Events Calendar

Saturday, Jan 4th  10:00am - 12:30pm @ Bethlehem Public Library 451 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054 join us for Native Seed Packaging.  Come and help package surplus from the Seed Swap. Seeds will be donated to libraries across counties served by WOCRNY.  If you have time, join for lunch afterwards (pay your own).

 Grab a soothing beverage and maybe lunch, and join fellow Wild Ones Members and potential members for relaxed chat about Native Plants, and Healthy Ecosystems. Professor Java makes glorious coffee.  

Wednesday, January 8th 6:30-8:00pm join us for a zoom Quarterly Membership Meeting.  2025 is the “year of the membership” Join members and discuss the direction of the chapter.  Reach out by email for zoom link:  [email protected] 

It’s easy and far less expensive to grow a pollinator garden from seed! This workshop will show you a simple way to start growing your own native plants. You will leave with a few seed plugs you can overwinter and plant after germination next year. Potting soil and seeds will be provided. Prepare to get a little messy!

Suggested items to bring:
3 or 4 toilet paper tubes (just the cardboard inserts)
Gloves

Class size is limited to 10 people. Please register online.

Location:
Dutcher Community Room

Saturday, 11th 1-3pm (inclement weather date Sunday 12th). Join Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, Friends of Thacher, and Wild Ones as we host the first Native Plant Sale Kick-Off Social to be held at the Nature Center (87 Nature Center Way, Voorheesville, NY 12186 (518) 872-0800 ).  Come join us if you have volunteered to or are thinking of volunteering for the Annual Native Plant Sale to be held May 17, 2025.  There are so many ways to become involved, come and join this dedicated group of volunteers and see what’s right for you! Please register here, to be notified in case of a weather event.

Tuesday Jan 14 6:30 - 8:00pm Flower & Garden Expo planning meeting via zoom.  All interested members are welcome to share their planning ideas re: developing a display about host plants for pollinators at the HVCC Flower & Garden Expo (3/28-3/30).  Also, we can definitely use your help with greeting the public at our information table, where we will have a display about host plants for pollinators to attract people and information on Wild Ones membership to share. Please email [email protected] for zoom invite or to express interest in sitting a shift (free admission).

All interested members are welcome to share their ideas on how to raise awareness and make cultural changes to increase native plants in our communities. This is a new committee and we're eager to hear your thoughts! 

Saturday, 18 10am -11:30am (inclement weather 1/19/2025). Join presenter Martie Teumim for It’s All Greek to Me - Understanding Latin Botanical Names at The Kelly Adirondack Center (897 St. David’s Lane Niskayuna, NY 12309).  In this fun presentation with powerpoint, you will learn the parts of a botanical name and how to pronounce them, as well as why it is much better to use a botanical name rather than the common or vernacular name. Please register here in case of inclement weather.

We welcome our members, their guests, and 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.***

Winter Sowing is an easy 30-year-old method that's revolutionized gardening in cold regions. Learn how to make mini-greenhouses out of recycled containers to grow seeds that require cold stratification. Take a fully prepared and seeded container home!

Saturday February 1st, 10am - 12:30 pm (inclement weather date Sat 2/8). Join SUNY Cobleskill Associate Professor Timothy Marten LEED AP, ASM, for Production Scale Seed Sowing and Propagation instruction utilizing the techniques, materials, and procedures for small-scale production. Learn the scarification and stratification techniques taught at the college.  If time allows, we will be transplanting grasses used for advanced level parasitic (known as holoparasites, cannot photosynthesize and depend on their hosts for food) plant production. Plants will stay to grow on in the greenhouse and part of what we do will come back to the Thacher Native Plant sale on May 17th.  Please register here in case of a weather event.

Saturday 1st, 1:00pm - 2:30 pm.  Join Forest Technician Erik Heidenfelder on the SUNY Cobleskill Campus for Seed harvesting of the Eastern Redbud trees.  This program will include an educational talk on the native members of the legume family of trees (Fabaceae) in NY and the importance of their propagation moving into New York’s Climate-Resilient Future, and a brief demonstration of harvesting technique. We will then aid in the collection of seeds for propagation at DEC Saratoga Nursery.  We will be working on small step ladders in order to reach the seeds higher in the trees.  The DEC Saratoga Tree Nursery has been tasked to multiply the production of tree seedlings by eight by the year 2030 to fulfill the Governor’s Climate Initiative. Join Wild Ones in helping them accomplish this task.    Please register here  for  meet-up location & weather updates. 

Grab a soothing beverage and maybe lunch, and join fellow WildOnes members/potential members for relaxed chat about native plants and healthy ecosystems. Olde Bryan Inn is one of the oldest buildings in Saratoga and has a warm, cozy feel in winter. We'll meet in the room for large groups - ask for WildOnes when you come in. PARKING: on street or in the adjacent Hilton Inn parking lot. Enter the lot at the sign on Maple Ave for Hilton Inn, then turn right in the lot and drive to the end of the lot closest to the Olde Bryan Inn. (Parking for easier wheelchair accessibility is different - call the Olde Bryan Inn for details, 518-587-2990.)

If you have ever wondered how to accurately identify invasive species and safely remove them to create space for native plants to thrive, join us for this informative presentation.

 Addison Kubik, Invasive Species Education, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator with Capital Region Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) will address how to clear your own property using the most current techniques, whether you have a suburban plot or a dozen acres. Please register to receive a Zoom link. This presentation will be recorded for future sharing 

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.

Join us for a coffee and chat with fellow gardeners who love pollinators! Share pictures of your garden and gardening goals. And learn tips from the book, Nature's Best Hope , about gardening for habitat.

Informal chat for native plant enthusiasts. Grab a beverage or lunch at the market and join the chat. Arthur's Market is a treasured landmark in the historic Stockade Area of Schenectady.  Plan to arrive early with about 10 minutes to spare to find parking and walk in.  There are a few steps up to enter the building. 

MEET-AND-HIKE CANCELLED

UPDATE: Old Maids Woods has too many downed trees blocking the path, and the backup location has large sheets of bumpy ice. The weather has not left us many places to walk this March!

ORIGINAL EVENT: Expect to see many old, large trees and practice your tree ID! Take the Campbell Road exit from I-890, Rice Road west past the pump station to Schermerhorn Road, turn left onto Schermerhorn, and cross under I-890. Park outside the National Grid gate. The preserve is slightly uphill and to the left. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and weather, and expect some hills, although we will not walk far. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation. If there is deep snow, the backup location is the nearby Great Flats Nature Trail; check here in the morning for updates.

Join us for our monthly  Leadership Team & Business Meeting.   Reach out by email for zoom link:  [email protected] 

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.

Our chapter will have a display table at the Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo, held at the McDonough Sports Complex at Hudson Valley Community College, Troy.  Our table will have a colorful display about native host plants and butterflies, along with membership information. Wild Ones will be offering a several workshops in their listing of over fifty presentations. 

This annual Expo event includes large-scale gardens and floral-themed exhibits, and a Marketplace filled with over 190 flower and garden-themed retail exhibits, an indoor farmers market, and NYS wine tastings.  Public is charged an entry fee of $14/day if paid in advance.

All interested members are welcome to share their ideas on who to ensure native gardening is a culture change, not a fad.  Currently, this committee is focused on how to modernize town ordinances to make native gardens easier to start in communities that have strict lawn height requirements.  Register to receive a zoom link.

Grab a cuppa (or lunch) and join informal chat about native plants and related topics.  We meet in one of the rooms toward the back of Professor Java. Some chatters have asked for chat time dedicated to removing invasive plants - we'll do that, if people are interested. This is the last Cozy Chat until next fall; in summer, we connect at our Wild Ones garden tours. 

Join us for our quarterly  Membership Meeting.   Reach out by email for zoom link:  [email protected] 

Spring wildflowers beneath beech, oak, hickory, and hemlock. We will follow the one-mile orange loop beginning and ending at the parking area. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and weather. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

Learn about how native gardening supports pollinators and songbirds, and learn more about the Crandall Seed Library! 

We will take the blue trail loop with a side-trip to the falls, a bit over 1mi, looking for spring ephemerals like bloodroot and wild ginger. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and the weather. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

Come join us for an informal discussion and information-sharing session about native plants and pollinators. It's the perfect opportunity to ask questions, get advice, and share your love of native plants and pollinators with others who totally get it! 

Join us for our monthly  Leadership Team & Business Meeting.   Reach out by email for zoom link:  [email protected] 

Saturday, May 17th from 10am - sold out @ Thacher State Park Pear Pavillion Annual Thacher Native Plant Sale join Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, Friends of Thacher, and Wild Ones as we feature native plants that support our native bird populations by providing food, shelter, and habitat they so desperately need.

Saturday, May 24th 10:30-11:30 tabling event at Ten Broeck Mansion Family Garden and Planting Day.  Stop by and join Laura as she advocates for native garden plants. 

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!

We will set out from the Uncle Sam gravesite and follow the man-made lake and creek downstream, observing the John C. Sidney’s landscape design and its evolution over 175 years. Bring appropriate attire for an easy walk and the weather. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

Join us for our monthly  Leadership Team & Business Meeting.   Reach out by email for zoom link:  [email protected] 

Limestone means alkaline soil, selecting for plants that thrive in that condition, including a healthy selection of ferns. Park along the pull-off. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and the weather. The walk will be shady. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667.  Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

Come enjoy a walk through this lovely nature preserve filled with native plants! There will be lots to see in this small but lovely forest walk. For more info on the Orra Phelps Preserve, see:
https://saratogaplan.org/explore-parks-and-trails/orra-phelps-nature-preserve/

Starting at the visitor center, we will walk the Native Plant Collection trail, approximately 1mi. Parking and visit are free, although Landis requests a $5 donation per visitor. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and the weather. Parts of the walk will be sunny, there are minor hills, and the trails can be slippery when wet. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

Gathering near the historic Whipple Bridge at River View and Van Vranken Roads, we will walk out to Fort’s Ferry and make a short loop. We will use David H. Behm’s list of observed invasive plants as a checklist to practice identifying invasives. Bring appropriate attire for a hike, the weather, and flying insects. Parts of the walk will be sunny. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

In search of asters and allies, we will explore all of the early-fall blooms we find. We will walk both the blue and red trails, totaling about 1.5mi. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and the weather. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.
 

Details coming soon! 

Beginning at the smaller Falstaff’s parking lot near Broadway, we will take the red loop trail, about 1.1mi, seeking late wildflowers, enjoying the fall foliage, and thinking about the soil structure all this falling plant matter supports. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and the weather. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

Details coming soon! 

Friday 7th, 8:30am. Henry Gerber Reist Bird Sanctuary, 897 St David's Ln, Niskayuna, NY. Park at the Kelly Adirondack Center. From there we will follow the Paul Schaefer Yellow Trail, about 1.3mi, looking out for birds, late-fall flora, and the remnants of dry vernal pools. Bring appropriate attire for a hike and the weather; note that this area can get wet and muddy. Host: Dustin Mitchell, 314-616-2667. Always check the Events Calendar for any cancellation.

Details coming soon!