Events

Join Gina Serge of Henrico County's Vector Surveillance and Control team for a practical talk on mosquito control without pesticides. Local mosquito-borne disease risk peaks in late August and September, as birds migrate south and the mosquitoes that fed on them turn to biting people instead — right as virus levels from the summer's bird-mosquito cycle reach their seasonal high. Good timing to get ahead of it! Henrico's Mosquito Team uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — surveillance, education, and habitat-based treatment rather than blanket spraying. Gina will share simple steps you can take at home to cut down on breeding sites and bites — a great complement to a pollinator-friendly native garden.

August can be a time to take stock, both of our gardens and of our chapter--where we've been, what we've been developing, and where we're going.

For our August Zoom, we invite chapter members to call in with questions or suggestions you may have for our chapter leaders. If you'd like to help the chapter leadership plan new events in 2027 but aren't quite sure how to get involved, this also is a great opportunity to ask questions about joining our board, either as a director (nominations for our upcoming elections are still open) or by helping form a committee! 

You also are welcome to call in to tell us about your native garden progress and garden plans for the rest of this year! 

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.

This  quarter's Book Club selection is How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World, by Ethan Tapper.

Our chapter's book club is open to both chapter members and non-members. You are welcome to join at any time! We meet quarterly over Zoom to discuss an inspiring or informative book that relates to gardening with native plants. Meetings consist of guided discussion led by a volunteer member of the club. The tone is friendly and informal, and at the end of each meeting the participants suggest titles to be considered for future book club sessions.   

If you enjoy reading and talking about books, consider joining our Book Club! Simply register for a session (link below) or write to the chapter at [email protected].  We will be glad to add you to our list of book club participants and send you the link to our next meeting!
 

Join us at Chirp, a specialty bird shop in a historic Ashland storefront built around 1858 — the same year Ashland became a town. Owners Brad and Lori Lower worked to transform the yard of their adjoining home into a sanctuary for native birds and pollinators by planting native species, providing water sources, and offering shelter. They have successfully brought a sense of balance to the yard and are eager to show others how easy it is to support local wildlife using native plants.

They will be joined by Mickey Albornoz, who leads Chirp's monthly bird walks. Mickey will talk about the birds found locally in the Ashland/Hanover area, what to look and listen for, and how planting native species helps support them. He'll also cover practical tips for attracting more birds to your own yard.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or just winging it, come spend the morning exploring how native gardening and birdwatching go hand in hand.

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.

This is our chapter's annual member meeting. 

All active members of Wild Ones Greater Richmond Virginia Chapter are encouraged to attend.  During the meeting we will announce the results of the 2026 election. Chapter officers will present brief reports about chapter activities and accomplishments in 2026 and will talk about plans for the future. 

We're also working on some additional programming that we hope will make the Annual Meeting enjoyable, informative, and interactive for our members! Watch for more details in upcoming chapter emails.

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.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

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.