On July 22, Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes. Continue reading "How to Talk to Your Neighbors (and Your HOA) About Your Garden"
Catherine McKenzie’s 2025 First Place photo “Butterfly Class” captures a familiar Wild Ones experience: learning in the field, surrounded by native plants. In this Q&A, she shares how observation, timing, and connection shape the images that stand out. Continue reading "A Moment in the Field: How One Photo Captures Native Plants in Context"
While you may not be able to grow a complete prairie on your deck, it is possible to grow prairie plants in a very small space. Continue reading "The Prairie Pots Project"
This month’s Native Plant News highlights research showing old-growth forests store far more carbon than managed forests, an Illinois prairie remnant protected for restoration, Iowa findings on how pollinators sustain plant diversity, why straight native species often outperform cultivars for bees, Wisconsin’s spread of invasive lesser celandine, Florida’s use of native plants to cut costs and beautify downtown spaces, and the early-season value of pussy willow for pollinators. Continue reading "April Native Plant News"
Discover books about trees, forests, and tree ecology in this Wild Ones reading list. From Tallamy’s "The Nature of Oaks" to Diana Beresford-Kroeger’s "To Speak for the Trees," these titles explore how trees support wildlife, strengthen ecosystems, and shape the landscapes around us. Continue reading "Trees are the Answer"
All native trees matter, but some matter more than most. Keystone species support disproportionately more wildlife than other species. When it comes to trees, their degree of influence on food webs, structure, and ecosystem function is important in almost every terrestrial ecosystem. Furthermore, because trees live for decades or centuries, they become long-term anchors for […] Continue reading "Keystone Trees"
Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for a webinar presented by Homegrown National Park and Wild Ones. In "What Is Wild and Why It Matters," you’ll discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. Continue reading "What Is Wild and Why It Matters: Free Webinar with Rick Darke on Native Plant Landscapes"
Not all “thorns” are actually thorns. This quick guide breaks down the differences between thorns, spines, and prickles, where they occur on plants, and why the distinction matters when identifying native species in the field or your own landscape. Continue reading "Thorns, Spines and Prickles"
April is Native Plant Month, a nationally recognized celebration that highlights the essential role native plants play in supporting biodiversity, ecological health, and climate-resilient landscapes. Continue reading "Native Plant Month"
This month’s Native Plant News highlights a newly discovered Texas bee tied to purple sage, prairie restoration efforts in Missouri, a major land return to Indigenous stewardship in New York, large-scale grassland restoration in Tennessee, the spread of invasive knapweed, forest recovery work in Idaho, and a statewide program in Pennsylvania replacing invasive plants with native species. Continue reading "March Native Plant News"