Events

As Pollinator Week wraps us join us for a viewing of The Extraordinary Caterpillar.

Not only do caterpillars turn into beautiful butterflies and moths, caterpillars are the driving force of the food web. They convert plants into protein rich food that supports wildlife, particularly nesting birds. 

This film takes a beautiful close up look at these important creatures.

Join us on a guided hike through the beautiful Thorne Swift Nature Preserve. Hopefully, the timing will be right to catch the Showy Lady Slipper in bloom. This rare lady slipper is the tallest native northern orchid.

Are you creating a design proposal for the Petoskey Library native garden? Come and share your design ideas for consideration. This is a great opportunity to practice native garden design!

All submitted plans will be reviewed by the Wild Ones planning committee and a final design will be turned into the library board.

You don’t have to be present at this meeting to submit a plan. Plans can be emailed to  [email protected]

We will meet at the top of the driveway near the old clubhouse. From there we will head out with our phones using iNaturalist to capture photos of any and all organisms. We will take some time before we head out to talk about using iNaturalist if you are new to it. 

You don’t need iNaturalist to join us, but if you plan to use it make sure you have downloaded the app.

What is a Bioblitz?
A bioblitz is a communal effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible.

Bioblitzes are great ways to engage the public to connect to their environment while generating useful data for science and conservation. They are also an excuse for naturalists, scientists, and curious members of the public to meet in person in the great outdoors, and they're a lot of fun!

Join other native plant enthusiasts to ask questions and share info. Whether your yard is completely native or you are just getting started on your native plant journey, come join others for some plant talk and good drinks!

During the summer months we will be discussing the 12 week Less Lawn More Life challenges

Join LTC’s Amy Lipson for this Wild Ones guided hike. 

From the LTC website: This nature preserve has one of the most spectacular views in northern Michigan, the Charles A. Ransom Nature Preserve is well worth visiting. The 80-acre property was donated in 1976 by Woodbury and Christiana Ransom in memory of their son. From its highest elevation of 320 feet above Lake Michigan, viewers can see much of western Charlevoix County, a broad expanse of Lake Michigan, four islands, and the distant Leelanau Peninsula on a clear day. In 2021, several funders came together for the acquisition of the 160-acre Bytwerk Reserve, with the Bytwerk Family the primary funders. This land has historically been enrolled in qualified forest and tree farm programs.

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.

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.

Join other native plant enthusiasts to ask questions and share info. Whether your yard is completely native or you are just getting started on your native plant journey, come join others for some plant talk and good drinks!

During the summer months we will be discussing the 12 week Less Lawn More Life challenges

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.

Join LTC’s Amy Lipson for a demo on ways to manage invasive plants, particularly those with deep roots that continue to come back if the roots aren’t killed.  After the demo we will hike as time permits. 

We will meet at the pole barn just up the driveway from the main parking area.

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.