Events

Planting for pollinators and buying native plants can get expensive. Winter seed sowing into containers is one way to reduce that expense. In this workshop you will learn how to sow seeds in winter. A container can hold as many as 100 seedlings of a single species—seedlings which can be replanted to your garden or landscape. You will leave with two planted containers after which you can continue to expand your native plantings with more seed sowing this winter.

The workshop will be facilitated by Angela Sisson from Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley. She has been helping people plant pollinator friendly gardens, including the pollinator garden at the library. Angela has an ecological landscape design degree and has been using native plants in the landscape for over two decades.

Registration required. $20 includes all materials for two containers.

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

All members are invited to join the next Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley leadership team meeting on Tuesday, April 2nd, from 3:00-4:30 pm in New Paltz. We will be discussing a range of topics. Interested members-volunteers are welcome to join. If you would like to attend, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. As a new chapter, we have a lot we're doing and planning, and we appreciate our members' participation!

Creating a Pollinator Meadow: Part I - Site Preparation

Call for Volunteers

Learn how to prepare a native meadow on at this community garden site. We will lay tarps on an area about 10' x 87' which is currently mown. The tarps will be held in place with the sandbags. Over the spring and summer, the tarps will smother the existing plants enabling us to sow meadow seeds this fall.  Watch for the volunteer meadow seeding event in November. This meadow installation is designed to support pollinators.

This meadow project is in partnership with the Vassar College Community Gardens.

This is a free and public event.   Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. Carpooling for this event is encouraged. If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

Doug Tallamy points out that there are an estimated 40 million acres of lawn in the US - lawn which provides little to no benefit for wildlife, especially our native pollinators.

Join us to learn how the homeowners of this property near Gardiner, NY are transforming their suburban-style landscape - large lawn with a few scattered trees - into a habitat-friendly ecological landscape. Starting with a master plan, the owners will be approaching this as a mostly DIY operation and phasing in a variety of different projects as budget and time constraints allow.

Meadow - During this first phase we will help prepare an area approximately 20’x100’ for a native wildflower meadow by smothering the existing lawn with plastic tarp. After a full season of smothering, the meadow will be seeded late this fall to start growing in 2025.

Pond - The first phase also includes a small (12’x7’) “natural pond” currently under construction. We will learn how natural ponds use plants instead of chemicals to clean and filter the water. Fish, including exotic koi, will be kept out of this pond to allow frogs and other native amphibians to safely inhabit the waters.

Forum - We will exchange ideas and strategies for converting lawn to productive habitats and build community with like-minded neighbors.

This is a free, public event on private property. Registration is required with a limit of 20 people. Address will be sent to all who register. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements.

The Gardiner Library and Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley are hosting a native plant sale again this year.
Plants are $4 each. Cash or check preferred. Debit/credit available.

These small plants, called landscape plugs, are much less expensive than container plants and an excellent way to keep costs down while trying out some new plants.

Proceeds to benefit the library.

To ensure that we have enough plants available this year:

-We have increased the number of plants to 1200.
-We will also limit the quantity to 1/2 flat per customer (either 16 or 25 plants depending on flat size). Please note that anyone interested in purchasing more than the 1/2 flat limit should contact Angela Sisson at [email protected] to see about making arrangements for a larger purchase.

Plant species available at this year’s sale include:

Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
False Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Longflower Alumroot (Heuchera longiflora)
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)
Beebalm (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’)
Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa)
Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) 
Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’)
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)

We will meet at the Fern Glen at Cary and together enjoy the lovely and ephemeral spring wildflowers while they are with us.  There are benches above the stream for sitting and admiring the view or enjoying a snack (bring your own.)  Please allow time to park in the upper lot at Cary and walk down to the Fern Glen unless you are mobility-impaired.  There are only 5 spots at the Fern Glen.

This is a short, narrow and occasionally slippery trail.  Please come prepared for ticks and sun with long pants or bug spray, hats, water.  Bring a snack if you like.

Come when you can; it will be easy to spot the group on the short trail.

Join us for a visit to Stonecrop Gardens. Known for its dramatic landscape of windswept fields and rocky slopes, Stonecrop is located in Cold Spring, NY. The gardens were created by Garden Conservancy founder Frank Cabot and his wife Anne. The garden’s mission is to inspire gardeners to explore the variety of plants and to experiment in the garden. Though these gardens are not exclusively or even primarily planted with natives, we will be focusing on design principles. The woodland, cliff rock garden, and water gardens can provide inspiration to those who are interested in creating naturalistic garden designs using native. We will receive an orientation to the garden and then as a group explore the woodlands together collecting ideas that can be applied to shade gardens using native species. After that you’ll be free to explore on your own the cliff rock gardens, alpine gardens, etc. on a self guided tour.

There is a $10 general admission ($5 for seniors 65+) to Stonecrop Garden which will be collected at the site. Registration is required with a limit of 20 people. Registration will be available closer to the event date. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. Carpooling for this event is encouraged. If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve is located in the southern Catskill Mountains in Sullivan County, NY. The gardens are an ongoing work by author, teacher, and landscape designer, Carolyn Summers. Throughout her career, Carolyn has been acutely aware of the need for clients, DIY homeowners, and designers to be able to see how lovely native plants are when used in garden settings. The Catskills - mostly in a Zone 5 climate - makes an excellent test for fitness and hardiness. In addition to managed gardens, large areas of the property are preserved to protect native flora in their natural habitats, along with the wildlife that depend on them. We invite you to come and experience the beauty, diversity and sustainability of the native flora for yourself. These gardens will leave you inspired to plant more of the same.

Registration is required with a limit of 20 people. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. Address will be sent to all who register. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

This event has been CANCELLED

If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

Are you craving more edibles in your native plant garden? In addition to the many native plants in your garden, why not consider some of the uncommon native fruit species that can be cultivated here in the Hudson Valley. The renowned garden-writer Lee Reich, will host us at his Farmden (a mixture of farm and garden) in New Paltz, NY where he grows a variety of native edibles from blueberries to paw paw.

Lee Reich’s farmden is an inspiration for ways that beautiful natives can be integrated into your garden both as formal beds and interwoven with other landscape plants. If we’re lucky some fruit will be ripe enough to sample. 

There is a $20 fee for this event which will be collected at the site (cash or check please). Registration is required with a limit of 20 people. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. Address will be sent to all who register. If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

All members are invited to join the next Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley leadership team meeting on Tuesday, July 9th, from 4:00-6:00 pm in Gardiner. We will be discussing a range of topics. Interested members-volunteers are welcome to join. If you would like to attend, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. As a new chapter, we have a lot we're doing and planning, and we appreciate our members' participation!

Join us for a tour of the Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville, NY.

We will meet with our guide Marc Wolf, the Director of Horticulture, at the Education Center and explore the building first. This timber-frame construction was built using twenty-one species of native trees from the Arboretum’s forest. From here we will explore the landscape surrounding the center, planted exclusively with species native to the Catskills. Designed by Jamie Purinton of the Hudson Valley, this landscape also features six interconnected rain gardens. The tour will then proceed to the West Meadow area which includes another Rain Garden, the Bird Cove and Spiral Labyrinth. Of special note in this area is a new 1.5-acre meadow designed by Larry Weaner. This is the meadow’s second growing season and hopefully we’ll see biennials such as Black-eyed Susan in full bloom.

For those with the time and energy, we encourage you to continue exploring with a self-directed tour of the Woodland Walk, East Meadow and Spruce Glen.

Registration is required with a limit of 20 people. Address will be sent to all who register. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

When it comes to nurseries, Catskill Native Nursery stands out among the crowd. They offer-

1) A truly unusual number of native plant species and plant types;

2) Beautiful on-site native plant gardens to wander through; and

3) Knowledgeable staff able to discuss the plants along with ecological landscaping principles.

Please join us on this field trip for a talk by the nursery manager. We’ll discuss planting natives along with other ecological landscaping topics followed by a Q&A. The discussion incorporates a stroll through the gardens (border, cottage, and woodland) where an extensive variety of native plants have found a home. Whatever your native-gardening level—beginner to advanced—this field trip will further your understanding and leave you inspired to learn more - plant more.

Catskill Native Nursery has been inspiring gardeners since 1999 to create biodiverse and remarkably ornamental gardens using plants that are native to eastern North America.

Registration is required with a limit of 20 people. A registration link will be available closer to the tour date. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

All members are invited to join the next Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley leadership team meeting on Tuesday, August 13, from 5:00-6:30 pm on zoom. We will be discussing a range of topics. Interested members-volunteers are welcome to join. If you would like to attend, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. As a new chapter, we have a lot we're doing and planning, and we appreciate our members' participation!

When it comes to nurseries, Catskill Native Nursery stands out among the crowd. They offer-

1) A truly unusual number of native plant species and plant types;

2) Beautiful on-site native plant gardens to wander through; and

3) Knowledgeable staff able to discuss the plants along with ecological landscaping principles.

Please join us on this field trip for a talk by the nursery manager. We’ll discuss planting natives along with other ecological landscaping topics followed by a Q&A. The discussion incorporates a stroll through the gardens (border, cottage, and woodland) where an extensive variety of native plants have found a home. Whatever your native-gardening level—beginner to advanced—this field trip will further your understanding and leave you inspired to learn more – plant more.

Catskill Native Nursery has been inspiring gardeners since 1999 to create biodiverse and remarkably ornamental gardens using plants that are native to eastern North America.

Registration is required with a limit of 20 people. A registration link will be available closer to the tour date. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

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. 

Join us for a visit to the Hudson Valley Farm Hub's Native Meadow Trial in Hurley, NY. If you are thinking about reducing your lawn and/or adding a meadow to your landscape. Or if you are already in the process of installing one, this field trip will give you a chance to see and learn about the process of meadow establishment.

This will be a hands-on workshop with discussion about establishing a meadow and seed mixes. We'll learn about meadow management and the plants, insects, and wildlife they attract. Researchers and ecologists from the Applied Farmscape Ecology Research Collaborative will be our hosts. Our hosts will share lessons, observations, and interesting insights that apply to smaller projects like those of residential gardeners. We'll learn more about how native meadows are effectively supporting biodiversity and helping to build healthy soils.

This is a free event, but registration is required with a limit of 20 people. The address and details will be sent to all who register. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Join us for a tour of the gardens and meadows at Manitoga, the former home and 75-acre woodland garden of American industrial designer Russel Wright and a National Historic Landmark.

Our tour guide, Emily Phillips, will lead us on an exploration of the gardens surrounding this historical house along with the adjacent meadows. This will be an opportunity to experience a naturalistic and ecological landscape in the setting of Russel Wright's unconventional vision.

"...Wright's integrating vision changed all the familiar components, blending the built elements and the natural landscape together so that each was enriched, enhanced, and transformed by the other. Just as the house is interwoven with the site, the hillside is connected by views to its larger context of the Hudson River Valley..."

Registration is required with a limit of 15 people. A registration link will be available closer to the tour date. Detailed tour information will be sent to all who register. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

All members are invited to join the next Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley leadership team meeting on Tuesday, September 17, from 4:00-6:00 pm in Gardiner. We will be discussing a range of topics. Interested members-volunteers are welcome to join. If you would like to attend, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. As a new chapter, we have a lot we're doing and planning, and we appreciate our members' participation!

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. 

Come and join fellow native plant lovers for a walk on the Locust Grove hiking trails with Prof. Meg Ronsheim, Vassar College Professor of Biology.  Locust Grove is the former home and 200 acre estate of artist and inventor Samuel F.B. Morse.

This walk promises spectacular views, plenty of plants, and time for questions and discussion of the plants and the history of the land, as well as the opportunity to connect with fellow Wild Ones members (or learn more).

The hiking trails have beautiful views of the Hudson and further.  Please wear your sturdy shoes and be prepared for hills and rocky ground.

Registration is required with a limit of 20 people.  Detailed tour information will be sent to all who register. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

All members are invited to join the next Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley leadership team meeting on Tuesday, October 8, from 7:00-8:30 pm on zoom. We will be discussing a range of topics. Interested members-volunteers are welcome to join. If you would like to attend, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. As a new chapter, we have a lot we're doing and planning, and we appreciate our members' participation!

Are you interested in adding more winter interest to your garden? Join us on this visit to Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Gardens if you are like many of us, wondering how you can use native plants and ecological practices to enhance your landscape and gardens. We will explore the gardens, a ‘living textbook' of plant species that thrive in the Hudson Valley. 

Hortus was started back in 2001 by Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano. Their beautiful gardens and greenhouse have expanded to include a field garden, native woodland, and varied collections organized by geographic origin and genus. We will be focusing on their use of native species and management techniques that will help sustain interest and enjoyment through the winter season by using plants with attractive bark, colorful berries, and beautiful structures.

We will collect a $20 fee for this event at the site (cash or check, please). Details of the event will be shared with people who are registered. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements. Carpooling for this event is encouraged. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] 

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! 

Small Gardens, Big Impacts: Meet fellow plant lovers and hear Avalon Bunge speak at our first annual chapter meeting. 

Avalon will talk about stewarding biodiversity in yard-sized spaces, supporting pollinators, bird life, and our local ecosystem. Practical suggestions will be provided.

We'll cover the best native plants for beautiful blooms and berries in settings like home gardens, backyards and even containers. Add native perennials to your garden, convert a patch of lawn to wildflower meadow or plant a shrub that hosts caterpillars, feeds bees, and offers fruit to birds and people too! This presentation will draw from the Hudson Valley Pollinator Action Guide, your go-to resource for protecting threatened, locally native pollinator species, available free at pollinatehv.org. Bring your native garden questions for a lively discussion.

The first annual meeting of Wild Ones Mid-Hudson Valley will follow Avalon’s talk. You will learn more about our work and opportunities to get involved. Snacks and coffee available.

All are invited!

This is a free, public event at the Gardiner Library.

Registration is required.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive program announcements.