Please consider becoming an active ambassador for Wild Ones and more native plants in your community. No experience needed! We can provide you with Wild Ones brochures and other educational materials. For larger community events, we will pair newbies with veterans, so you can learn by doing.
SUMMER 2026
The following members set up and staffed a Wild Ones table at the 116th Plant Science Day hosted by the CT Agricultural Experiment Station on August 5, 2026, at their Lockwood Farm campus in Hamden. Wild Ones joined more than 30 other plant-centric organizations from across Connecticut to provide public education at this popular annual event. We provided handouts of Keystone and Soft Landings plant lists, free native seedlings and seeds, wildflower coloring pages and insect stickers (for kids). Thank you for being Wild Ones ambassadors!
Beth Ann Loveland Sennett
Anne McNulty
Nancy Brault
Dan Boughton
Susan Hally
Gail Reynolds
Susan Kinsman
Lydia Pan
SPRING 2026
We gave away lots of native plants and seeds plus educational materials to encourage people to make their landscapes more nature-friendly during the late winter and spring. Our presence at more than a half dozen events, particularly around Earth Day, was only possible because of the many enthusiastic members who helped staff our tables. We are grateful to everyone who volunteered their time, knowledge and smiles!
Old Saybrook Environmental Fair 3/28: Lydia Pan, Mark Kronenberg
Arboretum Arbor Day, New London 4/18: Lydia Pan, Mark Kronenberg
Groton Earth Day Expo 4/25: Fatima Matos, Kate Purinton, Noreen Kepple, Deb Vernon, Meredith Jarvas, Brad Guarino, Lydia Pan
Guilford Earth Day Fair 4/25: Sue Stark
Ecofest, Weston 5/3: Maggie Dobbins
Pattagansett Arts Center BLOOM Festival, East Lyme 5/9: Lydia Pan
Brainerd Library Agricultural Fair, Haddam 5/30: Susan Kinsman
WINTER 2026
Thanks to the terrific Wild Ones ambassadors who staffed our educational table at the 2026 Connecticut Flower and Garden Show in Hartford (Feb 19-22). This multi-day event was by far the largest that our chapter has participated in and provided the opportunity for a broad cross-section of the gardening public to learn about Wild Ones. We look forward to being at the show again next year.
Sue Augustyniak
Dan & Sue Boughton
Arline Culp
Jeff Culp
Maggie Dobbins
Susan Kinsman
Beth Ann Loveland Sennett
Lydia Pan
Michael Russo
Aubrey Schulz
Jim Sirch
Thanks to everyone who made our 2nd annual Native Seed Sharing event on January 24 at Dudley Farm a big success! Approximately 100 types of seeds collected from locally-grown native plants were available. We estimate that more than 500 packets or portions of seed were taken, which will add many more native plants to our landscapes. Nearly 50 people stopped in to give and/or take seeds, most staying for a while to enjoy the warm, sunny barn on a cold winter’s day, to get acquainted with fellow gardeners, swap stories and compare notes on growing successes and failures. At least 17 people brought seeds to share. I apologize for not having a complete list of names for those who added to our bounty of seeds, but know that your contributions are most appreciated.
Sue Augustyniak
Kat Calhoun
Arline Culp
Meredith Jarvas
Susan Kinsman
Mark Kronenberg
Ed Natoli
Bernie Noonan
Robin Parsons
Chris Ricard
Michael Russo
Jim Sirch
Sue Stark