Events

Events Archive: 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events

April 2025

Apr
12

Monguagon Daughters of the American Revolution Presentation: Using Native Plants in Sustainable Landscapes

Saturday, April 12th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Description TBA

Apr
17

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, April 17th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This April meeting will include discussion on:

Up-Potting Workshop Planning

Seed Collection Opportunities

Usage of Seedlings

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

Apr
19

Stewardship Workday - Stewardship Saturday at the Environmental Interpretive Center

Saturday, April 19th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Environmental Interpretive Center at University of Michigan Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Rd, Dearborn, MI, 48128 Map

Volunteers Needed Public Welcome Invasive Species Removal Habitat Installation/Maintenance Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity Drinking Fountains

Join WOWC for a Stewardship Saturday volunteer workday event to preserve the health of the Environmental Study Area at U of M-Dearborn!

This year-round, ongoing effort helps to improve and sustain the ecological health of the habitats in the Environmental Study Area. That includes addressing the many threats posed by invasive plants and re-establishing native plant life.

 Children must be at least 10 years of age to participate.

All equipment for removing invasive plants will be provided by the Center. But if you can bring a sturdy pair of long-handled branch loppers, please do.  Also, please bring your own drinking water and work gloves for use in the field.

This activity involves moderate physical activity in off trail natural habitat areas. Wear suitable work clothes that can be scraped and poked by twigs and/or the occasional thorny plant, or have contact with sticky bur seeds. A good pair of sturdy work shoes/boots is also a must. No sandals, please.

Read more about the Environmental Study Area here 

Register Read More

May 2025

May
13

WOWC May member meeting - guest speaker Karen Marzonie, Director of Gardens & Grounds at Fair Lane Estate (In person & Virtual)

Tuesday, May 13th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Environmental Interpretive Center at University of Michigan Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Rd, Dearborn, MI, 48128 Map
Live Stream Available

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Recording Available Free Event Chapter Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains

Karen Marzonie, Director of Gardens & Grounds at the Ford Fair Lane Estate with speak on her groups efforts on restoring the native gardens and  grounds at the Ford Fair Lane Estate, in an effort to restore some of Jens Jenson's original designs.

May
15

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, May 15th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This May meeting will include discussion on:

Up-Potting Workshop Planning

Seed Collection Opportunities

Monthly Seed Collection Watch Communications

Usage of Seedlings

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

June 2025

Jun
8

WOWC Seeds to Community - Up-potting workshop and seedling swap

Sunday, June 8th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Environmental Interpretive Center at University of Michigan Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Rd, Dearborn, MI, 48128 Map

Volunteers Needed Public Welcome Family-Friendly Registration Required Free Event Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains

Bring your jugs from our winter sowing event in February, or seedlings from your own winter sowing project to be a part of our new Seeds to Community program! 

Winter sowing can produce a large quantity of seedlings, and here is an opportunity to separate them out into individual pots or trays, and trade species with other participants! Beyond what was sowed in the last workshop, there will be additional stratified seeds from WOWC that will be ready to plant in trays as well as seeds not requiring cold stratification. We would love for you to go home with the plants you would like for your space! 

For those that are ambitious or looking to make an even bigger impact, we are hoping to have additional seedlings to be used by WOWC for upcoming planting projects.

Limited materials will be provided, please bring gently used seed trays, small individual plant pots, or other suitable planting containers you may have.

If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please let us know at [email protected]

Register Read More

Jun
19

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, June 19th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This June meeting will include discussion on:

Up-Potting Workshop Recap

Seed Collection Opportunities

Monthly Seed Collection Watch Communications

Usage of Seedlings

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

July 2025

Jul
8

WOWC July member meeting - Fair Lane Estate Gardens & Grounds Tour with Karen Marzonie - (Outdoor Tour) Members Only

Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford

Members Only Family-Friendly Chapter Meeting Public Garden Tour Group Tour

Karen Marzonie, Director of Gardens & Grounds at the Ford Fair Lane Estates will be conducting an evening tour of the estate's gardens, paying a particular attention to the native plants that were part of the original plans by  landscape designer Jens Jenson.

A $5.00 donation to the Ford Fair Lane Estate Gardens & Grounds is suggested.

Jul
17

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, July 17th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This July meeting will include discussion on:

Seed Collection Opportunities

Monthly Seed Collection Watch Communications

Seed Cleaning Event Planning

Collaborative Efforts with S2C Washtenaw

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

August 2025

Aug
2

River Bend Gardens Tour Members Only

Hosted by Wild Ones Ann Arbor Chapter and Wayne County Michigan Chapter
Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
River Bend Gardens, 328 River Bend St, Manchester, MI, 48158 Map

Members Only Family-Friendly Free Event Home/Private Garden Tour Nature Walk/Hike

River Bend Gardens was established in July 2017, and formally founded by my wife and I in January 2019 as a private botanical garden, aviary, and retreat for our family of five children.

The property was selected for its unique combination of natural features, and is located in Washtenaw County, 15 miles Southwest of Ann Arbor, in the Village of Manchester.  The gardens are situated on 65 acres with a half mile of frontage on the River Raisin, and adjacent to the South and West with the Leonard Preserve, a 259-acre property owned by Washtenaw County’s Natural Areas Preservation, and The Nature Conservancy.

There are twelve gardens that make-up River Bend, with nine natural plant communities, and several glacial features in the landscape from kames, an out-wash plain, to a floodplain that includes a Buttonbush depression.  In addition to the River Raisin, the property includes a 4 acre pond, two brooks, and over 30 natural springs.

Hiking River Bend Gardens offers our guest an opportunity to view a gardener's pragmatic effort at native plant preservation and restoration.  Wayne is happy to share the mechanics of the preservation work and prairie restoration with considerations to methods, successes, and failures.  

River Bend Gardens offers our guests a short walk (1/4 mile) to the prairie and meeting location, or guests may elect a longer hike (3 miles) through the garden on the trails to the meeting location.  While the trails are established, they are not completely groomed, the garden is not ADA compliant, nor is there a restroom present on the property.

Guests who chose the three mile hike on the Garden Trail, presented in yellow on the attached trail map, should arrive at 9:00am at the East Entrance Garden.  You can use 115 Mound Street Manchester, MI 48158 as the GPS address.  There is a horseshoe drive where you can pull-in for parking, or on the shoulder of Mound Street on the north side of the street facing west.

Guests who prefer a short walk to the prairie should arrive at 10:30am at the West Entrance Garden.  You can use 328 River Bend Manchester, MI 48158 as the GPS address.  There is adequate parking off the street on garden property.

In either case there will be someone from the River Bend family there to guide you to the meeting location.  After a discussion and Q&A, the guests will be free to walk the trails and experience the gardens at their own pace.

Aug
21

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, August 21st, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This August meeting will include discussion on:

Seed Collection Opportunities

Monthly Seed Collection Watch Communications

Seed Cleaning Event Planning

Collaborative Efforts with S2C Washtenaw

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

September 2025

Sep
18

September Wild Ones National Webinar

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

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

Sep
18

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, September 18th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This September meeting will include discussion on:

Seed Collection Opportunities

Monthly Seed Collection Watch Communications

Seed Cleaning Event Planning

Seed Storage Planning

Collaborative Efforts with S2C Washtenaw

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

October 2025

Oct
16

October Wild Ones National Webinar

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

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

Oct
16

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, October 16th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This October meeting will include discussion on:

Seed Cleaning Event Planning

Collaborative Efforts with S2C Washtenaw

Seed Storage Planning

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

November 2025

Nov
20

November Wild Ones National Webinar

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

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

Nov
20

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, November 20th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This November meeting will include discussion on:

Winter Sowing Workshop Planning

Seed Data Updates

Collaborative Efforts with S2C Washtenaw

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More

December 2025

Dec
18

WOWC Seeds to Community Monthly Planning Members Only

Thursday, December 18th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Volunteers Needed Members Only Limited Access Recording Chapter Meeting Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Seed Handling

The mission of the WOWC Seeds to Community program is to create connections with people and nature through the process of growing native plants from seed. The program is driven through community engagement in collection, germination and cultivation workshops.

WOWC Seeds to Community events require planning and community engagement. Join each third Thursday of the month to be a part of the year-round community initiative of growing native plants from seed.

This December meeting will include discussion on:

Winter Sowing Workshop Planning

Seed Data Updates

Program Donations

Members will receive invite and Zoom link via email. Reach out to Derek Shaffer or [email protected] with questions.

Read More