Events

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. 

All are welcome!  Learn about Wild Ones and how to join!

Key Points for March 9 mtg:

Learn how to become part of the Southwestern IL Wild Ones, part of a growing national organization and sister chapter to STL Wild Ones.

We will be discussing our current seedling status and the next steps to becoming a chapter: such as fill leadership roles, confirm counties to be a part of SWIL, and work on the yearly calendar of events and garden gatherings (meetings).

Email with any questions: [email protected]

Carol Frerker 618-977-2430

Have a GRTDAY! 🙂

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. 

Join us at Watershed Nature Center for a  Spring ephemeral walk. 

Pilot Plot/Slot hosted by Chris Carl GCADD 

Host is Debbie Rathert

Horn Prairie, located in Fayette County, Illinois, features 40 acres of savanna prairie, a part of the Southern Till Plain. Of this, 29 acres are untouched, virgin savanna prairie that has never been plowed or tilled. All underground water veins, seeps, springs, fens, etc, are still intact in this prairie. This tract is likely the largest intact piece of this type of prairie ecosystem in the state. In 2009, the land was placed in the current Land Water Reserve and now is completely protected from development and farming. 

Last count was close to 600 plant species, there is an abundance of insect activity and it is a rare and beautiful prairie.  

There are no facilities close by, bring water, bug spray and snack if needed and dress appropriately.  It will be hot and though there are mowed paths there is a great deal of walking.  

Members have received instructions regarding meeting place and time via email. Please reach out to [email protected] with further questions or interest in carpooling. 

 Laura Schaefer/ Little Sky Wildflowers

Our Garden Gathering will take place on July 14th at 6pm at the four-year-old garden of Laura Schaefer in Millstadt, Illinois. We plan to meet later in the day to avoid the heat; this gathering is in collaboration with our sister St Louis chapter AND native plants will be available for purchase.  

Laura obtained these 3.5 vacant lots (.5 acre) in 2019 and began establishing a mostly native plant garden with 2 vegetable beds in 2020 as her pandemic project. The garden consists of a border bed along 3 sides, 10 large native plant beds, a savanna garden, secret garden, seed starting beds and 2 frog ponds with only grassy paths separating each area. The garden consists of full sun, part sun, and full shade areas. 

The Youngs' home and surrounding grounds are designed for sustainability including a passive solar house that functions off the grid nine months a year.  Native plants comprise the landscaping and five rain gardens, in various stages of maturity, capture most of runoff from three acres, including part of the neighbor's property.  Mature eastern red cedars shield the house from cold west and north winds in the winter and provide year-round food and shelter for flying, four-legged and creepy-crawly critters.

The house was largely DIYed using many materials recycled from tear-downs.  The new materials were selected for sustainability, e.g., metal roofing and siding and interior woodwork self-milled from locally-harvested trees.  Passive heating and cooling replaces conventional HVAC.  Heating comes from solar energy harvested during summer months and stored in the thermal mass under and around the house.  The process is reversed in the summer; the cooled mass absorbs the small amount of heat penetrating the thick, well-insulated shell of the house. 

For a sneak preview, go to Jerry's blog; the latest post is a thumbnail sketch of the project.https://diygreenbuildingwithjerry.blogspot.com/2024/06/design-journey-taken.html

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. 

Sharon Geil lives on a 5 acre property that features both prairie and woodland habitats. Though more than sixty percent of the acreage had been stripped of its topsoil, Sharon has developed the property into a pollinator and wildlife haven.  Over the last 22 years she restored a 1/3 acre prairie, created a 2.5 acre woodland as well as developed many other pollinator plots and planted a host of native shrubs and trees to create the true harbor for wildlife. 
    The prairie restoration began in 2002 as part of the Illinois Acres for Wildlife program and includes tall grasses. The prairie and the other large pollinator plots feature a wide array of native forb species. The woodland creation began with the planting of 1000 mast producing trees and shrubs. Today the woodland includes, among other things, several species of oak, multiple species of dogwoods, persimmon, pawpaw, black haws, black chokeberry, and spicebush.  In recent years the woodland has produced a volunteer patch of swamp wood betony (a parasitic species uncommon in southern Illinois).  Additionally, the property comprises a hazelnut grove, a small orchard, a large patch of cultivated buffalo grass, a variety of native tree and shrub species (tupelo/black gum, hophornbeam, witchhazel, elderberry, sand cherry, red buckeye, eastern wahoo, American plum, cockspur hawthorn, fringe tree and more), vegetable garden and assorted flower beds (sun and shade) with natives and nativars.  
    Attendees are invited to "dig their own" natives from designated areas and take home species such as gray headed coneflower, blue lobelia, black and brown-eyed susans, hairy and narrow leaf mountain mints, golden alexander and more. (Please bring your own bags/containers and trowels.)

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. 

This is a collaborative event between Clifftop and SWIL Wild Ones. Join Laura Schaefer in a walk along an ADA accessible trail while picking your own native wildflower and grass seed mix to take home. Laura will guide you in plant id, how to collect, preserve and grow your native seed collection. This is the only time when seed may be collected here, so don't miss out on this once a year event!
What to bring: Bring either a large PAPER grocery bag (for a seed mix) or paper lunch bags (to keep species separate) and a marker to label your bags.
Optional: garden gloves and pruners.
We will meet at the pavilion in the parking lot.
Please note the correct address for PWSNP is 3255 G Rd, Fults, Il.
In the event of rain we will reschedule. 

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! 

Matt Leigh and Blake Boyer of Oak Hill Native Nursery have 11 acres of open greenspace with half acre area designated as their native nursery with 40-50 different species of native perennials and grasses, 30-40 tree species and 8-10 shrubs. Greenspace plantings include native shrubs, perennial forbs and grasses, and trees.

Matt is a certified arborist and  will advise up on tree ID, right place right time in planting, best management practices in growing and pruning, along with how to protect your shrubs and trees from wildlife such as deer.

Matt and Blake are both horticulturalists by profession.  They run the nursery, after their full-time jobs working on weekends and after work. They both enjoy working with plants and wanted to be a part of the movement of providing sustainable plants for our ecosystem. They will take you through the transformation of their journey and share tricks of the trade and challenges they have faced and struggles they predict going forward.  

 This event occurs after the  showy growing season and their  inventory will be “picked through” but there will be natives to purchase and take home with you.

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.

Educational meeting TBD

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.