Events

Join Wild Ones Tri-State Driftless Area as we hear from Shannon McGaw about dead hedges. 

Dead hedges have been around for hundreds of years, initially built using sturdy limbs to delineate between properties. The hedge is filled between two rows of upright limbs with garden debris. The hedge material then creates spaces for all kinds of bugs, animals, and other critters to live and flourish as well as creates a windbreak allowing new plants to thrive. Anyone can easily build a dead hedge in their yard using the available detritus from gardening efforts and keeping it out of the landfill.

Shannon has been an avid gardener off and on for several years. To her utter delight, she moved into a new house already having a dead hedge in the back yard! So began her journey to become more knowledgeable about what a dead hedge is and what it can do for all kinds of native wildlife! 

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.

Native landscapes are becoming more popular in recent years and native shrubs are considered to be the backbone of a healthy ecosystem. They provide food and habitat for wildlife, anchor the soil and thrive with minimal maintenance. 

Join Wild Ones Tri-State Driftless Area to learn about native shrubs that will provide habitat, prevent erosion and thrive with minimal care. From large shrubs that can be used for screening to small shrubs for a limited space, you’ll discover shrubs that are perfect for your landscape!

This event is co-hosted with  the Dubuque Arboretum.

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.

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.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

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.