Events

Taralee Latozke, DNR Fisheries Habitat Specialist from New Ulm, presented on the restoring shorelines and improving water quality of lakes.  The DNR has many helpful links and suggestions for best practices.

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Heather Holm  presented on Creating and Maintaining Native Landscapes for Bees.  Excellent and informative presentation!

We will be hosting a table for the Master Gardener's event

Nancy, an expert at all aspects of native plants will present on harvesting, cleaning and storing native seeds.

Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

Our anniversary dinner social

Nancy will be leading our 2024 annual Native Plant Sale.  It will be held in the parking lot of the Emmaus Church of Northfield.  Plants will be grown from seed by either Nancy (Professional grower) or purchased from South Cedar GH of Farmington.  Great opportunity to purchase beautiful native plants and learn more about them from experts.

This event time, date and location may change due to the spring season and weather.  We will tour the SNA to see spring ephemerals in bloom.

We will meet at the Emmaus church then carpool to the location for the tour.  This workshop will be hosted with the Cannon River Valley Master Naturalists

Scott and Kathy will show us their beautiful native gardens they have established on their property.  They have multiple gardens and beautiful views of the lake and surrounding wetlands.  The address will be provided to participants.

We will meet at the Emmaus church and carpool for the tour to see native gardens in Northfield, including Pat Johnson's.

Mud Creak WMA has a beautiful restored prairie full of gentians, compass plants, cup flowers, some leadplant, monarda… 

There is a rocky road down to a boardwalk up to the mud lake that is accessible except for very wet times.  The road is very walkable but rough.  The trail is about 3/4 of a mile long.  If possible we will provide rides down the trail for those who don't wish to walk.

(near I35 & Hwy19)

We will tour the Prairie Moon Nursery and see their production of native plants.  The tour starts at 2pm, but our carpools will leave Northfield by noon to get there in time.  If enough people signup, we may take a bus.

The date and time may change as their tour schedules aren't created yet.

Dick started a major prairie restoration in 1999.  He now has a beautiful mature prairie that he works hard to maintain.  We will carpool from the Emmaus church in Northfield.

Mn terrestrial invasives: Terrestrial plants -MN Dept of Ag Invasive Species Program. 

Breanna Wheeler Chair, Terrestrial Invasive Species Funding Subcommittee DNR Natural Heritage Advisory Committee and fellow Wild Ones SE MN Prairie Partner member will present on Minnesota terrestrial invasive plants.  Breanna is very knowledgeable and an excellent speaker.  Should be very informative and interesting!

We will start with our native seed share event and appetizer potluck, then do a brief annual meeting with member's only voting for 2025 officers   At 7pm, we will statt the presentation:  DNR Native plants and their importance to wildlife by Shelley Gorham, Assistant Area Wildlife Manager, MN DNR - Wildlife, Owatonna Area

Members are invited to come and socialize and enjoy good conversation, food and fun as we celebrate 2024 and look forward to 2025.  Always a great time and excellent way to get to know other members.