Events

Friday Market Day Sales are a collaboration between Wild Ones River City Chapter 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 Wild Ones River City Chapter.

More Friday Market Days: August 15 and September 19.

Naturalist and photographer, Craig Elston will lead a hike through Hudsonville Prairie. 

On this field trip we will identify flowering plants and grasses of the Tall Grass Prairie. Information on the history of prairies, the ecosystem, past and present inhabitants and management will also be covered.  Plants that  make good additions to the garden will also be pointed out. 

Long pants and closed toed shoes are recommended to fully experience the prairie. Bring a water bottle and insect spray.

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

The event is an open garden tour (for Wild Ones River City members and their guests) of member, Ruth Oldenburg's property in Belmont. The property features a 1/2 acre prairie, rain garden, bioswale and woodland edge plantings.

Members will receive an email invitation with the address and details closer to the event.

Ruth says:
The importance of native plants was brought to my attention when I attended the Kent MSUE Master Naturalist program. After my certification in 2003, I was on a mission to convert my ½ acre side yard into a prairie. I did research, and in 2004 my husband and I removed invasives and prepared a 40x70 feet section for planting with native seed and plugs. The area also incorporated a rain garden using runoff from the roof of my house. 

Over the years, I added six more large prairie sections and a swale to effectively filter the runoff from the street. I’ve also added many native trees and shrubs and spring ephemerals to other areas of my yard. All these plantings contribute to the biodiversity of my landscape.

My garden has been a labor of love, but with many rewards. Each season has its own beauty. I now have many more birds visiting my yard and the prairie is buzzing with bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and other beneficial insects in the growing season. The native plants provide food and shelter for them. I enjoy walking the paths through my prairie, watching the pollinators go about their busy tasks. I have learned so much about the natural world from Wild Ones and my 22 year experience with native plants.

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 Wild Ones River City Chapter.

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.

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.  

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

Details coming soon! 

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 with 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!