family-friendly event for all ages, and all are welcome.
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Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. 

Bat Ambassador John Davies will present a 1-hour exploration of the mysteries, habitats, benefits, and human interactions of Wisconsin bats, followed by Q&A

We are requiring registration for this event to ensure we stay below the venue capacity. Please register here to secure your seats:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhcSraQ7qT69D4enQ9ntLtGrcxDJ-WaRUaVS3--wL4kxDXYg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105762679779505087782

"Lots to be proud of in my own nature garden" 

As we all know, planting and caring for native plants creates good habitat for pollinators, feeds wildlife and provides erosion control.  At this meeting, Wild Ones members can briefly show off their 2025 native planting to the group in a Wild One's Elevator Pitch Relay."

1. Take one picture with your phone of a highlight in your garden (or other native plant topic).

2. At the meeting, you will be invited to place your phone on a document camera at the front of the room to project your image to the group.

3. Explain the photo in a 45-second elevator pitch.

What is an "elevator pitch?"  Imagine you are riding in a skyscraper elevator.  As the door closes, you spot that the person next to you is wearing a Wild Ones logoed shirt.  With your phone in hand, you say "let me show you the best thing that happened in my native garden this year."

You only have time to show one picture and have just 45 seconds to tell your story before the elevator stops at your audience's floor and your fellow nature lover departs.

= = = = =

If you want to participate (please do, it will be fun to see what everyone is working on), check in with Mike Palecek, before the start of the meeting to test your phone and get final instructions.  A prize will be awarded to the best 45-second presentation.

Discover the power of ecological garden design in this free national webinar, Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard, with award-winning landscape designer Larry Weaner. Join us for a personal look at how dynamic, self-sustaining landscapes can emerge when we partner with nature instead of controlling it. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Larry will share practical strategies for designing dynamic gardens that evolve naturally, support biodiversity, and bring lasting beauty to your yard.

Join us for our annual holiday brunch. This is a no-fee meal sponsored by the Chapter. We will enjoy socializing, recapping our time together this year, and hold our annual chapter elections.

Designing with native plants isn’t just about what you grow, it’s about how you shape your space. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe Evans (Plan it Wild) and Heather Evans (Design Your Wild) guide you through the process of creating a cohesive yard plan that supports both your lifestyle and biodiversity.