Chapter Events

Enhance your enjoyment of nature and deepen your knowledge of native plants by becoming a Citizen Scientist in your own yard, local park or forest preserve. There are many ways to record your interactions with nature, ranging from the Audubon Christmas bird count, to posting observations on i-Naturalist. You can even become a dragonfly, frog or butterfly monitor. Join us and learn more. 

What are the 13 invasive species found in Lake County?  Learn identifying characteristics, practical tips and the best time of year to manage them.  Plus discover key steps to introduce native flowers, shrubs and trees into your home landscape.

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 Xerces Society Ambassador, Brandie Dunn, as she sheds some light on the enchanting world of fireflies. Learn about their distribution and life history, as well as how human activities are placing them more and more at risk. Leave inspired to adopt simple acts that add up and brighten the future for these charismatic and universally beloved creatures.

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 author and natural history educator Cindy Crosby, as she discusses how Illinois' original garden, the tallgrass prairie, has been shaped by bison. Learn how these charismatic megafauna are being restored to Illinois prairies and listen to tales of their connections, both historical and  contemporary, to some Native American tribes. 

Join us for a joyful celebration of the season at the Milwaukee Public Market's very first Festival of Flowers, taking place Saturday, May 3 from 11am to 3pm at Riverwalk Commons, right across from the Milwaukee Public Market.

Wild Ones National Board Secretary Jermey Rappaport will present on how people can help support a healthy planet by transitioning away from traditional lawns and gardens to more sustainable alternatives featuring native plants. 

This free, family-friendly event is bursting with color, fragrance, and fun! Explore a vibrant flower market featuring locally grown blooms and botanicals perfect for brightening your home or garden. Enjoy live music from local artists as you wander, shop, and relax along the riverfront.

Bring the whole family- there’s something for everyone! From interactive activities for kids to garden-inspired crafts, the Festival of Flowers is designed to delight visitors of all ages. Grown-ups can savor seasonal beverages, while everyone can dig into a variety of tasty eats from local food vendors.

Whether you're a plant enthusiast, music lover, or just looking for a fresh way to spend your Saturday, the Festival of Flowers is the perfect spring outing.

Learn about the Lake County Forest Preserve District’s Plant-Pollinator Monitoring Program. Restoration Ecologist Dan Sandacz, will share results from the first few years of the program and how preserve ecologists use the monitoring efforts to inform future restoration and conservation strategies. Native plant recommendations to support pollinator habitat will also be discussed. 

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/ 

Somme Preserves are an ecological community treasure. Learn how a collaborative effort between volunteers and the Cook County Forest Preserve transformed degraded land into highly biodiverse tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and woodland ecosystems. Speaker: Christos Economou 

Corrine Daniels, owner of Bombus LLC, a wholesale native plant nursery, will share her industry insider knowledge of pesticide use, impacts, and why some growers find it so hard to walk away from them. She will describe the practices that allow her nursery to avoid the use of pesticides, including harmful neonicotinoids. She will also discuss how to select native plant species to support and improve native pollinator health and diversity, including bumblebee immune system boosters. 

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/ 

Birds’ needs are simple, and providing those needs through your choices of plants, trees, and even garden ornaments can make all the difference in what types of birds you see and hear in your landscape. Our presenter Donna Kenski, of Lake County Audubon will discuss how to make your property a haven for birds and a delight for yourself and others. 

Luke Dahlberg, seed technician for Citizens for Conservation, will discuss his work with native parasitic and hemiparasitic plants and share how they are grown and used to manage aggressive species.

Join the Lake-to-Prairie Chapter of Wild Ones and Lake County Audubon Society for a bird walk at McDonald Woods Forest Preserve on Saturday, September 6. Matt Tobin will be leading the walk and he hopes to bring the wonder and appreciation of birds to the entire group. The walk is open to all experience levels, including beginning birders!

If you would like to learn all about native seed nursery operations, and participate in native seed collection, join the Lake-to-Prairie Chapter and the forest preserve district’s Nursery Program Manager, Kelly Burdick for this fun and educational experience.  It’s a great opportunity to see first-hand the vital job they do here. Participants must be at least 10 years of age and accompanied by an adult if under 18.

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

An arboretum is a living museum dedicated to trees and woody plants and serves as a place for conservation and public engagement. Join the Lake-to -Prairie Chapter at the  Reiner Park Native Tree and Shrub Arboretum in Buffalo Grove, IL.. There will be a tour and planting opportunity at this botanical facility.

Starting an arboretum is a meaningful and rewarding endeavor that requires planning and a passion for trees and shrubs. It's surprisingly easy to create one with as few as 25 species, including the trees and shrubs that are already on site. Jeff Weiss, Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter board member, will tell the story of the Reiner Park Native Tree and Shrub Arboretum in photos and offer advice on how to start an arboretum in your community.

Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. 

Landscaping plays a vital role in responsible land stewardship. By incorporating native plants, we can help rebuild ecosystems, restore essential connections between plants and animals, and support a healthier, more resilient planet. This conference will empower participants to create wildlife-friendly habitats, promote biodiversity, and address the decline in wildlife populations through the power of native plant gardening.

Discover the power of ecological garden design in this free national webinar, Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard, with award-winning landscape designer Larry Weaner. Join us for a personal look at how dynamic, self-sustaining landscapes can emerge when we partner with nature instead of controlling it. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Larry will share practical strategies for designing dynamic gardens that evolve naturally, support biodiversity, and bring lasting beauty to your yard.

Designing with native plants isn’t just about what you grow, it’s about how you shape your space. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe Evans (Plan it Wild) and Heather Evans (Design Your Wild) guide you through the process of creating a cohesive yard plan that supports both your lifestyle and biodiversity.