Events

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.

Join us for a social meetup with other native plant enthusiasts at Sarah's home garden in Solon. Everyone is welcome – from beginners to seasoned gardeners – and you don’t need to be a Wild Ones member to attend. 

You’ll see a newly-established 2400 sq. foot native garden in its second year. Sarah’s home is in a new housing development built on former agricultural land.  Her lot abuts the Johnson County Greenway and Hoover Trail, which feature copious native plantings and prairie restorations.  

What to bring
Bring a lawn chair (and a friend if you wish), and we’ll provide beverages and snacks.  The location is sunny so bring sunscreen or a hat if you need extra protection. 

We’ll have a “show and tell” so feel free to bring some favorite pics from your yard as well as your questions or challenges related to native plants.  

Location
Sarah's house is in the Trail Ridge Estates development, on the south side of Hwy 382 just west of Solon. It’s a bit tricky to map, so navigate to this location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DQ3tJ2kDPJRHKV7GA.  It’s the first house on the Macbride Trail cul-de-sac. 

Please RSVP at the link below.

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.