Chapters in Kentucky

Join members of the Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter and Warren County Extension Master Gardeners as we sort and package native seeds to donate to the Warren County Public Library seed libraries.

Refreshments will be provided, and volunteers will have the opportunity to take home seed packets with our thanks for their help. For students requiring volunteer or community service hours, our directors will be available to sign documentation.

If you have native seeds to contribute, please send us a quick email with species details so we can print labels in advance. Email [email protected].

Native Seed Packaging Party
Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. to noon
At the Warren County Extension Office, 5162 Russellville Rd, Bowling Green, KY

Plant taxonomy is the branch of botany dedicated to the scientific identification, description, nomenclature, and classification of plants. It organizes the estimated 390,000 known plant species into a hierarchical system based on shared characteristics. Ann Witherington, a Lexington Wild Ones member, will explain Plant Taxonomy to us gardeners—the naming of straight species, cultivars/nativars, and hybrids. She will cover classification systems especially the 'new' APG system and present a fun 'quiz': The use and misuse of plant names!

Ann has a master’s degree from Northeastern University in botany with a major in plant taxonomy. She taught biology at Asbury University for 20 years and designed for her students a demonstration garden in her yard labeling all her plants both latin and common names.

Our chapter's Annual Meeting where we have a speaker, conduct our business meeting and serve light refreshments so members can chat for a while and get to know each other better.    Our speaker will be Alicia Bosella, owner of Ironweed Nursery in Waddy, Kentucky.  She will speak to us on the topic of Native Straight Species and Cultivars. 

Enjoy conversation, laughter, and food with our fellow members! Bring whatever favorite dish or desert you want to share, Wild Ones will supply the drinks and service ware. Do not bring alcoholic drinks. Included in our meeting will be a seed swap and a game of trivial pursuit.

So what seeds do you bring to the seed swap?
Bring clean, dry seeds from your garden or yard from correctly identified, KY native, straight-species plants. Do not bring cultivars, named varieties, or non-native plants. Include the scientific name whenever possible. Growing information can be added later. Start collecting, cleaning, and drying now so your seeds are ready to share.

Preferred option: Labeled packets
Label packets with the common and scientific names, light and soil preferences, bloom time, flower color, and any required germination treatment, such as cold stratification or scarification.

Alternative option: Bulk seeds
Bring larger quantities of cleaned, dried, identified native seed in a container. We’ll provide envelopes and supplies for participants to make and label their own packets at the swap.

Nothing to contribute? No problem—you can still plan to leave with plenty of seeds, especially since Wild Ones will be donating seeds for everyone to take home.

Join us for our annual Holiday Party and Seed Swap. We’re gathering to socialize, swap seeds, and celebrate another year of growing.

What to expect: 

Enjoy cookies and snacks (feel free to bring cookies to share or swap, though not required!). 

Peruse the seed swap table and take home new plant species! You can bring seeds from your garden if you have them, or just grab some from our stash. Leftover seeds will be donated to the Warren County Public Library Seed Library.

  This year, we would like to try something new. Send us a picture (or pictures!) of your garden. We will build a garden showcase slideshow! Send photos of your garden to [email protected] so we can admire your hard work, ask questions, and share inspiration during the party.

No seeds or cookies required to attend — just bring yourself!