Wild Ones Western New York recently elected four of our five chapter officers for the upcoming term. Please join us in congratulating the dedicated members stepping into these leadership roles: President: Gwen AlegreVice President: Ken ParkerTreasurer: Devon SouthallSecretary: Aimee Arceo A Message from Our New President In sharing her excitement for the year ahead, President […] Continue reading "Wild Ones WNY Announces Newly Elected Officers"
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"
After a very well-executed and highly engaged voting process, the Wild Ones Western New York Chapter members have spoken. This year, the current Board voted to expand the number of seats from 9 to 11, allowing us to welcome even more voices, talent, and expertise into our leadership. We’re grateful to everyone who put their […] Continue reading "Announcing the 2026 Wild Ones WNY Chapter Board of Directors!"
Be Part of Our Growth and Impact! Are you passionate about native plants, ecological restoration, and building community? Do you want to shape the future of Wild Ones Western New York? If yes, we have exciting opportunities to help our chapter flourish! Help Us Lead the Way: Board Director Recruitment We’re seeking enthusiastic members to […] Continue reading "Join Us in Leading Wild Ones Western New York"
Did you know that the New York state Senate passed a bill, S00879, in May 2025 for establishing “the ‘garden protection act’, protecting the rights of individuals to cultivate home vegetable gardens, native plant gardens, and/or pollinator gardens” with a vote of 57-3! YAY! BUT – in the assembly, the matching bill (A2122) has stalled […] Continue reading "Legislative Call to Action for NY Native & Food Gardeners"
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"
Across Western New York, more homeowners are transforming their yards into vibrant spaces that support birds, pollinators, and biodiversity. Through the Wild Ones Certified Native Habitat Program, these efforts are recognized and celebrated, helping to spread awareness of the vital role native plants play in healthy ecosystems. This year, a few Wild Ones WNY members […] Continue reading "Western New York Gardens Gain Wild Ones Certified Native Habitat Recognition"
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"