Events

Join David O'Donnell of Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm to tour a second year native plant garden and vegetable gardens at Kenmore Jr/Sr High School.  This grant-funded project was brought to life with the support of Grassroots Gardens and many volunteers. Learn how programs like Big Picture Gardens make a difference in the community by sharing the benefits of pollinators in the garden and providing access to sustainable healthy food. All ages are welcome to join us.

Join Lyn Chimera of Lessons from Nature for a quick overview of how to shop for native plants. How do you distinguish native plants from the wide variety of plants for sale? What questions can you ask a grower or nursery staff to find the best plant for your garden? Lyn will share tips from her experience growing, teaching and interacting with customers.  We will have time for Q&A with a variety of other growers and native plant experts.

Though native plants are gaining popularity with gardeners, native species are often absent from herb gardens and nursery herb departments. In this class, Sarah Sorci of Sweet Flag Herbs will spotlight native plants that enhance our gardens and our cooking, including rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos; H. laevis), nodding onion (Allium cernuum), pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum), bee balm/wild bergamot species (Monarda spp.), and more. 

We’ll briefly discuss their preferred growing conditions and where to purchase plants and seeds. We'll focus on how to use these herbs in the kitchen and sustainable/ regenerative harvest. Samples will be shared.

July 16, 2026, 6-7:30 at Hamburg Public Library.

This is a Wild Ones Members-only event.

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Registration link coming soon.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Registration link coming soon.

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.