Events

Wild Ones Wayne County (Seedling)  Bi-monthly Chapter Meeting and Webinar

"The Big Rewards of a Little Pollinator Rain Garden" with Lisa Denys 
Please email [email protected] if you are not a current member and would like to attend this event.

Description: Learn how to create a simple rain garden using native plants that pack lots of bang for their buck for pollinators! We'll discuss why a rain garden with native plants is one of the best ways to help the environment and reasons to help pollinators that will inspire your neighbors. We'll discuss a few super plants and tips to get the most out of your pollinator garden.

This ~45-minute presentation will teach you an easy way to make a big impact and may inspire you to want more in-depth knowledge. Lisa will share her favorite resources, and your post-presentation feedback will also help guide future Wild Ones Wayne County events.

About the Speaker: Lisa Denys is an Environmental Educator, Master Rain Gardener Instructor, and lifelong gardener. In 2014, her desire to attract butterflies led to an interest in native plants. She has a B.S. in Biology from Eastern Michigan University and is President of the Wild Ones Wayne County Michigan Seedling Chapter.

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. 

Bob Hauser, Membership Chair of Wild Ones Wayne County Seedling Chapter, will speak for the Livonia Garden Club.

Description: "Livonia's own Bob Hauser will present Using Native Plants in Our Environment Landscaping with the primary purpose of protecting the local ecosystem and wildlife that, in turn, supports us."

The Livonia Garden Club is hosting this event; however, they do welcome visitors. Meet and Greet time starts at 6:30 p.m. Programs begin promptly at 7 p.m. Learn more about the Livonia Garden Club here: http://livoniagardenclub.org/

Hosted by Wild Ones Wayne County, Michigan

Join us as Bob Hauser shares the importance of using native plants in our landscapes to support wildlife and the local ecosystem. Bob is passionate about the natural world, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He will also share the resources & opportunities that Wild Ones offers to help you make a difference, even in your own backyard!

Bio:
Bob Hauser is a Navy Veteran and retiree from the IT industry, but he has always been a gardener at heart! He is a former Wayne County Master Gardener and a member of the Ann Arbor Chapter of Wild Ones for 14 years. Bob played a crucial role in bringing people together to establish the Wild Ones Wayne County (WOWC) Seedling Chapter and currently serves on the Board of the Wild Ones Wayne County (Seedling) Chapter.

Here is how Bob describes his journey into native gardening: 

"As a conventional gardener, my entry into landscaping with native plants was gradual. It started with my failure to get my hydrangeas to bloom consistently! That failure led to learning to landscape with plants and shrubs that historically grew here in SE Michigan. I grew to understand the value native plants provided to our local ecosystem and their importance to our existence today!"

Details to join this event via Zoom will be emailed to members. Non-members please email [email protected] with your name and where you are from in order to get details to attend. 

To join Wild Ones Wayne County, please visit: bit.ly/Join-WildOnes-WayneCo

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. 

IN-PERSON REGISTRATION IS FULL. Guests are welcome to register for a link to attend virtually.

Hosted by Wild Ones Wayne County, Michigan

Speaker: Brenda Sattler (formerly Brenda Dziedzic) will discuss native plants for butterflies & moths. Brenda is the author of "Raising Butterflies and Moths in the Garden"

Description: The talk will discuss the components of a Butterfly/Moth Garden with native plants, which include sun, planting in groups, locations for host plants, plant arrangements, sunning spot, overripe fruit, place to puddle, nectar plants, and host plants. It will go into depth about the native host plants
that the butterflies and moths use.

Come early to check out the trails, pollinator garden, and rain gardens surrounding the UM-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center! 

If you cannot attend in person, this meeting will also be hosted online via Zoom.

In-person attendees (members & guests) must register in advance due to limited seating. Priority will be given to members for in person seating.

Virtual Attendees: All members will receive a link to the virtual event. Guests will need to register for a link to attend the online event. 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email within a few days confirming your spot.

Members can look forward to Member to Member Garden Yard Tours throughout the growing season!

Member-to-Member (M2M) yard visits (aka Show Me-Tell Me) allow members to share experiences, ideas, and challenges with maintaining native plants in our landscapes. These tours help members & invited guests to learn about different natives and enjoy conversations with other native plant enthusiasts.

The location for each visit will be communicated to all members prior to the visit.

NATIVE PLANT EXPO & MARKETPLACE

Washtenaw County Conservation District and the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office work together to coordinate native plant sales and an AMAZING Native Plant Expo each year. 

The Native Plant Expo & Marketplace hosts several companies specializing in native plants and seeds as well as landscaping companies and non-profit organizations focused on native plant landscapes. There will be ample opportunity to purchase a wide variety of additional plants, seeds and services. The event offers both pre-ordered and day-of sales. 

Plant Sales: 

2024 Spring Tree & Shrub Sale

PRE-SALE PERIOD: 
Store Opens (Pre-Order): January 2
Paper Forms Deadline: February 19
Online Store Deadline: March 18
PICK-UP DATES: 
Friday, April 26, 1p.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

PICK-UP LOCATION: 
Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds
5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(3 miles south of I-94, Exit #175).  

2024 Spring Native Plant Pre-sale! 

Pre-sale Opens: February 19, 2024
Paper Forms Deadline: March 11, 2024
Online Store Deadline: March 18, 2024

Michigensee Natives, located in Plymouth Township is hosting an exclusive evening open house for Wild Ones members and their guests. Located on the grounds of Graye’s Greenhouse, 8820 N. Lilley Road, Plymouth, MI., members will have the opportunity to hear about the development of this new business see the new location, and also purchase plants.  Michiganense Natives is the first all-native retail store in Wayne County Adam Huttenstine, a graduate of MSU with 15 years experience in supply chain management brings his extensive native plant knowledge to make Michigan's native plants even more readily available to customers. The Michiganessee Natives website offers information about species lists, seeds, plants, and garden kits as well as installation and maintenance services.  http://www.michiganensenatives.com The public grand opening

Details to come

Members can look forward to Member to Member Garden Yard Tours throughout the growing season!

This month's event will feature two yards in the Canton area! Member-to-Member (M2M) yard visits (aka Show Me-Tell Me) allow members to share experiences, ideas, and challenges with maintaining native plants in our landscapes. These tours help members & invited guests to learn about different natives and enjoy conversations with other native plant enthusiasts.

The specific locations will be communicated to all members in advance of the event.

Wild Ones Wayne County Chapter Board Meeting 

Discuss chapter operations via a Zoom meeting. (No speaker) 

WOWC current Members are welcome. However, topics discussed during this meeting are limited to chapter operations & planning. Any suggested discussion topics should be sent via email prior to the meeting. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] to register. 

Hosted by Wild Ones Wayne County, Michigan

Speaker: Stefanie Steele, Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Xerces Society

Summary: Join Stefanie Steele, Xerces Society pollinator conservation specialist for urban and small farms in the Greater Detroit, MI region, for a presentation on native bee awareness. Urban landscapes are diverse and can provide unique habitat opportunities for a diversity of pollinators and other beneficial invertebrates. Come learn about the diversity of native bees in our area, their habitat and nesting requirements, and some of the most important native plants to support them.

This will be a hydrid online AND in-person event. Due to limited seating, registration will be required for in-person attendees. Wild Ones Wayne County members only need to register to reserve a seat for in-person attendance; WOWC members will automatically be emailed a Zoom link. Guests and Wild Ones members from other chapters must register to reserve a seat for in-person attendance or to receive a Zoom link for virtual attendance.

This will be a hydrid online AND in-person event. Due to limited seating, registration will be required for in-person attendees. Wild Ones Wayne County members will have the opportunity to register early. Click here if you would like to JOIN Wild Ones Wayne County.

Register using the green button below or via this link: https://bit.ly/wowc-july2024

Elmer has a beautiful small, but mighty garden filled with art and gorgeous colorful plants! This event is a being coordinated by the Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association (SEMBA). They have two gardens open to invited guests on this day with overlapping times for visitors to attend.

We are sharing this event with Wild Ones Wayne County members with SEMBA's permission.

To attend please email: [email protected] by July 6th. The address for this garden walk will be shared with members when it is made available (by July).

Please visit the SEMBA website to learn more about their wonderful group: https://www.sembabutterfly.org/

Brenda Dziedzic is the author of Raising Butterflies and Moths in the Garden. Brenda's small yard, hosts hundreds of butterflies and moth in her beautiful low maintenance garden each year.

This event is a being coordinated by the Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association (SEMBA). They have two gardens open to invited guests on this day with overlapping times for visitors to attend.

We are sharing this event with Wild Ones Wayne County members with SEMBA's permission.

To attend please email: [email protected] by July 6th. The address for this garden walk will be shared with members when it is made available (by July).

Please visit the SEMBA website to learn more about their wonderful group: https://www.sembabutterfly.org/

Members can look forward to Member to Member Garden Yard Tours throughout the growing season!

This month's event will feature two yards in the Grosse Pointe community! Member-to-Member (M2M) yard visits (aka Show Me-Tell Me) allow members to share experiences, ideas, and challenges with maintaining native plants in our landscapes. These tours help members & invited guests to learn about different natives and enjoy conversations with other native plant enthusiasts.

The location for each visit will be communicated to all members prior to the visit.

This is a joint tour with the North Oakland and Wayne County Wild Ones chapters. In addition to nurturing a beautiful butterfly/pollinator garden using native and non-native plants, John Blair has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore a prairie on a large portion of this once agricultural property. 

Enjoy Wonderful Photos of John Blair's Property 

2023 feature in Fine Gardening 

Prairie 2024, an album on flickr

John Blair on the Gardens, Prairie, and Savanna We Will Tour

I will provide a guided tour of the gardens, prairie, and savanna. There is about a half-mile trail system we can walk to view the prairie/savanna habitat. There are also three ponds that have been restored as well. You will find these teeming with life. Please be prepared for uneven ground on the trails. Hats are also recommended. The tour normally takes 1.5 hours. Folks are free to wander about and explore the property after the tour. 

For those who are not able to make the longer trail walk - You are welcome to enjoy the three very accessible pollinator gardens and relax on the provided benches. I had over 500 folks visit last summer from various Master Gardener groups, garden clubs, and nature organizations, but this will be my first visit from Wild Ones. I am looking forward to your visit!

More About the Property and Its History

After retiring and then moving to our nine-acre rural site outside Brooklyn in 2019, I got busy continuing my dream of creating large pollinator gardens and doing a restoration of a prairie and savanna area. 

We currently have three separate gardens which I like to call “Blended Gardens.” These are roughly 50% native and 50% non-native (and noninvasive) nectar sources. The purpose of these gardens is to demonstrate how folks can start their native plant journey by incorporating natives into their existing landscape alongside nectar plants they are already familiar with. The hope is that these demonstration gardens can be an inspirational gateway for those interested in learning about native plants and creating useful habitat in their own spaces. 

The prairie and savanna is a joint project through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. Basically, for landowners interested in returning their property back to native habitat, they will cover half the cost of the project. They will also partner you with an experienced biologist to guide the process and to access the necessary equipment and resources needed for the project. We entered the program in 2020, and after two years of site prep, seeded the five-acre prairie and savanna in June 2022. Since this is the third summer since it was seeded, we are expecting a spectacular year!

This month, two yards in Livonia will welcome members AND Community Members! 

Member-to-Member (M2M) yard visits (aka Show Me-Tell Me) allow members to share experiences, ideas, and challenges with maintaining native plants in our landscapes. These tours help members learn about different natives and enjoy conversations with other native plant enthusiasts. Members can look forward to Member to Member Garden Yard Tours throughout the growing season!

Typically the M2M tours our members only; however, the two hosts for this tour are also welcoming guests!  If you are not a member and are interested in attending this event, please email us at [email protected]. 

We also welcome you to join our chapter by visiting: https://join.wildones.org/?chapter=6700

Existing members, please check your email for locations and details for this tour.

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. 

This is a Wild Ones Member Only - FREE private tour of the Oudolf Garden. Please arrive early. Parking is limited so please carpool. The walk will occur Rain or Shine, so please come prepared for the weather, including sunscreen/bug spray.

NOTE: You will need a State Recreation Pass for the visit to Belle Isle, this can be obtained at the entrance kiosk - Oudolf garden is included in the pass www.michigannr.com

Meredith Simpson, a volunteer with Oudolf Garden Detroit has very graciously agreed to lead Wild Ones chapters, Wayne County, North Oakland, and Ann Arbor on a tour of Ouldolf Garden Detroit.

The Ouldolf Garden project started back in 2015 as new idea by the Garden Club of Michigan, in an effort to create a significant impact in the city. Garden club members Maura Campbell, Jean Hudson and Richard Thomas then sent a “love letter from Detroit” to Piet Oudolf, and he ultimately accepted the commission. Fundraising began immediately, and fast forward several years…the Belle Isle garden was designed, installed and planted by the fall of 2020. This year, 2024, will be the fourth full growing season for Oudolf Garden Detroit.

All 3 local Wild Ones Chapters are hosting this event jointly - North Oakland, Ann Arbor, & Wayne County please contact your local chapter for carpool info

Presentation: "Plant this, not that: Native replacements for common landscaping plants"

You can picture "The American Dream" suburban landscaping with perfectly manicured lawns and neat hedges. We see it everywhere, but what is the impact? Join in this discussion on the impacts of traditional lawns and invasive/non-native suburban landscaping plants and learn some of the native plant alternatives. Expect a short presentation followed by an opportunity to collaborate and share your ideas on your favorite native plants and where they have worked well for you.

Presenter: Derek Shaffer, WOWC co-founder, Membership Chair

Derek is a self-proclaimed "gardening addict" from Livonia with a new passion for reverting suburban landscapes to native plants. He is currently serving as the WOWC Membership Chair, but his day job is as a software engineer at Ford Motor Company, where he has been working since graduating from the University of Michigan College of Engineering in 2015. He began his native landscaping journey recently in 2022 with a small home gardening project that got him hooked on becoming more knowledgeable about native plants. He joined Wild Ones last fall to co-found the Wayne County Michigan Chapter with hopes to influence the community, businesses, churches and municipalities to reduce mowed spaces and plant natives.

This will be an in-person and online event. 
In-person attendees: Registration is not required for in-person attendance.

PLEASE NOTE: we are CHANGING ROOMS. We will be in the Auditorium Room for the rest of 2024. This room does not have tables, so you should bring something to write on if you like to take notes. Come early to check out the trails, pollinator garden, and rain gardens surrounding the UM-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center! 

If you cannot attend in person, this meeting will also be hosted online via Zoom.

Virtual attendees:  
WOWC members will automatically be emailed a Zoom link a few days prior to the meeting.

Guests and Wild Ones members from other chapters, please email us at [email protected] with your name, where you're from, and how you heard of this event, and we will email you a link to attend.

Join us for two native garden tours in the Downriver/near Downriver area! The locations are Southgate and New Boston. We'll start in Southgate. Enjoy the first tour. Then, we will leave at the same time to drive to our second yard in New Boston. The locations are ~18 min. drive time apart. 

Please bring your own water, insect spray, and sunscreen, and dress for the weather. Comfortable closed-toe footwear is highly suggested, due to uneven terrain and free-roaming chickens. Ticks have not been seen, but long pants and socks may help you better enjoy the gorgeous natural habitat on this tour. 

Existing members will receive location details via email. 

Typically the M2M tours our members and their guests only; however, the two hosts for this tour are also welcoming members of the public! If you are interested in attending this event, please email us at [email protected]. 

We also welcome you to join our chapter by visiting: https://join.wildones.org/?chapter=6700.

Highlights of the yards we'll tour are prairies, a bird paradise with tree swallows, house wrens, and bluebird & screech owl homes. You'll see successful rain-scaping that helped mitigate flooding and reduce muddy paw prints in her spring. Of course, you see lots of native plants, shrubs, & trees and enjoy great company with nature lovers, native plant enthusiasts & those who are just starting to learn.

Member-to-Member (M2M) yard visits (aka Show Me-Tell Me) allow members to share experiences, ideas, and challenges with maintaining native plants in our landscapes. These tours help members & guests to learn about different natives and enjoy conversations with other native plant enthusiasts. Members can look forward to Member to Member Garden Yard Tours throughout the growing season!

This might be our final tour of the growing season, so don't miss it!

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. 

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! 

Wild Ones Wayne County (Seedling)  Bi-monthly Chapter Meeting

Speaker TBD

(more details to follow)

Native plants have an incredible ability to adapt to climate extremes, offering sustainable solutions for resilient landscapes. Join Wild Ones and the Native Plant Society of Texas to explore the power of native plants to thrive in challenging conditions.

This event features Christy Ten Eyck, founder of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. Drawing from her latest Dallas-Fort Worth native garden design, Christy will share insights into designing low-maintenance, ecologically rich spaces that withstand intense climate fluctuations.

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.