2024 Events

Presented by Dan Carter. Dan has been involved with numerous organizations that are influential in our focus to PLANT NATIVE PLANTS! Watch the recording on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2q9EfnBA4M

Presented by Melissa Curran, Environmentalist and  Botanist  at Stantec Consulting Services. Watch the recording on YouTube. Video starts with a 10 minute chapter meeting followed by Melissa's orchid presentation. https://youtu.be/iRSD5gDul-Q

Join us on Zoom as we explore important importation about the jumping worm invasion. Brad Herrick is Ecologist and Research Program Manager at UW Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin.

Brad joined the Arboretum staff in 2007. He is a plant ecologist and particularly enjoys spending time in wetlands, prairies, and oak savannas. His research interests include plant community ecology, jumping worm biology and ecology, and environmental monitoring. He feels lucky and humbled to work alongside and learn from passionate and dedicated colleagues. His favorite Arboretum moments are the unexpected encounters: watching a coyote trot through Longenecker Horticultural Gardens, listening to a Great Horned Owl call in the Lost City Forest, or silently watching a red-headed woodpecker dance around a snag looking for a meal. (Source: UW Arboretum)

Note: Will will start with a brief chapter meeting. Brad will speak at 6:45. A Zoom link will be sent to all chapter members prior to the event.

Join us as we explore what is often the forgotten layer of our wild landscapes. Shrubs are an essential member of our native ecosystems providing food, shelter and other benefits. Danielle Bell is owner of Native Roots where ecological landscape designs start with the roots! Danielle's name may be familiar. Not only is she a member of the Menomonee River Area chapter, she is one of the designers of the hugely popular Wild Ones' garden designs. Find the Milwaukee plans here. 

This program will most likely be conducted over Zoom. A link will be sent by email to chapter members of record a few days before the event. 

We'll tour the Chiwaukee Prairie near Kenosha, Wisconsin, that socialize over a BYOB (bag) lunch. Time is tentative but expected to be around 10:00 AM. https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=54 Specific meetup location to be posted before event.

Wild Ones members of any chapter receive 40% off container grown native plants during the month June. Come off since the selection changes daily with new plants brought to replace those purchased the day before! This sale is our biggest fundraiser since Johnson's donates a portion of all sales to the chapter.  Thank you Johnson's Nursery in Menomonee Falls! (Check their web-site for hours of operation.)

Tour one of Waukesha County's latest conservation efforts located in Hartland, Wisconsin.  Michelle Bonness and Shane Morris will guide us through the wide variety of flora and fauna in the area. Specific meetup details to be emailed to members just before the event.

Over 175 years ago, Carroll University (formerly Carroll College) became Wisconsin's first institution of higher education. A pioneer then and now, Carroll recently created several new campus gardens that highlight native plants. Join us for a casual walk through campus as we meet with one of the landscapers responsible for this transformation. (Note: Date is tentative and will be confirmed closer to the date.)

Though we have every intent to conduct this in-person event, chapter leadership reserves the right to adjust plans due to the prevailing pandemic trends.

Tour of Fox Hills Prairies by Jaron Cook, The Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation. https://www.conservecedarlakes.org Details to be distributed to members before the event. For details on Fox Hills, click here.

This event can't be missed! Join Joe Meyer at the Catholic Ecology Center in Neosha, WI. The center consists of nearly 60 acres of diverse habitats including prairies, forests, a river, a creek, a pond, and organic gardening areas. We'll start with a 30-40 minute introduction on insects, monarch ecology and the how/why of tagging. Then we'll catch, tag, and release monarch before they head south!
 
After the program and tagging, members are welcome to hike the trails and explore the property which includes an organic farm with greenhouse, chickens/bees, pond, creek, boardwalk, river and several miles of trails.

Learn how to harvest native seeds at member's backyard prairie in Sussex. Learn from experienced members in proper collection and propagation techniques. At least a dozen species will be available for harvest! (Directions will be emailed to members of record one week before the event.)

Annual Chapter Meeting and Seed Exchange - Pewaukee Public Library Community Room, 210 Main St. Pewaukee, WI 53072 - Annual Business Meeting at 11:15 am to include member vote for officer positions. Meeting followed by social and seed exchange. (Member only. See email for details on seed packaging and labeling.)