Chapters in Pennsylvania

We will have our Educational/Information Table at Lunar Fest again this year. Every Wildones member is more than welcome to attend and be at our display table to help answer any questions people attending lunar fest may have may about native plants role in our ecosystem and the Community projects we do. We are always looking for more inspired members to join our group. Events like these are a great place to meet our eco-minded community. The more members we get the more Community Food Forest sanctuaries we can plant throughout the neighborhoods of Blair County.

*LUNAR FEST*

2-day Metaphysical & Spiritual Event!
Free Admission
60+ Healers, Vendors, Mystics, Artists, Practitioners, Workshops & More!
11/16/24 - 12:00pm to 7:00pm
11/17/24 - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Lunar Fest was created to provide a gathering place for all magical beings of this world(and others). We have created a magical gathering place of comfort, learning, & sharing.

Join us for an informal chat with Dr Ryan Gott where we’ll dive into all things bugs and creating winter-friendly habitats for our favorite critters.

As the colder months approach, it's the perfect time to learn how to support insects and other wildlife in our native plant gardens. Whether you’re curious about pollinators, beneficial bugs, or how to create a winter refuge for these little ecosystem helpers, Dr. Gott will be here to answer your questions and share his expert insights!

North America is home to over 200 orchid species, with more than half classified as endangered or threatened within parts of their native habitats. To help preserve these orchids’ genetic diversity for future generations, the North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC)—an initiative led by the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Botanic Garden—has developed a conservation model based on public-private partnerships. This model currently includes more than 50 collaborating organizations from Florida to Alaska.

Dr. Dennis Whigham, Senior Botanist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Founding Director of NAOCC, will discuss the ecological challenges facing orchids and outline ongoing efforts to conserve native species in the U.S. and Canada.

With a career focused on plant ecology, Dr. Whigham’s research spans diverse landscapes, from forests and fields to wetlands across the globe. His work includes studies of woodland herbs, including orchids, and various plant species in tropical, temperate, and boreal forests. Recently, his research has expanded to examine orchid-fungi interactions, yielding new insights and directions. His current projects involve the study of wetlands that support juvenile salmon in Alaska, the rarest terrestrial orchid in eastern North America, and the rapid spread of an invasive wetland species across the U.S. Dr. Whigham earned his undergraduate degree from Wabash College and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, joining the Smithsonian in 1977. Over his career, he has published more than 250 journal articles and co-edited 10 books.

No Registration Required: Zoom Link

End of the Year Celebration Dinner at our favorite Farm to Table Restaurant - Horn O' Plenty  in Bedford, PA.

Annual membership meeting and Elections of Board and Officers.  Review of next year's calendar.