Middle Ocoee River Trip with Adventures Unlimited to view Ruth's golden aster and many other native plants.

 Click here for more information and to register. Golden Aster Paddle - Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones (tnvalleywildones.org)

Lorrie Otto (1919 - 2010) is the founder of the natural landscaping movement and taught others to view natural landscaping as a public good rather than as a health hazard. She was the founding inspiration for Wild Ones Native Plants, Natural Landscaping. Lorrie often used the words of Chief Seattle when she spoke: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, but rather borrow it from our descendants.”

As a passionate advocate for natural landscaping and the environment, Lorrie Otto's legacy is a testament to the power of individual action in conservation. An inspiration for the founding of Wild Ones.

Celebrating her birthday with cake and a native plant seed swap is a wonderful way to honor her memory and continue her mission of nurturing biodiversity and natural beauty in our communities. Let's gather to share native plant seeds, and the spirit of conservation that Lorrie championed throughout her remarkable life.  Click the link below for details about the seed swap.

The mantra “sleep, creep and leap” is a good description for the three growing seasons it can take for your native perennials to put on a show in your garden. In the meantime, you can get off to a quicker start using native annuals and groundcovers to provide cover, color, and pollen and nectar in your new planting areas.

Sally Wencel, past President of both the Tennessee Valley Chapter and National Wild Ones, will present a variety of native annuals, ground covers, and short-lived perennials that we don't usually think of when planning new garden areas, converting to native gardens or refreshing existing plantings. You might be surprised by the options we have available in this area.

There will be a seed swap before the meeting (beginning at 5:30 p.m.) and a birthday party for Lorrie Otto, who inspired the founding of the Wild Ones.

Note new location!

Instructor: Henning Von Schmeling, Senior Director of Operations, Chattahoochee Nature Center

Description: Topics to be covered include seed parts, germination, seed collection and storage and post-germination handling. 
 

This is an ELECTIVE course about propagating native plant seeds. 

The class provides 4 hours toward the completion of the Certificate in Native Plants program. 

You do not need to be pursuing the Certificate to enroll in this class.

The fee for the course is $40 for members/$50 for nonmembers, plus a $5 charge for supplies.

Selection and layering of native plants is important for a thriving ecosystem in mountain gardens. Strategies for creating and managing those gardens in both sunny and woodland conditions will be discussed. Plant lists will be provided. 

Speakers: Ann Brown & Nora Bernhardt

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. 

Landscapes in Progress events were designed as a way for our members to learn more about native plant gardening from the experiences of other members. Like all of our gardens, these gardens are “in progress.” They do not have to be perfect, although there are always some really amazing and beautiful things to see. We have found that these garden visits are a great way to learn about a variety of native plants and the conditions in which they thrive. 

Join members of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones for a tour of two of our members' gardens. One is on Missionary Ridge and the other in East Ridge.

You will receive directions and parking details in a follow-up email.

Southeastern Grasslands Institute ecologist/botanist Zach Irick will lead an educational tour of the native savanna and creekside scour grasslands. We'll view nearly every genus of the aster family in their prime. Come explore with us for a view of native grasses,fall wildflowers, shrubs and trees of the WMA which is bordered by two scenic waterways �" the Obed Wild and Scenic River and its tributary, Daddy's Creek. You'll also hear bobwhite, see migratory birds, numerous butterfly and native bee species and will come away with ideas for savanna and prairie plantings, rock garden and rain garden designs, natural growth patterns, as well as identification of many native plants that are often available for the landscape.

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Caring for your garden as it grows and changes over time is the best part! In this class we will discuss basics of sustainable landscape care like optimizing maintenance activities for wildlife support, and reducing air and water pollution. There are key differences between managing a native plant garden and a conventional landscape, so let's get into it.

For this class, meet in the parking area between the recycling center and the Community Fitness Center. 

Free and Open to the Public

Fall �" and the best time to plant many of our natives �" is just around the corner. And so the Tennessee Valley Wild Ones Fall Plant Sale! 

During the sale, we'll also be honoring our newest members, along with the recent Certificate in Native Plants graduates who've worked hard to complete their coursework and volunteer hours.

So SAVE THE DATE and make plans to join us. More details are coming soon!

Join botanist/ecologist Gary Kauffman for a hands-on native grasses workshop highlighting grass identification and grassland communities. We'll learn to use a Southern Appalachian grasses key derived from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern U.S. and other identification tools, look at samples of common native grasses, and learn a bit about grassland communities and the wildlife they support. You should come away from the workshop able to use the key to Poaceae (grasses) groups and genera, recognize a dozen common grasses by sight, and have ample resources to hone your grass skills.

This is an ELECTIVE class for the Certificate in Native Plants. You do not need to be working toward the Certificate in Native Plants to register for this class.

$40 for Wild Ones members, $50 for non-members

Information will be posted soon.

Members will give a tour of their yards describing their native plant landscapes.

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! 

 Join Stephan Eselgroth for a hike at Ochs' Gateway Trail.  
Details coming soon.

TBA

Annual Member Meeting.
Details will be posted soon.

Holiday Social Gathering.
Details will be posted soon.
Save the date!

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. 

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!