Events

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 Lorie 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.

This event is open to the public as well as to chapter members. Because it is a private tour, we request that you register in advance, and registration is limited to 30 people. 

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.

A limited number of spaces are available for chapter members to sign up (on a first-come, first-served basis) to practice digging/dividing up and potting up native plants in the yard of fellow chapter member and certified Virginia master naturalist Sheryl Smith. 

A sign up sheet is provided in the registration link.  Sheryl will provide location information to the people who sign up.

Unfortunately, spaces for this hands-on activity are limited - but it is a wonderful opportunity to learn from one of our area's best native plant advocates! Chapter members who participated in a similar event last year found it very instructive and rewarding. 

Bonus: Diggers get to take plants home with them! 

A limited number of spaces are available for chapter members to sign up (on a first-come, first-served basis) to practice digging/dividing up and potting up native plants in the yard of fellow chapter member and certified Virginia master naturalist Sheryl Smith. 

A sign up sheet is provided in the registration link.  Sheryl will provide location information to the people who sign up.

Unfortunately, spaces for this hands-on activity are limited - but it is a wonderful opportunity to learn from one of our area's best native plant advocates! Chapter members who participated in a similar event last year found it very instructive and rewarding. 

Bonus: Diggers get to take plants home with them! 

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.