Events Archive: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events
November 2024
Annual Chapter Meeting and Seed Swap
Public Welcome Free Event Seed/Plant Swap Free Public Parking
Join us for a fun evening to connect with your fellow Wild Ones and to meet newcomers! We will be celebrating our accomplishments in 2024, our 17th year as a chapter. The River City 2025 officers and board members will be introduced. Member Barbara Zvirzdinis will demonstrate Winter Sowing of native seeds in milk jugs. Wild Ones will be selling native plant books, garden signs and related merchandise before and after the presentation. Cider and donuts will be served.
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.
Click the READ MORE button below for seed instructions.
Resilient Landscapes with the Native Plant Society of Texas
Hosted by Wild Ones DFW (Seedling) Chapter and Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
December 2024
Neonics & Advocacy: Protecting Pollinators and Influencing Policy
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
January 2025
"San Diego, CA Native Garden Design" with Jeanine Sharkey
Hosted by Wild Ones San Diego Chapter and Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
February 2025
Minimizing the Error in Trial & Error
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation
Experienced native plant gardener and designer Mike Weis from Dropseed Gardens, will take us through the steps in the first garden he ever installed, starting in 2005. He will present a slideshow of images of this garden through the years to illustrate how some decisions/methods that were used worked well while others did not.
Registration link TBA
"Albany, NY Native Garden Design" with Kate Brittenham
Hosted by Wild Ones Capital Region NY Chapter and Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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
March 2025
Izhi-Minoging Mashkikiwan / Place Where Medicines Grow Well - Cheboiganing Burt Lake Band's Healing Garden
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation
Izhi-Minoging Mashkikiwan, Place Where Medicines Grow Well, is the Cheboiganing Burt Lake Band's healing garden located at their office headquarters in Brutus, MI. This garden features over 40 species of Great Lakes native plants arranged to symbolically represent the Ojibwe Medicine Wheel and Anishinaabe beadwork. The Band worked with former University of Michigan graduate student and present day landscape architect, Eva Roos, on the design and installation both the healing garden and the greater headquarters landscape. In this presentation, Eva will share about the design and installation process, symbolism embedded within the garden, ecological benefits of chosen plants, and lessons learned from the garden.
Registration link TBA
April 2025
Eating the Plants We Love to Hate
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Presented by Lea Sevigny, Joyful Wildcrafting
Among native plant enthusiasts, there is a range of how much tolerance we have for introduced species. Regardless of your feelings about Dame's Rocket, Cleavers, or Dandelion, you'll learn how to use them for food. Together, we'll find edible value in many of the species people love to hate. Participants will receive simple recipes to use wildcrafted food with the earliest spring greens and flowers.
May 2025
Invasive Garlic Mustard Pull at Seidman Park
Public Welcome Free Event Hands-On/How-To Workshop Nature Walk/Hike Lots of Physical Activity
Join us to help eradicate invasive garlic mustard plants in Seidman Park.
More info to come!
June 2025
Friendship Park - A nature-focused community space
Cascade Twp. Branch Kent District Library, Friendship Park, 2870 Jacksmith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Group Tour Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Presented by Wes Landon, Native Edge LLC
This program will review the design and planning process for Friendship Park, and how the native gardens and landscapes play a central role in the character, impact, and vision of the park.
August 2025
Marywood Prairie Habitat Tour
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Presented by Sister Lucille Janowiak, OP
A Prairie Habitat of about an acre in size can be seen on the edge of the Dominican Sisters - Grand Rapids grounds at E. Fulton Street in Grand Rapids. What is this natural area all about? When was the Prairie Habitat initiated and why? How was this commune of flora and fauna established and by whom? Sister Lucille will focus on addressing these questions.
Sr Lucille Janowiak, has been a member of the Dominican Sisters - Grand Rapids for decades and has managed the Prairie Habitat for a number of years. Prior to her work on the Prairie, Sr Lucille was an Educator and Pastoral Minister.
September 2025
The Great Lakes Rare Butterfly Program at the John Ball Zoo
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Presented by Bill Flanagan, John Ball Zoo Conservation Manager.
The John Ball Zoo (JBZ) has been partnering with Michigan State University's Haddad Lab to save the Poweshiek Skipperling from extinction. In 2023 the program expanded to include working with Mitchell's Satyr' butterflies.
JBZ has rapidly expanded its committment to the conservation of animals in the field. Four programs focused on Great Lakes Rare Turtles, Great Lakes Rare Butterflies, Grand River Ecosystems, and Habitat Hero make up the core of the JBZ's conservation work.
September Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
October 2025
October Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
Michigan's Captivating Caterpillars
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Presented by Dr. Duke Elsner, Entomologist
Michigan is home to over 160 species of butterflies and over 1000 species of moths. The plants in our gardens and landscapes help in providing the nourishment caterpillars need to achieve completion of their life cycle. Join Dr. Elsner to discover some of the most interesting caterpillars that may be munching on your trees and shrubs.
Dr. Elsner grew up in southwest Michigan. He holds a B.S. and a M.S. degree in Entomology from Michigan State University. His PhD is from Penn State, also in Entomology. He worked for many years as an Agriculture Extension Agent for MSU in Grand Traverse County, specializing in small fruit production.
November 2025
Wild Ones River City Annual Meeting/Seed Swap
Public Welcome Free Event Seed/Plant Swap Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
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.
November Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!