Calendar of Events and Programs

Join us for a presentation by Ken Mettler on native orchids, which can (usually) be found in Ohio during eight calendar months. 

Ken began growing orchids in 1977 and began finding and photographing orchids in the wild in 1981. Currently residing in the Hocking Hills region, Ken has photographed over two dozen species of wild orchids in and around Ohio. 

He has always been interested in environmental conservation and conservation education.  He has worked in the education department of the Columbus Zoo, served as education program coordinator for the International Society for Endangered Cats, and worked on a research project in the Amazon basin in Peru.  He is currently the Special Investigations Manager for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.  

He volunteers for a variety of conservation organizations, including Appalachia Ohio Alliance and the Native Orchid Preservation and Education Society.  

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Come for a guided walk at Sawmill Wetlands Educational Area on April 12, 10am to 12noon. You will hear the amazing story about how this 17 acre place was almost lost to a developer and was saved by the work of neighbors and local environmental organizations. Walk the boardwalk to see the wetlands with their fairy shrimp and other macroinvertebrates. We can’t promise flying squirrels but Tim Bischoff who monitors the 17 birdhouses on the property knows which houses they inhabit. This should be the perfect time to see spring ephemerals in the wooded wetlands and along the footpath. We will meet in the parking lot at 2654 Sawmill Place Boulevard 43235

Click here for more information about the Sawmill Wetlands.

A wide variety of native flowering plants, grasses, shrubs, and trees will be available from Wild Ones Columbus and other local vendors. 

We plan to publish a list of plants that will be available at this year's sale closer to the event date. In the meantime, click here to view a list of plants that were offered at our 2024 sale.

Be sure to stop by!

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!