Events Archive: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events
January 2024
The Watershed--Getting Acquainted
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Part of our series on learning about watersheds.
"Cultivating Change" with Lorraine Johnson
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
Prairie Strips: What are they and what do they do?
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Public Restroom Free Public Parking
The Agricultural liaison for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Michelle Blackburn, will discuss prairie strips and how they will plan to use them on the agricultural land the forest preserve owns.
February 2024
My Watershed: Where does it Flow?
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Part of our series about our local watersheds.
Forest Bathing
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Nature Walk/Hike Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Most of us in Wild Ones know and appreciated the benefits of being in the forest. Alison Paul, of the Conservation Foundation, will take us deeper to a physiological and psychological excercise called shinrin-yoku: taking in the forest atmosphere. The term emerged in Japan in the 1980's. Its purpose? Offer an antidote to the tech-boom burnout and to inspire people to reconnect with and protect the forests. Be prepared to open your senses, lift your mood, and reduce stress and anxiety?
March 2024
Spring Ephemeral Project
Kane County
Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike
This is the 3rd year we have co-sponsored the Spring Ephemeral Project. Anyone can log onto iNaturalist and record what they see anywhere in Kane County.
"Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" with Robin Wall Kimmerer
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline and in person at Reeve Union, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 748 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI, 54901 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Paid Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains Assistive Hearing
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.
Watershed Health: What Can I Do at Home?
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Part of our series on local watersheds.
Babbling Brooks and What they can teach us
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Free Public Parking
Jeff Weiss of the Flint Creek /Spring Creek watershed partnership will discuss the multiple stressors to our rivers, streams and wetlands such as increased pollutant loads from stormwater runoff., altered stream flow, and decreased bank stability. He will also talk about how community education and collaboration with local municipalities and area environmental/conservation groups is the key to improving water quality, preserving ecosystems and restoring wetlands,prairies and other natural features for current and future generations.
April 2024
Walk at Norris Woods with Pam Otto and Ryan Solomon.
Norris Woods
Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Spring ephemeral walk as well as celebrate Migratory Bird Day. Norris Woods will also be inducted into the Old Growth Forest Network.
Walk at Bluff Spring Fen with Corey Begalka
Public Welcome Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
A spring ephemeral walk at Bluff Spring Fen with Corey Begalka.
Walk at Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve with Steward Kim Haag
Public Welcome Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Spring ephemeral walk at Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve with steward Kim Haag.
Walk at Dick Young Forest Preserve with Mary Alice Masonick
Public Welcome Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Spring ephemeral walk with Mary Alice Masonick. (Be sure to enter at the Main Street entrance, not on Nelson Lake Road.)
Walk at Tekakwitha Forest Preserve with Steward Valerie Blaine
Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Spring ephemeral walk with Steward Valerie Blaine.
Walk at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve with Steward Mary Ochsenschlager
Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Spring ephemeral walk with Mary Ochsenschlager. Co-sponsored by the Sugar Grove Enhancement Committee.
Walk at Trout Park with Sue Bohne
Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Spring ephemeral walk with Steward Sue Bohne.
Walk at Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary with Steward Sarah Kimber
Public Welcome Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Spring ephemeral walk at the Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary with Steward Sarah Kimber.
May 2024
Native Plant Sale
Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Free Public Parking
Our 12th annual native plant and shrub sale will be Saturday, May 18 from 9-2. We accept cash, check and charge.
June 2024
Garden Walk at the Mikowski's
Public Welcome Free Event Home Garden Tour
Please join us on Saturday, June 8 at 9:30 AM at the home of Sue and Jim Mikowski for a tour of their wonderful gardens. Jim and Sue have lived in Elburn for 38 years and most of that time had a lush green lawn and cultivar plants purchased at big box stores. In 2021 they took the plunge, tore out their entire front lawn, enrolled in the Kane County Certified Naturalist program and joined Wild Ones. They are learning to become better stewards of their property with the front yard being a work-in-progress pollinator garden transitioning into the surrounding woodland. They are also in the second year of attempting to establish a native plant prairie strip.
July 2024
Garden Tours
2 homes
Public Welcome Free Event Home Garden Tour Lots of Physical Activity
We will tour two homes of members on Saturday, July 27. People need to sign up on Eventbrite for the addresses.
August 2024
"Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants" with Sarah Gray & Coralie Palmer
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
September 2024
"The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows" with Heather McCargo
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
October 2024
"Matrix Landscape Design" with Benjamin Vogt
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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!