Events

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. 

Ron Bowen, founder of Prairie Restorations in Princeton,  will be coming to talk to Wild Ones and others at Bethlehem Lutheran in St. Cloud on Saturday, March 9 at 9 am.  We’ll likely be doing some seed starting after that.  The day should go until about noon.  More info on this event will be available later, but for right now, please mark your calendars.  You can certainly bring your own seed to start, but if you want to just participate and learn what may be a new seed starting technique (outdoor sowing in milk jugs) please do so. Seed will be available.  Bethlehem will gladly take the seeds you start for their restoration work.  We will provide most supplies, but if you can start saving one gallon opaque plastic milk jugs and bring them, that would be great.

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. 

Our first outdoor meeting of the year will take place at Mississippi River County Park on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30 pm.  https://www.stearnscountymn.gov/394/Mississippi-River-County-Park (note that this is different than the Bend in in the River County park, which as across the river, so make sure you go to the right place.)  As you enter the park, take the right-hand fork at the “restored prairie” sign and park in the long, thin parking area that you come to before the boat launch. The trail is wide and flat, and at least right now, dry, so its an easy walk.  Bring whatever you need for a one-hour leisurely walk—tick preventions (didn’t find any yesterday…) water, etc.  If there are weather issues, as always, use your own judgement.  Typically we would walk if there was a threat of rain or possibly light rain but not if there had been an all-day soaker that was going to continue or likely thunderstorm or worse.

We will be revisiting the same rescue site.  (no need to be there at the stroke of six.  Just get there when you can.)  The details are the same as below, except we'll plant to park along the road by the site.  If you were there last time, the same spot as where we parked before.  More plants emerged since our initial scouting foray, perhaps even more types have sprouted since.

The site is a former woods, but it has been significantly degraded by the clear-cutting process.  Nevertheless, there are some but not a lot of woodland/woodland edge plants.  We saw pennsylvania sedge, columbine, culvers root, prairie and woodland violets, solomon's plume/seal, false lily of the valley, monarda.
Bring a trowel, pots, gloves, water and other personal supplies.  If you are able to, bring a tray, sled, wagon or wheelbarrow to haul plants back to vehicles.  The site is open and flat so the vehicles will not be a long way away.
You will be able to keep plants for your own  use.  However, we also have a site at which we can plant them (Celebration Lutheran, Sartell).  We'll take plants there and plant them at the end of the evening. 
When you get there we may ask you to sign an injury waiver form. 
Although we may schedule another date later in the year (no immediate plans to build on the site are currently in place) we would ask you to not return to the site individually at random times.

We have another plant rescue opportunity.  Greg is selling some land near Brainerd and is willing to rescue plants on it.  (A new owner is planning to build a road through part of it.)  Here are the details:

When:  Weds, June 19.  (11 am start.  Til 3??)
Directions:  See below.
Site description:  Plants are in a piney, sandy area.  Thus, likely mostly shady plants but different than our other recent rescue site.  Feel free to bring a bag lunch, snacks, water and whatever else you might need.  Assume that there may be mosquitos, ticks, poison ivy, etc.

Directions (from St. Cloud area):  Take HWY 10 to  371 to Pequot Lakes.  Take (right) exit for County 11.  Go less than a mile.  Take a left at Nagel road.Go straight through the gate at the end of the road.  (If you put Nagel Road Pequot Lakes in your phone/nav it looks like it should work.)

Yard tour at Brian Johnson's.  Come see a variety of native plantings, including two established prairies, one prairie in process and a mini-savanna just being established. In addition, we have a sand prairie garden and two relatively new woodland plantings.  July 9 (Tuesday) at 7:00 pm at 31246 County Road 50, Avon.  Feel free to park in the driveway or on the gravel road (163rd ave and cty Rd 50) on the back side of our property and walk in from there.  The tour will start start on the back side of the house. 

Tour the Oak Savanna Learning Center Trail at Sherburne NWR.  Jordan Wilson, a Wild Ones member and Sherburne NWR fan will lead us on the tour.  Thursday, August 15 at 7 pm.  Meet at the Learning Center.  (Suggestion--if possible, get to the site early and do the driving 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. 

Plant some plants at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. On Sept 7 (Saturday) at 9:30 am.  These are the plants we started in jugs at the meeting this spring!  Come see how they turned out and help get them in the ground.The day starts off with coffee and ends with pizza when we've gotten them in the ground.  Joint with BLC volunteers.

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! 

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.