Events

Identifying trees without leaves is difficult. Learning to I.D. trees throughout the year by their twigs can help. With this knowledge you can make informed decisions on the best trees for your property and enhance the habitat for wildlife. Presented by Emily Lubcke, Natural Resource Manager, The Galena Territory Association.

How to approach designing your yard with native plants? Where do you begin? What plants are best for my garden? Cory Ritterbusch will address these questions, as well as how to garden with natives for large and small spaces. 

Cory is Planner for the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commision, with twenty five years experience at Prairie Works, Inc. with a focus on ecological restoration, prescription fire, and native landscape design. 

Discussion on valuable host plants of Jo Daviess County.

How to start a native plant landscape-from small to large.

Share on what works for us, what doesn't.

Share, in photos, pictures personal landscapes and the steps to get to where it is today.

Share what works, what struggles we have encountered in our native plants gardens.

Finally, best resources for native plants.

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Presented by Stanley (Jay) Solomon

Extension Educator Natural Resources, Environment and Energy

University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne

Illinois Extension

Water management has become an environmental issue. In this presentation, you will learn:

Why native plants are ideal for wet or dry conditions.
How gardening with native plants can improve water quality. 
What landscape elements help native plants thrive.
How to move or capture water to improve your landscape conditions.
Other landscaping practices that will improve water quality.

Native butterflies and moths lay their eggs on host plants. Why have they adapted to certain plants, and which native plants host the most variety of caterpillars? In this presentation you will discover why it is critical to plant the appropriate plants for these insects, and how these caterpillars support native birds. 

Join us for a presentation on:

 The importance of native plants in a healthy environment.

 What can individuals do to use and promote these valuable plants?

 What information is available on native plants?

What are some reliable sources for these plants?

 How Wild Ones can help you connect to others in your native plant journey. 

Erin Garrett will provide valuable information on how and why plant natives under trees. Learn the ecological benefits of planting natives underneath trees and explore your options when it comes to choosing shade tolerant native plants.

Erin Garrett is a Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Extension for the University of Illinois Extension. She earned her master’s degree in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University in 2017, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the College of Saint Benedict in 2015.

Join us for a showing of Dr. Doug Tallamy’s pre-recorded Wild Ones lecture on the value of having native plants in our yard. You will learn: 

How native plants support our ecosystems and our wildlife.
Why native plants are much better for local habitats than introduced species.
What we can do in our own backyard to slow climate change and save nature!

Wild Ones of Jo Daviess County and Galena Green Team will be available to talk about volunteer opportunities!

Popcorn and Prizes!

John Schroeder, Forest Manager for the Abbey, will be conducting a landscape scale restoration of the Abbey's streams and wetland resources. Around 200 acres of farmland will be removed from crop production over a period of 3 years and converted to native tree, shrubs, and prairie plants. The primary objective is to improve the water quality of two of  the creeks on the property, the secondary objective is to increase general wildlife populations with a focus on native pollinators, specifically monarchs and rusty patch bumblebees. By using native plants close to the creeks we hope to cool the water for fish species, and reduce the amount of pollutants entering the stream. We hope to use nature and low tech restoration methods to build "sinosity" or the meandering nature of creeks. In turn this meandering nature increases the amount of space for flooding and reduces downstream flood risk and erosion. 

 You all will get a "before" picture of the land and hopefully as we progress through the restoration you all can come back yearly to see the landscape change in real time. 

Please meet in the Abbey parking lot at 10 a.m.  Appropriate hiking gear please.

 To attend please register by email at [email protected]

Join Wild Ones of Jo Daviess County and Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation for a tour of Wapello Land and Water Reserve led by a JDCF guide. We will explore one of the most impressive, short grass prairie restorations in Illinois. Learn the history of Wapello, and view the native plants that have a vital place in the prairie.

Please register at [email protected]

Wild Ones Jo Daviess members are invited to tour the seed preparation operation of the Prairie Enthusiasts of Northwest Illinois

 We will tour NIPE’s seed drying operation and meet members of the Prairie Enthusiasts as we learn about this important part of their conservation efforts to restore the prairies of Jo Daviess County. As well as observing the how of NIPE’s seed handling, you will also learn how you can:

Determine the readiness and proper timing of picking native seeds.
Dry your own seeds.
Store seeds for future planting.

If time allows, there will be a tour of NIPE’s rare native prairie plant gardens.  Participants will learn why these gardens were created, which plants are currently in propagation, and how these plants assist NIPE’s efforts to restore native prairies in Jo Daviess County. 

Please register early, as space is limited for this free event.

Please dress for the weather. 

The address will be provided when you register.

Please register at [email protected]

Native butterflies and moths lay their eggs on host plants. Why have they adapted to certain plants, and which native plants host the most variety of caterpillars? In this presentation you will discover why it is critical to plant the appropriate plants for these insects, and how these caterpillars support native birds. 

You will also get an overview of what Wild Ones National and Wild Ones of Jo Daviess County can help you in your native plant journey.

This event is during the village of Elizabeth's Harvest Fest. Please plan accordingly.

Please join us for an afternoon of socialization, meet fellow members and their guests and discuss native plants. There will be:

Refreshments

Prizes

Discussions of what you would like to learn in the coming year

Members, you are welcome to bring guests!

October brings peak fall leaf color change, mass migrations, falling temperatures, threats of frost, and shorter days. Most of us feel a strong need to clean up our yards and get it tidy for winter. Learn about steps you can take in your yard to prepare your native beds for next year. Native plant gardens hold the next generation of some of our most sensitive pollinators. Help protect them! 

Presenter: Kaytlan Moeller is Outreach Coordinator with Dubuque County Conservation. She is also Coordinator of the Mowing to Monarchs Program, an initiative to convert turf grass to pollinator habitat. 

Join Wild Ones Honorary Director Heather Holm as she explores the nesting habitats, life cycles, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of some of the most common native bees in eastern North America, while highlighting the pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees.

When creating and managing thriving habitats for native bees, many factors such as seasonal phenology, nesting strategies, and flower preferences must be considered—and with approximately 3,600 species in North America (north of Mexico), there are many unique aspects to keep in mind when managing successful landscapes for bees. 

Master Naturalist Pam Richards, of the Lake Carroll Association Prairie Club, will discuss how to winter sow seeds in enclosed containers. You can grow plants from seeds all winter and transplant these plants right into your garden at the appropriate time. 

Winter Sowing is the perfect way to start your native plants from seed.  Most natives require seed stratification or a freeze/thaw to break the seed coat for germination. This method can save you money by growing your plants from seeds, and be spring/summer ready. Winter sowing can also work for perennials, annuals and vegetables!

Pam has been perfecting her winter sowing techniques for three years, and produced over one thousand native plants for the 2023 growing season! She will share her knowledge, answer questions and demonstrate different options for winter sowing. Participants will take home native seed packets to try this winter!

This presentation is open to the public. No registration is required. Donations to the guest speakers are always appreciated.

Join us for an enlightening webinar featuring authors, Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, as they present their latest book, "The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants." This comprehensive compendium is a treasure trove of knowledge for gardeners looking to incorporate native prairie plants into their landscapes. Neil and Hilary will delve into the making and application of this essential guide, sharing rich historical and ecological insights about prairie ecosystems, all while showcasing stunning images of prairie flora.