Events Archive: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Upcoming Events
January 2024
"Cultivating Change" with Lorraine Johnson
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change. Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future.
Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time.
February 2024
Take a Cue from Nature: Things to See All Year Around and How It Can Help You Design your Garden
Marywood Chapel, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Alysia Babcock will present examples of plants (and other interesting things) found in nature preserves and how they can help you design your own gardens.
March 2024
Invasive Species Spotlight: Jumping Worms
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting
Zoom webinar presented by Shelby Lane-Clark, Applied Biologist
Jumping worms (Amynthas agrestis, Amynthas tokioensis and Metaphire hilgendorfi species) are an invasive species of worm native to southeast Asia. They were first reported in Michigan in Oakland County in 2008. It is now believed they could be widespread in the Lower Peninsula. Jumping worms consume large amounts of leaf litter and displace or out-compete our native species, not just native earthworms, but also native insects, ground nesting birds, and salamanders. Our speaker will describe the lifecycle of jumping worms, as well as what can be done to control and prevent them.
"Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" with Robin Wall Kimmerer
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline and in person at Reeve Union, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 748 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI, 54901 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Paid Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains Assistive Hearing
Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.
This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time.
Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.
Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter.
April 2024
Rain Gardens: Improving Water Quality, One Garden at a Time
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation
Zoom webinar
This webinar will cover the basics of what a rain garden is, reasons to build one, and how to get started with planning, designing and building. Participants will also learn about the many Michigan native plants that do well in rain gardens.
Presented by Rachel Leonard, Rain Gardener and Outreach Assistant for the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Environmental Program.
May 2024
An Introduction to Moth Appreciation
Online/Virtual
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting
Presented by Brian Scholtens, Ph.D., College of Charleston, South Carolina.
Although extremely important in our ecosystems, moths are underappreciated compared to their day-flying butterfly cousins. Dr. Scholtens will introduce us to the amazing world of moths, their life cycles, feeding strategies, roles in the environment, and some opportunities to contribute to our knowledge of this fascinating group of insects.
June 2024
Farmers Market Day
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of 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.
The Highlands: An Update
The Highlands, 2715 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike
The Highlands Golf Club, adjacent to the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids, was purchased in 2017 through a collaborative effort of the Blandford Nature Center and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. The vision for the 121-acre parcel, now called The Highlands, is to transform it into a natural area for community recreation and education. With grasses already growing, a diverse wildlife population has moved in, including fox, deer, muskrats, and a variety of birds and insects. In the summer of 2022, a project was initiated to bring an underground stream back to the surface. Justin Heslinga will lead us on a tour of The Highlands, describing what has been accomplished to date, as well as future plans for the site.
Native Plant Garden Tour
Native Plant Education Garden, 920 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49506 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Free Public Parking
Come see a native plant garden in an urban setting. The garden features 85 species of native plants. Experts will be on hand to answer questions.
Also, Brewery Vivant (925 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids) across the street will be sponsoring a fundraiser for Wild Ones River City Chapter on June 24. Brewery Vivant will donate a portion of their proceeds on June 24. Come enjoy a brew before or after you tour the Native Plant Education Garden.
July 2024
Wild Ones River City Native Plant Sale/Fundraiser
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Wild Ones members receive pre-order early access June 24-28.
Public pre-orders June 29-July 12.
More details to come!
August 2024
Farmers Market Day
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of 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.
Flat Iron Lake Nature Preserve Tour
Flat Iron Lake Nature Preserve, 11570 Hart St NE, Greenville, MI, 48838 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Home Garden Tour Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike
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.
September 2024
Human Ecology
Marywood Chapel, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Free Public Parking
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?
Farmers Market Day
Fulton Street Farmers Market, 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Farmer's Market Days are co-hosted by Wild Ones River City Chapter and the Native Plant Guild. They feature sales of 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.
October 2024
Gardening for Bluebirds and Other Wildlife
Marywood Chapel, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Free Public Parking
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.
November 2024
Annual Chapter Meeting and Seed Swap
Marywood Chapel, 111 Lakeside Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Seed/Plant Swap Free Public Parking
A wrap-up of chapter activities and seed swap.
Visit our 2022 Programs listing listing of all programs for the current year.
All programs will begin at 6:30 pm on the third Monday of each month (unless otherwise specified). No programs are scheduled in December and January. Check our monthly calendar on this page for event locations and more information.
Non-members are always welcome, but we encourage your membership to help bring the programs we all enjoy!