Chapter Events

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

Travel across the epic sojourn of conservation Chicago Region style, examining some of the seminal moments and defining struggles that have marked our part of the world as an epicenter of environmental thought and action. Discover not only our rich heritage of setting aside land for the natural world but how a new form of conservation, based on building thousands of privately owned backyard arks is revolutionizing conservation for the decades ahead.

Speaker: Ed Collins, retired Director of Land Preservation and Natural Resources for the McHenry County Conservation District

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Registration link coming soon.

Seeds are key for restoring our ecosystems and adding native plants to our yards. As diverse as our native plants are, they are equally diverse in how they disperse their seeds. We'll look at different approaches for seed collection, equipment and techniques to clean that seed, and sowing to get the best results out of those seeds.

Speaker:  Luke Dahlberg, Native Seed Program Manager at Citizens for Conservation

Join us for a leisurely hike along the enchanting trails of Reed Turner Woodland, a dedicated IL Nature Preserve since the 1980's. This 50-acre preserve is home to over 500 different plant and tree species.  Our walk will focus on native woodland goldenrods and asters, how to identify the different species, and which species work well in home landscapes.   Space is limited.  Registration is required, 

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Please join us as we explore one of Aldo Leopold’s most famous stories about native landscaping;  A Prairie Birthday. In this story, Leopold compares the diversity of native plants on his ‘backwards’ farm to those found on the suburban university campus. With poetic flare and pointed observations, Leopold calls into question the landscape ideals that we use to build our communities.

Speaker: Jeff Hoyer, veteran biology and environmental science teacher.

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Registration link coming soon.

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.