Wild Ones Lexington Chapter promotes the use of native plants in private gardens and public landscapes.
Plants that are native to our region thrive here because they are adapted to our climate. They feed our local insects and sustain the higher order fauna of our region. Many native plants are stunningly beautiful and make great garden plants. In fact, gardening with natives is Nature’s way.
Wild Ones Has a New Meeting Location!
Meetings are now held at South Elkhorn Christian Church, 4343 Harrodsburg Rd, Lexington, KY 40513 unless event states otherwise. Our monthly meetings are on the first Thursday of the month, except for October when no meeting is scheduled. Our meetings are free to attend. From 6:30 to 7 PM is a social time with refreshments. Program starts at 7 PM. Join us!
The Garden Treasures Table at Wild Ones Meetings
Bring garden or nature-related items to the Garden Treasures table at chapter meetings. Items such as books on plants, birds, insects, butterflies, or clean pots, native plants or houseplants, seed packets, nature-themed art or crafts, and useful tools are welcome. Selected items may be taken in exchange for a cash donation to the chapter. If an item is not chosen, please take it with you when you leave.
Volunteer for Wild Ones Board Positions for 2027 through 2028
Wild Ones Lexington is looking for members who are willing to share their time and talents with us serving in an officer position or working with the board for 2027-2028. You don’t need to be an expert—just someone who enjoys native gardening, fellowship, and being part of Wild Ones. Click for more info.
Start Collecting Native Seeds for the Seed Swap at the December Holiday Potluck
Bring clean, dry seeds from your garden or yard from correctly identified, KY native, straight-species plants. Do not bring cultivars, named varieties, or non-native plants. Include the scientific name whenever possible. Growing information can be added later. Start collecting, cleaning, and drying now so your seeds are ready to share.
Preferred option: Labeled packets
Label packets with the common and scientific names, light and soil preferences, bloom time, flower color, and any required germination treatment, such as cold stratification or scarification.
Alternative option: Bulk seeds
Bring larger quantities of cleaned, dried, identified native seed in a container. We’ll provide envelopes and supplies for participants to make and label their own packets at the swap.
Thursday Nov 5, 6:30pm
Plant Taxonomy for Gardeners: What’s In a Name
Plant taxonomy is the branch of botany dedicated to the scientific identification, description, nomenclature, and classification of plants. It organizes the estimated 390,000 known plant species into a hierarchical system based on shared characteristics. Ann Witherington, a Lexington Wild Ones member, will explain Plant Taxonomy to us gardeners—the naming of straight species, cultivars/nativars, and hybrids. She will cover classification systems especially the ‘new’ APG system and present a fun ‘quiz’: The use and misuse of plant names!
Ann has a master’s degree from Northeastern University in botany with a major in plant taxonomy. She taught biology at Asbury University for 20 years and designed for her students a demonstration garden in her yard labeling all her plants both latin and common names.
Thursday Dec 3, 6:00pm
Annual Holiday Potluck
Enjoy conversation, laughter, and food with our fellow members! Bring whatever favorite dish or desert you want to share, Wild Ones will supply the drinks and service ware. Do not bring alcoholic drinks. Included in our meeting will be a seed swap and a game of trivial pursuit.
So what seeds do you bring to the seed swap?
Bring clean, dry seeds from your garden or yard from correctly identified, KY native, straight-species plants. Do not bring cultivars, named varieties, or non-native plants. Include the scientific name whenever possible. Growing information can be added later. Start collecting, cleaning, and drying now so your seeds are ready to share.
Preferred option: Labeled packets
Label packets with the common and scientific names, light and soil preferences, bloom time, flower color, and any required germination treatment, such as cold stratification or scarification.
Alternative option: Bulk seeds
Bring larger quantities of cleaned, dried, identified native seed in a container. We’ll provide envelopes and supplies for participants to make and label their own packets at the swap.
Nothing to contribute? No problem—you can still plan to leave with plenty of seeds, especially since Wild Ones will be donating seeds for everyone to take home.
Looking to buy native plants, hire a landscape service? Please see the Community tab.
To receive our monthly e-Newsletter, sign up.
