2026 Events

We will be touring the property of two members homes that have restored prairie and woodland areas.  One 5+ acre property has been under conversion from lawn since 2000 and now has over 200 vascular species of native plants. We will meet at the first home in Hartland, then carpool a short distance to the next property.

When I bought the 20 acres back in 1979, there were no trees, native plants, wetlands or ponds. It was a plowed up agricultural farm field. No wildlife found habitat to call it home. The land was tilled for drainage. Over the course of those years trees were planted, drain tiles removed, wetlands restored and ponds were installed, and native plants were seeded.

Now there is a very large variety of plants (even hemiparasitic plants), insects, birds, and animals that find food and habitat to reproduce. All native plants are a host for different species to thrive. I have a large number of cavity nesting bird boxes up for bluebirds, chickadees, tree swallows, kestrels, and wood ducks. Canada geese, sandhill cranes, green herons, snapping and painted turtles, mink, muskrats, snakes, hawks, and many other species find food, shelter, and reproduce on this property. It is truly a restoration success. I look forward to showing it to you!

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.

Edible Native Plants with  Wild Ones member Rylee Tyre.

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.

Celebrate fall at our family-friendly Apple Harvest Festival! Purchase fresh apples and enjoy delicious apple treats like pies, crisps, and cider at the Apple Market. Visit the Delafield Brewhaus Beer Garden for food, creamy root beer, and beer (21+).

Browse eco-friendly arts & crafts vendors and explore fun, free kids’ activities. Take part in the Passport Expedition, silent auction, Scarecrow Lane scavenger hunt, Planetarium shows, and live music by JC Ayer. Cards accepted at select locations, and an ATM is on site.

Don’t miss this festive celebration, presented by the Friends of Retzer Nature Center and Generac in cooperation with Waukesha County Parks, Waukesha County Technical College, and more!

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DATE & TIME: Saturday, September 19, 2026 • 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Retzer Nature Center (S14W28167 Madison St, Waukesha, WI)
COST: $15 per vehicle; CASH ONLY

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.

Join us to socialize and connect with fellow native plant lovers!  We have lots of seeds for you to take home from our October seed-collecting activity - and/or feel free to bring any you might want to share from your yard!  Bring paper lunch bags and envelopes for your seeds; we will also have some available.  There will be a short membership meeting at 10:30 to elect the 2027 Officers. There will be no meeting in December, so if we miss you, we hope you'll be able to join us in January for our winter program series.  

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.