Events

Taralee Latozke, DNR Fisheries Habitat Specialist from New Ulm, presented on the restoring shorelines and improving water quality of lakes.  The DNR has many helpful links and suggestions for best practices.

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. 

Heather Holm  presented on Creating and Maintaining Native Landscapes for Bees.  Excellent and informative presentation!

We will be hosting a table for the Master Gardener's event

Nancy, an expert at all aspects of native plants will present on harvesting, cleaning and storing native seeds.

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. 

Our anniversary dinner social

Nancy will be leading our 2024 annual Native Plant Sale.  It will be held in the parking lot of the Emmaus Church of Northfield.  Plants will be grown from seed by either Nancy (Professional grower) or purchased from South Cedar GH of Farmington.  Great opportunity to purchase beautiful native plants and learn more about them from experts.

We met at Lashbrook to see the wood betony, Blue Bells, Wild Geraniums and others, that we planted and cared for last year to attract Rusty patched bumblebees.  While there, we weeded the plots and pulled buckthorn and removed invasive honeysuckles and others.

Tim led us through the wooded part of the park searching out uncommon mushrooms as well as native plants that are edible.  We then proceeded to the wood edge and prairie to search out additional species.  It was about learning about edibles in nature, the rules and laws that govern harvesting of them, and their historical significance throughout time.  We did not harvest food to take home, rather learned about the importance of native plants, historically, as people relied on them as food.  Excellent, informative and fun tour!

We will meet at the Carleton Upper Arboretum parking lot, by the Rec Center.  This workshop will be hosted with the Cannon River Valley Master Naturalists

Scott and Kathy will show us their beautiful native gardens they have established on their property.  They have multiple gardens and beautiful views of the lake and surrounding wetlands.  The address will be provided to participants.

We will meet at the Emmaus church and carpool for the tour to see native gardens in Northfield, including Pat Johnson's.

We toured the gardens at the Cannon Valley Friends meeting place, then Sage Johnson's, then Gerald Hoekstras, then Pat Johnsons and finished at Carl Catskys.  All were very different and beautiful.  Sage was the recipient of one of our member-sponsored garden grants so it was fun seeing how well she has maintained it and how it is doing.  Her grandmother, Pat, sponsored her and is mentoring her on native plants.  Carl has about 1/2 acres of yard in native prairie.  Amazingly gorgeous!  Pat has multiple gardens that range in new plantings to well seasoned ones and is planning more.  So beautiful!  Gerald just started getting interested in native plants last year so had a very attractive, neat and clean planting to share.  He plans on doing more next year.

Mud Creak WMA has a beautiful restored prairie full of gentians, compass plants, cup flowers, some leadplant, monarda… 

There is a rocky road down to a boardwalk up to the mud lake that is accessible except for very wet times.  The road is very walkable but rough.  The trail is about 3/4 of a mile long.  If possible we will provide rides down the trail for those who don't wish to walk.

(near I35 & Hwy19)

We will tour the Prairie Moon Nursery and see their production of native plants.  The tour starts at 2:30pm, but our carpools will leave Northfield by noon to get there in time.  If enough people signup, we may take a bus.

The date and time may change as their tour schedules aren't created yet.

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. 

Dick started a major prairie restoration in 1999.  He now has a beautiful mature prairie that he works hard to maintain.  We will carpool from the Emmaus church in Northfield.

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. 

Mn terrestrial invasives: Terrestrial plants -MN Dept of Ag Invasive Species Program. 

Breanna Wheeler Chair, Terrestrial Invasive Species Funding Subcommittee DNR Natural Heritage Advisory Committee and fellow Wild Ones SE MN Prairie Partner member will present on Minnesota terrestrial invasive plants.  Breanna is very knowledgeable and an excellent speaker.  Should be very informative and interesting!

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! 

We will start with our native seed share event and appetizer potluck, then do a brief annual meeting with member's only voting for 2025 officers   At 7pm, we will statt the presentation:  DNR Native plants and their importance to wildlife by Shelley Gorham, Assistant Area Wildlife Manager, MN DNR - Wildlife, Owatonna Area  - Speaker was ill so we substituted the National Wild Ones presentation “Matrix Landscape Design” with Benjamin Vogt.

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.

Members are invited to come and socialize and enjoy good conversation, food and fun as we celebrate 2024 and look forward to 2025.  Always a great time and excellent way to get to know other members.

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.