EVENTS

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Exploring the St. Croix River Valley
with Angie Hong

Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Live, 7pm

FamilyMeans Building
1875 Northwestern Ave S, Stillwater

Our guest speaker will be Angie Hong, Senior Water Resource Education Specialist with the Washington Conservation District. Angie will highlight her new book and share family-friendly destinations for outdoor adventures in Washington County. She'll also update us on the latest plans and projects at the Washington Conservation District.

Copies of Angie's new book – Exploring the St Croix River: Adventures on and off the water--will be available.

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Landscape Revival aims to help gardeners find native plants to get in the ground. It is both a "market" with a collection of native plant growers, as well as an "expo" where folks can learn more about native plants and why we all need more of them.

Market: Purchase MN native plants from multiple local growers who don't use systemic insecticides.

Expo: Learn to select and grow native plants for pollinators, wildlife, and water quality. Visit with educators and experts from conservation and environmental organizations. Get your landscaping questions answered.

https://saintpaulbirdalliance.org/event/tiny-cc-lr25/

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Our guest speaker will be Hannah Peterson, Communications and Project Assistant with Brown’s Creek Watershed District. 
 
Hannah will highlight this past year's successful restoration of the existing 2,000 linear feet of Brown’s Creek from McKusick Road just upstream of Brown’s Creek Park to just downstream of the Brown’s Creek State Trail.  Pollinator habitat along the creek is now more extensive and more diverse.  Invasives are being controlled, and trout stream habitat is being improved.

Join us to learn more about this important work, discover how you can celebrate it's success, and support future improvements.

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

Bumble bees are charismatic, easily recognizable pollinators. They play a key role in sustaining the health of our environment. Current information suggests that many species of bumble bee face an uncertain future, but we currently lack the data needed to implement effective conservation measures. 

The Minnesota Bumble Bee Atlas is a community science project that recruits and trains citizen volunteers to gather data needed to track and conserve Minnesota’s native bumble bees. It’s a collaboration of the Xerces Society with the University of Minnesota and the MN DNR. Our speaker, Genevieve “Jenny” Pugesek from the Xerces Society is one of the project’s managers. She’ll describe the ongoing BB Atlas project and offer some preliminary comments on date from year’s surveys that they have started to analyze.

Genevieve is a conservation biologist. She earned her Ph.D. at Tufts University studying the nesting and overwintering ecology of bumble bees. Prior to joining Xerces, she studied the effects of prescribed fire in oak savannas on the abundance of bumble bees at UW-Madison.  

This presentation is free and the open to the public. All members and friends of Wild Ones St Croix Oak Savanna are welcome. Come join us!

Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. 

Discover the power of ecological garden design in this free national webinar, Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard, with award-winning landscape designer Larry Weaner. Join us for a personal look at how dynamic, self-sustaining landscapes can emerge when we partner with nature instead of controlling it. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Larry will share practical strategies for designing dynamic gardens that evolve naturally, support biodiversity, and bring lasting beauty to your yard.

Designing with native plants isn’t just about what you grow, it’s about how you shape your space. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe Evans (Plan it Wild) and Heather Evans (Design Your Wild) guide you through the process of creating a cohesive yard plan that supports both your lifestyle and biodiversity.