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The Michigan Prescribed Fire Council and Matthaei Botanical Gardens are teaming up to launch Michigan’s first Prescribed Fire Festival. This family-friendly event invites people of all ages to learn about the role of prescribed fire in maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and reducing wildfire risk. Through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and conversations with experts, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of how carefully managed fire benefits both natural landscapes and communities.

There is a rare ecological oasis that’s bursting with biodiversity: Sibley Prairie, the largest remaining lakeplain prairie in the whole of Michigan, a landscape found almost nowhere else on earth. Prairies like this once covered vast areas, but today almost all are gone. The prairie, woods, and wetlands in this 440-acre parcel of Sibley Prairie represent the most important conservation opportunity in Michigan today.  

A coalition of folks have been working hard  to save this valuable piece of nature and now, the deadline is drawing nearer.  Jack Smiley, Founder and President of the Michigan Land Conservancy, will be presenting photos of this land and making a case for fast action in order to  save it from development. These 440 acres were scheduled for auction in August 2025. At the last possible moment, with development looming, the Michigan Land Conservancy secured an option to purchase the property backed by a lender. Preserving Sibley Prairie will create critical public access and maintain key ecological services that mitigate effects of industrialization, urbanization, and climate change.

Wild Ones Ann Arbor Area Chapter supports this important preservation effort. 

Please join us!

Planting native species is an important step toward creating habitat, but how can you tell what’s working, what’s missing, and where to focus your efforts next?

Join Wild Ones and Wildr Places for The Habitat Check-up, a free webinar exploring a practical, science-informed approach to evaluating your home landscape. Presenter Zoe Evans will introduce five key areas to consider when assessing habitat and share how thoughtful observations can help guide your next steps.

Whether you’re just getting started with native plants or have been gardening for years, this webinar will help you look at your landscape through a new lens.

THIS EVENT IS REMOTE ONLY - PLEASE JOIN US OVER ZOOM. 

Zoom link for joining us remotely - https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/82568476910?pwd=UQ0zBW06f9Gqarw6yyNsqs7ElbG6Kb.1

The Wild Ones Ann Arbor Area Chapter year of 2026 topped up our membership to 250 members!  We spent time in the field learning about native plants.  We visited members' home yards. We sowed seeds and grew trees with our community partners.  Learning together and sharing our experience is what Wild Ones is all about. 

See what we created in our own community. Get a glimpse of our chapter’s accomplishments and those of the larger Wild Ones organization of which we are a part. 

 Members will have the chance to provide input, via the Zoom chat function, on next year's activities and topics. Together, we are working towards a healthier planet by fostering native plants and natural landscapes. 

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

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.