Events

Host Guided Tour by Don Gustafson

Moderate hike (approximately 1.5 miles) to view native forbs and grasses at Nine Mile Creek Bluff Remnant Prairie.  Meet at parking lot..
 

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.

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. 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.

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.

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Registration link coming soon.

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.

Host Guided Tour by Don Gustafson

Easy hike at Eloise Butler to view the prairie at peak bloom.
 

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.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Registration link coming soon.

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.