Events

The Southern Kentucky Chapter officers hold virtual planning meetings at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of each month. All chapter members are encouraged to send in agenda items and are welcome to attend.

Please contact us at [email protected] for the password for the READ MORE link, which has the Zoom link and passcode. 

This free family-friendly activity will take you through the steps to create food sources for birds and other wildlife using pinecones, seeds, dried fruit, and other natural items. Best of all, you will take home your creation to feed your neighborhood birds!

For those with food allergies, please be aware that peanut butter will be used. There will be four sessions on Sunday, January 21 at 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, and 2:30 pm. To make sure we include everyone we can, register for just those creating a bird feeder. Registration is required, and spaces are limited, so register today!

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. 

Learn how to winter sow native seeds using a container made from a recycled gallon jug. This method allows seeds to get an early start in a miniature diy greenhouse. Winter sown seedlings are hardy and easy to transplant in the spring after frost.

Registration is $5 and includes materials to make one seed starting container with the native species of your choice. Additional containers will be available for $5 each. The available native species are purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

The Southern Kentucky Chapter officers hold virtual planning meetings at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of each month. All chapter members are encouraged to send in agenda items and are welcome to attend.

Please contact us at [email protected] for the password for the READ MORE link, which has the Zoom link and passcode. 

Join us for a video presentation and discussion of The Bridge Between Horticulture and Environment created by New Directions in American Landscape. 

About The Bridge Between Horticulture and Environment:

"Horticulture is going through a revolution, as our fragile environment becomes increasingly in need of our care. The observation and analysis that is so embedded in this process, and the craftsmanship of tending for a garden, are perfect gateways to thinking about the neglected and overused places beyond the garden. Dan Pearson, whose painterly-natural landscapes are renowned in Britain and beyond, will demonstrate how landscape design can be the medium that brings together the worlds of nature, agriculture, and garden."

This watch party is co-sponsored by the Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter and the Green Sanctuary Team at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bowling Green. 

Join us for our March meeting in the River Birch Room at Lost River Cave. During this meeting, we’ll hear from WKU’s Ecology and Conservation Club and learn how they’re supporting biodiversity on the WKU campus.

Wild Ones officers will provide an iNaturalist demonstration and discuss the upcoming City Nature Challenge.

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. 

Join us for our April meeting in the River Birch Room at Lost River Cave. During this meeting, we’ll hear from the meadow restoration team at Lost River Cave. Hear about the results of the 2023 meadow inventories and learn how you can help with the 2024 BioBlitzes.

There will be an opportunity to participate in an iNaturalist demonstration for those who download the app in advance. We’ll also discuss the upcoming City Nature Challenge, April 26-29.

The Southern Kentucky Chapter officers hold virtual planning meetings at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of each month. All chapter members are encouraged to send in agenda items and are welcome to attend.

Please contact us at [email protected] for the password for the READ MORE link, which has the Zoom link and passcode. 

Join us for our annual Spring Native Plant Sale at the Community Farmers Market on Saturday, May 11, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. We will have a wide variety of affordable native plants and seeds grown and harvested from member gardens. All proceeds benefit the chapter and fund our efforts in the community. 

Most plant prices will be between $3 and $10. Purchases from the Spring Native Plant Sale help fund our chapter’s initiatives, including community gardens, assisting with the Lost River Cave meadow restoration, providing grants for local organizations, and participating in educating youth about native plants.

Learn creative techniques for arranging native flowers and plants, and create a bouquet to take home. If you’re able, please bring a vase and clippers or scissors. We’ll have a wide of variety of June-blooming flowers and other interesting plants, but if you have native flowers, grasses, or ferns you can share, please bring them.

Registration will open in April. Registration is required as space is limited. The workshop is free, but there is a suggested donation of $5/participant. Cash, credit, and checks will be accepted at the door.

The Southern Kentucky Chapter officers hold virtual planning meetings at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of each month. All chapter members are encouraged to send in agenda items and are welcome to attend.

Please contact us at [email protected] for the password for the READ MORE link, which has the Zoom link and passcode. 

Join us outdoors and tour a local native garden during our July member meeting! We’ll socialize and enjoy light refreshments and drinks.

Guests will explore a habitat in process at the home of Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter President, Katie Marquardt. In the two years since purchasing the home, Katie has added a rain garden and pollinator patches throughout the property.

The tour will provide examples of what just two years of native gardening can do to increase biodiversity on a property. And with a shaded front yard with mature native trees, and sunny backyard, guests can see how different plants thrive in different conditions.

Attendees will have the opportunity to see the neighboring home of Wild Ones member Barbara DeGraves. Her property displays mature native gardens full of native perennials, shrubs, and trees. It’s a great opportunity to see the difference between native garden beds established 15+ years ago and more newly established ones.

Other highlights that might be of interest include composting, rain harvesting, and permaculture emphasizing companion planting. Katie and her family will be happy to answer any questions.

The garden tour is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The exact address of the member garden will be provided after registration is complete.

Join us outdoors and tour a local native garden during our August member meeting! We’ll socialize and enjoy light refreshments and drinks.

Guests will explore the wild spaces curated by Tosha Clark, a longtime member of the Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter. Over the last five years, Tosha and her husband have worked to re-wild several spaces that were previously mowed lawn on their one-acre property.

The wild spaces were accomplished with a lot of experimentation, and Tosha is happy to share the lessons they’ve learned from their trial and error.

Attendees can also explore the outdoor tortoise enclosure and meet the animals who live among the native plants!

The garden tour is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The exact address of the member garden will be provided after registration is complete.

Join us for a short field trip to Roundstone Native Seed in Upton, KY. This small family-owned business has become one of the largest regionally adapted native seed grower and suppliers in the eastern US. Roundstone grows a large selection of native seeds for a wide variety of landscaping needs. Seed packets and mixes will be available for purchase in the office.

Attendees should wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle.

Roundstone is about a one-hour drive from Bowling Green. As we receive registrations for the tour, we will craft a carpooling plan to help minimize the number of vehicles. Carpoolers in the Bowling Green area will likely meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bowling Green (2033 Nashville Road) at 8 a.m. and leave for Roundstone at 8:15 a.m. We will reach out to all registrants with carpooling options on or before August 9. 

We will meet at the main office at Roundstone Native Seed, at 9764 Raider Hollow Road,
Upton, Kentucky. https://maps.app.goo.gl/N1fGFnCHQxQSfa9y9

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

Fall is a wonderful time to plant native perennials. In this workshop, you'll learn about the benefits of fall planting, and how to plan and prepare your site. Registration includes a Pollinator Pack of 12 native plants including Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), rose milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), and New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).*

The workshop is presented in partnership with Community Education. The $50 registration fee includes the educational presentation, hands-on garden bed planning with Wild Ones volunteers, and the 12-plant Pollinator Pack. Registrants can add additional participants to their order for $15 each (the additional participant fee does not include a Pollinator Pack).

Attendees may want to bring maps or photos of their property, to help with their garden plan. We will have materials to share, but students may wish to bring their own tools to help draft their garden plan (e.g. colored pencils, graph paper, and tools like a ruler, compass, or protractor).

*Please note: We may substitute appropriate species in case of unforeseen difficulties.

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

Wild Ones SoKY Chapter is happy to announce our 4th Annual Fall Native Plant Sale! It will be held on Saturday, Ocotber 5th, 9am until noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church parking lot at 2033 Nashville Road in Bowling Green, KY! 

Members are invited to the Early Bird shop&Swap at 8am. Native plants and seeds from Wild Ones Member gardens will be available for purchase and/or swap. Everyone is encouraged to bring plants and seeds to sell and/or swap. Please label your plants. Botanical names are much appreciated.

The sale is open from 9-12.  Set up time starts at 7AM.  Restrooms will be available in the church's buildings.

*The plant sale was originally scheduled for September 28, but due to the heavy rains and winds in the forecast, we've postponed for October 5. 

Join us for a hike at Mammoth Cave National Park on the Echo River Spring Trail. We’ll be joined by Park Ranger Brice Leech and learning more about the park’s native and invasive plant species. We’ll enjoy scenic views at the overlooks and the “blue hole” where the underground Echo River Spring meets the Green River. 

This trail is a little less than one mile on a paved loop starting and ending at the parking lot.

The coordinates to the Echo River Spring Trail parking lot are: 37.179540, -86.111350

If you would like to use Google Maps to navigate, the coordinate are available here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8BCkSrK6Drgvy2Hs5 

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One's national webinar, "Matrix Landscape Design" with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot! 

Join members of the Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter as we sort and package native seeds to donate to the Warren County Public Library seed libraries. Light refreshments will be provided, and volunteers will have the opportunity to take seeds home with our sincere thanks for their help. For students requiring volunteer or community service hours, our directors will be available to sign documentation.

If you have native seeds to contribute, please bring them to the seed packaging party, or if you would like to coordinate a drop off in advance, send us an email at [email protected].

Chapter election of officers will be held online. Early voting starts on November 6th. All ballots must be turned in by November 16th. 

Please click on the link for your Ballot.

Be a habitat hero! Join us at Lost River Cave on Saturday, November 16 to remove invasive species and restore critical habitat. We'll meet near the meadow restoration site at 1 p.m. to remove species such as privet, winter creeper, Japanese honeysuckle, and more. Prior to the invasive plant removal, volunteers can join us for a complementary picnic lunch from 12-1 p.m. at the picnic tables near the River Birch Room. Please indicate on the registration if you would like to join us for lunch.

Register Now

Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and, if possible, bring a water bottle, garden or work gloves, and pruners. We will have tools and gloves to share if needed.

Speaker: Dr. Thomas Biebighauser
 https://www.wetlandrestorationandtraining.com
 [email protected].

This event is cosponsored by Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter and the Franklin-Simpson Garden Club. The doors open at 1pm for snacks and socializing. The meeting starts at 1:30pm, and the presentation will start by about 1:40.

Native plants have an incredible ability to adapt to climate extremes, offering sustainable solutions for resilient landscapes. Join Wild Ones and the Native Plant Society of Texas to explore the power of native plants to thrive in challenging conditions.

This event features Christy Ten Eyck, founder of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. Drawing from her latest Dallas-Fort Worth native garden design, Christy will share insights into designing low-maintenance, ecologically rich spaces that withstand intense climate fluctuations.

Join us for our 2024 Holiday Party on Thursday, December 12, at 5:30 p.m. In addition to our annual seed swap, we'll also be celebrating the end of the year with two fun activities! Enjoy a weaving demonstration from local weaver and Wild Ones member, Anna Greinetz, and try your hand at the weaving arts using invasive plant materials removed from Lost River Cave. We'll also have a wreath making workshop hosted by Wild Ones member Wendy Kahler. 

Light refreshments will be served. There is a suggested donation of $10 per wreath and weaving project, to help us cover the costs associated with these activities.  

If you have native seeds you have harvested and would like to share, bring labeled packets to swap with others! You may also bring seeds to donate to the Warren County Public Library seed library. We will have many species of seeds to share with attendees. 

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.