Events

Our Annual Chapter Member Meeting will take place on:

 Thursday January 23, 2025

5:30 - 6:30 p.m

This meeting will be presented via Zoom

 Link will be sent the week of the meeting

We will share the “Year in Review," annual financial report, our ideas (and yours) for relevant and interesting programming for 2025 and board election results. 

Please email comments or questions before meeting  at: [email protected]. 

However, there will also be a 15 minute opportunity to make public comments at the end of the meeting.

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Seed sowing in a container is an inexpensive way to start growing seeds outdoors in the winter through early spring. Learn how to start vegetables and native plants with this no fuss method in your own yard. You will leave with your own seed starting container and seeds to get you started! 

There will also be a seed swap! Bring seeds that you would like to share in labeled envelopes or paper bags. Include the name of the plant, growing conditions and year it was harvested. As well as sharing with other plant lovers, the Galena Public Library would be happy to take contributions for their seed library! 

This program will be presented by members of the Wild Ones Tri-State Driftless chapter and Jess Carryer, owner of Dropseed Farm. 

Registration is required. There will be a registration link provided by the Galena Library in February. Please visit the library website at: https://galenalibrary.org/

As native plants get more and more popular, the resources continue to grow. But, how do you find them and what should you look for in a provider? In this presentation, we will share some resources for native plant growers, and what questions you should ask. As a group, we will share other resource ideas for native plants. Maybe you have a resource or idea to share!

We will discuss:

Resources for native garden design. Deciding on native versus cultivars and nativars. Questions to ask a plant nursery or provider or maybe a neighbor before you bring a plant home. What are local and online resources for native plants? How can I share plants with others or find others that want to swap plants?

Registration is desired. Please register at 
https://carnegiestout.librarycalendar.com/event/native-plant-resources-wild-ones-16219

Light pollution affects more than our Dark Night enjoyment of the stars and planets. It affects our physical and mental health, safety and is energy and cost inefficient. Light pollution causes amphibian, bird and insect injury and death, contributing significantly to current bird and insect decline. 

Our presenter, Adam Kreuzer, is a delegate from the International Dark Sky Association. Before volunteering to be a delegate, Adam was the Chair of the Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission and has advocated for the Sierra Club. He continues to advocate for the environment, including the skies above.

You are welcome to watch this zoom presentation as a group in the Owners' Club Lounge of the Galena Territory.  No resgistration is required for the in person event. Please arrive by 5:45.

Galena Territory Homeowners' Club Lounge:   2000 Territory Dr, Galena, IL, 61036

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Please join Dubuque County Conservation and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium staff as they touch on the importance of tri-state bat populations, their ecosystems, conservation efforts nationwide and globally, benefits to using bats in terms of integrated pest management, and ways to make sure that bats don't get in homes or other structures. 

County Conservation staff will cover bat houses and regulations should bats enter the home or if you encounter bats on your property. A little education can go a long way in helping these wonderful creatures! 

Depending on availability, there may be some time for questions at the end of the presentation.

Reference Links:

River Museum: https://www.rivermuseum.org/about 

Green Iowa: https://www.greeniowaamericorps.org/ 

Native bees are unsung heroes, quietly pollinating our plants for millions of years; critical both environmentally and economically. Yet they remain unknown or ignored by most of us 

Wild Ones Tri-state Driftless is excited to host Holly Faust as our speaker from Hamilton County Parks and Recreation in Indiana who has been passionate about native bees for over 10 years. She will be streamed in to the venue via Zoom. 

In this presentation, learn about the life styles, diversity, importance and challenges of native bees as well as how to support them locally. Holly will discuss native bees and honey bees and why it is important to make the distinction. She will provide examples of the types of native bees and how they live. Are they solitary? How do they nest? How does crop pollination fit into this insect’s story? What are some of the myths of native bees. 

Join us in taking a closer look at this forgotten treasure of native bees. How can we support them in our community and in our own backyards? 

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

The original format for this event has changed, as Cory Ritterbusch needed to cancel as guest speaker. 

 We will now present a screening of “The Nature of Oaks,” by Doug Tallamy. This pre-recorded program will help you discover why oak trees are biodiversity powerhouses and will show you how to restore nature right in your own yard, no matter its size. 

After the screening there will be a question and answer session led by Emily Lubtke, Natural Resource Manager of the Galena Territory Association. 

 Two of the five gardens at this years' garden walk will be native plantings. Please join us for all of the gardens, and learn about natives at the two we will be on site for. 

To attend this garden walk you need to register at the Galena Territory Homeowners' Club, and the fee is $15.

Did you ever want to try your hand at photographing the beauty around us; flowers, butterflies, animals, or more? Come join us as Michelle Deiter gives us pointers. Perhaps you want create artwork for your walls. If you are a Wild Ones member, you could submit a photograph in their annual photo contest. The presentation will begin inside. And weather permitting, we will move outside to practice. Bring a camera if you like and you can practice as Michelle helps. 

Presented by Michelle Deiter

Michelle is known for her professional artwork hanging at her son’s restaurant, Big Bill’s Sandwich Shop. Michelle received her first camera, a Nikkormat at age 16 for her birthday. She has been a photographer for over 50 years and learned by trial and error. She worked in a photo lab where she learned about the 3 keys to photography: aperture, shutter, and ISO or film speed. She was Ronald Regan’s campaign photographer in 1980 in Michigan. Michelle will shoot anything once, and more if she loves it.

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Did you know that small changes in your yard can have a huge impact on biodiversity? By creating native habitat, you can help restore nature while experiencing the joy and fulfillment of connecting with the world around you. This will be a video presentation from Professor Doug Tallamy, @homegrownnationalpark.

In this presentation you will hear Inspiring insights on how nature rebounds when we take action and practical steps to create habitat and support wildlife. There will be Q&A time to discuss your native planting questions. Free handouts showing the best native trees and plants for your area will be available.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!