Events Archive: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Upcoming Events
January 2024
January Presentation: HABITAT LAYERS FOR WILDLIFE
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Mary Wojcik, South Bend horticulturist, will discuss how a layered landscape provides structure, as well as the importance of providing all the layers of habitat needed by our local wildlife.
"Cultivating Change" with Lorraine Johnson
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline/Virtual
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation
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.
Soil Health Summit by St. Joseph County Soil and Water District
St Joseph County Public Library Ballroom
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Symposium on urban soil health for small urban farmers and the public. Approximately 50 people in attendance, 8 people added to mailing list.
February 2024
February Presentation: CANOPY AND MIDSTORY NATIVE TREES
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Join us for an evening with Jake Crawford, Mishawaka Parks Horticulturist and Urban Forester! Jake will be speaking about our native trees and their importance to wildlife, as well as the steps the city of Mishawaka has taken to improve its ecological health by expanding its use of native plants.
ZOOM link: https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/87407304926?pwd=N1EwVjM0czIrL1FNUzliWWV4aktmdz09
SJCPL SCIENCE ALIVE
St Joseph County Public Library Ballroom
Public Welcome Family Friendly Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Science educational event for children put on by public library.
March 2024
March Presentation: HABITAT LAYERING: "BRING ON THE BIRDS"
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Local naturalist, and Wild Ones member, Jan McGowan, will cover the understory habitat layer, with special emphasis on native birds!
Like all living creatures, birds have basic needs: food, water, shelter, space... Jan will explain how habitat layering is the best way to support- and therefore, attract- diverse bird species to your native plant garden, any time of year!
Wild Ones @ Unity Gardens Growing Summit
St Joseph County Public Library Ballroom, 304 S Main St, South Bend, IN, 46601 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Stop by our table at the Unity Gardens annual gardening educational event.
"Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" with Robin Wall Kimmerer
Hosted by Wild Ones NationalOnline and in person at Reeve Union, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 748 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI, 54901 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Paid Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains Assistive Hearing
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.
Wild Ones Presents: The Super Nine @ New Carlisle Library
New Carlisle Library
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Jan McGowan of St. Joseph County Parks and Wild Ones South Bend will present information on the Super Nine and how to get started with native plants!
April 2024
April Presentation: NATIVE FORBS AND THEIR FRIENDS: "FILLING THE GAPS"
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Jan Hunter of Naturally Native Nursery will discuss our native forbs and how they fit into a layered habitat, providing additional structure in our landscapes to support wildlife.
"This talk will demonstrate the many layers of an ecosystem for pollinators. Different species of bees, butterflies, birds and other critters are born, raised, forage, shelter, nest, live and die in specific areas of a habitat. We want to make sure we are providing the things they need to survive..."
Wild Ones Presents: How to Bring Your Garden (and the Birds) to LIFE!
South Bend/Elkhart Audubon Meeting, Rum Village Nature Center, 2626 S Gertrude St, South Bend, IN, 46614 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Chapter Social Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Presentation highlighting what makes a plant "native," the important roles native plants play in our ecology, and why they are the natural choice for a gardener or property owner. This includes native plants' benefits to soil, water and wildlife, with a special emphasis on birds.
WILD ONES SPRING NATURAL LANDSCAPING FAIR @ SJCPL
St Joseph County Public Library Ballroom, 305 S Main St, South Bend, IN, 46601 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
A fun morning of presentations by local native landscaping professionals, as well as information on grants available for planting native landscapes from our conservation partners!
Field Trip to Bendix Woods Members Only
Bendix Woods County Park, 56960 Timothy Rd, New Carlisle, IN, 46552 Map
Members Only Family Friendly Free Event Group Tour Nature Walk/Hike Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Interpretive Naturalist and WOSB board member Jan McGowan will be leading chapter members through the old-growth portion of Bendix Woods. This area is vibrant with spring ephemerals this time of year which Jan will help us identify as well as share some interesting facts. Please note this is a members-only event. Be sure to dress for the weather!
Meet at the Runnels Shelter. Enter the Park gate off of Timothy Road, follow the lane to the first intersection and turn left. Wild Ones will post directional signage as well!
May 2024
Go Wild in the Park
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Garden Installation/Maintenance Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Wild Ones South Bend volunteers will work with other community volunteers and South Bend Venues Parks & Arts to install native plants and weed invasive species at Pinhook Park. We want to encourage the use of more locally native plants in South Bend parks, as these plants are necessary to support native insects -- including pollinators and fireflies -- as well as birds and other wildlife. Planting natives in public places raises awareness of their importance and beauty and encourages people to plant them in their own yards as well.
Please dress in layers as the weather may be either warm or cold on May 4, and don't forget your sunscreen. South Bend VPA will supply gardening tools, but bring a favorite trowel if you'd like, and work gloves and closed-toe shoes are a good idea. Please bring your own filled water bottles and and any snacks you will need. We will have use of the park's bathrooms. All ages are welcome!
Park in Pinhook Park's lower parking lot beyond the Community Center, then meet up outside the building's lower level. Look for Libby Feil from Wild Ones South Bend and Mary Wojcik from South Bend Venues Parks & Arts. We'll see you there!
May Presentation: CAREX, GRASSES, AND GROUNDCOVERS: LOVED BY POLLINATORS, TOO!
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Beth Schelle, Landscape Designer, Indigo Gardens and Design, will talk about native grasses, sedges, and other groundcovers, all important to wildlife.
WILD ONES SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Seed/Plant Sale Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Local native plant vendors will offer a large selection of native plant species just right for your landscapes! Also, education tables provided by our community conservation partners, who look forward to sharing information about their organizations and answering your questions!
This year 3 of our vendors are offering pre-ordering! The Botany Shop is already open to pre-order and Bernacchi's and Blue Fox Farms will start on April 15th (please note that Bernacchi's will NOT be selling plants at the plant sale on May 18th, however, they will have all pre-order plants there for pick up). At checkout, make sure to state your order is for the "Wild Ones Plant Sale". All pre-orders will be ready for pick-up on May 18 at Pinhook Park between 9-3. Follow the links below for vendor pre-order information.
Bernacchi's Oak Valley Greenhouses - pre-order starts April 15th
Blue Fox Farms - pre-order starts April 15th
The Botany Shop - pre-order now open
Naturally Native Nursery - no pre-order
Sunroom Native Nursery - no pre-order
June 2024
June presentation: All About Soil
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Public Welcome Free Event Chapter Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Shelley Chaffee will talk about soils, soil health, soil structure, soil types and soil surveys. We will discuss how homeowners can assess the type of soil in their backyard and what they can do to improve soil health for their yard, which will contribute to the overall community and ecosystem.
July 2024
July presentation: Invasive Species
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Chapter Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Ronda Spaulding from State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) will discuss invasive species.
August 2024
August presentation: Water
Pinhook Park Community Center, 2801 Riverside Dr, South Bend, IN, 46616 Map
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Chapter Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Brian Killen will speak about the importance of water in habitats.