Events

Come learn how to winter sow if you never have! Or come share your expertise and native seeds with us and help preserve biodiversity!

Necessary tools and materials provided.  We will be using milk jugs to cold stratify seeds which require 30-60 days of cold stratification. Attendees should bring a container to transport messy completed jugs.

Optional: Native plant seeds
Recommended: gloves for damp soil

Kentucky Native Plants

Registration required at link posted. Limited to 30. 
Questions: Contact Julie, [email protected]

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. 

In a power point presentation  President Margaret Carreiro shared past and upcoming chapter activities, including garden tours, workshops, and our longer-term community outreach and engagement projects promoting native plants and natural landscaping in our area. 

This was followed by a 20 minute presentation by WOL Vice-President Hart Hagan on "How Trees Make Rain". A lively discussion followed which brought up a topic for future presentations and research, namely how we can better protect our trees in the city.

After light refreshments, 100 each of grey dogwood, pecan and plum from the KY Dept of Forestry were given away. The chapter spent $200 for the tree seedlings.

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. 

Seven of us toured WOL's  signature 6 acre forest restoration area in Cherokee Park. 

Participants joined retired Professor of Ecology and Wild Ones Louisville President, Margaret Carreiro, on the Wild Hyacinth Trail of Turkey Run Park (Part of the Parklands of Floyds Fork) to look primarily for flowers and insects. The Camassia (Wild Hyacinth) was in peak bloom that weekend.  We contributed photodocumentation of many wildflower species to the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge for Louisville Metro.  

Wild Ones Member and trained naturalist, Ruth Meers, led a hike in one of the largest urban forests in the United States, Jefferson Memorial Forest, for the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge-Louisville Metro.  The focus was plants and fungi, which this area of the forest is known for.    

Presentation by Mike McLaughlin on  "Native Sedges for Kentucky Gardens:  Specimens, Groundcovers, Lawn Replacement, Sedges Do It All"    

Michael is a Bullitt County Master Gardener and a member of the Rambler Garden Club. He currently serves as the Superintendent of Plants & Flowers for the Kentucky State Fair.

Margaret will have a drawing of some of her plants!

 From Sara: Come experience sensory delight on a tiny hike in an urban forest. Enjoy seeing the progress 3 years into the restoration.

I'd also recommend dressing for the weather, covering up or using bug spray for protection from brambles and bites, and bringing water or a drink. Lots of shade, so sunscreen is optional.

Optionally, you may bring a snack to share.

The woods are lush right now, so I think we can take an abbreviated hike through some of my favorite bits. I'll plan a route. 

Sara's cell number is (502)544-0239Hart's cell number (502)303-8293

Hope to see you there!

My property is a little under an acre, mostly shade with a very small patch of sun where I grow a few veggies. I’ve lived here 25 years, but only got involved in environmental aspects about 6 years ago. My goals are to reduce lawn, support wildlife and help neighbors and friends see that gardening in a manner that respects nature can be attractive. I have lots of invasive plants that I’m slowly trying to eradicate and am working toward having 75% native species. In the last couple of years I stopped mowing large portions of my yard and am working toward creating a woodland section as well as adding “soft landings” around trees. It’s a huge challenge for one person, and I need to learn ways to more efficiently reach my goals. I want to learn methods from people like Wild Ones whose goal is to respect nature. 

To RSVP and get directions, please reply to Hart Hagan at [email protected].

To RSVP and get directions, please reply to Hart Hagan at [email protected].

She has a small property but has worked hard to get all these in:

Milkweeds:

A. incarnata, rose milkweed

A. tuberosa, butterfly milkweed

A. perennis, aquatic milkweed

A. ovalifolia, oval-leafed milkweed

A. purpurascens, purple milkweed

A. exaltata, Poke milkweed

A. viridis

Coneflowers:

Echinacea purpurea, purple coneflower

Pale purple coneflower

Grey-headed coneflower

Tennessee coneflower

Asters:

Blue wood aster

White wood aster

Smooth blue aster

Sky blue aster

Aromatic aster

Prairie aster

Maryland golden aster

New England aster

Bee Balm:

Monarda fistulosa

Monarda didyma

Monarda Bradburiana

Ironweed, Sunflowers, etc.:

New York ironweed

Smooth Ironweed

Cup plant

Compass plant

Little wingstem

Melanthera nivea, snowy squarestem

Canadian lettuce

Rose turtlehead

Liatris aspera

Liatris squarrosa

Liatris microcephala

Anise hyssop

Purple giant hyssop

Anemone cylindrica, thimbleweed

Anemone virginiana, tall thimbleweed

Blue false indigo

False sunflower

Downy sunflower

Downy skullcap

Heart-leaf skullcap

Hoary mountain mint

Slender mountain mint

Downy woodmint

Rosinweed

Early figwort

Late figwort

Little bluestem

Splitbeard bluestem

Purple love grass

White baneberry

Late boneset

Hyssop-leaved boneset

Seedbox

Winged loosestrife

American germander

Southern obedient plant

Indian Pink

Indian physic

Queen of the prairie

Rattlesnake master

Golden Alexanders

ZigZag goldenrod

Soidago shortii

Sweet Joe Pye

Spotted Joe Pye

Hollow Joe Pye

Wild ginger

Wild strawberry

Black-eyed Susan

Brown-eyed Susan

Great blue Lobelia

Cardinal flower

Shrubs and trees:

Pinxter azalea

Red chokeberry

Black chokeberry

Fragrant sumac

Roughleaf dogwood

American snowbell

American spikenard

American beautyberry

Lonicera sempervirens

Lonicera diervilla

Button bush

Steeple bush

Paw Paw

Witchhazel

American bladdernut

Pagoda dogwood

Red buckeye

Spice bush

Carolina allspice

Wild hydrangea

Oakleaf hydrangea

Virginia Sweetspire

Spring ephemerals currently dormant 

To RSVP and get directions, please reply to Hart Hagan at [email protected].

Here is Jacquelyn's description of her property.

I live on a scant half acre lot on the golf course in Hunting Creek, in Prospect.  I spent 10 years gardening 'traditionally,' although I always loved, admired, and planted native plants.  Once I attended Doug Tallamy's first lecture in Louisville, I became a devoted native plant grower.  I gradually expanded my front yard and backyard garden beds, and replaced many alien plants with natives,  in an ongoing transformation.  Three years ago  I was cited by the City of Prospect for growing 'weeds' in my front yard.  A two year battle ensued, which ended when the City dismissed all charges and fines ($50/day for 2 years) on the eve of a District Court case I brought challenging my nuisance 'conviction' by the Code Enforcement Board.  Subsequently, the Mayor of Prospect appointed me to a committee  tasked with revising the weed ordinances, and now Prospect has a progressive (although not ideal) ordinance for gardens.  Come see this famous/infamous garden, which contains about 100 species of native plants and was the subject of 2 Courier Journal articles, one of which went national. 

We are very excited to host as speaker a well-known and admired plant ecologist and native plant grower, the FIRST native plant grower in our area, Margaret Shea, owner of Dropseed Nursery in Goshen, KY.  This year marks the 20th Anniversary of her business!

Margaret's presentation is entitled: “Building Rain Gardens to Heal our Waterways"

Margaret Shea has a M.S. in ecology from Indiana University and has worked for a number of Kentucky Conservation organizations before starting Dropseed Native Plant Nursery 20 years ago. Margaret's past employers include The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, The Kentucky Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and Bernheim Forest. Dropseed Nursery is located in Goshen, KY. Margaret's husband, David Keal, operates Field 51 Produce on the same land in Goshen. Field 51 Produce is an organic farming operation that produces vegetables, chicken, eggs, and lamb.

Please RSVP by emailing Hart Hagan at [email protected].

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. 

Mark has 1.5 acres, with a full acre in natives and uncut grass.

Members will please RSVP by emailing Hart at [email protected]. 

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. 

Jessa's native plant garden is 3 years in the making. On her small 1/4 acre lot in the city, you will see a variety of habitats: from shady to sunny, shorter to taller, and everything in between. It is a bit experimental, with a wide variety of plants, an "aggressor's bed," to see who will win and who can be tamed by plants alone. Many of the beds have definitive borders and structural support, so you can see ideas for front lawn plantings. There are also some "Oops" areas, where plants are too big for the space and need to move. Hopefully, this tour will give you ideas of what you might want to do and might not want to do in your yard!

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! 

Cassondra (Casey) Cruikshank will be our guest speaker.  Casey is a Biologist Specialist at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). A graduate of EKU in Wildlife Biology, Casey is currently part of a team heading the KYTC Pollinator Initiative in an effort to increase pollinator habitat in Kentucky rights-of-way.

We will be very interested in learning more about Pollinator Area plantings along our Highways, how they started, how they are maintained, how they are faring, and what future plans are for maintaining and expanding these areas.  It would be useful to learn how Kentucky compares with other states in that regard, too.  

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.

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.