Chapter Events

An open garden tour of member Marty MacCleery's yard in Ada, for Wild Ones River City members and their guests. 

Members will receive an email invitation with the address and details closer to the event.

Background: Marty learned about the importance of native plants to the food web while taking the Master Naturalist class in 2010. She began replacing non-native plants with native plants on her property over time. Eventually she installed 2 new beds named Shady Grove and Sunny Grove that involved several delicate dance moves with her neighborhood HOA. Think (deer exclosure) fences and signs! Come hear about her gardening successes and challenges!   

Themes:  
The Story of Shady Grove: Concept to Reality 2021–2022
Explore this wooded bed with native shade-loving trees, shrubs, and plants. Come discover why this project was almost stopped completely half-way through its construction!

The Story of Sunny Grove: Concept to Reality 2021–2025 and Beyond
Explore this meandering grove of various dwarf native trees under planted with companion native shrubs and plants. Some of the dwarf native trees and shrubs are already showing fall color! Come find out why this bed resulted in the open bed design you see today! Note that Sunny Grove features the sub-tree layer, shrub layer, and ground plant layer for a smaller scale microforest.

Learning & Fun should be intertwined:
Have fun discovering all sorts of educational signage both large and small scattered throughout the property.  Enjoy watching a 7 minute video on Pocket Forests which are also known as microforests!

So come join us for our last walkabout of 2025! Wear your member name tag if you have one, so we can all get acquainted.

The purpose of the Native Plant Exchange is to foster natural landscaping with native plants. Bring favorite native plants from your yard to share with others and take some home for yourself. 

All plants are FREE, and you are not required to bring plants in order to take some home. This is a place where those with an abundance can share with others and help them get started with native plants. 

This event is open to the community and is co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter and Blandford Nature Center.

Plant drop-off will be from 10 am–10:45 am.

Click on the READ MORE button below for more information and instructions.

Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. 

Note: The previously advertised presentation “Michigan's Captivating Caterpillars” by Dr. Duke Elsner has been CANCELLED.

New presentation:
From Pavement to Paradise: Retrofitting Parking Lots with Green Insfrastructure in the Plaster Creek Watershed

Presented by: Haley Kornoelje, Project Coordinator, Plaster Creek Stewards

(Level 3 - Ryerson Auditorium • Elevator available)

2-hour parking is FREE in the library lot with ticket validation in the library. 

Join us for a fun evening to connect with your fellow Wild Ones and to meet newcomers!

We will be celebrating our accomplishments in 2025, our 18th year as a chapter. The River City 2026 officers and board members will be introduced. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring native seeds from their garden to share if you have them. If you are new to native plants and don't have seeds to share, no worries, you can still take home some seeds.

Seed packaging instructions to come.

Details coming soon! 

Designing with native plants isn’t just about what you grow, it’s about how you shape your space. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe Evans (Plan it Wild) and Heather Evans (Design Your Wild) guide you through the process of creating a cohesive yard plan that supports both your lifestyle and biodiversity.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! This will be a paid webinar with all proceeds supporting the Seeds for Education Program. 

Details coming soon! 

Annual Online Native Plant Sale and Fundraiser online ordering for Wild Ones members begins May 26 and runs through May 31.

Public online ordering June 1–13.

More details to come!

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!