Events

In this special collaboration, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plant, joins youth leader and Nurture Natives founder Esther Bonney for an intergenerational conversation about belonging, reciprocity, and native plant action. 

Together, they will explore questions such as:

How do we create opportunities for young people to have a voice and feel empowered, even when they are not homeowners or decision makers?What kinds of relationships and mentorships help people stay engaged in native plant work over decades?Why do stories, shared practices, and community invitations matter just as much as plant lists?

Robin and Esther will reflect on what invites people into this work, what keeps them here, and what elders and youth have to teach each other.

Our upcoming webinar with Basil Camu explores practical, evidence based ways to heal suburban and urban landscapes by working with trees, soil, and natural systems, drawing on real world practices from Leaf & Limb and community centered models for restoring life where we live, work, and play.!  

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

Join Ben Davis to discover how to transform your yard, garden, or project site into a thriving, resilient landscape using native plants. This beginner‑friendly presentation introduces the core concepts of native plant landscaping, including what makes a plant “native,” why native species matter, and how they support local ecosystems, wildlife, and long‑term sustainability. Participants will learn practical tips for selecting the right plants for their site conditions, designing with native species, preparing and maintaining native plant beds, and avoiding common pitfalls.

Whether you’re a homeowner, community volunteer, student, or professional taking your first steps into ecological landscaping, this session provides the foundational knowledge needed to create beautiful, low‑maintenance landscapes that benefit both people and the environment. No prior gardening experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to dig in!

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Join us at GOAT LAB Brewery in Lowell, Arkansas on Saturday, May 2nd for our Spring Native Plant Sale!

Shop a huge selection of locally grown native plants from multiple trusted vendors. Transform your garden into a pollinator haven or a naturally beautiful landscape.

Wild Ones members will receive a 10% discount off their native plant purchases. Join now to take advantage of this offer: https://members.wildones.org/join/

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, May 2
Location: GOAT LAB Brewery, 722 S Bloomington St., Lowell, Arkansas
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

What to Expect:

A wide variety of native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees.

Plants that are adapted to the Northwest Arkansas climate, requiring less water and maintenance.

Expert advice from local native plant enthusiasts.

Support for local ecosystems and pollinators.

Opportunities to learn about creating a beautiful and sustainable landscape.

Come and find the perfect native plants to enhance your outdoor space and contribute to a healthier environment! We look forward to seeing you there!

Join Phyllis Stair of the Arkansas Master Naturalists for a guided walking tour of the native plant landscaping at the Railyard in Downtown Rogers, where thoughtful design and ecological function come together in one of the city’s most vibrant public spaces. This program highlights how native Ozark plant communities have been incorporated into an urban setting to create a landscape that is beautiful, resilient, and supportive of local wildlife.

Participants will explore a variety of planting areas showcasing prairie grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees selected for their regional significance and ecological benefits. The tour will cover topics such as the role of native plants in stormwater management, pollinator support, soil health, and reducing long-term maintenance needs. We’ll also discuss the design goals behind the project, seasonal interest across the plant palette, and practical tips for incorporating native species into home or commercial landscapes.

Whether you’re a plant enthusiast, designer, environmental professional, or simply curious about sustainable landscaping, this tour offers an inspiring look at how nature-based solutions can enhance community spaces and strengthen the local ecosystem.

Discover how native plants and thoughtful landscape design can work together to manage stormwater, support wildlife, and create a beautiful, functional home garden. This guided tour showcases a residential rain garden designed specifically to capture and filter runoff using hardy, regionally appropriate native species.

Participants will learn how the rain garden was planned, constructed, and maintained, with an emphasis on soil preparation, grading, plant selection, and seasonal care. The tour highlights key native plants that not only thrive in wet–dry cycles but also provide valuable habitat for pollinators and birds.

Attendees will see firsthand how the garden slows and filters stormwater, reduces erosion, and enhances overall watershed health. The program also covers practical tips for homeowners interested in installing their own rain garden, including sizing, placement, and simple techniques to improve water infiltration.

Whether you’re a gardener, homeowner, educator, or conservation enthusiast, this tour offers an engaging look at how small-scale, nature‑based solutions can make a meaningful impact right in your own backyard.

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

Meeting Location: Intersection of Apple Butter St. and Granny Smith Ave. in Springdale, AR 72764

Limited parking is available along the road in the residential neighborhood. Carpooling in encouraged. Please be considerate and DO NOT block any driveways, fire hydrants, or mailboxes.

During this tour, participants will explore how the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) and the City of Springdale transformed a conventional dry detention basin into a thriving ecological feature. This innovative retrofit demonstrates how stormwater infrastructure can be reimagined to support both environmental and community goals.

The site showcases the strategic use of native wetland vegetation and hydrologic modifications that extend water retention time, allowing for greater sediment and nutrient uptake. These changes not only improve water quality but also create habitat for a variety of wildlife, enhancing biodiversity in an urban setting.

Participants will learn about the design process, implementation challenges, and long-term benefits of converting traditional stormwater systems into multifunctional green spaces. The project serves as a model for integrating ecological restoration with urban planning, balancing aesthetics, habitat value, and water quality improvements in a community-friendly environment.

We may also visit other nearby locations if time allows.

Why do some plants thrive while others struggle? The secret often lies in understanding the ecoregion where they naturally occur. By grouping plants based on their original "home"—whether it’s a woodland, prairie, or wetland—you can create a more resilient, low-maintenance, and successful landscape.

In this presentation, Danny Barron will explore:

- The 4 major ecotypes: Woodland, swamp, prairie, and desert.
- Arkansas-specific subtypes: How our local geology and climate dictate what grows best in the Ozarks versus the Delta.
- Selection strategies: Practical tips for choosing and grouping plants that will naturally thrive in your specific soil and light conditions.

Join us to learn how to work with nature rather than against it for a more beautiful and sustainable garden.

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.

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.

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.

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.