Events

All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

We are teaming up with the Connecticut Botanical Society (CBS) for a walk in this coastal preserve. The property consists of two meadows and hedgerows between the road and the cove, with mowed paths around each meadow for a total distance of just under a mile.  The preserve hosts many thicket nesting birds, shorebirds and waterfowl. 

Avalonia land steward Beth Sullivan has known this preserve for over 10 years. She started an iNaturalist project to inventory the plant communities and would love it if participants would contribute their observations.  As a CBS field trip,  the  list of all plant species identified will become part of the CBS's records of the state's flora.

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.  RAIN DATE IS AUGUST 10.  Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes to avoid poison ivy. Drinking water, sun protection and insect repellent are strongly recommended.  

Directions: From Rte 1 in Stonington, turn south onto Greenhaven Rd. Turn right In less than 200 ft onto Palmer Neck Rd toward the Barn Island boat launch. Continue 0.6 mi to 41°21’07.3″N 71°52’45.1″W. The preserve is on your right.

Parking: Park with care along the mowed shoulder of Palmer Neck Rd on the preserve side. A few cars can park beyond the far entrance and more can line up behind the curve marker sign. Beware of poison ivy along the stone wall. There are also a couple of small pull outs on the opposite side of the road for additional parking.

Leaders: Beth Sullivan  [email protected] or Lydia Pan  [email protected]

All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.

This annual open house by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station showcases the ongoing work by their scientists,  providing an opportunity for the public to engage directly with CAES scientists and get their plant and pest questions answered by technical experts. Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter will have an educational display together with other plant-related organizations under the big tent.  (Members are needed to help staff our display – to volunteer, contact [email protected])

A tour and discussion about two adjacent gardens developed on public land by the Cheshire Pollinator Pathway group with the option to visit their third site, not too far away.  Potluck or picnic lunch following the tour.

All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.

SAVE THE DATE!  We will be offering a selection of woody and herbaceous native plants for pre-ordering online.  Additional plants will be available for sale on site during pickup hours.  Times may be subject to change.

Many volunteers will be needed to prepare for and staff the sale.  We will send a link to sign up closer to the sale date.

SAVE THE DATE!  We will be offering a selection of woody and herbaceous native plants for pre-ordering online.  Additional plants will be available for sale on site during pickup hours.  Times may be subject to change.

Many volunteers will be needed to prepare for and staff the sale.  We will send a link to sign up closer to the sale date.

Details coming soon! 

The Hickories is a multi faceted farm, and their activities  include being a certified organic grower of vegetables,  fruits and flowers, and also pasture raised meats. They build biodiversity through offering restoration seeds from our Eco59 Region and is now home to the Northeast Seed Collective.  

We will have a tour and discussion with Dina Brewster for Wild Ones members only.

Participation limited to 30 people.  

Please consider carpooling as parking is limited.

SAVE THE DATE!  Our annual meeting of the chapter takes place during the last quarter of each year.  By moving the date up to October, we hope this will allow more members to attend.   The historic Dudley Farm provides a convenient and lovely setting for our event.  We will hold our potluck and business meeting on the main floor of the Munger Barn, rain or shine.  Check back for details and to sign up for the potluck when we get closer to the date.

All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.

Details coming soon! 

All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.

Smaller American Lawns Today, SALT, is a movement introduced in June of 1997 by Dr. William A. Niering, professor of botany at Connecticut College. The SALT mission is to decrease the size of lawns in America by restoring home grounds to more harmonious, productive, ecologically sound and naturalistic landscapes. SALT offers an alternative vision of the monocultured lawn. As Dr. Niering wrote, “There’s nothing wrong with dandelions, there’s something wrong with people.”

This annual conference is organized and hosted by Connecticut College Arboretum and sponsored in part by Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter.  Wild Ones members receive discounted registration.

SAVE THE DATE.  Information specific for the November 8, 2025 conference will be posted here when available.

Our 2024 Conference, “To mow or not to mow: Creating your home meadow” sold out.  

An archive of SALT conferences may be found at the link.

Details coming soon! 

All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.