Events

Growing native plants from seed is a rewarding experience and one of the best ways to learn about native plants. Many native plants start to produce seed in abundance come late summer. Please join us for an introduction to native seeds. Calla Butler, Native Plant Horticulturist at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, will present on the importance of seed collection, the ethics of collecting, cleaning practices, useful tools, and more. Following the presentation, we will step into the Great Lakes Gardens for a hands-on experience of harvesting seed!

Portions of the workshop's seed harvest will go to the Seeds to Community project, a collaborative program of A2WO. https://www.facebook.com/groups/seedstocommunitywashtenaw/ 

 Supplies for the workshop will be provided.

About Calla Butler

Calla Butler became the Native Plant Gardens Horticulturist at Matthaei Botanical Gardens in March 2024, after two years as a seasonal horticulture technician. She also has experience as Head Gardener at a landscape design and maintenance company and as a floriculturist at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle. She is a lifelong native plant enthusiast.

As the Native Plant Gardens Horticulturist, Calla maintains the Great Lakes Gardens (alongside Matthaei's wonderful volunteers!), collects and processes native seed, and propagates plants for both restoration and Matthaei's native plant sale. 

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. 

Linda Verardi on Her Garden and the Tour

In October 2020, my husband and I purchased a small ranch house on 8.33 acres, primarily because I fell in love with the forest. In 2022, I suspected oak wilt* (Ceratocystis fagacearum), and that is when my desire to allow the land to return to nature started me on the path of forest restoration and conservation and native plants. 

I am eager to share my journey and my learning. Please come and spend some time with me. I have a lot to learn.

*Oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum) is a fungal disease that grows on the outer sapwood of oak trees, restricting the flow of water and nutrients.

Instagram @minativegarden

LOCATION: The address will be shared with members via email. 

LOCATION NOTE: The presentation is about Fair Lane, but is in our usual indoor meeting spot at Matthaei Botanical Gardens!

Presenter: Karen Marzonie, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Fair Lane: Home of Henry & Clara Ford

Join us for a presentation on the gardens and grounds at Fair Lane, the home of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford and his wife, Clara. The property was established in 1915 on 1,300 acres of farmland, and the 31,000-square-foot main house, completed in 1938, is a National Historic Landmark.

Part 1: An overview of the site's history and discussion of the people who shaped its once-private landscape. 

Part 2: This section will highlight current efforts to restore the buildings, gardens, and grounds for public enjoyment. 

Part 3: A description of Fair Lane's Garden Volunteer Program and opportunities for community involvement.

About Karen Marzonie

Karen Marzonie is the Director of Gardens and Grounds at Fair Lane: Home of Clara & Henry Ford. Over the past twenty years, Karen has been at the front of a broad scope of initiatives such as leading planning and restoration projects, managing service contracts, preparing and administering grants, organizing symposiums, and guiding staff, interns, and volunteers. Karen earned her Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Master's in Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan. Karen's community volunteer activity includes serving as Awards Chair for the Garden Club of Dearborn and leading the planting and maintenance of a Pollinator Garden as an advanced MSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.

PARKING: Metered parking is available at Matthaei Botanical Gardens; members park for free.

Fair Lane website 

Fair Lane on Instagram  

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! 

Native plant gardens are representative of our relationship to the whole household of Nature. - Dan Gannon

Presenter: Dan Gannon, Park Horticulturalist, Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation 

Dan Gannon will share a fresh perspective on working with the cycles of nature to maintain natural landscapes. Dan takes an approach that is economical as well as ecological, integrating creative thinking with diverse expressions of beauty. Dan will share tools tips and practices from his many years of experience working in natural landscapes.

Dan Gannon, Park Horticulturist for Washtenaw County Parks & Rec, has owned and operated farms and a native plant design/build/maintain landscape company, drawing on his education in microbial ecology. He appreciates the resilience of both Humans and Nature.

PARKING: Metered parking is available at Matthaei Botanical Gardens; members park for free.

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!