Events

We have canceled the in-person meetup--but it is still possible to enjoy an informal gathering with fellow Wild Ones this Saturday, January 11, to kick off the new year! 

Just drop into the Zoom anytime between 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. to meet new gardening friends, talk native plants (or other stuff), and chat with available chapter officers about what YOU would like to do and learn with Wild Ones Greater Richmond Chapter this year. 

Chapter members have been sent a link for the Zoom session by email. 

During this members-only event, chapter members will view and discuss Wild Ones' August 2024 national webinar on “Matrix Landscape Design,” presented by landscape designer and educator Benjamin Vogt.  

The matrix planting approach mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  

Chapter members will receive an email invitation to attend this Zoom meeting a few days before the event. Members of the public also can access and view this and other recorded webinars hosted by Wild Ones by going to the organization's You Tube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/wildonesnativeplants).  

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

You're invited to join our chapter's inaugural Book Club meeting and book discussion!  

Please join Wild Ones Greater Richmond Virginia Chapter Book Club on February 27 to discuss our first book: Wildscape: Trilling Chipmunks, Beckoning Blooms, Salty Butterflies, and other Sensory Wonders of Nature, by Nancy Lawson (the "Humane Gardener.") 

Book Club meetings are open both to members and to members of the public. To sign up for the meeting, simply “RSVP” by sending a message to the chapter gmail ([email protected]), “Attention Janit.” The chapter will send you the Zoom link and discussion questions by return email. 

Happy reading!

Incorporating native plants into our urban and suburban landscapes is a beautiful way to support wildlife. And growing native plants from seed and containerized plants can allow home gardeners to access a wider palette of native plants affordably! 

In this followup to 2024's "Establishing Native Plants from Seeds," USDA Private Lands Biologist Bob Glennon will hone in on what's important for people with smaller urban and suburban landscapes to know about growing native plants from seed.

Please register to reserve a seat through Ticketleap at the link provided. The venue can accommodate up to 40 people. 

Description updated to reflect additional content the speaker has incorporated into the presentation! 

Join Lauren Taylor, executive director of the Blue Ridge PRISM, for an informative evening about invasive plants that is tailored to homeowners. Many of us are aware of the ecological harm that is done by invasive plants--but it can be hard for us to feel confident about recognizing them, setting priorities about which species to tackle first, or understanding how to safely and effectively remove and dispose of them.  

In this program, Ms. Taylor will walk us through the importance of protecting tree canopy and discuss which invasive plants are considered “five-alarm fire” species here in Central Virginia. We'll also learn about resources and tools we can turn to for accurate information and guidance as we grapple with invasive plant species on our own properties.  

Tickets for this event are free but registration through Ticketleap (link below) is requested so we can send you the correct Zoom link and/or contact you if it becomes necessary to reschedule. 
 

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Wild Ones Greater Richmond Chapter will be tabling at an “Earth Day Eve” event hosted by the West End Branch of the Richmond Public Library, alongside mission-aligned exhibitors. Our tabling will include a hands-on activity creating “Moquito bucket-of-doom” kits.  Chapter members are encouraged to stop by the library, and members who'd like to try their hand at tabling are encouraged to sign up to help--this will be a fun afternoon with an engaging activity!  An emailed signup link for upcoming volunteer opportunities will be sent to chapter members soon.  

Here's the library's description of the event: 

"All ages are invited to stop by the library patio and learn more about the many aspects of environmental awareness in RVA. 

Environmental information, solar racers and bugs, seed planting and more.The James River Association will host two workshops:
5pm – Native Plants for your Home Garden6pm – Rain Barrels

Community partners include:

Central VA Waste ManagementCity of Richmond Office of SustainabilityCentral VA Master GardenersComposting with City of Richmond Parks & RecreationDr. Hollee Freeman, CityBeesRVAWild Ones Greater Richmond VA

In case of inclement weather the event will move inside the library.

The GPMGA Spring Gardenfest is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates all things related to gardening, hosted by the Goochland-Powhatan Master Gardeners Association.  Wild Ones Greater Richmond Virginia Chapter is proud to be among the informational exhibitors. 

In addition to educational programs (some of the presenters are also Wild Ones chapter members!), dozens of informational and vendor booths will be available to browse, shop, and explore--and a plant sale (including native plants) caps it all off.  

Attending the educational programs requires a paid registration--and registration closes on April 14. To register, see the link below. 

The vendor exhibits and plant sale are free/open to the public and do not require registration. 

Chapter members are encouraged to attend this festival and, if you enjoy "talking native plants," to sign up for a shift at our exhibit table.  A signup link will be sent to chapter members by email soon.  

More information is available here:

https://www.gpmga.org/spring-garden-fest

Join us on May 15 for a free online discussion of Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, led by chapter member and Goochland-Powhatan Master Gardener Laura Lemmon!

To join, visit visit The Comfort of Crows Book Review Sign Up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../20F0D45A9A92BA6F85...

You'll receive immediate confirmation, and shortly before the MAY 15 meeting we'll send the Zoom link and optional discussion questions. 

Our chapter's book club meets approximately once a quarter, and members of the public are welcome to join in!

One of the best things about Wild Ones is the “roots-up” nature of the organization and chapters. As Wild Ones Greater Richmond Virginia Chapter continues to grow, we want to ensure that you, our members, find your membership both enjoyable and meaningful, building community and developing consensus that can drive local programming and activities. 

At our May Zoom (May 19, 7-8 p.m.) we invite you to come together to meet fellow Wild Ones and spend some time getting to know each other. We’ll have time to talk about things you would like to learn and do, both for your own native plant landscapes and together as neighbors and members of the chapter. 

This Zoom will be set up with two sessions of breakout rooms—one that gathers groups with some geographic proximity to meet and chat about your common interests, and one organized (roughly) around some broad topics of potential interest. Attendees will be free to move among the breakout rooms as they wish. 

At the end of the meeting, we'll come back together and hold a drawing for 3 “Virtual Door Prizes" (books on topics related to native plant gardening). The prizes will be sent to the winners by mail. You must be present at the meeting to win. 

Please use the form in the Registration Link to RSVP by May 16 to let us know if you plan to attend the Zoom on May 19, and select (or offer) topics to help us set up the breakout rooms! The Zoom link will be sent to all members on Friday – registration is just meant to help us with planning ahead for the meeting. Thanks! 

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Catching or just watching twinkling fireflies (aka lightning bugs) is a pleasant memory for many of us, but more and more people report seeing fewer fireflies than they once did. Join Go Native Brandermill & Wild Ones to discover the fascinating life history of the “Jewels of the Night” -- how they communicate, how many different kinds we have in Virginia, the environmental challenges they face, and how we can help them with small changes in our personal landscape routines.
 

Guest Speaker - Xerces Ambassador & VA Master Naturalist, Rosalind Reilly.

This program is being co-hosted with “Go Native Brandermill.”

For more information or to register for this program, please write to:  
Janit @parkplanningsustainability.com

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Final description to come 
Wild Ones Greater Richmond Virginia Chapter will be tabling at this annual event hosted by the Henrico Master Gardener Association.  Admission is free.

Each year during this event, Master Gardeners sell plants from their gardens at discounted prices (including native plants), along with floral arrangements and gently used gardening items at the Garden Treasures table. The event also includes educational displays  and presentations from a range of sources, including master gardeners, master naturalists, and other informational exhibitors. Musical entertainment and a food truck (delicious stuff in 2024!) also are available. 

Chapter members are encouraged to attend this festival and, if you enjoy "talking native plants," to sign up for a shift at our exhibit table.  An email with signup links for upcoming volunteer opportunities will be sent to chapter members soon.  

A more detailed description of this event will be added when released by the event organizers. 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!