Events

Alabama Extension is organizing the first North Alabama Native Plant Symposium since the COVID-19 Pandemic. The event will take place at the Monte Sano Lodge and will be open to the public. Keynote speakers, guided hikes, plant keying workshops, panel discussions and a business incubator session are planned for the Symposium. The organizers are seeking corporate and non-profit sponsors to help propel this event in 2025 and beyond. Final details about the agenda and registration will be available to the public in March 2025.

Join WONA for our monthly hike at Chapman Mountain. Meet in the parking lot.

Email [email protected] to register, or register on facebook.

Difficulty: easy

Distance: ~3 miles

Rain date: 6/10/2025 @ 3 PM

WONA Members: free

Kids 12 and under: free

Non-members: $5

Meet at the Hiker's Trailhead. Come learn about the plants of Monte Sano with us.

Email [email protected] to register, or register on facebook.

Rain date: 7/15/2025 at 8:30 AM

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3.4 miles

WONA members: free

Kids 12 and under: free

Guests/non-members: $5

Susan McDonald has spent her entire life gardening in USDA Hardiness Zone 7, the last 20 years in Huntsville.  For the last 12 years she has volunteered weekly in the Fern Glade of the Huntsville Botanical Garden and has served as the manager of the Fern Glade since 2018.  The Glade covers almost an acre.  It has over 80 different species of ferns growing within its borders, including about ten native Alabama ferns. She will talk about important characteristics of ferns, how to grow them in North Alabama, and which native ferns do well in home gardens.

This will be a tour of the Fern Glade with Susan McDonald at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. Normal admission prices will be in effect. Please RSVP if you'd like to join.

Join WONA for our monthly social hike and learn about plant identification.

Email [email protected] to register, or register on facebook.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance 2.5 miles

Rain date: 8/18/2025 @ 8:30 AM

WONA members: free

Kids 12 and under: free

non-members: $5

Join WONA for our monthly member/social hike.

Email [email protected] to register, or register on facebook.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2.5 miles

Rain date: 9/15/2025 @ 9 AM

WONA members: free

Kids 12 and under: free

non-members: $5

Details coming soon! 

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge annually hosts thousands of overwintering sandhill cranes, ducks, geese, pelicans and other waterfowl. It also hosts an increasing number of majestic and endangered Whooping cranes. The 34,500 acres of varied habitat on the refuge—wetlands, open water, mixed forests, sloughs and agricultural fields provide a home to almost 300 species of birds, plus mammals and reptiles including bobcats, otters, deer, coyotes and, yes, alligators! The refuge was established in 1938 and the ensuing decades have seen a change in the wildlife that are present on the refuge. Come hear about this natural wonder and learn about the birds and other wildlife that inhabit the refuge's 34,500 acres, and how those inhabitants have changed over the years. This presentation will be delivered by Tom Ress.

Denise planned and designed her suburban garden to be a pollinator habitat and to attract hummingbirds and birds.  She lives in a newer subdivision with an HOA and moved into her new house in 2020. The flower beds were installed in the spring of 2020. The entire front yard is a native perennial flower bed with pathways through the garden.  The backyard slopes down to a pond and has a 1,000 sq ft native perennial flower bed in the middle of the yard. The backyard also includes flower beds planted with native trees and shrubs and a bubbling rock water feature.  

This is a WildOnes member-only event. You must be a current member (individual, business or household) to tour the property. Tours are one of the perks of a WildOnes membership. This tour will be held in both the Spring and Fall to demonstrate how native gardens change across time. Denise's address will be sent to registered member participants in advance of the tour.

Join WONA for our monthly member hike to socialize and learn to identify plants.

Email [email protected] to register, or register on facebook.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 3 miles

Rain date: 10/13/2025 @ 9 AM

WONA members: free

Kids 12 and under: free

non-members: $5

Details coming soon! 

Join WONA for our monthly social hike and learn to identify plants with other nature enthusiasts.

Email [email protected] to register, or register on facebook.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2.5 miles

Rain date: 11/11/2025 @ 2PM

WONA members: free

Kids 12 and under: free

non-members: $5

Details coming soon! 

Join WONA for our monthly member hike and learn to identify plants.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2.3 miles

Members: free

Kids 12 and under: free

non-members: $5