Events

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.

Join us for a Seed & Plant Cuttings
Swap with fun activities like Plant
Trivia, tips on native landscaping &
propagation, and awesome prizes!

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.

Organizing for the 2025 Calendar Year

EcoFest is a collaborative annual event planned by several local non-profit environmental and arts groups, along with other community organizations.  

The Corridor’s premier Earth Day celebration, this family-friendly festival includes interactive educational activities, eco-products, eco-practice demonstrations in how to reduce our consumption of resources, fun ways to reduce and reuse household items, local foods, arts and free live music!  EcoFest helps us connect our personal choices to individual, community and planetary sustainability.   

Our local Wild Ones chapter will have a table at this event to spread awareness and attract new members.

Let's tour some member gardens! This event is a chance to exchange ideas and education about our shared passion, landscaping with native plants.

Please note that these members' gardens are opened for our visit with the understanding that they are shared "AS IS" and no extra preparation will be done, and the ravages of such factors as the weather, vacation neglect, and works-in-progress will be evident!

Wild Ones member Eric Miller will be speaking about native spring ephemerals as part of Johnson County Conservation's Native Plant Series. 

This will be a small event for seeding grasses, sedges, and other wildflowers which don't need stratification. 

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/ 

Hickory Hill Park is a wonderful wildlife park within Iowa City. We will meet at the Conklin lane entrance to the park to gather any tools we need and then hike to the worksite. Because this is a mid summer work event, we will find a shady spot to work, and we will ensure we have extra water. 

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/ 

Field Trip to Rochester Cemetery. This small cemetary has a number of small prairies and large oaks. The prairies here have many uncommon species like Spider Milkweed, Prairie Willow, and Wild Quinine.

Let's tour some member gardens! This event is a chance to exchange ideas and education about our shared passion, landscaping with native plants.

Please note that these members' gardens are opened for our visit with the understanding that they are shared "AS IS" and no extra preparation will be done, and the ravages of such factors as the weather, vacation neglect, and works-in-progress will be evident!

Details coming soon! 

Prairie Seed Collection Event in October. Date, time, location are tbd

Details coming soon! 

The 120-acre Etzel Sugar Grove Farm was donated to Indian Creek Nature Center to establish an environmentally and economically self-sufficient farm, which uses regenerative and organic practices to model the future of agriculture for a more resilient, sustainable world.

After a farm tour with Jean Wiedenheft, Director of Land Stewardship, we will collect seeds for use by ICNC and for the Wild Ones Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Chapter seed library.

The farm includes a mature woodland, a pasture, tillable fields, vegetable beds, berry bushes, and fruit and nut trees. The farm team are weaving prairie buffer strips throughout the cropland and restoring the woodlands to encourage ecological diversity and wildlife.

The prairie forbs are diverse and concentrated, making seed collection very rewarding! A restroom is available.

Annual meeting to elect chapter officers and board of directors. The date and time here are placeholders for now, but we will likely hold this meeting in November. This time can also be used to plan events in 2026.

Details coming soon!