Events Calendar

Join us for a new format to our Membership Meetings, we hope this will allow all our members to learn a bit more about not only our chapter but what our members have to offer. If you would like to add something to the agenda please contact us. All members will receive the zoom link as the meeting gets closer. If you are not a member but would like to attend as a guest please contact us we are happy to share what our chapter is up to with you.

Pollinator- Friendly Solar presented by Jennifer Michelle of GreenTown Consulting. Pollinator-friendly solar takes sustainable energy to the next level. Find out how to advocate for pollinators in your town's solar law - and learn what pitfalls your town needs to watch out for! 
JENNIFER MICHELLE, MPH
I provide technical assistance to municipalities, solar developers, and health systems on creating pollinator-friendly communities. My services include cost-benefit analyses, goal-setting, stakeholder surveys, policy review, sourcing, project management, and community education. 

I serve on my town’s Zoning Board of Appeals and am treasurer of the Healthy Corinth Coalition. I have an MPH in Epidemiology and Parasitology from Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine and have worked as a healthcare marketing consultant since 2017.
Make sure to sign up for her blog: https://greentownconsulting.com/blog/

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Here is your opportunity to observe our native fauna and flora in action. Don your weather appropriate gear and get out to meet your fellow members. Please note these trails are not paved and most will not have facilities at trailheads, come prepared. These are also unguided hikes so bring your camera and smartphone apps to help identify wildlife. Please consider carpooling.

We will be meeting in the Nature Center and then deciding if we should hike, snowshoe(there is a fee), or just hang out and enjoy the center. Please keep an eye on this website and our social media for any cancellations. While we will go out in the snow, if there is an active storm that makes driving difficult we will cancel.  

We welcome our members, and their guests, or anyone who likes to discuss and share their stories of native plants and ecological landscaping. Jennifer Michelle of GreenTown Consulting will lead our group in delightful conversations about current and relevant topics. Please use the registration link to sign up for the Zoom link and submit any topics/questions that you might have. Then share this event with others so we always have a lively group!

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter. These monthly meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter. Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of. Contact us if you would like to receive the zoom link. 

Presented by Steve Young, botanist. For native plant gardeners, it is most beneficial to plant the right plant in the right place. There are four ecoregions in the Capital District, each with its own set of conditions that support a distinct set of ecological communities that support a distinct mixture of native plants that require specific conditions to grow. We will look at what constitutes an ecoregion and an ecological community and the plants they contain so you can select the best plants for your situation.
Links to resources:
Ecoregions of New York http://ecologicalregions.info/data/ny/NY_front.pdf
Ecological Communities of New York State https://www.nynhp.org/documents/39/ecocomm2014.pdf
Natural Heritage Conservation Guides https://guides.nynhp.org/communities
Environmental Resource Mapper https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/erm/
New York Flora Atlas https://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu
Plant Hardiness Zones https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Here is your opportunity to observe our native fauna and flora in action. Don your weather appropriate gear and get out to meet your fellow members. Please note these trails are not paved and most will not have facilities at trailheads, come prepared. These are also unguided hikes so bring your camera and smartphone apps to help identify wildlife. Please consider carpooling.

We will be meeting in the Education Center and then deciding if we should hike, or just hang out and enjoy the center. Please keep an eye on this website and our social media for any cancellations. While we will go out in the snow, if there is an active storm that makes driving difficult we will cancel.  

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter. These monthly meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter. Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of. Contact us if you would like to receive the zoom link. 

Join Unity Lutheran Church for a potluck lunch while Kristi gives a brief presentation on Why Native Plants? Provided the weather is nice, around 1 pm, we will head out to collect trash that has blown onto the property. Bring a pair of gloves and any wear appropriate clothing for our unpredictable weather. Come get a look at the location for our native plant garden and there is plenty to see! There are already several native plants growing and supporting wildlife. This event is open to the community so please bring a friend and spread the word. 

Join us every 3rd Sunday of the month for a brief presentation and garden related activity!

Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

We will be returning to the Expo with an educational table and several members will be giving presentations. Double check the Expo's website but here is the current lineup.
Friday:
11 am Building a Bird Garden with Kristi Shepler
12 pm Gardeners & Pollinator-Friendly Solar with Jennifer Michelle (GreenTown Consulting)
1 pm 50 Things to Make the Earth a Healthier Place with Pam Skripak
2 pm Native Plants go Public with Donna Newsome

Saturday:
11 am What are Native Plants & Why are They Important with Steve Young (New York Flora Association)
12 pm The Wonder of Nature and Why It's Good For You with Rhonda Rumsey van Heuveln (Capital Native Plants)
3 pm A Journey to a Natural Yard in Suburbia with Laura Davis (Capital District Pollinator Allies)

Sunday:
11 am Attract Pollinators to Your Garden with Kristi Shepler
1 pm 50 Things to Make the Earth a Healthier Place with Pam Skripak
2 pm How to Advocate for Native Plants in Your Community with Jennifer Michelle (GreenTown Consulting)
3 pm Ecological Landscapes Discussion Panel hosted by our chapter!

Please use the following link to purchase tickets as this lets the Expo organizer know who is attending because they included Natural Landscaping practices:
https://ticketing.events/app/portal/1/9216?channel=event_rep&rep_id=98

Here is your opportunity to observe our native fauna and flora in action. Don your weather appropriate gear and get out to meet your fellow members. Please note these trails are not paved and most will not have facilities at trailheads, come prepared. These are also unguided hikes so bring your camera and smartphone apps to help identify wildlife. Please consider carpooling.

Please note this trailhead does not have any facilities and the trail itself will be muddy.

We welcome our members, and their guests, or anyone who likes to discuss and share their stories of native plants and ecological landscaping. Jennifer Michelle of GreenTown Consulting will lead our group in delightful conversations about current and relevant topics. Please use the registration link to sign up for the Zoom link and submit any topics/questions that you might have. Then share this event with others so we always have a lively group!

***Comments and statements made during the forum are not a reflection of Wild Ones, our chapter, or our partners. Please note all in attendance have varying skill sets and levels. Additional research should be done outside of our forum from industry leaders. We also encourage you to bring your findings back to the group at the next event.***

Join with members to discuss past events, project /tour ideas and the direction of the chapter.  Join our monthly leadership meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

Let's see what native plants are popping up in this lovely park! Past spring sightings have included Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) , Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), and Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum). Lots of wildlife to see, too!

In honor of Earth Day, the Town of Corinth is having a clean-up day! People come together to pick up the trash and learn about the environment. 

Join Unity Lutheran Church for a potluck lunch while Kristi gives a brief presentation on Citizen Science: Bioblitz with iNaturalist. Provided the weather is nice we will head out to log what early spring species we find into iNaturalist. Bring your smartphone loaded with the iNaturalist app and any wear appropriate clothing for our unpredictable weather. Come get a look at the location for our native plant garden and there is plenty to see! There are already several native plants growing and supporting wildlife. This event is open to the community so please bring a friend and spread the word.

Join us every 3rd Sunday of the month for a brief presentation and garden related activity! 

Join us for a presentation on how to ethically harvest native plant seeds to increase biodiversity! New York Flora Association will be available to help you identify plants and use the New York Flora Atlas to find out if they are native to NY. This is also a great opportunity to meet Wild Ones a group of gardners dedicated to thriving native plants in the Capital Region.

Saturday, May 4th @ 10:00 am Albany Rural Cemetery Meet & Hike with Laura Davis. Meet at  3 Cemetery Avenue, Menands in the parking area near the chapel. Incorporated in 1841, Albany Rural Cemetery (ARC) is one of the oldest and grandest examples of the rural or garden cemetery movement in America.  There are many large mature, beautiful trees, and we will try to seek out any flowers that may be blooming in the wooded areas. It is hilly terrain with some steep sections, and can be wet so please wear sturdy hiking shoes. We will reschedule if it rains steadily or heavily. Recommend you bring a camera, and your own water/snacks. No restrooms available.  

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

SoBro conserves vacant urban parcels and transforms them into pollinator-friendly green spaces, while educating about how such green spaces strengthen the web of life on which human well-being depends.

SoBro has already created berms and paths at the South Broadway location so now it's time to get native plants in the ground! 

From 8am to 10am, they would like gardeners knowledgeable in native plants to help unload and place the plants, under the direction of their garden designer. 

From 10am to 2pm, everyone is welcome to help plant the 600+ plants, and then help water and clean up. 

If you're not sure which group you are in, please come after 10am - we would be delighted to see you!

Join Friends of Thacher, Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, and us as we feature native plants that support pollinators through all stages of their life cycle. Please check back for updates as we finish off details!

Join Unity Lutheran Church for a potluck lunch while Laura Davis presents A Journey to a Natural Yard in Suburbia. Provided the weather is nice we will head out to remove invasive species such as garlic mustard weed and dames rocket before they go to seed. Bring your gloves, tick repellent, and any wear appropriate clothing for our unpredictable weather. This event is open to the community so please bring a friend and spread the word.  

Join us every 3rd Sunday of the month for a brief presentation and garden related activity! 

Towns and HOAs can do a lot more to support pollinators than just plant some milkweed. Discover strategies for getting your town or homeowners association excited about native plants and pollinators. Find out how to think like a town or HOA, not like a homeowner, so you can make your community pollinator-friendly!

Sustainable Saratoga is hosting Pollinator Palooza, a native plant sale - with over 35 native plant species!

Make a day of it! Learn how your garden, no matter how small, can help pollinators. Pollinator Palooza features information about sustainable gardening, the importance of native species, and general plant and pollinator educational resources, including free soil pH testing. We will have fun kids’ activities, raffles (gift certificates, books, plants, and more), entertainment, and delicious food. PLEASE NOTE: Cash or check preferred.

We welcome our members, and their guests, or anyone who likes to discuss and share their stories of native plants and ecological landscaping. Jennifer Michelle of GreenTown Consulting will lead our group in delightful conversations about current and relevant topics. Please use the registration link to sign up for the Zoom link and submit any topics/questions that you might have. Then share this event with others so we always have a lively group!

***Comments and statements made during the forum are not a reflection of Wild Ones, our chapter, or our partners. Please note all in attendance have varying skill sets and levels. Additional research should be done outside of our forum from industry leaders. We also encourage you to bring your findings back to the group at the next event.***

Get Outdoors & Get Together Day will bring people of all abilities, ages, identities, and backgrounds together for fun, healthful activities as part of the state's initiative to broaden the diversity of users and ensure inclusivity of access to state public lands.

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

Camp Saratoga is a Karner Blue butterfly preserve. With any luck, we will see lots of these tiny but lovely butterflies! Lots of native plants, too - Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), and Horsemint (Monada punctata). Maybe a few native lupine (Lupinus perennis) still in bloom, too!

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

Members to open their gardens for tours, help, and demonstrations.

Two Rensselear County Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners give a description and tour of the native gardens and projects they have worked to develop over time.   

Visits to various members home gardens in the Saratoga Region. Descriptions to follow

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

Visit a member garden and as well as a Native Garden planted at the Bethlehem Town Hall by a number of groups, including the Bethlehem Garden Club, Albany County Cornell Cooperative Extension and Wild Ones Members.

Two Wild Ones' members and Schenectady County Master Gardeners will give a tour of the native gardens they have developed and expanded over several years times.  Our event will be accompanied by a celebratory luncheon of the past year, and our vote on the 2025 leadership.  If you'd like to have an impact on the future of our organization, please reach out to discuss the perfect opportunity for you.

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.

Join our leadership team to discuss the direction of the chapter.  These monthly meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.  It is a great time to present events and opportunities for the chapter.   Ideas such as networking, collaborations, lobbying, advocacy, community science/conservation/restoration projects, fundraising, demonstration gardens, invasive species removals, and any other idea you can think of are welcome.  Contact us if you would like to receive a zoom link to attend this meeting.