Calendar

Join us for a tour of three locations in Old Ypsilanti where native plants are being employed for a healthier environment. This tour features three stops in the Garland Street/Vinewood Court Area.

A Preview of Some of the Gardens We Will See 

Awkward Island Native Plant Pollinator Garden (installed in 2024) - Blair Treglown shares that, “We experienced tremendous success using starts from Seeds to Community events, friend’s plants and native plant swaps. The first year, I had monarch butterfly caterpillars on the swamp milkweed. Due to the success, it was suggested that I expand the garden this year as you can see with the new plantings on each side.  I put an emphasis on identifying the plants with signs containing a picture, the common name and scientific name.  Being a novice with native plants myself, I felt these signs would be a good learning tool to allow others to experience the plants that they may want to grow in their own yards.  It has helped me become more familiar with the plants and their families while allowing the public to view the garden at a self-guided pace.”

Residence of Blair Treglown and Michelle Williamson - Regarding the side yard, Michelle says that, "Last year, we asked our neighbor about if we could put in a native plant garden this area.  We had some success, and we continue to work on the garden’s limitations: 1) Stones used for landscaping seems to limit the plants' growth, so this year, we added compost to provide a firmer growth medium; 2) A rather large groundhog “mows” the plants just as they are starting off,  so we added fencing to limit its access. 

NOTE TO MEMBERS: We will send an email with the addresses to you at least three days before the event. 

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.

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.