Events

Join us at our annual picnic in July! Bring a dish to share and your chair. Drinks such as water and soda and service tableware will be provided. You can bring your own favorite drinks, but remember, no alcohol is permitted at the Arboretum.

Our presenter will be the new director of the Arboretum, Michael Wall. He begins his role as director on June 1st. Wall brings more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning research institutions, museums, and nonprofit organizations, with a career focused on connecting science, education, and public engagement. Wall recently served as executive director of the Balsam Mountain Trust in North Carolina, where he led conservation, education, and strategic planning efforts for a regional nature center. Wall holds a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Connecticut, along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in botany from Auburn University. Let’s welcome him to Kentucky!

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

Rob Paratley leads a fascinating discussion over the chemical actions of plants and fungi, describing how they protect themselves to enhance survival and how they benefit themselves and us. He will give a summary of herbal actions on what medicinal plants do to restore our balance and health.

Rob was a professor at the University of Kentucky for a number of years where he taught plant related courses such as Plant Taxonomy (classification of plants), Dendrology (the study of trees), Winter Dendrology, and Economic Botany. He also led a summer study abroad program to Costa Rica for 10 years teaching tropical ecology and related environmental issues for students studying Natural Resources.

Rob has been recognized for his teaching excellence and in 2018 received the UK Alumni Association’s Great Teacher Award. Rob loves teaching and is active in the programs offered through the Arboretum, Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, Lexington Tree Week, and other venues.

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Registration link coming soon.

From University of Kentucky Entomology Department, with his wit and passion Larson is joining us once again by diving into the world of insects to tell us about those bugs that are good in our urban landscape.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Registration link coming soon.

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.