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 meeting is free and open to the public.  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.

POST-MEETING NOTE:   Click "READ MORE"  to view a copy of Dr. Marra's  presentation slides.  

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.

EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO FALLEN TREES.

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/ 

Join Aspetuck Land Trust and Wild Ones as we welcome Eva Monheim on Friday, May 30th for a Lunch & Learn zoom webinar.

A food forest, also known as an edible forest garden, is a system of intentionally created, self-sustaining ecosystems that provide food and other resources for humans and wildlife. In essence, it's a garden that mimics a natural forest, with different layers of plants, including trees, shrubs, ground cover, and vines, all working together to create a balanced and productive environment.

By looking at USDA maps for plant selection we can help to enhance the migratory flyway for birds and other animals.

Eva will help us to take a deep dive in plant selection that you might never have thought about when planting your garden and selecting plants.

Wild Ones and Aspetuck Members can register for free.

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, land management practices, and site appropriate native plants.  As a bonus, the collection of mountain laurels may be in bloom by then.

Wild Ones will join Highstead, Menunkatuck Audubon, and CPEN (Community, Placemaking Engagement Network) as they celebrate All Things Pollinator with educational booths, kids’ activities, giveaways, and a HUGE sale of native plants from the UrbanScapes nursery.  Displays and activities will also be located at 244 Shelton Street (SW corner of Shelton and Hazel).  Street parking available.

Exhibitors will include:
Highstead — Ecotype Project, Sowing Seeds and Transplanting
CT-NOFA —Eco-region 59, Ecotype Project, Native ecotype seed, Food and Pollinator Connection
Pollinator Pathways — Pollinator Pathways in CT
Menunkatuck Audubon — Bird friendly native plants
Audubon Connecticut — Bird friendly native plants
Wild Ones — Landscaping with natives to support biodiversity
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation - Pollinator conservation

Rain date is Sunday, June 15 @ 1-4 PM.

Learn about different types of ferns and their distinguishing characteristics.  After an introduction to this ancient  family of vascular plants, we will take a walk in Connecticut College Arboretum Native Plant Collection to see many examples. Our 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 an expert on the evolution of ferns and lycophytes, and the author of a new field guide:  Ferns, Spikemosses, Clubmosses and Quillworts of Eastern North America (2024, Princeton University Press).  https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691219455/ferns-spikemosses-clubmosses-and-quillworts-of-eastern-north-america?srsltid=AfmBOopwbXaBRvttDqxoDT1yRdloQU8b8ejKCieg22-h6bwOsotYFZPR

The program is free but space is limited.  

THIS PROGRAM IS FULL BUT YOU CAN USE THE REGISTRATION BUTTON TO BE ADDED TO A WAIT LIST.  WE WILL NOTIFY YOU IF SPACE BECOMES AVAILABLE.

You can access a handout on fern basics and some common Connecticut ferns by Dr. Sessa:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vNZH4aYa0afY3AQ5KVJ1MYU4jHQLkpIp/view?usp=sharing 

Transform your outdoor space with a beautiful ecosystem in a container that supports wildlife, requires minimal maintenance and will thrive in your unique environment.

Join Wild Ones and Urbanscapes Native Plant Nursery for a hands-on workshop to create a long-lived container garden for wildlife using locally sourced plants native to Ecoregion 59.

We will provide hands-on instruction for successfully combining native plants with ecosystem benefits for the unique conditions where they will live. We will have plants available for shady spots as well as sunny spots.

Each participant will receive guidance with selecting plant combinations and creating a vibrant, perennial container garden uniquely native to Ecoregion 59.

Bring a container to the workshop or select plants to install at home.  If you don't have a container to bring, we can provide you with a simple one.

Registration includes:

– Expert guidance selecting and arranging native plants in containers.

– Five handpicked native plants tailored to your location and goals.

Bring your own container to plant or select plants to install at home

Additional plants and potting soil will be available for purchase.

Cost is $40 per person/family/container.  Limited to 10 registrants.   

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.

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.