Events

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Life Beneath Our Feet: Understanding Soil
Bush Lake Izaak Walton League
7515 Izaak Walton Road W, Bloomington, MN 55438
Saturday, May 2nd, 11:45am-4pm
Space is Limited- Members Only

REGISTER HERE

Come and learn about the Izaak Walton League Bush Lake ecosystem where over 12,000 native plants have been installed. Jim Etzel will give a presentation on healthy ecosystems, healthy soil and water infiltration. We will extract and view soil cores, and soil infiltration rates. Some samples will be sent to a lab and results will be available at a later date.

Agenda:
11:45am - 12:15 A tour of Bush Lake Izaak Walton League
12:15 - 12:45 Lunch/social
1:00 - 2:00 Presentation by Jim Etzel, Understanding Bush Lake’s Ecology & Life Beneath Our Feet: Understanding Soil
2:00 - 4:00 Observe soil ecology, collect soil samples and perform soil infiltration test.

Details: Open to Bush Lake Ikes, Wild Ones Twin Cities members, and by invitation.

Space is limited- Please register. Parking is limited, please walk, bike or carpool if possible. 

Contacts: 
For Ikes and invited guests, email Jill Crafton
For Wild Ones Twin Cities members, email Susan Van Baerle 

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Program TBD

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Bex is a master naturalist who has thoughtfully transformed her small suburban lot into a dynamic native habitat. The front yard, converted to a tall grass prairie in 2023 (with support of a Lawns to Legumes grant), is now in its third growing season. In the backyard, invasive species have been removed to make way for native plantings, alongside a natural pond that supports wildlife.

Ongoing restoration efforts include developing wetland overflow, installation of a dry stream for stormwater management, and expanding prairie and pocket forest plantings. Bex has also installed habitat features such as amphibian shelters, bat and bird houses, and other nesting structures to support wildlife. With continued work to replace turf and enhance biodiversity, this garden is an evolving example of community driven conservation in an urban setting.

We hope you can join us on June 27th as Bex guides us through her transformed property!

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

This corner plot of downtown Chaska is a National Wildlife Federation–certified habitat that continues to evolve with a focus on adding native plants amongst the current non-natives to attract pollinators and birds. A Fall 2025 Lawns to Legumes grant supported the expansion of current planting beds, the renovation of a shade garden, and the addition of shrubs to enhance habitat for birds.

Over the past few years, several invasive species (including Snow on the Mountain, Vinca, and Lily of the Valley) have been steadily removed and replaced with native plants, creating a more diverse and ecologically functional landscape. With a strong focus on supporting pollinators and birds, the host enjoys trialing new trends and techniques in her garden.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Over the past 3–4 years, this suburban yard has been gradually transformed into a diverse native plant landscape, largely grown from winter-sown plants. About half of the front yard now features native plantings, including a 12×18’ tapestry lawn installed with support from a Lawns to Legumes grant.

In the larger backyard, roughly one-third of the space has been converted into multiple native planting beds connected by mulched paths. New trees—including white swamp oak, serviceberry, and chokecherry—add structure, while former lawn and garden areas continue to evolve with native flowers. The landscape also incorporates raised vegetable beds, blending habitat-focused gardening with edible plantings.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

Come garden lakeside with us!

All are welcome. 

New to gardening with native plants? Come learn alongside seasoned pros!

Already an experienced habitat gardener? Come share your knowledge and passion!

Questions? Please contact Volunteer Steward Vicki Bonk.

18th Annual Monarch Festival – Festival de la Monarca

The next Minneapolis Monarch Festival will occur on Saturday, September 12th, 2026, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Festival celebrates the monarch butterfly amazing 2,300 mile migration from Minnesota to Mexico with music, food, dance, hands-on art, native plant sales and plenty of opportunities to get up close with monarch butterflies, learn about their habitats, and what you can do to make a difference.

The Festival will be held just east of the Lake Nokomis Community Center in the area bounded by E. Minnehaha Parkway, Woodlawn Boulevard, and E. Nokomis Parkway. Map & Directions.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!