Events

Are you new to landscaping with native plants? Or maybe you really want to use native plants in your garden but don't know where to start? This program is geared toward beginners and covers the basics of native plant gardening and landscaping.

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. 

Any Wild Ones member is welcome to join our chapter's board meeting where we discuss upcoming Wild Ones events and goals and priorities for our chapter. Learn more about our chapter and have a say in what we're doing. To receive the Zoom meeting information, send an email to [email protected] at least 3 days before the meeting.

Board meetings are the first Tuesday of every month from 7 - 8:30 pm.

Join Ms. Shawn Hunter, co-founder of The Diana Project, for a presentation that will compare and contrast Arkansas' state butterfly, the Diana Fritillary, with the more familiar Monarch butterfly in order to understand the unique lifecycle challenges of the Diana. She'll explain the history and purpose of The Diana Project and provide resources to help you get involved.

This program will be followed by a shorter bonus program:
Introduction to iNaturalist:
Becoming a citizen scientist is easy, rewarding for everyone and critical to biodiversity science. Discover how you can participate by getting acquainted with iNaturalist software. Accessing iNaturalist can be done with a smart phone or tablet with the mobile app OR you access via a browser and use the website. Bring your device so we can practice after the presentation! If you plan on using a smart device we ask that you download the Free iNaturalist app before you arrive if possible: https://www.inaturalist.org/ 

Join Danny Barron on a walk at Lake Wilson in Fayetteville to observe spring ephemeral wildflowers.

Due to multiple confirmed reports of flowering of Erythronium albidum (White Trout Lily), Danny is having this a week or two earlier than planned (temps in 70s and 80s will do that for you).
As these tend to not open early in the morning, we will meet at the pavilion at 1 pm on Saturday March 2nd. I expect emergent foliage on many ephemerals, but probably only toothwort and spring beauty being open (could be surprised) along with the trout lilies.
Prepare for mud using non-slippery shoes. We will follow the walk back at the pavilion area with a gardening QA, entirely optional.

Join us for a special presentation by Laurie Scott, Wild One Ozark Chapter's Vice President, highlighting the different species of milkweed that grow in Arkansas and the many creatures that they support, including the monarch butterfly. You will learn which milkweeds will grow best in different conditions, as well as why these unique plants are so important to our local ecosystem.

Join us for an informal community Q & A session after the presentation!

Laurie is the Lab Coordinator and Land Manager in the Science Department at Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC). At NWACC, Laurie maintains the native plant beds and greenhouse, coordinates seed collection, cleaning, stratification, and germination of native plants propagated on the NWACC campus, and maintains the Outdoor Living Laboratory. Laurie is also on the steering committee for the Arkansas Monarch and Pollinator Partnership (AMCP), where she co-chairs the Monitoring and Research committee for AMCP and is an active member of AMCP's Education and Outreach committee. Laurie is also an Arkansas Master Naturalist as well as a member of Quail Forever and the Ozark chapter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society (ANPS). 

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. 

Join Wild Ones for a leisurely, family-friendly walk at beautiful Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista to identify spring wildflowers. Free and open to the public.

Julie Carr, a NWA Master Naturalist will give us a tour of her native garden, started 4 years ago, in Bentonville.

The event is free, but registration is required. THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL.

Sarah Guertz of Earthplan Design Alternatives will give us a tour of her suburban yard, demonstrating the work she's done converting it to native species.

The event is free, but registration is required. Please fill out the form and we will send you the address of the garden tour: Yard Tour Registration

Join Alan and Molly at their residence in Fayetteville for a tour of the work they've been doing to replace the non-native turf grass in their yard with native plants that provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife. You'll learn about their successes and learning experiences, and have a chance to ask questions and get ideas to implement at your own residence.

The event is free, but registration is required. Please fill out the form and we will send you the address of the tour: Yard Tour Registration

Join Pam Morgan for a casual walk through the new Firefly Sanctuary at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville. Pam will share interesting facts about fireflies and we will learn how to identify the different species by watching them flash as it gets dark. We will also talk about the risks to firefly populations in NW Arkansas and how planting native plants can help you see more fireflies in your yard and neighborhood.

We will meet at the pavilion at the South Gateway Parking Lot on NW 3rd Street at 8:30 pm and walk along the paved greenway to the Firefly Sanctuary.

Free and open to the public.

One way to keep costs down when adding native plants to your garden is to start some plants from seed. Pam Morgan will lead an instructional workshop on how to start native plants from seed. 

This event will take you through the basics, including:

When is the right time to collect seed from native plants
What's different about starting native seeds compared to vegetable seeds
What are the different methods for starting native seeds
Where are some places to get native seed

We will collect some seed together from the Lake Springdale Rain Garden (if available) and participants can take the seed home. We will also do some hands-on "winter sowing" with milk jugs.

Free and open to the public.

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. 

Come and join Laurie Scott from Wild Ones to learn all about native seed collecting! This program is designed for beginners to learn the anatomy of a flower, where plants store their seeds, and different strategies for seed collection, and will include a “hands on” experience to discover all the things you need to know to turn seeds into baby plants!

Speaker Bio: Laurie Scott is the manager of the Outdoor Living Laboratory at the Northwest Arkansas Community College, a steering committee member of the Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership, and the Vice President of the Ozark Chapter of Wild Ones.

Add native plants to your garden! Seven of our Ozark native plant nurseries will be offering a variety of native plants for sale. 

Open to the public, and there will be a discount for Wild Ones members!

GoatLab Brewery offers homemade pizzas and locally brewed beer. They open at 11 am. Come for the plants, then grab a pizza and beer and talk with friends about plants!

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! 

Join Ozark Wild Ones for our 3rd annual Native Seed Swap on Saturday, November 16!

This year we will be at the Bentonville Public Library. Anyone is welcome to come and either bring native seeds that they have collected to share or simply come and get some free seed that they can plant in their garden. The Seed Swap is a great way to increase the diversity of native plants in your garden!

If you are bringing seeds, you may enter at 1:30 pm to set up. Also, Wild Ones Ozark members are welcome to come in at 1:30 also to get first pick of the seeds. The event from 2 to 4 pm is free and open to the public. No need to bring seeds to swap.

Seeds of native plants only, please. If you are collecting seeds in an area other than your own property, make sure you have permission. Also, be sure to leave some seeds for wildlife and for reseeding.