Events

This is a joint tour with the North Oakland and Wayne County Wild Ones chapters. In addition to nurturing a beautiful butterfly/pollinator garden using native and non-native plants, John Blair has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore a prairie on a large portion of this once agricultural property. 

Enjoy Wonderful Photos of John Blair's Property 

2023 feature in Fine Gardening 

Prairie 2024, an album on flickr

John Blair on the Gardens, Prairie, and Savanna We Will Tour

I will provide a guided tour of the gardens, prairie, and savanna. There is about a half-mile trail system we can walk to view the prairie/savanna habitat. There are also three ponds that have been restored as well. You will find these teeming with life. Please be prepared for uneven ground on the trails. Hats are also recommended. The tour normally takes 1.5 hours. Folks are free to wander about and explore the property after the tour. 

For those who are not able to make the longer trail walk - You are welcome to enjoy the three very accessible pollinator gardens and relax on the provided benches. I had over 500 folks visit last summer from various Master Gardener groups, garden clubs, and nature organizations, but this will be my first visit from Wild Ones. I am looking forward to your visit!

More About the Property and Its History

After retiring and then moving to our nine-acre rural site outside Brooklyn in 2019, I got busy continuing my dream of creating large pollinator gardens and doing a restoration of a prairie and savanna area. 

We currently have three separate gardens which I like to call “Blended Gardens.” These are roughly 50% native and 50% non-native (and noninvasive) nectar sources. The purpose of these gardens is to demonstrate how folks can start their native plant journey by incorporating natives into their existing landscape alongside nectar plants they are already familiar with. The hope is that these demonstration gardens can be an inspirational gateway for those interested in learning about native plants and creating useful habitat in their own spaces. 

The prairie and savanna is a joint project through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. Basically, for landowners interested in returning their property back to native habitat, they will cover half the cost of the project. They will also partner you with an experienced biologist to guide the process and to access the necessary equipment and resources needed for the project. We entered the program in 2020, and after two years of site prep, seeded the five-acre prairie and savanna in June 2022. Since this is the third summer since it was seeded, we are expecting a spectacular year!

Last year I started working on last year was revising a number of my gardens.  I could talk and show how native plant gardens can come to need revisions, like when one species gets too aggressive or some  aren't happy where they were and flop or need a different environment (like more or less sun), or you just don't like the look.  I have 5 different gardens that I will be revising.  Some I removed a bunch of plants last year and will be adding new ones this. Some I completely revised and etc.  Some members may recall my sharing a bunch of my "removals" last year.

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

This is a Wild Ones Member Only - FREE private tour of the Oudolf Garden. Please arrive early. Parking is limited so please carpool. The walk will occur Rain or Shine, so please come prepared for the weather, including sunscreen/bug spray.

NOTE: You will need a State Recreation Pass for the visit to Belle Isle, this can be obtained at the entrance kiosk - Oudolf garden is included in the pass

Meredith Simpson, a volunteer with Oudolf Garden Detroit has very graciously agreed to lead Wild Ones chapters, Wayne County, North Oakland, and Ann Arbor on a tour of Ouldolf Garden Detroit.

The Ouldolf Garden project started back in 2015 as new idea by the Garden Club of Michigan, in an effort to create a significant impact in the city. Garden club members Maura Campbell, Jean Hudson and Richard Thomas then sent a “love letter from Detroit” to Piet Oudolf, and he ultimately accepted the commission. Fundraising began immediately, and fast forward several years…the Belle Isle garden was designed, installed and planted by the fall of 2020. This year, 2024, will be the fourth full growing season for Oudolf Garden Detroit.

All 3 local Wild Ones Chapters are hosting this event jointly - North Oakland, Ann Arbor, & Wayne County please contact your local chapter for carpool info

Catie Wytychak and Rachel Leanor of our A2WO chapter partner, Community Partners for Clean Streams (CPCS) of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commission, will guide us and other volunteers in adding native plants to a significant bioswale in Dolph Park. We will plant along the shoreline and within the bottom of the swale using a clever new method for installing aquatic plants. We will use a small biodegradable sack with a rock in the bottom to wrap the roots of each plant, and then drop the plant, with the rock, into the water. Unsurprisingly, the rock sinks the sack and the sack brings the roots with it to the river bottom, where it will take root. Wear your sturdy boots or tall rubber boots if you have those. If you don’t, you will be able to plant by standing on the shore. All other materials will be provided. 

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this volunteer activity.

MEETING POINT Dolph Bioswale, near the intersection of Parklake Ave and Lakeview Dr (off Jackson Rd), Ann Arbor 

The goal of Member-to-Member garden visits (aka Show Me-Tell Me), is to allow members to share experiences, ideas, and challenges with maintaining native plants in our landscapes. The location of the member hosting these visits will be shared privately with the A2WO members and invited guests.

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

The goal of Member-to-Member garden visits (aka Show Me-Tell Me), is to allow members to share experiences, ideas, and challenges with maintaining native plants in our landscapes. The location of the member hosting these visits will be shared privately with the A2WO members and invited guests.

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One’s national webinar, “Matrix Landscape Design” with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin’s latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot! 

Learn about the Wild Ones San Diego Chapter's newest demonstration garden funded in part by Monarch Joint Venture and U.S. Forest Service International Programs. You'll also hear from landscape designer Jeanine Sharkey about this newest San Diego native garden design. 

More details and registration coming soon. 

Learn about the Wild Ones Capital Region NY Chapter's newest demonstration garden, funded partly by Monarch Joint Venture and U.S. Forest Service International Programs. You'll also hear from landscape designer Kate Brittenham about this newest Albany NY native garden design. 

More details and registration coming soon

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!