Events

Winter is a perfect time to plan what natives you want to plant come spring. In February you'll be able (if you're a member) to pre-order plants. Hop onto Zoom on Thursday, January 16th at 7:00 to be inspired and informed by Denise Sandoval. Learn what native plants can keep your gardens blooming through the seasons.

This was an event sponsored by the Master Gardeners.  We were asked to have a table there.  

Burn off the excess Valentine's Day candy and join us for a walk at Les Arends Forest Preserve with Naturalist Barb McKittrick.  

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.

Learn about plants native to Illinois that will work and spruce up your homelandscape! Matt Hokanson will discuss elements of good garden design including planning, native plant selection, preparing your garden space for planting, and plant spacing. Ideas for plant combinations will also be shared for various settings!

Matt is the co-owner of Woods to Wetlands, an ecological services company that specializes in natural area restoration and landscaping with native plants. He is also a certified arborist, prescription burn manager and has been learning how to propagate rare native plant species at home for volunteer restoration initiatives.

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.

The program will look at the marvelous array of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) that can be found in our area. You will learn about the various species found here, their status, how you can attract them to your yard with their host and nectar plants and even ways to garden or maintain your landscape so that you don't harm them. This program will inspire reverence for these amazing insects, that sadly, are in trouble. What you see now is the new normal, but it is not normal. Luckily, they have resiliency to rebound                                        if given a chance.

Join steward Sue Bohne for a walk at beautiful Trout Park.  

Join Steward Mary Ochsenschlager for a lovely tour of Bliss Woods to see the spring ephemerals.  

We hosted a Wild Ones table at the Earth Day event for Geneval Park District.  It was a family friendly event with vendors, food and activities. 

Join Mary Alice Masonick for a spring ephemeral walk at Dick Young Forest Preserve.  Be sure to enter at the Main Street Entrance, not on Deer Path Road.  

Pam  lives in Chicago, about a half block north of the Kennedy Expressway with an O’Hare runway approach that flies directly over her house. Despite what may sound like an unfriendly place for birds, she looks forward to having a multitude of birds in her yard every summer. Her garden attracts birds because she provides what they need: food, shelter and water.  Pam's bird friendly garden is featured in Doug Tallamy’s book, Nature’s Best Hope.  Pam will tell us just how you too can create a bird friendly garden.

Join Naturalist Josh Libman for a bird and nature walk at Burnidge Forest Preserve. 

Join Steward Sarah Kimber for a tour of the Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary

Join Steward Kimberley Haag, Steward, for a spring ephemeral walk at Johnson's Mound forest preserve.

Join Pam Otto for a nature and bird walk at Delnor Woods in St. Charles.  Presented in collaboration with the St. Charles Natural Resource Committee for spring migratory bird day.

Co-hosted by one of our collaboration partners as well as one of our members, this is an event dedicated to our nourishing our bodies, souls and the planet. 

Join Steward Carol Weinhammer for a tour of the beautiful Dixie Briggs Fromm Nature Center.  Meet here:  From Sleepy Hollow Road in Algonquin, turn onto Wynnfield Road. Go east to Lawndale.  Turn left on Eastmoor Lane.  Park along Eastmoor.

Join Steward Valerie Blaine for a tour of Tekakwitha Forest Preserve.  

This is our yearly native plant sale.  We have over 150 species from 7 native plant nurseries.  We will have Ecotone Herbs selling herbs, and the Milk House ice cream truck selling their own ice cream from 9-12.  In addition K.A.R.E. (Kane Area Rehabilitation and Education for Wildlife) will be there with their ambassador animals.  Donations gladly accepted. 

Join local farmer Lauren Vinoche for a plant walk in the woods at Gray Willows.  Connect with what is currently growing in our woodlands, and deepen you experience in identifying, enjoying and respecting our native flora.  Meet at the Ecotone Herbs booth at 11 AM for a 1 hour walk.  Herbal beverages featuring these plants will be available at the Ecotone Herbs booth. 

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/ 

Join Steward Doug Taron for a walk around the wonderful Bluff Spring Fen.  Enter through Bluff City Cemetery.  Park only on the right side of the road near the entrance to the fen (at the south end of the cemetery). There will be signs to guide you.  

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!