Events Archive: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events
May 2025
Gardening with Moss, Ferns and their Cronies in Stony New England Landscapes
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Social Program/Speaker Presentation Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Moss gardening has been popular in Asia for millenia, but if you Google “moss” you will mostly find recommendations on the best ways to kill it! Steve believes that moss can be an element of almost any garden or landscape and will talk about practical aspects of moss gardening with how-to’s and don’t-do’s. He will also give some consideration to lichen, ferns and other lower vascular plants that feel comfortable in moss-friendly environments.
Prior to the program, we hope you will join us for an hour of social networking in the lobby of 33 Gallows Lane. The featured presentation by Advanced Master Gardener Steve Colgan will begin at 11 AM.
While this program is free and open to the public, registration is requested.
Woodland Ephemerals Walk
Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Home/Private Garden Tour Habitat Installation/Maintenance
Dee Salomon (The Ungardener) will take us on a guided tour of her woodland spring ephemeral garden. Wear good walking shoes as there will be some uneven and sloping terrain, particularly if we step off the paths to get a closer view of certain plants. Please RSVP to Dee directly at [email protected] as group size will be limited. Carpooling is encouraged.
Tour Highstead 100+ Acres Preserve and Education Center
Public Welcome Free Event Public Garden Tour Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Highstead comprises more than 100 acres of largely unmanaged woodland and wetland habitat as well as managed fields and meadows. This diverse landscape is connected by a 1.5-mile trail that reveals the natural and human forces that shape it.
We will go on a guided walk and tour, learning about the diverse habitats and site appropriate native plants. They have a Mt. Laurel area that may be in bloom then.
June 2025
Board Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Board Meeting
All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.
Identifying Ferns
Buck Lodge, Connecticut College Arboretum, 830 Williams St, New London, CT, 06320 Map
Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Learn about different types of ferns and their distinguishing characteristics. Followed by a walk in Connecticut College Arboretum Native Plant Collection to see examples.
Talk and walk will be led by Emily B. Sessa, Ph.D., the Patricia K. Holmgren Director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at The New York Botanical Garden. Dr. Sessa is the author of a new field guide: Ferns, Spikemosses, Clubmosses and Quillworts of Eastern North America (2024, Princeton University Press).
Program limited to 25 participants. A registration link will be posted soon.
Worskshop: Container Gardening with Native Plants
Paid Event Public Welcome Family-Friendly Registration Required Hands-On/How-To Workshop
Whether or not you have space for a garden, you can add more native plants to your surroundings by growing in containers. After a short workshop/demonstration to show you how to plant container gardens, participants can get help selecting plants based on their height, bloom season and other desired traits. Bring your own container (at least 20 inches diameter) or purchase one at the workshop. A materials fee will cover the cost of plants and potting mix for one container garden. Participants will have the option to purchase additional plants.
More details and a registration link are forthcoming.
July 2025
Board Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Board Meeting
All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.
August 2025
Board Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Board Meeting
All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.
Cheshire Garden Tour and Possible Potluck lunch
Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Chapter Social Program/Speaker Presentation Public Garden Tour Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
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.
September 2025
Board Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Board Meeting
All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.
Fall Native Plant Sale Pick-up and On-site Sale
Connecticut College Arboretum Center for Education and Resarch (ACER), 33 Gallows Ln, CT, 06375 Map
Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Public Restroom Free Public Parking
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.
Fall Native Plant Sale Pick-up and On-site Sale
Connecticut College Arboretum Center for Education and Resarch (ACER), 33 Gallows Ln, CT, 06375 Map
Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Public Restroom Free Public Parking
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.
September Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
Tour and Talk of The Hickories Farm and Eco59 Seed Project Members Only
Members Only Registration Required Free Event Public Garden Tour
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.
October 2025
Board Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Board Meeting
All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.
October Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
November 2025
Board Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Board Meeting
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) Conference
Paid Event Public Welcome Registration Required Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
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.
November Wild Ones National Webinar
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
Details coming soon!
December 2025
Board Meeting Members Only
Online/Virtual
Members Only Chapter Board Meeting
All members are welcome at chapter Board business meetings. Email chapter in advance to receive Zoom link if you wish to attend.