Events

ZOOM presentation by Barbara J. Barton, Author

In her presentation "Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan", Barb Barton will introduce us to the history, culture, biology, economics, and spirituality surrounding this sacred plant. She begins her story in the days before European colonization and travels in time through the logging and industrialization eras. Barton explores the worlds of the Anishinaabek and the colonizers as she contrasts their different perspectives and relationships with Manoomin. The audience also learns about Michigan’s historic wild rice beds, why many of them vanished, and how both tribal and nontribal people have sought to restore and protect Manoomin across the landscape. Attendees will also learn how Manoomin is harvested and processed. As one reviewer has noted, this book “makes me want to paddle the backwaters of Michigan’s rivers and lakes, searching for lost stands of this amazing grass.”

Presented by Martha (Marty) MacCleery, Wild Ones River City Chapter Education Chair on Zoom.

The audience will be drawn into the life and contributions of Aldo Leopold, the father of the Land Ethic. He authored the landmark book, "A Sand County Almanac", published in 1949, that proposes that land is a community of living things to be loved and respected, a core tenant of his term land ethic. When one loves and respects the land, then one appreciates it as living circulating system that can nurture all forms of life, not just humans.    

Follow Aldo Leopold as he joins the U.S. Forest Service in 1909 and begins working around the country, all the while observing and thinking about what he saw and experienced. In 1935 he purchased a worn out sand county farm near Madison, Wisconsin. He and his family slowly turned the old farm into a beautifully restored landscape with abundant wildlife. That experience along with a lifetime of rich work experiences, became the basis of his landmark book, "A Sand County Almanac", considered to be the basis of the conservation movement of the 20th century.

The presenter will challenge audience members to envision a bold modern conservation movement for our time. Together they will explore some modern interpretations of landscape stewardship in the 21st century, all the while honoring Aldo Leopold’s legacy.  Such reasons for hope include David Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park™ and emphasis on keystone native plants, leveraging right-of-way corridors by including native shrubs and understory trees, and landscaping with the needs of birds in mind, thereby preserving the food web for all animals, including us!

Presented by Amy Heilman, Rebecca Marquardt, and Alysia Babcock—three landscape professionals and Wild Ones members. They will utilize a typical residential garden design to discuss considerations when planning, implementing and maintaining a garden composed of native plant species. Participants will have ample opportunity to ask questions or state problems/issues they may have on their own properties. Presenters will use these inputs to provide answers and discuss solutions.

Presented by Craig Elston, Naturalist/Photographer, CDE Nature

Address is actually 0-1859 Lake Michigan Dr. NW as it is in Ottawa County.

This program will be a combination wildflower hike and flower photography lesson. We will look at and learn about the flowers in bloom and receive tips and instruction on taking better flower photos. The first half will cover the shorter, upper loop trail that is mostly level ground. For those interested in going further, we will proceed to where the Virginia bluebells and trillium are growing and will practice photographing them.

Learn all about the operation of a wildflower seed farm while walking the seed production fields. We'll frequently stop to discuss farm operations and  how our seeds are used in landscapes.

Please bring a folding bag chair to use before the tour starts.

Dress for the weather and for walking. Bring camera and notepad/pen if desired.

Carpooling recommended.

Long-time WORC member, Gretchen Zuiderveen and her husband George, hosted a garden walkabout at their home. A prairie garden out front, held orange butterfly weed that was gloriously in bloom, along with purple coneflower, common milkweed, and other species. The Prairie dock leaves were huge!

The right side of the house past fragrant sumac led to the park-like back yard with its huge boulders strategically placed in the garden. The boulders were found on-site when the foundation was dug for their house. The backyard has tall oaks and a dry stream bed that channels rain away from the house. The black cohosh were in bloom here and there. Lupine, bloodroot and other natives carpet the backyard.

Heading back to the front on the South side of the house was a carpet of moss in place of grass and then up stepping stones to a garden by the front door and a trellis of native clematis.

Annual Native Plant Sale (Pickup and Browse & Buy) on July 19.

Order online on our website July 1-14.

Wild Ones members receive early access. June 26-30. 

Click READ MORE to order.

Please park on Hope Street—which is the street that intersects with Carlton just South of Marti's house.

Marti has native plant gardens in her front and back yards. Come see what can be accomplished in an urban setting!

Marti writes: "I began planting my garden in 2014. I had attended a presentation and field trip led by Amy Heilman and Mike Bruggink on the role of native plants in the ecosystem. I was so inspired that I made the decision that I would change the way I was gardening and began a journey of learning and gardening that I want to continue to do as long as I can. 

I would love to tell you that I planned ahead and followed a design plan, but that isn’t what happened. I’ve gradually planted, made mistakes, removed things, moved plants around and continued to plant more varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers. 

I think of my gardens as a living “being"  that changes, grows, and even dies in places. My urban space is rather compact, but it keeps evolving and getting more interesting all of the time." 

Marti MacArthur: “I began planting my garden in 2014. I had attended a presentation and field trip led by Amy Heilman and Mike Bruggink on the role of native plants in the ecosystem. I was so inspired that I made the decision that I would change the way I was gardening and began a journey of learning and gardening that I want to continue to do as long as I can.

I would love to tell you that I planned ahead and followed a design plan, but that isn’t what happened. I’ve gradually planted, made mistakes, removed things, moved plants around and continued to plant more varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers.

I think of my gardens as a living “being”  that changes, grows, and even dies in places.

My urban space is rather compact, but it keeps evolving and getting more interesting all of the time.”

Presented by Jenna Walters, PhD Candidate, Michigan State University

Michigan is home to over 467 species of wild bees, making our state an incredible oasis of diversity and wildlife. However, many of these bees need our help in order to persist and thrive for years to come. Join us as we take a look at some of the native bees you might find in your own backyard and explore the ways you can help save the bees!

This program will include a short history of native prairie habitats, why they are an important part of an ecosystem and how Kent County Parks Department is supporting Native Prairie areas at multiple County park sites. The program will also include a prairie species ID walk and native prairie seed harvesting workshop. Attendees will learn to ID some of the common native prairie grasses and forbs and will have the opportunity to participate in a seed harvesting activity. We will be collecting seeds to bring home and will hear a short presentation at one of the pavilions about how to overwinter seeds.

Note: This event is CANCELLED due to unforeseen circumstances. Thank you for your understanding   

Marcia writes: "My native plant journey began with hearing Doug Tallamy speak at Meijer Gardens. I then heard him speak again at the Wild Ones-River City Chapter 15th Anniversary Celebration at Aquinas College on June 20th, 2022. On June 28th, I became a Wild Ones member. At that point I decided to replace all of our turf grass, which had gone mostly to weeds anyway, to native plants. That means less mowing and more habitat. I currently have 120 different species of native plants in our yard and wooded area. I am looking forward to getting advice and input from other Wild Ones members at my walkabout."

Join Wild Ones Honorary Director Heather Holm as she explores the nesting habitats, life cycles, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of some of the most common native bees in eastern North America, while highlighting the pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees.

When creating and managing thriving habitats for native bees, many factors such as seasonal phenology, nesting strategies, and flower preferences must be considered—and with approximately 3,600 species in North America (north of Mexico), there are many unique aspects to keep in mind when managing successful landscapes for bees. 

Presented by Madison (Maisie) Wiler

Four out of five FDA-approved medicines are derived from plant compounds. Even so, scientists believe that nature's pharmaceutical value is largely unexplored—but many scientists seeking to develop new medicines fail to consult with indigenous nations, whose traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) encompasses medicines unknown or unused in western pharmacology. This presentation will explore traditional medicines, their uses, and will provide an evidentiary basis for their efficacy with comparisons to western laboratory science. Additionally, we will discuss the issue of exploitation of Indigenous nations by pharmaceutical companies.

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

We will be celebrating the end of our 16th year as a chapter and our accomplishments this year. The River City 2024 officers and board members will be introduced. Refreshments will be served.

Attendees are encouraged to bring native seeds from their garden to share.

Bring native seeds to share if you have them. Please follow these instructions for the seeds:

Separate dry seeds from plant material
Enclose in an envelope no larger than letter size (one species per envelope)
Write on the envelope:
o   Common name
o   Latin name
o   Sun/Shade
o   Soil type Wet/Dry
o   Your name

If you are new to native plants and don’t have seeds to share, no worries, you can still take home some seeds.

Join us for an enlightening webinar featuring authors, Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, as they present their latest book, "The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants." This comprehensive compendium is a treasure trove of knowledge for gardeners looking to incorporate native prairie plants into their landscapes. Neil and Hilary will delve into the making and application of this essential guide, sharing rich historical and ecological insights about prairie ecosystems, all while showcasing stunning images of prairie flora.