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June 2025
Belle Isle Oudolf Garden Tour Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones Ann Arbor Area Chapter, North Oakland Chapter and Wayne County Michigan ChapterMembers Only Public Garden Tour Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
On Saturday, June 21st, at 9:30 AM Wild Ones chapters from North Oakland and Ann Arbor, will join our Wayne County chapter for a tour of the Ouldolf Garden - Detroit located on Belle Isle. Meredith Simpson, a volunteer with Oudolf Garden Detroit has very graciously agreed to lead the three Wild Ones chapters on a tour of this garden!
Piet Ouldolf is a Dutch garden designer who has, to date, designed 20 "natural" gardens throughout Europe and the US. Five of the US gardens, including Oudolf Garden - Detroit, are listed below.
· Oudolf Garden Detroit at Belle Isle Park (Michigan, USA, 2020)
· Meadow garden, Delaware Botanic Gardens (Dagsboro, Delaware, USA, 2019)
· High Line (New York City, 2006)
· Battery Park (New York City, 2003)
· Lurie Garden, Millennium Park (Chicago, 2003 with Kathryn Gustafson and Shannon Nichol)
While the Ouldolf Garden - Detroit would not be considered a native garden, or necessarily even a sustainable garden, our takeaway from this event could be how to incorporate world-class garden designs and plant groupings into our own native garden projects at home and in our community!
I'm looking forward to seeing you there! Reach out if you have any questions.
July 2025
Plant ID in the Field: The Indy and Woodcock Prairies at Independence Lake Park
Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Lots of Physical Activity
Guides: Ron Gamble and Faye Stoner
On this walk we will cover basic plant ID skills (e.g., Are the leaves arranged opposite each other along the stem or in alternate positions? Do the leaves have a simple (single) or compound form? Are the leaf edges rounded or squared?), and we will practice these skills as we look at plants found in this lovely remnant prairie. Plants found in the prairie this time of year include Tall Coreopsis, Yellow Coneflower, Mountain Mint, Early Goldenrod, and Prairie Loosestrife; there will be many more species to see!
About Our Guides
Faye Stoner grew up in western Pennsylvania, but has been in Michigan for over 30 years. She worked as a naturalist for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and for Washtenaw County Parks.
Ron Gamble grew up in central Iowa.
BE PREPARED FOR BUGS!
Depending on the weather, there may be ticks, mosquitoes, and chiggers. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks, etc., and bring your favorite repellent.
ENTRANCE FEE AND PARKING at Independence Lake Park
Daily Admission, per Vehicle: Washtenaw County residents: $6 ($3 for Seniors); Others: $10 ($6 for Seniors)
Where to Park and Meet: Please park at the east end of the Beach Center parking lot (about one mile in from Jennings Road; it is the first left after the Blue Heron Bay parking lot). Watch for a large lime green vertical banner to find our group. The first section of the prairie is about an eight-minute walk from there.
August 2025
River Bend Gardens Tour
River Bend Gardens
Public Welcome Home/Private Garden Tour
NOTE: Exact start and end time, meeting point, and program description will be provided by July 15, 2025.
River Bend Gardens Tour Members Only
Hosted by Wild Ones Ann Arbor Area Chapter and Wayne County Michigan ChapterMembers Only Family-Friendly Free Event Home/Private Garden Tour
River Bend Gardens was established in July 2017, and formally founded by my wife and I in January 2019 as a private botanical garden, aviary, and retreat for our family of five children.
The property was selected for its unique combination of natural features, and is located in Washtenaw County, 15 miles Southwest of Ann Arbor, in the Village of Manchester. The gardens are situated on 65 acres with a half mile of frontage on the River Raisin, and adjacent to the South and West with the Leonard Preserve, a 259-acre property owned by Washtenaw County’s Natural Areas Preservation, and The Nature Conservancy.
There are twelve gardens that make-up River Bend, with nine natural plant communities, and several glacial features in the landscape from kames, an out-wash plain, to a floodplain that includes a Buttonbush depression. In addition to the River Raisin, the property includes a 4 acre pond, two brooks, and over 30 natural springs.
Hiking River Bend Gardens offers our guest an opportunity to view a gardener's pragmatic effort at native plant preservation and restoration. Wayne is happy to share the mechanics of the preservation work and prairie restoration with considerations to methods, successes, and failures.
River Bend Gardens offers our guests a short walk (1/4 mile) to the prairie and meeting location, or guests may elect a longer hike (3 miles) through the garden on the trails to the meeting location. While the trails are established, they are not completely groomed, the garden is not ADA compliant, nor is there a restroom present on the property.
Guests who chose the three mile hike on the Garden Trail, presented in yellow on the attached trail map, should arrive at 9:00am at the East Entrance Garden. You can use 115 Mound Street Manchester, MI 48158 as the GPS address. There is a horseshoe drive where you can pull-in for parking, or on the shoulder of Mound Street on the north side of the street facing west.
Guests who prefer a short walk to the prairie should arrive at 10:30am at the West Entrance Garden. You can use 328 River Bend Manchester, MI 48158 as the GPS address. There is adequate parking off the street on garden property.
In either case there will be someone from the River Bend family there to guide you to the meeting location. After a discussion and Q&A, the guests will be free to walk the trails and experience the gardens at their own pace.
September 2025
September Workshop: Native Seeds, A Beginner's Guide to Harvesting
Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Auditorium, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105 Map
Public Welcome Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed Handling Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Drinking Fountains
NOTE: Exact start and end time and program description will be provided by September 1, 2025.
Presenter: Calla Butler
September Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
October 2025
The Ann Arbor Pocket Forest, One Year In
Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Auditorium, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Drinking Fountains
NOTE: Exact start and end time and program description will be provided by October 1, 2025.
October Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
November 2025
University of Michigan Academic Seed Library, First Year Success
Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Auditorium, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Drinking Fountains
NOTE: Program description will be provided by November 1, 2025.
Presenter: Caylen Cole-Hazel
November Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
December 2025
Chapter Meeting - Topic TBA
Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Auditorium, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105 Map
Public Welcome Chapter Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Drinking Fountains
NOTE: Program description will be provided by December 1, 2025.