2026 Events

Native plants have fed and healed people for centuries, and some of the best ones might already be growing in your backyard. This talk is for anyone who wants to get more from their outdoor space, no foraging, no expertise, no scrambling through underbrush required. We'll cover what's growing, how to use it, and a new perspective on the plants that feed you and your local wildlife in harmony.

You'll leave with a seasonal harvest calendar, a practical plant list, and a new way of utilizing the green space around you.

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.

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.  

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

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.