Events

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.

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.

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Fall is just around the corner, and it is time to prep for planting to have the Bluebonnets we want in the spring.  Karen Brkich, Master Gardener and Wild Ones South Texas-seedling starter, will give you the fundamentals of wildflowers. What soil, components and how to bring a beautiful ray of color in the spring and through the summer. She will talk about well-known wildflowers and what it takes.  This class is suitable for beginners starting to garden for pollinators and working with native plants to be good stewards of our water resources.

 Join us on Saturdays at the Seguin Library and learn about gardening. Classes are led by Master Gardeners. Lunch and Learn Series is composed of ten programs designed to educate the community in all things gardening. These Lunch and Learn series are held on 2nd Saturdays at 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm in the Community Meeting Room of the Seguin Public Library. Sponsored by Guadalupe County Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

*calendar with Seguin events may not be updated. please check back shortly

Adults Only. Registration Required.

Discover Plants That Do More Than Look Good:  Talking “Plants with Purpose” by Monika Maeckle.

Join Wild Ones DFW: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, and co-host Wild Ones South Central Texas for a special online presentation featuring author Monika Maeckle, who will introduce her new book, Plants with Purpose: Twenty-five Ecosystem Multitaskers, recently published by Texas A&M Press (May 19, 2025).

In this engaging session, Maeckle explores a fresh approach to plant selection by asking practical and ecological questions of each featured species:

Can you eat it or make tea from it? Does it serve wildlife or offer health benefits? Is it low maintenance or have a compelling cultural story? Does it provide a unique service to your landscape?

Every plant included in the book had to answer "yes" to at least three of these criteria—not including beauty. As Maeckle argues, in a time of increasing ecological urgency, aesthetic appeal alone is no longer enough. Our landscapes deserve—and ecosystems require—plants that work harder.

Whether you're a gardener, naturalist, or simply plant-curious, this presentation will inspire you to think differently about what grows in your yard and why.

About the Author:
Monika Maeckle is a San Antonio-based gardener, monarch butterfly tagger, and founder of the Texas Butterfly Ranch website and the city’s annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival. With a long career in media, she also co-founded the San Antonio Report, where she remains a contributor. Maeckle’s passion for pollinators led her to work closely with the National Wildlife Federation to designate San Antonio as the nation’s first Monarch Butterfly Champion City and to launch a pollinator habitat initiative that now boasts over 1,100 registrants.

She raises butterflies and native plants in her Mariposario garden and at her family’s Llano River ranch, where she and her community have tagged more than 10,000 monarch butterflies—over 60 of which have been recovered in Mexico. Plants with Purpose is her second book and reflects her deep commitment to restoring ecological function to our landscapes through plants that offer more than just good looks.

Event Details:
Thursday, June 19, 2025
7 PM to 8 PM CDT
Via Zoom

Don’t miss this opportunity to reimagine your landscape with purpose-driven, multifunctional plants.

We hope to see you there!

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!