Chapter Events

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/ 

We have all heard that insects, including the pollinators, are in decline.  This presentation goes beyond bees and butterflies to describe the many types of insects that provide this valuable service.  Learn that a few changes to how we manage our land and gardens can help reverse the decline.

Join our Speakers Bureau Coordinator, Jan McGowan, as she spreads the Wild Ones message in our communities!

Wild Ones South Bend is planting our Native Demonstration Garden on the grounds of the Potawatomi Conservatories. We have hundreds of plugs to plant. Please bring gloves, planting tools, and a water bottle.

Lessons in Native Plant Gardening: There are no mistakes, just learning experiences! 
Adapting existing gardens to incorporate natives can be a challenge. Evie Kirkwood shares
laments and laughable anecdotes about her experiences gardening in the same yard for 45
years. 

Speaker Info:
Evie has a life-long passion for connecting people to parks and natural areas in Indiana and beyond, sharing her enthusiasm for outdoor experiences with others. In her past role as director of St. Joseph County Parks, her efforts expanded visitor opportunities with mountain bike trails, regional pathways, festivals and natural playscapes. She has been recognized regionally and nationally for her work, including receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash from Indiana’s Governor Holcomb. She hosts a weekly webisode of "Outdoor Elements" on social media and PBS Michiana, a role she has fulfilled for 20 years, often covering topics on native and invasive plants. She is an active board member with Shirley Heinze Land Trust. 
 

She comes from a family of gardeners.

For people either on or ready to begin their native plant journey!  This presentation provides advice and resources to help with planning, sourcing, selecting and planting these wonderful life-supporting plants. Guests will also meet the “Super Nine,” native plants selected by South Bend Wild Ones for their size, adaptability, beauty, and benefit to wildlife. 

Join our Speakers Bureau Coordinator, Jan McGowan, as she spreads the Wild Ones message in our communities!

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!