Chapter Events

Presented by David Pavlik, Research Assistant, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University.

The John Ball Zoo and Michigan State University have partnered to help save endangered butterflies from extinction. Since 2021, the Zoo and MSU have been rearing and breeding Poweshiek Skipperling, and more recently Mitchell's Satyr and Karner Blue. This program will cover the milestones that the program has achieved. 

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

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

A collaboration between Wild Ones River City and The Native Plant Guild.

Native Plants sold by local growers from the Native Plant Guild. Wild Ones River City Chapter representatives will be there to answer your native plant questions and provide educational handouts. 

The growers donate a portion of their profits to River City Wild Ones.

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 adding more native plants to her corner lot over time.  Eventually she installed 2 new beds named Shady Grove and Sunny Grove which involved several delicate dances with her neighborhood HOA. Think fences, signs, and deer exclosure cages! I’d love to share my stories with you!  

Theme:  Sunny Grove: The Journey from Concept to Reality (2021-2024 and Beyond)

Come explore her entire yard that backs up to the woods. And be sure to walk through Sunny Grove with a meandering grove of various dwarf native trees, shrubs and plants.  There will also be some carefully placed interpretative signs from Xerces, NWF, Pollinator Partnership, Monarch Joint Venture, Saving Birds Thru Habitat and Wild Ones River City.

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.

More details to come!

Details coming soon! 

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

New presentation:
People, Plants, and Partnerships: Centering Relationships in Green Infrastructure Projects in the Plaster Creek Watershed

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

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! 

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!