Events

Feeders are fine, but songbirds need more than sunflower seeds to complete their epic journeys. Find out more when Michigan State University ornithologist Jen Owen presents “Health of Migrating Landbirds in the Face of a Changing Landscape: Importance of Native Plants,” at 6:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 18.

Migrating birds make epic flights between their breeding and wintering areas. The success of their migration relies on their ability to find places to stop along their journey where they can rest and replenish their depleted fat stores. Fruits are an important source of nutrition for migrating landbirds each fall as they fatten up for their journey south. However, non-native fruit-bearing shrubs do not offer the same nutritional benefits for birds which has consequences for their migration as well as carry-over effects on bird’s reproductive success and survival.

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. 

For more information, email [email protected] .

Keweenaw Wild Ones president Marcia Goodrich will discuss the value of native plants, focussing on their critical role in America’s ecosystems and the benefits they bring to homeowners and communities. She will include examples of local native gardens, sources for buying native plants, and more.

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. 

Naturalist, author, and media personality David Mizejewski shares how to create a beautiful garden or landscape that fits into the local ecosystem and supports birds, butterflies, bees and a whole host of other wonderful wildlife neighbors.

Plus, Dr. Sigrid Resh of Michigan Technological University will discuss the Go Beyond Beauty initiative, which promotes Michigan nurseries that refrain from selling invasive species. And Marquette County Conservation District director Maddie O'Donnell will describe the native gardens the agency has planted and managed.https://keweenaw.wildones.org/2024-keweenaw-native-plant-symposium/

We will discuss David Mizejewski's excellent primer on how to make your yard a wildlife magnet. You'll be able to hear David speak at the Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium on March 23 and then participate in book club discussions on April 10 and 17. Zoom discussions begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by in-person discussions at the Portage Lake District Library at 6:30 p.m.

Register here for the book club. Copies of the book are available at a reduced price from Keweenaw Wild Ones. Order your copy here.

Keweenaw Wild Ones president Marcia Goodrich will present "Why Natives?" to the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Marcia will discuss the importance of native plants in creating habitat that nurtures wildlife, including bees, butterflies, and birds. She will describe the special attributes of native plants and how to incorporate them into our gardens and civic landscapes. She will also share examples of local native gardens, sources for buying native plants, and more. A Q & A will follow the presentation.

Marcia was already a longtime gardener before she gave her heart to native plants about 20 years ago. She retired in 2014 from Michigan Tech, where she was a writer and editor.

The Forum is open to the public. The forum will only be on zoom starting at 10:30 AM on Sunday, April 14. Click here to join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83975762265?pwd=TC9BcStaTDF4dFZOU2ZsUHhZTERoUT09

Members will carpool to Hanson's to shop for native plants. Hanson's is the largest seller in the region, with two greenhouses full of native plants. We will shop in the morning, enjoy a lunch in Rhinelander, and then head home with our vehicles full of plants.

HOUGHTON--Naturalist Alex Graeff will present “‘Interesting’ Flora and Natural Communities of the Keweenaw” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, on Zoom. Visit keweenaw.wildones.org for a link to this free presentation. His talk is sponsored by the Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter.

Graeff will include a brief description of geological features of the Keweenaw Peninsula that set the stage for some of our region’s natural plant communities.

Graeff will describe these communities, show some examples, and provide plenty of pictures of the lovely plants which are found here.

An ecologist by profession and botanist by inclination, Graeff currently works for the U.S. Forest Service at the Northern Research Station in Rhinelander, Wis. He is well-versed in the flowers, grasses, and sedges of the northern Great Lakes and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Michigan University, where he studied biology and plant community ecology.

After picking up an interest in plant identification during a Michigan Botanical Club foray in 2012, he spent much of the next decade focused on exploring and learning the region’s flora and natural communities.

We will discuss David Mizejewski's excellent primer on how to make your yard a wildlife magnet. You'll be able to hear David speak at the Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium on March 23 and then participate in book club discussions on April 10 and 17. Zoom discussions begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by in-person discussions at the Portage Lake District Library at 6:30 p.m.

Register here for the book club. Copies of the book are available at a reduced price from Keweenaw Wild Ones. Order your copy here.

Wild Ones volunteers joined KLT volunteers to pot trays of seedlings donated by Bay College. Wild Ones will sell their transplants during our sales; KLT will plant them on their properties.

Dr. Shelley Jansky, a professor of horticulture at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, will discuss her native plant epiphany and the subsequent transformation of her property in a special guest talk, “Embracing Native Plants: Trials and Tribulations,” at 6 p.m. ET, Tuesday, May 21 on Zoom. The regular chapter board meeting will follow; all are welcome to attend.

Our first sale of the season, especially for Keweenaw Wild Ones members.  We'll have limited amounts of the following plants:

Prairie Sage 

False Sunflower

Milkweed 

Purple Coneflower

Compass plant

Susans

Cupplant

Biennial Gaura

Pale Corydalis

Wild Bergemot

Rosinweed

Helen’s flower

Coreopsis

Sweet Joe Pye

Woodland Sunflower

Golden Glow (green-headed coneflower)

We'll meet at Josh and Erin's in Calumet at 10 a.m., check out their exhuberent green space, then head over to Mike and Deb's in Houghton, where we'll enjoy their gardens, then have a potluck on their big covered porch.

Members and guests join botanist Alex Graeff for a walk along the Lake Superior lakeshore. He discusses the geology and pointed out the rare and unusual plants characteristic of the area.

Ecologist Karena Schmidt led us on a walk along the Keweenaw Bay shoreline, where the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has been remediating over two miles of toxic mine waste in the form of stamp sands.

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. 

Keweenaw Wild Ones is offering a wide variety of native plants for sale. Customers order online and pick up their plants at the home of the chapter president.

Our chapter will hold its annual meeting, where we announce the results of our election, elect officers, and hear the president's annual report. Members will receive free pizza and soft drinks. Door prizes will be awarded.

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. 

Ridding your garden of pesky invasives like vinca, aka periwinkle and creeping myrtle, is a daunting task. Before our next meeting, Danna Olsen, Tom Oliver, and Marcia Goodrich will share the various methods they use to tackle vinca in our own yards.

The presentation begins on Zoom at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15, before our regular meeting. Here's the meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89658108247?pwd=Fuj2bh22ZULoIXUinYa01M3ZLA7Nto.1

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! 

Keweenaw Wild One Cassandra Reed-VanDam will present “Monarchs, Milkweeds, and Native Plants: Oh My!” at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Calumet Public Library. Then Cassandra will join WOK president Marcia Goodrich in leading a free seed ball workshop. All materials will be provided.

Native plants have an incredible ability to adapt to climate extremes, offering sustainable solutions for resilient landscapes. Join Wild Ones and the Native Plant Society of Texas to explore the power of native plants to thrive in challenging conditions.

This event features Christy Ten Eyck, founder of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. Drawing from her latest Dallas-Fort Worth native garden design, Christy will share insights into designing low-maintenance, ecologically rich spaces that withstand intense climate fluctuations.

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.