Events

Description: Beyond a doubt, our world is changing quickly as climate change and invasive species rewire native ecosystems. However, most research on these threats to biodiversity occurs in spring and summer. In this presentation, we will explore how climate change and invasive species are changing fall and winter, why this matters, and discuss how plants might adapt to new fall and winter habitats.

Presenter: We are delighted to have Pete Guiden, a professor of Biology at Hamilton College, discuss some of his research on this topic. Pete is a community ecologist, studying the interaction of living things. An important component of this research is understanding how humans alter these interactions through climate change, habitat loss, and introducing invasive species. A large part of Guiden’s research focuses on the ecology of seeds—where they go, who eats them, and how many survive to adulthood.

Email [email protected] for Zoom link

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. 

 “Native Plant Garden Design: The Power of Our Compassionate Landscape” Presented by Maggie Reilly

Maggie will discuss the importance of planting native plants to preserve healthy, biodiverse ecosystems and create compassionate landscapes.  Beautiful, well-designed native gardens and home landscapes can enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. Maggie will show how to use native plants in traditional garden design, creating gardens that respect and sustain all living things; plants, pollinators, wildlife, and humans.

In addition to her gardening skills, Maggie is also an environmental engineer. She works on nature-based stream and floodplain restoration projects that exclusively use native plants. Gardening became an integral part of her life while growing up on the banks of the Raquette River in northern NY. As an adult, she has focused on garden design and the study of plants, taking many garden design and horticulture courses. She and her husband John are putting compassionate landscape techniques into practice, transitioning their gardens to include mainly native plants.

The Hamilton College Saturday Arboretum Series is free and open to the public. It is both in person and via Zoom. Taylor Science Center Kennedy Auditorium, Map #44 (parking behind Ferguson House off of North Road, Map #48). To register for Zoom, or to see campus map, visit https://www.hamilton.edu/arboretum/calendar. Zoom registration may not be available until a few days before the event.

WOMV Chapter Planning Meeting. All members welcome. RSVP to [email protected]

Book Discussion of Excerpts from “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Liseli Haines and Gerry Gogel will facilitate a discussion of two chapters from “Braiding Sweetgrass.”  The two chapters we will discuss are 'The Gift of Strawberries' (pages 22-32) and 'The Epiphany in the Beans' (pages 121-127).  If you have not previously read the book, you may also want to read 'Skywoman Falling' (pages 3-10) and 'The Three Sisters' (pages 128-140).

In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us why humans need to have a reciprocal relationship with nature. The author is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.

Copies of the book are available in bookstores or from the Mid-York Library system. Facilitators Gerry [email protected] and Liseli [email protected] each have spare copies to lend as well. The discussion will be held in person at the Kirkland Town Library (55 1/2 College St., Clinton.)  in the Bristol Room on the 2nd floor.  There is an elevator to the 2nd floor.

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. 

WOMV will be planning our spring and summer WOMV activities. All dues paying members are welcome to join us, and all newsletter readers are welcome to email suggestions to [email protected]. Meeting via Zoom, rsvp for link. 

Tabling Event to promote native plants for BOCES grade 7-12

Whether you are new to native plant gardening or an experienced gardener, we all have questions about what plants will grow well for particular conditions, be it heavy shade, brutal sun, a wet area, a front yard garden, a meadow, deer, etc.  Bring your questions or just come to learn about and see photos of a wide range of native plants as we share tips, ideas and experiences for gardening with native plants. If you are already gardening with natives, bring your plant list so that we can hear about what you’ve planted and how those species have done in your yard-for better or worse! 

The discussion will be held in person at the Kirkland Town Library (55 1/2 College St., Clinton.)  in the Bristol Room on the 2nd floor.  There is an elevator to the 2nd floor.

Our first work party of 2024! Come help remove vinca from a Clinton yard. Please feel free to stop by, even if, for any reason, you are unable to do the physical work. Work parties are a great way to see some native plants growing in a local homeowner’s yard. 

RSVP to [email protected]  for exact address. 

Help plant the 1300 shrubs and trees into the planting bed installed last fall on Veteran’s Day!  Bring gloves and trowel if you have them.  Place: Veteran’s Memorial Park at the Rtes 5 & 12 New Hartford

Join other Wild Ones volunteers to help apply wood chips in this homeowner’s yard in preparation for a new 600 square foot native plant garden. Even if you are unable to do the physical work, feel free to come by and learn about the planned deer resistant garden. RSVP [email protected] for exact address.

Volunteer to help set up for opening day (Saturday, May 4th) at the newest and closest native plant nursery in the Utica area. There will be both physical jobs and sit down jobs, all outside, from 10-5 with a free vegetarian lunch from 1-2. People are welcome to come for whatever time fits their schedule.  RSVP to [email protected]

 WOMV will sell native pollinator plants from Wild Ginger Farm and have an educational table at this popular annual event. If you’d like to volunteer to help, please email [email protected]. Location is Great Swamp Conservancy, 8375 North Main Street Canastota, NY

 Wild Ginger Farm opened last year and is our nearest native plant nursery! Owner Alyssa Wisehart will give a short talk with some tips for gardeners, descriptions about the plants that are for sale, as well as helping attendees to find the right plants for their conditions. And  10% off for dues-paying WO’s members! Visit the website to view the available plant list and look at the lovely photos of native plants and the farm. If you can’t join us for our visit, the nursery opens on Saturday, May 4th and will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1-5pm.  211 County Road 21, West Winfield, NY