Events

Come out of the cold and meet with folks who love plants and supporting local ecology. We will be meeting informally for an hour or so at the Art's Cafe in Springville. A variety of hot drinks and delicious foods are available for purchase.

All are welcome to attend. If you would like an event reminder, please register at the link below. 

In this special collaboration, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plant, joins youth leader and Nurture Natives founder Esther Bonney for an intergenerational conversation about belonging, reciprocity, and native plant action. 

Together, they will explore questions such as:

How do we create opportunities for young people to have a voice and feel empowered, even when they are not homeowners or decision makers?What kinds of relationships and mentorships help people stay engaged in native plant work over decades?Why do stories, shared practices, and community invitations matter just as much as plant lists?

Robin and Esther will reflect on what invites people into this work, what keeps them here, and what elders and youth have to teach each other.

Meet us at Hill of Beans in Youngstown. Brighten the winter doldrums with a riveting discussion of native plants and favorite books about plants and ecology. There is a great selection of hot drinks and pastries available for purchase. Registration is optional; helps us know how many to expect.

Join Charlotte Way and other native plant enthusiasts for a winter hike. We will meet at the Nature Center at 1pm and hike a 45 minute loop led by Charlotte. 

Learn how to identify winter native trees using buds, bark, and branching patterns. We will also discuss winter adaptations, ecologies, and ID tips on this trek around Reinstein Woods' diverse pond habitats.  

Please dress appropriately for the weather, including sturdy boots or snowshoes (limited rentals of snowshoes available at the Nature Center).  

Great opportunity to meet folks and learn in a beautiful natural setting. 

Join others who love to nerd out about plants, ecology and books for an informal hangout. 

Parking is available on the street. Food and beverages (and books!) available for purchase.

Our upcoming webinar with Basil Camu explores practical, evidence based ways to heal suburban and urban landscapes by working with trees, soil, and natural systems, drawing on real world practices from Leaf & Limb and community centered models for restoring life where we live, work, and play.!  

Join us for a casual hangout at a favorite local cafe. Your fellow native plant enthusiasts are excited to share what they have learned and want to try in the upcoming season. All are welcome. Bring your questions! Get advice  from more experienced growers.  Share your favorite plant stories.  A variety of food and drink is available for purchase. 

Registration is optional; it will allow us to send you a reminder before the event with any updates.

Kathy Contrino, owner of CW Native Plant Farm and Master Naturalist trainee will share tips on beginning or continuing your native plant journey.

Gardeners, whether in urban, suburban or rural communities are well situated to provide pockets of biodiversity and greater environmental sustainability.  Native plants, bushes and trees, particularly locally-sourced plants, provide the best opportunity for success. 

Native gardeners incorporate the following key elements:  design focused on keystone species, careful landscape management to do no harm (or less harm), and understanding of gardening as one part of a holistic sustainable lifestyle.

One common sentiment is,  “I want to do more but I don’t know where to begin.”  In this presentation Kathy will address the question of where to begin whether you live in a rural, suburban, or urban community, She will share simple, scalable options to improve the ecology around you. 

Plantasia 2026 is a garden and landscape show held every year in March. This is a ticketed event, with tickets available on site or through the website https://plantasiany.com/.  

Wild Ones WNY will have a table in the non-profit area of the fair. There are also seminars on various garden and landscape topics. Some of our Wild Ones members are featured speakers, including Lyn Chimera, Kathleen Contrino, David O'Donnell, and Ken Parker. 

The full speaker schedule is available here: https://plantasiany.com/seminars/

If you would like to volunteer, please respond at this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ns22je2jnz-ssEID3YWzW1g7A12kH2b0oC9XKv8DMI/edit?usp=sharing

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

Please join us on Thursday, March 19th  for a discussion of what “lovely” plants may be quietly invading your landscape and neighborhood. Lesser Celandine, Japanese Knotweed, Common Buckthorn, Eurasian Honeysuckle, Multifloral Rose, and more. Homeowners and native plant aficionados Devon Southall and Gwen Alegre will share their experience with what has worked and what they have learned over years of managing invaders in the landscape. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81656745015

UPDATE: This event has been moved forward 1 week to Sunday, April 19th, 2026 to better align with peak ephemeral blooms during this warmer-than-average spring.

Join botanist Charlotte Way and other native plant enthusiasts for a 1-hour guided tour of the spring ephemerals of the Onondaga escarpment at Akron Falls. 

Learn ID tips and fun facts about this beautiful but short-lived group of wildflowers, including trilliums, violets, lilies, and more! We will also discuss early spring ecology, adaptations, and the role of trees. 

Please dress appropriately for the weather, including mud-proof shoes. We will meet at the parking lot above the falls at 1:00 pm (at the end, past the rock garden when coming from the Parkview Drive entrance).

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Join us to learn more about the WNY Wildway. Our guest Marcus Rosten, WNY Wildway Director, will inspire us with his vision and an update on progress on the WNY Wildway. The remaining time will include breakout groups to discuss ways we would like to engage both as individuals and as a chapter to  support regional ecology.

Wild Ones WNY will have a booth in the Ski Lodge of Emery Park. Come say hello and hear the talks and panel presentations by some of our members.

There will be food trucks, face painting, native plant vendors and craft vendors.

Gather 'round for an informal hangout at Mystic Hills Brewing in East Concord. This pastoral setting offers a variety of beverages for purchase and comfy seating. We will have a chance to get to know each other and talk about the growing season, as well as what is coming up for Wild Ones WNY this year. Please register so we can plan for the group size.

More information about Mystic Hills is available here: https://www.mystic-hills-brewing.com/

Wild Ones WNY will have a booth in the Pole Barn near the back. Come say hello!

Join the Western New York Land Conservancy, Ecos Cooperative, and Wild Ones Western New York for a collaborative workshop focused on invasive species management and native restoration.

The morning session, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., will be led by Joshua Konovitz, Ecological Operations Branch Manager with Ecos Cooperative, and will focus on identifying invasive plants, treatment and removal methods, and practical management techniques for landowners and property stewards.

From 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., participants are invited to stay for an informal break with time to ask questions, visit the Wild Ones information table, and bring a lunch to enjoy on site.

The afternoon session, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., will be led by Wild Ones Western New York and will feature a walk-and-talk session called “Plant This, Not That: Native Alternatives to Common Invasives.” Participants will learn why native plants matter, how to choose the right plant for the right place, and which native shrubs and other plants can be used in place of common invasives to support pollinators, birds, and healthier ecosystems. There will be plenty of time for Q&A and learning more about Wild Ones efforts in Western New York.

Due to parking constraints, this event is limited to around 20 participants, so early registration is encouraged. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear suitable for uneven ground.

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.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!