Wild One Events – Chapter and National

Our speaker, Dan Somers, is with the Montgomery County Rainscapes Program.  He will discuss the benefits and problems with permeable pavers.  

Please see Linda Rieger's December 26 post to the listserve for the address.  Wild Ones members are welcome to bring guests to this presentation.  

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Our February 10 meeting will feature Linda Barrett speaking about the Bay-Wise program.  Linda is the Vice President of the Master Gardeners of Montgomery County and is the co-head of the Bay-Wise program for Montgomery County.  The Bay-Wise program encourages individual home owners to maintain environmentally-sound gardens and yards by using sustainable gardening practices, thereby improving water quality and  preventing run off into the Chesapeake Bay.  

The meeting location will be provided via our member list serve.  Wild Ones' members are welcome to invite guests.

The event was promoted through the Montgomery County Master Gardeners membership.  At least fifteen Master Gardeners attended who were not Wild Ones members.

Tama Wong, Into the Weeds: A Forager's Way to Garden

Tama Wong will talk about gardening in the Anthropocene, a time of change and where the imprint of human activity has reached all corners of the earth. She will make a case for wild gardens, managed for diversity and resilience, but not manicured control. The wild garden becomes a place not only to enjoy, but also to harvest weeds and intentional plantings for cooking, flower arrangements, teas, and celebrations.

Tama is a wild food forager, author, and gardener. She supplies some of New York City's most prestigious restaurants and has a deep knowledge of wild produce that informs her impeccable taste in their flavors and uses.  Her new book, Into the Weeds: A Foragers way to Garden, will be available for pre-order (publication date is March 12).

Members may bring a guest.  

We're very pleased to co-sponsor this program with the Maryland Native Plant Society.

Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener and Wildscape, has agreed to host our April 13th Open Garden! She and her husband Will have limited parking, so initially we will be limited to fifteen people, but may be able to fit a few more if everyone carpools. Nancy will show us around her habitat and although early, if previous years are any indication, the redbuds will likely be in full bloom, and a few little patches of bluebells will be almost done. There were lots of tadpoles in the pond today! The golden ragwort will be just getting started throughout the habitat, as well as possibly some phloxes, and the ostrich ferns will be unfurling. We'll navigate around a large brush pile and admire the way the downy and hairy woodpeckers have busily pockmarked all the tree trunk pieces placed throughout the garden -- as well as the way the pileated woodpeckers have torn some of the stumps to pieces. The frogs should be out and about, and you never really know which ones we'll see or if they will be too shy. The ponds are small (one dug out and two very small tubs) but filled with life. Nancy has deer pressure, so there are many cages around young trees and shrubs, but we can also look at how brambles and dead wood protect plantings from browsing -- and how she mixes the tasty plants with the untasty as a strategy for coexisting with deer and the bun-buns! 🙂 She wants everyone to know that hers is not an all-native place and there are always invasives popping up.

Please see our Member listserve for details.

Our Spring native plant swap is a great way to expand your pollinator plantings or to start new ones!  Don’t yet have extra plants to swap?  Come and enjoy the camaraderie anyway. There are always enough plants for all to go around.  We will have a potluck lunch immediately following so bring something to share and get to know other members.  

This is a members-only event but it's not too late to join.  Go to https://join.wildones.org.

Preparations you should start now:

·      Begin to identify native (straight species) plants to share.  Organically grown vegetable herb seedlings are also welcome.

·      Wash out your old pots ready to use.

·      Locate blank (waterproof) labels and appropriate marking pen. It is ok to reuse old labels or repurpose other suitable material for this.  Be creative!

1-2 weeks before plant swap:

·      Pot up your plants to allow them time to recover from the shock of being dug up and transplanted

·      Create labels for each plant species you are bringing.  It is helpful to label each pot. Please include:

o   Botanical* (latin) name (preferred!) and (optionally) a common name.

o   Designation “LE” if the plant is also a local ecotype.

o   Nativar name if any**

o   Information regarding plant’s requirements for sun, moisture and soil type. Some members bring an information sheet with key information printed from a reputable source online and/or include a QR code that can be scanned to provide the url where the information can be found.

*Most botanical names can be discovered by a quick search on the internet. If unsure, bring your plant(s) labeled with the common name and ask for help when you check in.

See the member listserve for more details and updates.

Members, Please visit the Members Only page or Listserve for details and RSVP instructions.

In 2021, Vasna installed a pollinator garden with native plants.  When you visit Gratitude Garden, you will be able to see how a lowly hellstrip was transformed into an amazing area that holds 90% native plants (more than 30 species). In the summer, it teems with all sorts of pollinators. The garden has been a place for neighbors to connect outdoors safely, watch children and pets play and enjoy the floral display and life present.  It was a community effort for community enjoyment.  It has served to increase biodiversity and is a source for the community to obtain native seedlings when available.  On Stella Court you will see other neighbors who have invaded their hellstrips with native plants. The Garden is registered with HomegrownNationalPark.org and MonarchWatch.org.

Tour Michaels garden in Silver Spring. Please look in listserve emails for additional information.

Visit the Members Only page for details and registration information

This is a member's only open garden tour. Please visit the members only page for details

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One’s national webinar, “Matrix Landscape Design” with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin’s latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot!