Despite below-freezing temperatures and lightly falling snow, a hardy group of about 20 people gathered for a winter plant identification hike at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve. The group included a mix of Wild Ones Western New York members and non-members, all eager to sharpen their plant ID skills in the quiet beauty of winter. Led […] Continue reading "Winter Wonders: Plant Identification Hike in Reinstein Woods"
In January, Wild Ones Western New York hosted two Cozy Chats—informal, welcoming gatherings designed to bring people together around a shared love of native plants, ecology, and community. Held in warm, local spaces during the heart of winter, these conversations reminded us that learning, connection, and inspiration don’t slow down when the gardens are sleeping. […] Continue reading "Cozy Chats Recap: Warm Conversations About Native Plants in the Heart of Winter"
Winter may slow our gardens, but it doesn’t have to slow our community. This January and February, Wild Ones WNY is hosting a series of Native Plant Cozy Chats—informal, welcoming gatherings at local cafés where native plant lovers can connect, chat, and stay inspired during the colder months. Each Cozy Chat is a relaxed, one-hour […] Continue reading "Join Us for Native Plant Cozy Chats: Warm Winter Conversations with Wild Ones WNY"
Wild Ones WNY wrapped up another wonderful community gathering with our Social & Native Plant Seed Share at the Audubon Branch Library in Amherst. Members and non-members came together to learn, connect, and share an impressive array of locally native plant seeds. A Night of Learning and Sharing Participants enjoyed a warm mix-and-mingle atmosphere followed […] Continue reading "Social & Native Plant Seed Share at Audubon Library"
This fall, Wild Ones Western New York hosted two well-attended community programs at the Julia Boyer Reinstein Library in Depew—each offering hands-on, practical guidance for creating ecologically rich, intentional landscapes. With 30–40 attendees at each session, these events highlighted the region’s growing enthusiasm for native plant gardening. How to Create a Native Garden Your Neighbors […] Continue reading "Two Nights of Native Plant Learning at Julia Boyer Reinstein Library"
Wild Ones Western New York closed out its summer series of Member-to-Member (M2M) yard tours with a visit to a tidy, welcoming garden in the heart of Snyder, New York. Though modest in size, the garden reflected a journey of transformation — from traditional landscaping toward a deeper embrace of native plants and local ecotype. […] Continue reading "A Native Garden in Snyder: Wrapping Up Our 2025 M2M Yard Tour Season"
On a late-summer evening in Fredonia, Wild Ones members and guests gathered at the Botany Barn to kick off a memorable night hosted by Jonathan and Jess Townsend of Royal Fern Nursery. Joseph Han, president of Wild Ones WNY, welcomed everyone with a warm introduction about the importance of our mission and thanked Jonathan and […] Continue reading "Seeds of Inspiration: An Evening with Royal Fern Nursery"
Our latest Member-to-Member yard tour took us right into the heart of North Buffalo, where two very different but equally inspiring urban gardens showed us what’s possible when you swap lawn for life. First stop: a small but mighty North Buffalo front yard that proves size is no limit to biodiversity. This mature garden is […] Continue reading "Wild Ones WNY Member-to-Member Tour: Urban Gardens Bursting with Life in North Buffalo"
Wild Ones WNY members were treated to a special behind-the-scenes tour of The Riverline — a transformative urban nature trail taking shape along the Buffalo River. Hosted by Jeffrey Lebsack, Executive Director of The Riverline, our group explored The Basswoods section of the project, which will soon become a vibrant public green space filled with […] Continue reading "Exploring The Riverline: A Private Tour of Buffalo’s Future Greenway"
On a sunny summer day, Wild Ones WNY gathered for our first Member-to-Member (M2M) Yard Tour in the Ken/Ton area, and what a great day it was! We had 15 participants join us to explore two gardens, with members sharing stories about how their native plant landscapes have evolved — from sourcing plants to trial-and-error […] Continue reading "Sharing Gardens and Knowledge: Our M2M Yard Tour"