Events

This is the annual member meeting with a potluck dinner, elections and a short program.

Update of members and member approval of the acting Board since our long-time President, Beate Popkin, had stepped down.  This meeting was scheduled by Zoom since our planned January 16, 2024 member potluck and update had to be cancelled due to weather. 

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. 

Speaker was Bob Staggenborg host and producer of the “Nature Guys” podcast.  Presented in partnership with the University of Kentucky Urban Forest Initiative.

Katherine Shaw will provide a brief introduction to concepts and ideas to encourage a personally rewarding nature and/or garden journal experience. There are many ways to make your journaling efforts work for you. Discussion will include goals, styles, materials, resources, possible focus points/topics, as well as ways to organize your information and explorations.

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. 

This was a member potluck and update meeting.  This was a time of transition for our chapter since we had recently adopted Bylaws and our long-time President, Beate Popkin, had stepped down. Lee Meyers, President, provided a member update.  We then broke into small groups for a discussion about the future of our chapter.

This is our annual plant exchange and raffle for garden and nature-related items.

Items to be exchanged can be seeds, perennials, grasses and sedges, shrubs, trees or vines. 

Plants brought for exchange must be native to the Eastern United States.  Cultivars of a native plant are acceptable.  

Plants should be potted if dug up several weeks before the exchange. If they are dug on the day of the exchange, their roots can be kept moist in wet newspaper surrounded by a plastic bag.

Each plant must be labeled.  All participants get to choose several plants to take home.

Geomancer Permaculture has been working along Kilrush Drive to turn a neglected riparian greenway into the largest public food forest in Kentucky. 

Come see this young food forest and help imagine what it can be in the future. Geomancer founder Nachie Braga will provide a tour of the project and discussion of how this kind of land management can be brought to other areas of Lexington and beyond.

Picnic followed by a one hour tour lead by the Arboretum Native Plant Manager, Jess Slade of the prairie and wetlands areas with plants in bloom, and then a walk in the woods including a discussion of the ecological community and the restoration process.

Tyson Gregory, Agent for Horticulture at the Woodford County Extension office will explain how and when to collect your favorite seeds to extend your own garden or give away.

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

Karen Michul, president of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Kentucky Chapter will provide us with a lively discussion about our favorite insects. 

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One's national webinar, "Matrix Landscape Design" with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot! 

Join Lexington nature photographer Janet James as she shares her multi-year adventure into orchidelirium with photos of our state’s exquisite, rare, and charismatic native orchids. She will show features that make them unique among Kentucky wildflowers, where they are found, challenges of locating them.

Native plants have an incredible ability to adapt to climate extremes, offering sustainable solutions for resilient landscapes. Join Wild Ones and the Native Plant Society of Texas to explore the power of native plants to thrive in challenging conditions.

This event features Christy Ten Eyck, founder of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. Drawing from her latest Dallas-Fort Worth native garden design, Christy will share insights into designing low-maintenance, ecologically rich spaces that withstand intense climate fluctuations.

Nature's Best Hope Doug Tallamy Presented by UFI (Urban Forest Initiative)

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.

The meeting purpose was elections and member update.