Events

Events Archive: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events

May 2025

May
10

Gardening with Moss, Ferns and their Cronies in Stony New England Landscapes

Saturday, May 10th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Connecticut College Arboretum (Black Box Theater), 33 Gallows Ln, CT, 06375 Map

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.

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May
10

Woodland Ephemerals Walk

Saturday, May 10th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Dee's garden, Cornwall, CT, 06796 Map

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.

May
31

Tour Highstead 100+ Acres Preserve and Education Center

Saturday, May 31st, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Highstead, 127 Lonetown Rd, Redding, CT, 06896 Map

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.

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June 2025

Jun
2

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, June 2nd, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

Jun
21

Identifying Ferns

Saturday, June 21st, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

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Jun
28

Worskshop: Container Gardening with Native Plants

Saturday, June 28th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Urbanscapes Native Plant Nursery, 133 Hazel St, New Haven, CT, 06511 Map

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.

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July 2025

Jul
7

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, July 7th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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

Aug
4

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, August 4th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

Aug
16

Cheshire Garden Tour and Possible Potluck lunch

Saturday, August 16th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Lock 12 Historical Park, 487 N Brooksvale Rd, Cheshire, CT, 06410 Map

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

Sep
1

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, September 1st, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

Sep
12

Fall Native Plant Sale Pick-up and On-site Sale

Friday, September 12th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

Sep
13

Fall Native Plant Sale Pick-up and On-site Sale

Saturday, September 13th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

Sep
18

September Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

Sep
20

Tour and Talk of The Hickories Farm and Eco59 Seed Project Members Only

Saturday, September 20th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
The Hickories, 136 Lounsbury Rd, Ridgefield, CT, 06877 Map

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

Oct
6

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, October 6th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

Oct
16

October Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, October 16th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

November 2025

Nov
3

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, November 3rd, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.

Nov
8

Smaller American Lawns Today (SALT) Conference

Saturday, November 8th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave Pkwy, New London, CT, 06320 Map

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.

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Nov
20

November Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, November 20th, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

December 2025

Dec
1

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, December 1st, 2025
to (Eastern Time)
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.