Events

Events Archive: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | Upcoming Events

January 2026

Jan
9

Board Strategic Planning Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Friday, January 9th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
First Church of Christ, East Haddam, 499 Town St, East Haddam, CT, 06423 Map

Members Only Chapter Board Meeting

Planning for the path forward for the Chapter

Jan
17

Propagating Native Plants From Seed

This event has ended
Saturday, January 17th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Brookside Farm Museum , 33 Society Rd, East Lyme, CT, 06357 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Registration Required Free Event Hands-On/How-To Workshop Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Including native plants in your garden is an important way to provide food and habitat for pollinators.  You can expand your native plantings inexpensively by growing them yourself from seed.  In this workshop, we’ll discuss the germination requirements for different species and get you fully prepared for next season. You will be able to take home a plastic milk jug planter filled with a native seed selection to stratify over the winter and germinate in the spring. Proper after care of young seedlings will also be shared. Bring a one-gallon plastic milk jug if you have one.

Your instructor will be Jim Sirch, a trained Naturalist and President of the Connecticut Horticultural Society.  He recently retired from the Yale Peabody Museum. Jim is a UConn Master Gardener and board member of his local land trust and the Mountain Laurel chapter of Wild Ones. As a naturalist, he brings a deep understanding of geology, plants and wildlife and how they interact within a particular ecosystem. Jim is passionate about helping others decrease their lawn and re-wild their yard. He co-founded a native plant seed library at his local public library. Jim also authors a nature blog called Beyond Your Back Door at www.beyondyourbackdoor.com.

The program will be held in the Farmhouse.  Registration is required since space is limited.

Read More

Jan
21

Free National Webinar: "Intergenerational Care for Land and Community: A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer and Esther Bonney"

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Wednesday, January 21st, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

In this special collaboration, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plant, joins youth leader and Nurture Natives founder Esther Bonney for an intergenerational conversation about belonging, reciprocity, and native plant action. 

Together, they will explore questions such as:

How do we create opportunities for young people to have a voice and feel empowered, even when they are not homeowners or decision makers?What kinds of relationships and mentorships help people stay engaged in native plant work over decades?Why do stories, shared practices, and community invitations matter just as much as plant lists?

Robin and Esther will reflect on what invites people into this work, what keeps them here, and what elders and youth have to teach each other.

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Jan
24

Sharing an Abundance of Native Seeds

This event has ended
Saturday, January 24th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd, Guilford, CT, 06437 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Hands-On/How-To Workshop Seed/Plant Share Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Winter is the best season for native seed starting so we are sharing seeds 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.  It is not necessary to bring seeds to take seeds, but for those not contributing seeds, we may limit the number of packets you can take.   There will be informational displays and demonstrations of winter seed sowing in milk jugs or pots.  Experienced native gardeners can help you select species that are suited to your growing conditions.  

This event is free and open to all.  Registration is not required.  If you are bringing seeds to share, we encourage you to come early to put them out.  In case of bad weather or hazardous driving conditions, cancellation will be posted to Dudley Farm and Mountain Laurel chapter websites by 12 PM the day prior (January 23rd).  

Unless you have large amounts of bulk seed, we prefer you prepackage your seeds, particularly small and tiny seeds.  Please see our seed sharing guidelines for how to package and label different seeds.  

DIRECTIONS:  Dudley Farm, 2351 Durham Rd, Guilford, is on the northbound (east) side of Rte 77 (Durham Rd) just north of the junction with Rte 80.  Our event will be held on the main floor of the Munger Barn, #17 on the Farm Map

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February 2026

Feb
9

Board Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Monday, February 9th, 2026
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.

Feb
18

Free National Webinar: From Wasteland to Wonder with Basil Camu

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Our upcoming webinar with Basil Camu explores practical, evidence based ways to heal suburban and urban landscapes by working with trees, soil, and natural systems, drawing on real world practices from Leaf & Limb and community centered models for restoring life where we live, work, and play.!  

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March 2026

Mar
2

Panel Discussion with Master Arborists on How to Care for Our Trees

This event has ended
Monday, March 2nd, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Audubon Birdcraft Museum, 314 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Master Arborists will do a brief discussion on tree health, followed by a moderated question and answer session. 

Chris Teter is a Board Certified Master Arborist providing education for tree longevity including advice on ornamental and structural pruning, tree recommendations, and native plant education. He is an Arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts.

Dan Dalton is a Board Certified Master Arborist with 40 years of experience and a professor of horticulture who lectures on tree-related topics throughout the Northeast. He is a Senior Arborist at Northeast Horticultural Services. He offers advice on organic lawn care, tree disease treatment, and reminds you to look up!

Mar
9

Board Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Monday, March 9th, 2026
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.

Mar
11

Homegrown National Park with Doug Tallamy

This event has ended
Wednesday, March 11th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
West Hartford Conference Center, 50 S Main St, West Hartford, CT, 06107 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains

Dr. Doug Tallamy is an entomologist, conservationist, and professor at the University of Delaware, whose work has transformed our understanding of the relationship between native plants and wildlife. His research and books, including Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope, have inspired millions to see their own yards as part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis. Driven by the belief that everyone can play a role, Doug co-founded Homegrown National Park to encourage people to plant natives in the spaces they care for. His vision is simple: when we all take part, we create the connected habitats that life depends on.

Our parks, preserves, and remaining wildlands – no matter how grand in scale – are too small and separated from one another to sustain the native trees, plants, insects, and animals on which our ecosystems depend. We can fix this problem by practicing conservation outside of wildlands, where we live, work, shop, farm, and ranch. Thus, the concept for Homegrown National Park: a national challenge to create diverse ecosystems in our yards, communities, farms, and surrounding lands by reducing lawn, planting native, and removing invasives. If many people make small changes, we can restore healthy ecological networks and weather the changes ahead.

This program is free but registration is required.  

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Mar
18

Free National Webinar: Rethinking Horticulture with Real Ecology presented by Joey Santore

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Wednesday, March 18th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

Read More

Mar
24

Rethink Foundation Gardens for a Changing World

This event has ended
Tuesday, March 24th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Foundation gardens became popular about a century ago, but times have changed. Let’s re-imagine this planting area, a place residents see every day. We'll examine the design challenges posed by the foundation areas around homes and other buildings and review native plants that fit into that highly visible setting. In addition, we'll consider the surprising, hidden benefits of updated foundation gardens.

Kathy Connolly is a landscape designer who specializes in naturalized designs, low-impact landscape techniques, and native plants. In addition to her design projects, she gives talks, tours, and workshops. She has received several awards for her communications efforts on landscapes, plants, and land care. Kathy has a master’s degree from the Conway Graduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning and Design.  Kathy has  completed the Advanced Master Gardener Program and is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional.

This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.  

You must REGISTER to receive the Zoom link.

Click READ MORE for Kathy's website.  

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April 2026

Apr
11

Spring Native Seed Sowing Workshop

This event has ended
Saturday, April 11th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, 109 Pequotsepos Rd, Stonington, CT, 06355 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Registration Required Free Event Hands-On/How-To Workshop Public Restroom Free Public Parking

Adding native plants to your yard supports pollinators and other wildlife and starting from seed is an economical way to diversify your garden.  While many native seeds need to experience weeks to months of winter conditions before germinating,  a subset of native seeds do not require any special pretreatment to sprout this spring, including such favorites as buttonbush, shrubby St. John's-wort, bee balms, mountain mints and native bluestem grasses.  Bring planting containers like 1-gallon milk jugs or pots that are approximately 4 -6 inches wide and deep.  Seeds, potting medium and labels will be provided.  Participants will take home multiple pots of seeds with instructions for aftercare and planting into the garden.  

Instructor: Lydia Pan, Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter.

This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.  Offered in partnership with the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.  

Apr
13

Board Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Monday, April 13th, 2026
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.

Apr
18

Arbor Day and Open House at Connecticut College Arboretum

This event has ended
Saturday, April 18th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Connecticut College Arboretum, 33 Gallows Ln, New London, CT, 06320 Map

Public Welcome Free Event

For the love of trees!  

Arboretum tours and educational programs for the whole family.

Tree seedling giveaway (while supplies last).  

Free and open to the public (no registration required).

Wild Ones will be there!

Read More

Apr
21

Mountain Laurel Chapter Spring Garden Chat Members Only

This event has ended
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Members Only Registration Required Free Event Hands-On/How-To Workshop

This session is for member Q&A about native plants, habitat gardening, and issues you have encountered with specific garden projects.   Novice and veteran native gardeners are welcome.  While not required, you may submit questions in advance to [email protected].  A short discussion of seasonal topics will be moderated by Gail Reynolds, assisted by Lydia Pan and Jim Sirch, who will then do their best to answer all your questions – and if they can’t, perhaps another attendee can!  This program is for members only. 

Apr
25

2026 Groton Earth Day Expo

This event has ended
Saturday, April 25th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Rd, Groton, CT, 06340 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Youth Engagement Free Event Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

The mission of this event is to provide community members the education and resources to live more sustainably.  The Mountain Laurel Chapter will have an educational table to help connect people and native plants for a healthier planet and encourage landscaping with   native plants to support biodiversity.

This is a family-friendly event that gets a lot of traffic!   We will have an interactive activity at our table to promote interest and engagement,

VOLUNTEERS  ARE NEEDED.  Contact Lydia [email protected] if interested in helping.

Apr
28

"Free National Webinar: What Is Wild and Why It Matters" presented by Rick Darke

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Tuesday, April 28th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Read More

May 2026

May
2

Bioblitz at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

This event has ended
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, 109 Pequotsepos Rd, Stonington, CT, 06355 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

Join DPNC to find and identify as many species as possible throughout our trails with the help of iNaturalist! We’ll walk our trails with experts on birds, fungi, reptiiles and amphibians, and plants. See the schedule below and come for one, some, or all!

Birds: 8 AM–10 AM 

Fungi: 10 AM–12 PM 

Reptiles & Amphibians: 12 pm - 2 pm 

Plants: 2 PM–4 PM

Meet at DPNC. Free to attend.

Read More

May
3

EcoFest

This event has ended
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Lachat Town Farm

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

The town of Weston and the Lachat Town Farm are hosting an Earth Day  event called Eco Fest.

This is a family friendly event with live music, food trucks, farm animals and environmental organizations and businesses display information and products.

Wild Ones, Aspetuck Land Trust, Fairfield Audobon and others will be there.

No registration or fee, just stop by.

May
7

Turn Your Garden into Habitat with Native Plants

This event has ended
Thursday, May 7th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens, 51 Brookdale Rd, Stamford, CT, 06903 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Program/Speaker Presentation Public Restroom Free Public Parking

How can our own yards become part of the solution to restoring natural systems? In this engaging evening talk, Lydia Pan (President, Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter) will explore how incorporating native plants into our landscapes can support biodiversity and provide essential food and shelter for wildlife.

Beyond simply choosing native species, this presentation will offer guidance on selecting the right plants for the right place, along with key landscape features and management practices that help create a thriving, ecologically rich habitat garden.  

Join us for an inspiring and practical look at how your garden can become a meaningful part of a healthier ecosystem.  

Open to the public:  $0 Bartlett Arboretum members | $10 non-members.

Click “Read More" for additional information and registration links.

Read More

May
11

Board Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Monday, May 11th, 2026
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.

May
16

Strategies for Invasive Species Management and Habitat Restoration

This event has ended
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Coogan Farm Nature & Heritage Center, 162 Greenmanville Ave, Stonington, CT, 06355 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Group Tour Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

Invasive plants threaten biodiversity and degrade habitats for native wildlife.  Learn what makes invasives harmful, how to recognize species common to our area, and what strategies homeowners can use to control or eliminate these noxious weeds on their own property.  After a short introductory talk, we will walk around Coogan Farm to see and discuss how selected sites are being managed to replace invasive-dominated landscapes with diverse native plant communities to improve habitat for wildlife and humans alike.

Your instructor is Lydia Pan, who leads a team of habitat restoration volunteers at Coogan Farm.  Meet outside the Avery Farmhouse, lower level.

This program is free and open to the public.  Registration is requested since group size will be limited.  Offered in partnership with the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.  

May
23

Mountain Laurel Chapter 20th Anniversary Celebration with The Extraordinary Caterpillar

This event has ended
Saturday, May 23rd, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Connecticut College Arboretum, 33 Gallows Ln, New London, CT, 06320 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Chapter Social Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

The Mountain Laurel was the first Wild Ones chapter in New England, chartered in May 2006.  Join us to celebrate our 20th anniversary and reflect upon how Wild Ones and the ecological gardening movement have evolved over the past two decades.  We hope that many of the founding members will attend and share their memories and stories of the early days of Wild Ones in Connecticut.  In addition to socializing and light refreshments, we’ll enjoy viewing “The Extraordinary Caterpillar,”  a new documentary film about these amazing creatures, their vital role in nature and what is needed to ensure their survival. 

At the “READ MORE” link, you can find an article by chapter co-founder Kathy Dame, discussing the connections between the late Professor William Niering's S.A.L.T. (Smaller American Lawns Today) initiative and the founding of the Mountain Laurel Chapter. 

The public is invited to this free event.  Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Read More

May
27

Walking and Birding Tour of Allens Meadow by Restorer Joe Bear

This event has ended
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Allens Meadow

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Registration Required Free Event Public Garden Tour Wheelchair Accessible Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

Joe Bear was determined to turn a one acre plot on town community fields from mugwort to a pollinator meadow.  He had been birding in the area for 20 years and noticed the rapid decline of bird species. He is over four years into the conversion and we will get to hear how he did it, and see the life he has brought back to a neglected area.

The meadow won an award last year for most bird species seen. Link to article here

https://goodmorningwilton.com/connecticut-birding-community-gardens-challenge-wilton-allens-meadow/

Read More

May
30

Tour of a Native Garden Transition at a home in Ridgefield

This event has ended
Saturday, May 30th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Private home

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Registration Required Free Event Home/Private Garden Tour

Member Ellen Rockett is welcoming members to see her beautiful property and discuss the issues and successes of her transitioning her property to native plants. 

Don't miss this opportunity to get inspired, to ask questions and learn from someone who has been doing this work for years.

June 2026

Jun
8

Board Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Monday, June 8th, 2026
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
11

Tour Audubon's Smith Richardson Preserve with Conservation Manager Stefan Martin

This event has ended
Thursday, June 11th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Smith Richardson Wildlife Preserve, 1 Sasco Creek Rd, Westport, CT, 06880 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

Stefan Martin, Conservation Manager of CT Audubon, will lead us on a tour of this incredible restoration effort of 36 acres of invasives being transformed into a wildlife oasis. Larry Weaner is consulting on management practice of such a large parcel restoration.

Until roughly 2016, the section was a thicket of weeds and invasive shrubs and vines, including barberry, porcelain berry, bittersweet, and multiflora rose. They have installed over 3,000 native trees, shrubs and plants. Four acres are converting to meadows.

Dont miss this opportunity to learn from Stefan.

Jun
13

Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Plants in Greenfield Hill, Fairfield on 4+ acres of mostly native plants

This event has ended
Saturday, June 13th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Private residence

Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Hands-On/How-To Workshop Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

This should be an informative walk and talk on how to use the plants in our yards to boost our health and to feed us as humans have done for millenia. 

 Amelia South, owner,  NO-BS Herbalist, will lead us on a Foraging Walk looking for both edible and medicinal plants.  She has over 15 years of experience identifying and using the plants on our property for overall health.

 Depending on what she finds, we will come into the kitchen and she will show us how to make something to eat and taste, and/or make medicine following the walk.  Nibbles and beverages to be served.

Jun
18

Digging Deeper into Ecological Horticulture with Uli Lorimer - CANCELLED

This event has ended
Thursday, June 18th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Program/Speaker Presentation

This program has been CANCELLED by the speaker due to a family emergency.  
CT Horticultural Society will try to reschedule Uli's webinar for this fall.

***********************************************************************************************

This CT Horticultural Society Speaker Event was made possible through the generosity of the Lois and Herb Isaacson Endowed Lecture fund and the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones.

What is Ecological Horticulture? What distinguishes it from mainstream horticulture? Why is genetic diversity important?  Ecological Horticulture takes a different approach from traditional gardening by focusing on nature-friendly principles. This talk will dive into key ideas and challenge common gardening practices. For example: Why is genetic diversity essential? Can I use cultivated versions of native plants? How should climate change influence my gardening choices? These questions and more will guide a discussion on creating and caring for gardens in harmony with the environment.

Uli Lorimer serves as the Director of Horticulture for the Native Plant Trust, a leading non-profit dedicated to preserving the native flora of the Northeastern United States. In this role, he oversees the acclaimed Garden in the Woods in Framingham and Nasami Farm in Western Massachusetts, which focuses on native plant propagation and research. Uli’s impressive career includes positions at the National Arboretum, Wave Hill, and as the Curator of Native Plants at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. A lifelong enthusiast of plants and biodiversity, Uli continues to study the region’s ecosystems, collect seeds from the wild, and introduce new plants to collections.

He is also a prolific author and speaker, well-known to audiences across the horticultural community. His publications include Tough Natives for Tough Places and A Native Plant Reader. His latest work, The Northeast Native Plant Primer, reflects his deep commitment to native plants and their ecological value. With a science-based approach and a passion for biodiversity, Uli offers invaluable insights into selecting plants that maximize the ecological impact of our gardens while celebrating the beauty of native flora.

This event is free for CT Horticultural Society and Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter members, $10 for non-members.  CT Hort members and the general public should register at  CT Hort Events:  Digging Deeper.  Mountain Laurel Chapter members SAVE THE DATE – you will receive the Zoom link for free on or around June 1.   DO NOT REGISTER at the CT Hort website or you will have to pay the non-member fee!

Jun
25

Make a Mosquito Bucket---Pests Out, Pollinators In!

This event has ended
Thursday, June 25th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Wakeman Town Farm, 134 Cross Hwy, Westport, CT, 06880 Map

Paid Event Public Welcome Family-Friendly Youth Engagement Registration Required Hands-On/How-To Workshop Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

A collaboration of Wakeman Town Farm, Sustainable Westport, Wild Ones, & Pollinator Pathway

Discover how to create beauty and comfort in your yard without relying on poisonous pesticides. There is a simpler, safer way than battling against nature and spraying harsh chemicals. We will equip you with natural strategies to deter pests, support local pollinators, and build resilient, healthy soil. Participants will leave with their very own Mosquito Bucket — a safe, affordable and targeted approach to control mosquitoes at the source.  

PLEASE NOTE:  Click on the registration link to purchase event tickets AND pre-order Mosquito Bucket Kits by June 23rd.  

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July 2026

Jul
13

Board Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Monday, July 13th, 2026
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.

Jul
14

Mountain Laurel Chapter Summer Garden Chat Members Only

This event has ended
Tuesday, July 14th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Members Only Limited Access Recording Registration Required Free Event Chapter Social

Join us to chat informally about seasonal issues and other questions you have about growing native plants, habitat gardening, and any problems you have encountered.   All native gardeners – novice or veteran - are welcome.  While not required, questions or topics of interest may be submitted in advance via email to [email protected] to give us time to research the answers.   Q&A will be moderated by one or more chapter leaders, focusing on seasonally relevant topics, but any native gardening question is fair game.  We will do our best to answer  your questions – and if we can’t, perhaps another attendee can!  

This program is for members only.   Register to receive the zoom link.  

Jul
22

Free National Webinar: How to Talk to Your Neighbors (and Your HOA) About Your Garden with Lorraine Johnson

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

Read More

August 2026

Aug
5

116th Plant Science Day (CAES)

This event has ended
Wednesday, August 5th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Lockwood Farm

Volunteers Needed Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

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. For details  about  this year's Plant Science Day program, click READ MORE.  

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.  No prior experience needed.   Sign up for a 2-hour shift, using the REGISTER link.

Read More

Aug
10

Board Meeting Members Only

This event has ended
Monday, August 10th, 2026
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
12

Native Plant Home Demonstration Garden

This event has ended
Wednesday, August 12th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Arboretum Center for Education and Research, 33 Gallows Ln, New London, CT, 06320 Map

Public Welcome Free Event Public Garden Tour Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity

Join Arboretum Horticulturist, Anna Fialkoff, on a short walk around the Native Plant Demonstration Garden to learn about the showcased trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants and how you can incorporate them in your own home landscape. Anna will provide insights from their work-in-progress gardens, how they are tackling preparation and planting of each area, and will highlight many species that will be available at the upcoming plant sale this September.   In conjunction with the plant sale, this program is held in partnership with the  Connecticut College Arboretum.

Meet at 33 Gallows Lane, New London. Parking is available on site.

Free and open to the public.  Space is limited, registration requested. 

Aug
15

Member Garden Visit: Suburban Yard to Habitat Conversion in Mystic Members Only

Saturday, August 15th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)

Members Only Registration Required Free Event Home/Private Garden Tour

Take a close-up look at a yard that is for both people and wildlife.  Lydia and Mark have been gradually replacing lawn areas with a diverse array of plants since the mid-1990's.  We became committed to adding natives after joining Wild Ones, many grown from seed by Lydia.   Small trees, native shrub borders, rain gardens, “soft landings” and other perennial beds have been planted a little at a time.  Last fall we had a small rain-fed pond installed as the centerpiece of a miniature wetland.  Hear about our successes, failures and ongoing challenges (mostly 4-legged). We welcome your ideas for what to do with areas still “in progress”!  

Register for directions.  Group size will be limited.  
Rain date is Sunday, August 16.

Register

Aug
19

Free National Webinar- The Ecology of Home: Creating Habitat That Works with Shaun McCoshum

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Wednesday, August 19th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Register Read More

Aug
23

Tour of Spicebush Swamp Park Ecological Restoration Project

Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Spicebush Swamp Park, 230 Mountain Rd, West Hartford, CT, 06107 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike Lots of Physical Activity

In 1962, Spicebush Swamp Park was West Hartford’s first park to be set aside as a natural area for nature study and walking, and as a 33-acre outdoor classroom for schools to use. Later, in 1968, McGovern Pond was created in the park by excavating an area of approximately one acre.  The West Hartford Garden Club's Civic Project Committee has made the restoration and preservation of Spicebush Swamp Park its key long-term ecological project. In 2020, the garden club upgraded a rundown garden near the park sign with native pollinator plantings. During 2020 and 2021, that work continued. Beginning in 2022, an area further inside the property was restored through the removal of invasive plants and installation of a bird sanctuary garden designed with native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials, all with the help of Master Gardeners and volunteers from local Sierra Club and other community and municipal groups. A group has continued to meet for about 2 hours most weeks throughout the year at Spicebush, and periodically on weekend dates, to identify and tag remnant native plants, remove invasive plants, manage the pollinator and bird sanctuary gardens, install new native plantings, and set priorities for the future. A new wet meadow, funded in part by a Hartford Audubon Society grant, will be installed this fall. We hope to install interpretive educational signage and to improve plant labeling. The terrain is uneven in places, the area is subject to flooding, the invasives are formidable, and it is heavy work. However, we enjoy the birds, the insects, the native flora, and the beauty of this natural setting.  The walk will be led by Beth Ann Loveland Sennett.  

A small parking lot is located just north of the intersection of Mountain Road with Farmington Avenue.  

Free and open to the public.  Registration is requested to aid planning.

Questions?  Contact Beth Ann Loveland Sennett by text (860-729-4150) or email ([email protected])

Register

September 2026

Sep
6

Pollinator Party at Eco Park

Sunday, September 6th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
West Haven Boardwalk , 1 Palace St, West Haven, CT, 06516 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Drinking Fountains

One in a series of talks sponsored by the City of West Haven and the West Haven and Trust at the newly-created “Eco Park.”  This talk, with Juliana Barrett and Maggie Cozens, from Connecticut Sea Grant, will focus on pollinators .

Please note that, although this is a free event open to the public, non-residents of West Haven have to pay to park in the beach parking lots.

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Sep
14

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, September 14th, 2026
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
16

Free National Webinar- From Lawn to Meadow with Sara Weaner Cooper

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Wednesday, September 16th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

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Sep
17

The Pollinator Victory Garden with Author Kim Eierman (Rescheduled)

Thursday, September 17th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Audobon Birdcraft Sanctuary and Museum, 314 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains

Kim Eierman is the founder of EcoBeneficial LLC, an eco landscape design company. She is also a teacher at the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Native Plant Center, and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

In addition, she is the author of the book “The Pollinator Victory Garden-Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening; Attract and Support Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, Bats and Other Pollinators”

Ms. Eierman is an engaging and knowledgeable speaker. She loves questions, so bring them on!

She will have her book for sale and is happy to sign it for you. 

It is sure to be an informative and lively evening. 

Register

Sep
18

Fall Native Plant Sale (Day 1)

Friday, September 18th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Connecticut College Arboretum, 33 Gallows Ln, New London, CT, 06320 Map

Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains

This is DAY 1 of our annual plant sale pre-order pickup and walk-in sale.   Pickup times are tentative and subject to change.  More information coming soon.  

Contact [email protected] if there are specific native plants you are interested in purchasing this year. 

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Sep
19

Fall Native Plant Sale (Day 2)

Saturday, September 19th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Connecticut College Arboretum, 33 Gallows Ln, New London, CT, 06320 Map

Public Welcome Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains

SAVE THE DATE - DAY 2 of our annual plant sale pre-order pickup and walk-in sale.  Pickup times are tentative and subject to change.  More information coming soon.  

Contact [email protected] if there are specific native plants you are interested in purchasing this year.

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October 2026

Oct
3

Mountain Laurel Chapter Annual Members Meeting Members Only

Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Whitneyville Cultural Commons, 1253 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT, 06517 Map

Members Only Chapter Meeting Public Restroom Free Public Parking

SAVE THE DATE for our annual meeting with potluck lunch, year in review and speaker program.  More info to come.  Start/end times are tentative and subject to change.

Oct
4

Native Plants and Building Your Home Garden

Sunday, October 4th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
West Haven Boardwalk, 1 Palace St, West Haven, CT, 06516 Map

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Drinking Fountains

The last in a series of presentations sponsored by the City of West Haven and the West Haven Land Trust, this talk with Laura Schwanof, Landscape Architect & Ecological Practice Leader, will focus on building your own garden with native plants.

Please note that, although the event is free and open to the public, non-residents of West Haven will have to pay to park in the beach parking lots.

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Oct
12

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, October 12th, 2026
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
15

Digging Deeper into Ecological Horticulture with Uli Lorimer - NEW DATE

Thursday, October 15th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Program/Speaker Presentation

CT Horticultural Society has rescheduled Uli's webinar that had originally been planned for last June.

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This CT Horticultural Society Speaker Event was made possible through the generosity of the Lois and Herb Isaacson Endowed Lecture fund and the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones.

What is Ecological Horticulture? What distinguishes it from mainstream horticulture? Why is genetic diversity important?  Ecological Horticulture takes a different approach from traditional gardening by focusing on nature-friendly principles. This talk will dive into key ideas and challenge common gardening practices. For example: Why is genetic diversity essential? Can I use cultivated versions of native plants? How should climate change influence my gardening choices? These questions and more will guide a discussion on creating and caring for gardens in harmony with the environment.

Uli Lorimer serves as the Director of Horticulture for the Native Plant Trust, a leading non-profit dedicated to preserving the native flora of the Northeastern United States. In this role, he oversees the acclaimed Garden in the Woods in Framingham and Nasami Farm in Western Massachusetts, which focuses on native plant propagation and research. Uli’s impressive career includes positions at the National Arboretum, Wave Hill, and as the Curator of Native Plants at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. A lifelong enthusiast of plants and biodiversity, Uli continues to study the region’s ecosystems, collect seeds from the wild, and introduce new plants to collections.

He is also a prolific author and speaker, well-known to audiences across the horticultural community. His publications include Tough Natives for Tough Places and A Native Plant Reader. His latest work, The Northeast Native Plant Primer, reflects his deep commitment to native plants and their ecological value. With a science-based approach and a passion for biodiversity, Uli offers invaluable insights into selecting plants that maximize the ecological impact of our gardens while celebrating the beauty of native flora.

This event is free for CT Horticultural Society and Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter members, $10 for non-members.  CT Hort members and the general public should register at  CT Hort Events:  Digging Deeper.  Mountain Laurel Chapter members SAVE THE DATE – you will receive the Zoom link for free a week ahead of the meeting.   DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER at the CT Hort website or you will have to pay the non-member fee!

Oct
21

Free National Webinar- Bats in the Backyard with Bat Conservation International

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Wednesday, October 21st, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

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Oct
28

CIPWG Symposium: From Awareness to Action: Strengthening our Response to Invasive Plants

Wednesday, October 28th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
UConn Student Union
Live Stream Available

Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Registration Required Conference/Symposium

This biennial symposium is held by the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG)

**Attend in person or purchase the recording** 
The symposium will be recorded and made available after the event. 

Choose one of the following registration options: 
Attend in person on October 28 and receive the full symposium recording after the event. 
Recording only, not attending in person on Oct. 28. 

Registration, agenda and more information at link below.

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November 2026

Nov
7

S.A.L.T. Conference - Living on the Edge: Designing the Transition from Landscape to Forest

Saturday, November 7th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Connecticut College

Public Welcome Registration Required Conference/Symposium

This conference is hosted by Connecticut College Arboretum and co-sponsored by Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter.  More information and registration link coming soon.

Nov
9

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, November 9th, 2026
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
18

Free National Webinar - The Habitat Health Check with Wildr

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Wednesday, November 18th, 2026
to (Eastern Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

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December 2026

Dec
14

Board Meeting Members Only

Monday, December 14th, 2026
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.