Events

My name is Aaron Stiles and I run Foraging Ahead, a landscape design service dedicated to reintroducing native habitats to the urban setting. Habitats are more than just gardens that use native plants- they are dynamic ecosystems that support a wide variety of life. By utilizing native ecosystems as a model, we can create small sanctuaries for the plants and animals that make Alabama so beautiful.

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. 

This is a members-only garden tour (for insurance reasons), and we will limit it to 30 members on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please send a response to [email protected] to reserve your spot.

We (Cathy and Harold Zappe) moved to the US in 1999 from Cape Town, South Africa. We had been gardening there with indigenous plants from the Fynbos biome of the Western Cape so it was natural for us to attempt to do the same in Alabama. It was difficult initially to find native plants so we have used some cultivars and non-natives. The property we bought was nine acres in Harvest, with an older rundown house and several outbuildings. It did have natural elevation changes which gave it more scope for landscaping, a creek and a small patch of woods. The land is multi use with pastures for horses, farmyard and orchard for free range chickens, a vegetable garden using lasagna gardening techniques, a wild meadow and a more formal garden using mostly native plants. The garden is divided into a series of “rooms”, has three flowing water features, plenty of seating, and uses stonework to create structure and interest. The meadow is in its fifth year of succession and has something new each year. We try to plant what will provide a succession of blooming through the year and feed the birds and bugs at all stages and allow things to be a bit weedy so that it provides cover for caterpillars and nestlings. There are about 35 different species of native tree, 14 species of native shrubs as well as many species of perennials, annuals and grasses. We have seen over a 110 species of birds and about 35 species nest on our property. We have seen 18 species of mammal, 30 butterfly species, 10 reptile species and an uncatalogued number of amphibians and other insects.

This will be our annual members-only meeting to elect the Board of Directors for 2025, review the past year's progress, review the organization's budget/finances, discuss your gardening accomplishments and native plant questions, discuss the new volunteer committees and your vision for where the organization should be headed in the coming year. This meeting is for WildOnes members only.

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! 

The Lewis backyard garden was certified as a Wildlife Habitat in 2004. Designed specifically to attract bird life, the garden displays five water features and landscape elements incorporating numerous plants, hardscape and walkways.  Herb and Terry Lewis expanded their backyard habitat in April 2015 when they acquired the lot behind their existing residence (on Red Oak) in Blossomwood.  Over the last eight years they have been developing a bird sanctuary by adding native plants to attract butterflies, pollinators  and birds. A key feature of the Outback Garden is a 12 ft. diameter bubbling rock water feature specifically designed to attract migrating birds.  Other elements include a shade garden and a meadow area planted with native wildflowers and shrubs. The new garden is lovingly referred to as the Outback Garden.  Every time Terry would look for Herb, he'd be "Outback".

This tour will be limited to 30 WildOnes members on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please contact [email protected] to be added to the list. NOTE: There are no paved pathways in the garden.

Gardening for wildlife is more than feeding the birds and the pollinators, it means providing resources to all levels of the food chain! Learn how to integrate small changes and create a diverse ecosystem of insects, birds, and other fauna in your own backyard. We will focus on native plants and their interactions with various insect species and discuss how to design your garden to encourage wildlife. Learn more about the food web of your own backyard and the unique interactions within our urban or suburban ecosystems. 

You can learn more about Sara's work at https://www.saraannjohnson.com/

Learn about the Wild Ones San Diego Chapter's newest demonstration garden funded in part by Monarch Joint Venture and U.S. Forest Service International Programs. You'll also hear from landscape designer Jeanine Sharkey about this newest San Diego native garden design. 

More details and registration coming soon. 

How do plants develop? Do all plants require the same environmental needs? In this class we will look at how flowers, foliage, fruit, and roots of plants have evolved of time to adapt to their environment. This class will be taught by ACES Home Grounds RÉA Jayne Luetzow February 20th at 6pm

Learn about the Wild Ones Capital Region NY Chapter's newest demonstration garden, funded partly by Monarch Joint Venture and U.S. Forest Service International Programs. You'll also hear from landscape designer Kate Brittenham about this newest Albany NY native garden design. 

More details and registration coming soon

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!