Events

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

We are holding a seed sharing event to encourage the planting of seed-grown native species that strengthen local ecosystems and create climate-resilient landscapes. Bring native plant seeds to swap for different species to diversify your habitat plantings.  If you do not have seeds to exchange, you can still take home an assortment of seeds.  There will be displays and demonstrations of winter seed sowing in pots, and experienced native gardeners can help you select species that are suited to your growing conditions. 

This event is free and open to all.  Admission during the first hour (12 PM-1 PM) is restricted to individuals with seeds to swap; everyone is welcome to take some seeds after 1 PM.  

In case of hazardous driving conditions, cancellation will be posted to Dudley Farm and Mountain Laurel chapter websites by 12 PM the day prior (January 24th).

If you have seeds to share, please follow these guidelines to help our seed sharing event run as smoothly as possible!  If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help with this event, contact [email protected] .

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

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.

Botanist and forest ecologist Gail Reynolds will teach basic skills for tree identification in the classroom before leading us on a walk in the native plant collection to practice identifying trees.  Bring a hand lens, magnifying glass or magnifying app if you have them.  Also dress appropriately to go outdoors, including sturdy shoes.   We will meet in the Arboretum office's “Wet Lab” space.  

Free and open to the public, but registration is required due to class size limit.  THIS CLASS IS FULL.

Our wild herbaceous plants don’t all disappear come winter; many of them just dry up, leaving beautiful sculpted skeletons. Botanist Lauren Brown will show us how to identify as well as to appreciate the beauty of  common wildflowers, grasses and herbaceous "weeds" in the winter landscape. Lauren is the author of the field guide, Weeds and Wildflowers in Winter, (The Countryman Press, 2012) originally titled Weeds in Winter, (WW Norton)

Registration required as group size is limited. Contact Susan Kinsman, [email protected], for more information and to register. Parking is limited so carpooling is strongly encouraged.  Location subject to change in case of mowing.

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

Our meeting will begin at 10 AM with informal socializing over coffee, tea and light refreshments.  Dr. Marra’s talk will begin at 11, followed by Q&A.  Bring your own reusable cup or mug to make our event more sustainable. 

Dr. Robert Marra, PhD,  has expertise in plant pathology, mycology, fungal genetics, population biology, evolution, and molecular biology but focuses on forest pathology in his work at CAES. His  presentation will discuss tree diseases that threaten New England forests, both urban and natural. These include: Bretziella (formerly Ceratocystis) fagacearum, the oak-wilt fungus that has caused widespread loss of oaks and is spreading northward, Xylella fastidiosa, which is responsible for bacterial leaf scorch on a variety of deciduous hosts, particularly oaks, Caliciopsis canker of pines, “white pine needle disease complex” and beech leaf disease.  In each case, he will discuss the symptoms, the means of dispersal and spread, and, if applicable, the prognosis for treatment.  
This event will be free and open to the public.  

This meeting is free and open to the public,  and registration is not required.   We hope you can join us and take advantage of the opportunity to forge new connections with native plant enthusiasts you may not know.

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.

Invasive plants threaten biodiversity and degrade habitats for native wildlife. Learn what makes invasives so harmful, how to identify many common species and methods that have been employed to control their spread during this active talk and walk around Coogan Farm with Wild Ones President and habitat restoration volunteer Lydia Pan. 

This program is free of charge and is offered in partnership with the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.

Meet at the Avery Conference Room at Coogan Farm.

Advance registration is required.

Questions about this program?  Contact Lydia at [email protected]  

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

Our meeting will begin at 10 AM with an hour of social networking with the presentation by Ana Bermudez at 11 AM.

The presentation introduces participants to the fundamentals of northeast native orchid cultivation, including habitat requirements, propagation methods, and conservation principles.  Attendees will learn how to create and sustain orchid-friendly environments in their own landscapes.  

Instructor Ana Bermudez '25 is a botany major, environmental studies minor, and scholar in the Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment. Originally from Miami, Florida, Ana has worked with tropical orchids at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s micropropagation laboratory where she researched native lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium spp.). Using this knowledge, Ana has been creating a native orchid demonstration garden at the Connecticut College Arboretum.

Registration required.   COST: $10 (general public) or FREE for current members of the Connecticut College Arboretum or Wild Ones. 

Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter will host an educational display as part of this inaugural Arbor Day celebration of trees at the Connecticut College Arboretum.  Our table will provide information about the value of planting native trees and shrubs, particularly keystone species, and ways to incorporate them into home landscapes that are both beautiful, practical and functional from an ecosystem standpoint.  There will be free tours of three different Arboretum collections, all of which include mature native trees in designed or naturalistic landscape settings.  Stop by our table on Chapel Green and see displays by other partner organizations:  Bartlett Tree Experts, New London Trees and CT DEEP's Forestry Division.  See link for a complete schedule of tree-themed events and activities plus suggestions for parking.  

Informational tables from several groups concerned with conservation, native plants, clean water and wildlife.  Several of the attendees also gave presentations on the Bobcat reintroduction to CT and on desirable trees for planting in various situations.

A celebration of Lyme's  plants, animals, birds, pollinators and people.  Table stations to address composting, plastic pollution, energy efficiency, backyard chicken raising, wildlife on the CT River, beekeeping and local birds.

Wild Ones will  join Groton Conservation Advocates, the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District and scores of other local vendors at this family-friendly annual event that aims to educate and inspire attendees to live more sustainably and take meaningful action against climate change.  If you can help staff our information table and inspire people to take action in a positive way by gardening with native plants and  turning their yards into welcoming havens for wildlife, contact Lydia at [email protected].

(More details about the day’s activities and events will be forthcoming).

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

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.

For access to Steve's presentation and instructions for the construction and care of moss container gardens, click the “READ MORE” button.

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.

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/ 

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.