Events

Events Archive: 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Upcoming Events

February 2025

Feb
20

National Panel Discussion: "Bees Beyond Honey: Understanding Native and Managed Pollinators"

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Thursday, February 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

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.

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March 2025

Mar
20

National Panel Discussion: The Advocacy Power of Public Native Gardens

Hosted by Wild Ones Capital Region NY Chapter, Hocking Hills (Seedling) Chapter, San Diego Chapter and Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Thursday, March 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

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.

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May 2025

May
20

Native Plants Planted Right: A Practical Guide for Beginners

Hosted by Wild Ones National
This event has ended
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

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/ 

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June 2025

Jun
14

Wildflowers Texas Style

This event has ended
Saturday, June 14th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Seguin Public Library, W Nolte St, Seguin, TX, 78155 Map

Public Welcome Youth Engagement Registration Required Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking

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.

Jun
19

"Plants with Purpose: Twenty-Five Ecosystem Multitaskers" Author Talk with Monika Maeckle

Hosted by Wild Ones DFW Chapter and South Central Texas (Seedling) Chapter
This event has ended
Thursday, June 19th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

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!

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July 2025

Jul
15

Effective Landscape Use of Native Plants at Headwaters at the Comal-Registration & $5 Fee

Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Headwaters at the Comal, 333 E Klingemann St, New Braunfels, TX, 78130 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Program/Speaker Presentation Public Garden Tour

Planning Your Native Landscape

Want to use native plants but not sure where to start? Learn simple landscaping tips to help your native garden thrive—one yard at a time.

Part of Journey Local – South Central
Registration required | Fee applies

Instructor: Deedy Wright
Lifelong Texas gardener and long-time member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Deedy brings years of experience in native plants, invasive species, and adult garden education.

Wild Ones is excited in promoting events that reflect our mission: supporting native landscapes through education, advocacy, and action.

Register

Jul
22

Growing the Native Plant Movement Together

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

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Jul
24

Tough Texas Native Plants for Drought and Flood by Carol Clark (Virtual)

Hosted by Wild Ones DFW Chapter and South Central Texas (Seedling) Chapter
Thursday, July 24th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Tough Texas Native Plants for Droughts and Floods

Presentation Details
It’s either too wet or too dry in North Central Texas. What can you plant that can handle both extremes? This program recommends several Tough Texas native plants that work well in a residential landscape setting and manage to survive on their own within our local North Central Texas Cross Timbers and Texas Blackland Prairie ecosystems.

About Our Speaker

Carol Clark is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Texas Master Naturalist, a longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a Conservation Specialist with Monarch Watch.

She also co-administrates the Texas Native Bee Co-op Facebook page, and chairs the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas committee. She and her husband own and operate Clark Haven Farm, a wildlife preserve and custom wildflower seed business in Cooke County.

Carol grew up with a nature photographer father and wildlife artist brother, and has spent much of her life looking around and learning in the great outdoors. Her favorite things to do are leading discovery walks in local natural areas and finding and photographing interesting plants and insects.

Register

August 2025

Aug
2

First Saturday Guided Tour-FREE, registration required

Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
to (Central Time)
Headwaters at the Comal, Canyon Lake, TX, 78130 Map

Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Nature Walk/Hike

Please join us for a guided tour of the Headwaters every first Saturday!

Do you want to see exactly where the Comal River begins? Do you enjoy hearing stories about our local history? Or are you just curious what the Headwaters is all about? Join us each first Saturday of the month for a guided tour of the project site! The tour will take a leisurely pace around the 1/4 mile trail to see the Spring run, making stops to talk about Headwaters fascinating history, archaeology finds, conservation efforts, and more.
 

Whether you're a first-time visitor, or a long-time supporter... There's always something new to discover!  First Saturday tours are free for members.
 

Unfortunately, trails are not ADA accessible.

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Aug
21

Wild Ones DFW: Certified Native Habitat Program (Virtual)

Hosted by Wild Ones DFW Chapter and South Central Texas (Seedling) Chapter
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Family-Friendly Recording Available Registration Required Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

A Wild Ones Certified Native Habitat is a symbol of your dedication to biodiversity, ecological restoration, and the creation of a nurturing environment where native flora and fauna can thrive. A certified native habitat demonstrates your support for beneficial pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, and contributes to a healthier, more sustainable environment.

Join us on Thursday, August 21st, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM CDT to learn about Wild Ones, their Certified Native Habitat program, and the step-by-step process to qualify your landscape.

About our Speaker:

Trent Cruthis, Vice President, Wild Ones DFW – Grapevine, Texas

As Vice President of Wild Ones DFW, Trent Cruthis is a passionate advocate for native plant conservation and ecological restoration. With a deep-rooted commitment to sustainable landscaping and environmental education, Trent plays a pivotal role in advancing Wild Ones’ mission to connect people with nature through native plants.

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September 2025

Sep
18

September Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

October 2025

Oct
16

October Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, October 16th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon! 

November 2025

Nov
20

November Wild Ones National Webinar

Hosted by Wild Ones National
Thursday, November 20th, 2025
to (Central Time)
Online/Virtual

Public Welcome Recording Available Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation

Details coming soon!