Chapter Events

Wild Ones members receive pre-order early access June  24-28.

Public pre-orders June 29-July 12.

Pickup your order anytime between 5-6:45 pm. If orders are not picked up by 7:00 they will be donated.

ALL SPECIES ARE NOW $1 OFF—JULY 11 & 12!

Order at: https://rivercitygrandrapids.wildones.org/shop/

Garden Walkabouts are informal tours of home gardens and landscapes managed by members. Come and go as you wish.

Address TBA via email to members.

Event is for Wild Ones members only and their guests.

Marty describes her property as “a patch of wilderness hidden deep inside the city of Grand Rapids.” When she and her husband bought the 2.5 acre vacant lot in 1988 it was a ragged lawn and a wooded ravine clogged with invasive species and neighborhood trash. Over the decades they’ve added hundreds of native trees, shrubs, no-mow grass, perennials and ferns. In 2018 they purchased 4.5 acres of adjacent property. Since then, Marty has added an oak savanna, an emergent woodland, a rain garden and bioswale, a shady “hidden garden” and colorful beds of wildflowers. "I love the idea that our land is healthier and more diverse than it has been in 150 years,”  Marty says. “All along the way, I’ve relied on Wild Ones and Kent Conservation District for native plants and great advice. I hope you visit my work-in-progress."

Garden Walkabouts are informal tours of home gardens and landscapes managed by members. Come and go as you wish.

Address TBA via email to Wild Ones River City members.

Event is for Wild Ones members only and their guests.

Garden description to come.

Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter (WORC) and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of a variety native plants and sometimes native seeds offered by Native Plant Guild members. Representatives of Wild Ones River City Chapter will answer questions and provide educational handouts. Native Plant Guild growers donate a portion of their sales to WORC.

Flat Iron Lake Nature Preserve is in Kent County's Oakfield Township, approximately 30 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. The preserve was the idea of Fritz and Carol Rottman, who owned much of the property and wished to see the space preserved for green space and scientific study. The property includes a 25 acre kettle lake, 13 acres of forest, and an 18 acre created prairie. River City Wild Ones originally visited the property in 2011. This nature hike will showcase changes over the past several years.

Garden Walkabouts are informal tours of home gardens and landscapes managed by members. Come and go as you wish.

Address TBA via email to members.

Event is for Wild Ones members only and their guests.

Garden description to come.

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. 

Presented by William Kirst, Founder, Ann Arbor Adapt Community Supported Ecology.

The default Western thinking about ecosystems is to see humans as outside, objective observers, except in cases where we are actively degrading or interacting with areas we have designated as ‘nature’. However, not only are humans a part of our ecosystem, our interactions with other humans are arguably some of the most important transactions in the ecological web of our neighborhoods. What does this mean for us? How can we use this perspective to foster positive change?  And what does it mean to be a good neighbor to all?

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. 

Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter (WORC) and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of a variety native plants and sometimes native seeds offered by Native Plant Guild members. Representatives of Wild Ones River City Chapter will answer questions and provide educational handouts. Native Plant Guild growers donate a portion of their sales to WORC.

Garden Walkabouts are informal tours of home gardens and landscapes managed by members. Come and go as you wish.

Address TBA via email to members.

Event is for Wild Ones members only and their guests.

Garden description to come.

Presented by John Harville, Berrien County Coordinator for The Michigan Bluebird Society. He will share his expertise and strategies to attract bluebirds and other wildlife to your yard.

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! 

A wrap-up of chapter activities and seed swap.

Learn about the Wild Ones San Diego Chapter's newest demonstration garden funded in part by Monarch Joint Venture and U.S. Forest Service International Programs. You'll also hear from landscape designer Jeanine Sharkey about this newest San Diego native garden design. 

More details and registration coming soon. 

Learn about the Wild Ones Capital Region NY Chapter's newest demonstration garden, funded partly by Monarch Joint Venture and U.S. Forest Service International Programs. You'll also hear from landscape designer Kate Brittenham about this newest Albany NY native garden design. 

More details and registration coming soon

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!