Events

Join us for a conversation with Ulf Gafvert on the foundation of all our native plant gardening dreams: soil. Understanding the soil at your planting site will help you choose the plants suited to growing there, for the best chance of a happy and successful planting. Whether you're working with clay, loam or sand, saturated soils to bone dry, there are native plants that can thrive in your local conditions. Ulf will share his knowledge and answer questions in this informal discussion.

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.

4th annual Washburn Library seed exchange - all are welcome!

Marisa Lee of Wild Ones (a group that encourages us to plant native seeds), along with
Becky Brown of Wildflower Woods (native plant nursery) will be on hand to answer
questions and have seeds to share. Amy Wilson of SunFarm, Port Wing, artist and
homesteader, will answer your questions on vegetable and herb gardens.
Come to have fun, share information and seeds, and connect with experienced,
knowledgeable Northern Wisconsin gardeners. With pollinator numbers falling and
grocery costs going up, we need to plant gardens now more than ever!

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.

Join us for “Gardening is for The Birds” with wildlife biologist Karin Kozie. Karin will talk to us about what trees, shrubs, and flowering plants to put in your yard to attract more birds. She’ll describe how to learn which plants are native to our area and where to purchase them. Learn what keystone species are. Make your yard a natural bird feeder! 

Join us for an informal wildflower walk at the Les Vogt State Fish Hatchery on Highway 13, just south of Bayfield. We will take a quick meander up the trail to see what spring ephemerals are emerging. Meet in the hatchery parking lot at 5:30.

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/ 

Marisa Lee, President of Wild Ones’ Chequamegon Bay chapter, leads you on a hike in search of spring ephemeral wildflowers among a northern hardwood forest en route to Morgan Falls. Species that may be seen include Spring Beauty, Large-flowered Trillium, Wild Ginger, Bloodroot, Dutchman’s Breeches, and Bellwort. 

Walk with U.S. Forest Service retiree Susan Nelson in the Aldo Leopold Native Seed Orchard to see thousands of native plants that produce seed and plant materials for habitat restoration projects in the Chequamegon Bay region. This orchard, named for one of America’s foremost conservationists, is also a nectar and seed source for many native butterflies, bees, moths and birds. Learn about seed stratification, tour several restorations on site, and finish with a short wildflower walk led by Marisa Lee, Coordinator, Wild Ones Chequamegon Bay Chapter. 

Several of you have asked us how you start to convert your yard/flower garden into a native plant garden. It can seem so overwhelming!  Joe Groshek and Sandy Sky have volunteered to let us use their garden as a demonstration area. Come join us! We plan to meet there on Saturday, June 21st, at 1 pm. Joe and Sandy will have the site prepped and ready to plant but we will talk about how to prep a site, how to choose plants, and how densely to plant. And then we will plant a small area! Everyone is welcome to this free event.

We are excited to visit Wildflower Woods Native Plant Nursery again! Della and Becky gave us a wonderful talk and tour last year. Going back to this local native plant nursery is one of our most requested activities.

We will meet at the Washburn library between 5:30-5:40 for carpooling or caravan, if you are uncertain where to go. If you need to drive directly to the nursery, the address is 75415 Church Corner Rd, Washburn. Wildflower Woods does not usually have retail hours, so this tour is truly a special opportunity! Plants will be available for purchase.

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/ 

Volunteers, working in teams of 2, will install a new educational native wildflower garden at Siskiwit Falls. We have thousands of plants to tuck into the ground! Come for half a day, all day, or all weekend. Registration required.

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.

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. 

Come collect native wildflower seeds at the Aldo Leopold Seed Orchard! This activity will be led by Susan Nelson, who started the seed orchard during her years with the U.S. Forest Service. Susan is now retired but continues volunteer work with the seeds.

Collect for the orchard or bring some seeds home for your garden. Be sure to identify what you're gathering from - weeds do pop up even in the seed orchard. Some seeds in the orchard are "hitchhikers" that will especially stick to fleece or knit materials. Wearing denim and other heavier woven materials will help reduce the number of stickers and burrs you take home with you!

The seed orchard is located at the corner of County G and Terwilliger Road.

Continue on County G past the Visitor Center;

Turn right on Terwilliger Road & the farmhouse is the first driveway on the right.

As we say goodbye to the last of the late bloomers this fall, we look forward to gathering with chapter members for our annual meeting and sharing a cozy meal of chili and potluck sides. (Bring a dish to share if you like - but if time does not allow, please join us anyway!)

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.

We hope to see you at our annual seed exchange! We're gathering at the Washburn Public Library at 5:30 p.m. in the main room of the lower level. We have also reserved the Book Bin (side room) for a winter sowing demonstration. Come at 5:00 to set up if you have seeds to share.

Some small envelopes and baggies will be available - feel free to bring your own to use if you have them!

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.