Events

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 Wednesday 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:

Seeds Status Update

Seed Collection Planning

Seed Cleaning & Storage Workshop Planning

Program Donations

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

Discover how 11 acres of property were transformed into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.
 

In August 2021, Henry Ford College (HFC) began an ambitious rewilding project replacing turf grass with seed, and large flowerbeds with native plugs, to rewild a significant portion of its landscape.  Today these campus landscapes are alive with birds, pollinators, and wildlife. HFC has proven that educational institutions can successfully scale up rewilding – cultivating both natural beauty and ecological bounty.
 

Come see firsthand how the living laboratory inspires students and revitalizes our local environment.
 

Our Tour Guides:
 -Dr. Charles Irish (Professor of Chemistry & HFC Rain Garden Steward) will showcase the campus’s massive, functional rain garden.
 -Nathan Baloga (Properties Manager) will share the logistical insights behind creating and maintaining this large-scale sustainable landscape.
 

Event Details:
-Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
-Time: 1:00 pm
-Meeting Location: HFC Lot 10 (Click here for the campus map)

Want to see a sneak preview?

Click here for recent photos from one of our members

And here are some web links for even more information:

https://www.hfcc.edu/news/2019/community-resource-rain-and-native-plant-garden-earns-two-certifications

https://www.nativeedge.co/projects/henry-ford

What if it Rains?

Well, we could sure use some rain!

If it is only a light rain, then on with the show! (Please dress appropriately and don't forget your umbrella)

If it is heavy rain or storms, please see the Event Posting (Click Here) for the status of the tour.

Accessibility

The gardens at HFC are fully viewable from paved surfaces. But note that during the tour we will be walking  the campus for  up to a mile on concrete surfaces. 

Members Only

This event is open exclusively to Wild Ones members (and their guests). 
No Registration is required.
SEE YOU THERE!

At Wild Ones Wayne County (WOWC) we don't just dream about ‘Connecting people and native plants for a healthy planet’, we actively DO STUFF!   And that “doing” is where WOWC Programs comes in.  It takes People and Planning to Make Stuff Happen. Discussions include:

-Bi-monthly chapter meetings with a presenter or speaker
-Plant Sales
-Tabling Events
-Member-to-Member yard tours
-Stewardship Events
-Seeds to Community Program Events
-Social Events
-Private and Public garden tours

Join us on the first Monday of every month 6:00pm on Zoom where we discuss plans for Events and Activities, as well as Volunteer Opportunities. 

Members will receive an invite and Zoom link via email prior to the meeting. 

Contact Steve Ray, Programs Chair with questions or ideas.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Discover the Power of Rewilding

For more than two decades, State of the Strait has brought together scientists, conservationists, policymakers and community leaders from both sides of the border to tackle the Detroit River and western Lake Erie corridor’s most pressing environmental challenges.

This year, the Detroit Zoological Society is hosting the event and shining a spotlight on rewilding. Rewilding is the deliberate, science-driven work of restoring ecosystems so they can function and eventually sustain themselves.

In a region defined by heavy industry, cross-border waterways and decades of environmental compromise, this conference shines a spotlight on the people and projects enabling rewilding in our watersheds.

** You must register first on the web page.

Discover the Power of Rewilding

For more than two decades, State of the Strait has brought together scientists, conservationists, policymakers and community leaders from both sides of the border to tackle the Detroit River and western Lake Erie corridor’s most pressing environmental challenges.

This year, the Detroit Zoological Society is hosting the event and shining a spotlight on rewilding. Rewilding is the deliberate, science-driven work of restoring ecosystems so they can function and eventually sustain themselves.

In a region defined by heavy industry, cross-border waterways and decades of environmental compromise, this conference shines a spotlight on the people and projects enabling rewilding in our watersheds.

** You must register first on the web page.

Join us for our annual Seeds to Community seedling and plant swap! Bring your extra seedlings, divisions, and native plants to trade with fellow gardeners, and take home new additions for your own native garden. This is a great opportunity to diversify your plantings, connect with the community, and keep native plants moving from yard to yard.

Event hours: 

9:30–10:30 AM: members-only hour

10:30 AM–12:00 PM: open to the public

What to bring: Native species only, please. No cultivars or invasive species. Don't have anything to bring? No problem! There'll be plenty of plants to go around courtesy of the Seeds to Community program.

A note on jumping worms: To help prevent the spread of Asian Jumping Worms, please wash all soil off plant roots and bring them bare-root, or repot in fresh, sterile potting medium. No garden soil or mulch, please.

If you'd like to volunteer to help run this event fill out the registration form.

Ever wanted to try iNaturalist but weren't sure where to start? Or maybe you're already hooked and just want company on a walk? Join iNaturalist Ambassadors during the Wild Ones of Wayne County Plant Swap for a casual, no-pressure intro to iNatting - bring your charged phone, we'll bring the know-how, and we'll head outside together to see what we can find. New to the app? No problem, we'll help you get set up before we head out!

Before the event: Please register and choose a time slot, 11am - 12pm or 12pm - 1pm. Download the Free iNaturalist app and join the “iNat Together BioBlitz at the EIC University of Michigan Dearborn” Project.

At Wild Ones Wayne County (WOWC) we don't just dream about ‘Connecting people and native plants for a healthy planet’, we actively DO STUFF!   And that “doing” is where WOWC Programs comes in.  It takes People and Planning to Make Stuff Happen. Discussions include:

-Bi-monthly chapter meetings with a presenter or speaker
-Plant Sales
-Tabling Events
-Member-to-Member yard tours
-Stewardship Events
-Seeds to Community Program Events
-Social Events
-Private and Public garden tours

Join us on the first Monday of every month 6:00pm on Zoom where we discuss plans for Events and Activities, as well as Volunteer Opportunities. 

Members will receive an invite and Zoom link via email prior to the meeting. 

Contact Steve Ray, Programs Chair with questions or ideas.

Join us for a hands-on morning of native seed collecting at River Bend Gardens! This event supports our Seeds to Community program, gathering seed for local propagation, habitat restoration, and your own growing. No experience necessary we'll cover proper identification and collection for the species that will be available on-site. Hope to see you there!

Register using the link below. Since it is a bit of a drive, you can opt to register for carpooling as well.

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 Wednesday 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:

Seeds Status Update

Seed Cleaning & Storage Workshop Planning

Winter Sowing Workshop Dates & Locations

Program Donations

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

Join WOWC for this 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 about this and other Volunteer Opportunities at the Environmental Study Area 

The folks at the U of M-D EIC have been so generous to WOWC, this is a opportunity for us to give back.  Registration suggested to help us plan with the EIC on the activity, but not required. 

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

At Wild Ones Wayne County (WOWC) we don't just dream about ‘Connecting people and native plants for a healthy planet’, we actively DO STUFF!   And that “doing” is where WOWC Programs comes in.  It takes People and Planning to Make Stuff Happen. Discussions include:

-Bi-monthly chapter meetings with a presenter or speaker
-Plant Sales
-Tabling Events
-Member-to-Member yard tours
-Stewardship Events
-Seeds to Community Program Events
-Social Events
-Private and Public garden tours

Join us on the first Monday of every month 6:00pm on Zoom where we discuss plans for Events and Activities, as well as Volunteer Opportunities. 

Members will receive an invite and Zoom link via email prior to the meeting. 

Contact Steve Ray, Programs Chair with questions or ideas.

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 Wednesday 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:

Seeds Status Update

Seed Cleaning & Storage Workshop Planning

Winter Sowing Workshops Planning

Program Donations

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

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

At Wild Ones Wayne County (WOWC) we don't just dream about ‘Connecting people and native plants for a healthy planet’, we actively DO STUFF!   And that “doing” is where WOWC Programs comes in.  It takes People and Planning to Make Stuff Happen. Discussions include:

-Bi-monthly chapter meetings with a presenter or speaker
-Plant Sales
-Tabling Events
-Member-to-Member yard tours
-Stewardship Events
-Seeds to Community Program Events
-Social Events
-Private and Public garden tours

Join us on the first Monday of every month 6:00pm on Zoom where we discuss plans for Events and Activities, as well as Volunteer Opportunities. 

Members will receive an invite and Zoom link via email prior to the meeting. 

Contact Steve Ray, Programs Chair with questions or ideas.

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 Wednesday 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:

Seeds Status Update

Seed Cleaning & Storage Workshop Planning

Winter Sowing Workshops Planning

Program Donations

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

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.