Events

Events Archive: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events

January 2025

Jan
16

Gardening through the seasons with native plants.

This event has ended
Thursday, January 16th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation

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.

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February 2025

Feb
8

Rooted Conference

This event has ended
Saturday, February 8th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL, 60123 Map

Public Welcome

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

Feb
15

Walk at Les Arends Forest Preserve

This event has ended
Saturday, February 15th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Les Arends Forest Preserve

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Nature Walk/Hike Public Restroom Free Public Parking

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

Feb
20

National Panel Discussion: "Bees Beyond Honey: Understanding Native and Managed Pollinators"

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Thursday, February 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

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.

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Feb
27

Native Garden Design

This event has ended
Thursday, February 27th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting

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.

March 2025

Mar
20

National Panel Discussion: The Advocacy Power of Public Native Gardens

Hosted by Wild Ones Capital Region NY Chapter, Hocking Hills (Seedling) Chapter, San Diego Chapter and Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Thursday, March 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

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.

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Mar
27

Gardening for Lepidoptera

This event has ended
Thursday, March 27th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Baker Center--St. Charles Park District, 101 S 2nd St, St. Charles, IL, 60174 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Chapter Meeting Wheelchair Accessible

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.

April 2025

Apr
12

Spring Ephemeral Walk Trout Park

This event has ended
Saturday, April 12th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Trout Park, Elgin, IL, 60120 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking

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

Apr
13

Spring Ephemeral Walk Bliss Woods

This event has ended
Sunday, April 13th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, 5S660 Bliss Rd, Sugar Grove, IL, 60554 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Nature Walk/Hike

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

Apr
19

Earth Day Peck Farm Park

This event has ended
Saturday, April 19th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Peck Farm Park

Public Welcome Wheelchair Accessible Free Public Parking

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. 

Apr
19

Spring Ephemeral Walk Dick Young Forest Preserve

This event has ended
Saturday, April 19th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Dick Young Forest Preserve, 39W115 Main St, Batavia, IL, 60510 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Nature Walk/Hike

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.  

Apr
23

Attracting Birds to your yard with Pam Karlson

This event has ended
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025
to (Central Time)
Baker Center--St. Charles Park District, 101 S 2nd St, St. Charles, IL, 60174 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Free Public Parking

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.

Apr
26

Bird and Nature Walk with Josh Libman

This event has ended
Saturday, April 26th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Burnidge Forest Preserve, 14 Coombs Rd, Elgin, IL, 60124 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking

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

Apr
27

Spring Ephemeral Walk Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary

This event has ended
Sunday, April 27th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Meet at the Peg Bond Center, 151 N Island Ave, Batavia, IL, 60510 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking

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

Apr
29

Spring ephemeral walk Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve

This event has ended
Tuesday, April 29th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve, 41W600 Hughes Rd, Elburn, IL, 60119 Map

Public Welcome Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking

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

May 2025

May
1

Wildflower and bird walk at Delnor Woods

This event has ended
Thursday, May 1st, 2025
to (Central Time)
Delnor Woods, St. Charles, IL, 60174 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Nature Walk/Hike

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.

May
3

True Wellness

This event has ended
Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
to (Central Time)
Science of Spirituality, 4105 Naperville Rd, Lisle, IL, 60532 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Conference/Symposium

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. 

May
4

Wildflower and nature walk

This event has ended
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Dixie Briggs Fromm Nature Preserve, Eastmoor Ln, Algonquin, IL, 60102 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking

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.

May
7

Spring ephemeral tour Tekakwitha Forest Preserve

This event has ended
Wednesday, May 7th, 2025
to (Central Time)

Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking

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

May
17

Native Plant Sale

Saturday, May 17th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Gray Willows Farm 5n949 Corron Road, St. Charles, IL, 60175 Map

Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Free Public Parking

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. 

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May
20

Native Plants Planted Right: A Practical Guide for Beginners

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

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/ 

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May
20

Nature tour at Spring Fen with Doug Taron

Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Bluff Spring Fen, 945 Bluff City Blvd, Elgin, IL, 60120 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking

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.  

September 2025

Sep
18

September Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

October 2025

Oct
16

October Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, October 16th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

November 2025

Nov
20

November Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, November 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon!