Wild Ones Columbus hosts free monthly programs for our members and the public. Please note that events will be cancelled in the case of a Level 2 snow emergency.
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January 2021
January 16th: Celebrating Winter Birds (Online Event)
Online/Virtual
Join Wild Ones of Columbus as we discuss celebrating our winter feathered friends! Our speaker, Holly Latteman, is the Program Chair of Wild Ones Columbus. As an avid birder, Holly will share tips on the best viewing spots including your own backyard! Learn how to identify Ohio's winter visitors.
Join Zoom Meeting:
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Meeting ID: 838 6806 9947
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Meeting ID: 838 6806 9947
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc7KtsAHIr
January 23rd: Natives in Harmony Tour
Address: Natives in Harmony, 4652 Township Rd 179, Marengo, OH 43334
Gale Martin, owner of Natives in Harmony, will share her tips on growing native plants from seed. She only grows Ohio Species and is now growing for metro parks, nature preserves and other non-profit organizations throughout Ohio. Gale started with one 8-ft. x 10-ft. greenhouse and a shed. With her husband's help, they have more than tripled the number of greenhouses, added a barn, shade area, playground area and are now working on a log cabin and an outhouse for interns to use over the summer while they work and she teaches them about her business. She sorts her native seed by hand, stratifies, repots and grows each plant.
February 2021
February 13th: Are they lost forever? A close look at Ohio's extirpated plants (Virtual)
Wild Ones Columbus Virtual Event:
Rick Gardner presents, "Are they lost forever? A close look at Ohio's extirpated plants"
Event description: Since 1788, botanists have been documenting Ohio’s flora and nearly 240 years later, over 1800 native plant species are recorded. The first Ohio rare plant list was created in 1980 with 100 species presumed to be extirpated. In the last 40 years, Ohio’s talented botanists have reduced this number to 75. Ohio Department of Natural Resources Chief Botanist Rick Gardner will discuss why these 75 species are gone, some success stories and what is being done to protect and preserve endangered plants so they too won’t be lost forever in Ohio.
Speaker bio: Rick Gardner is currently the chief botanist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. Rick has been studying Ohio's flora and natural areas for over 27 years. He has spent most of his career in the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves but has worked for the Division of Wildlife and the Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. He is a visiting scholar at the Ohio State University Herbarium conducting research on Ohio's flora including non-native, invasive species, the sedge family, running buffalo clover and xeric limestone prairies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Miami University.
Zoom information:
Topic: Wild Ones of Columbus Presents, Rick Gardner "Are they lost forever? A close look at Ohio's extirpated plants"
Time: Feb 13, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 838 6249 0648
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Meeting ID: 838 6249 0648
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbSK7okoG
February 20th: Arc of Appalachia Winter Walk
Location: Arc of Appalachia - Highlands Nature Sanctuary Visitor Center - 7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge, OH 45612
Non-profit Arc of Appalachia was founded in 1995 as a grassroots organization. They currently steward 20 preserve regions, operate 2 visitor centers and teach forest literacy courses. They work to allow woodlands to naturally diversify. In addition, they also preserve associated Eastern ecosystems such as wetlands and native prairies, as well as ancient Native American earthworks. The majority of the Arc lies between the Scioto and Ohio River on the Kentucky border. Join us for a winter walk to enjoy nature and share in fellowship with others.
Website: https://arcofappalachia.org/
March 2021
March 13th: What is the Status of Ohio's Wild Bees? (Zoom)
Wild Ones Columbus Virtual Event:
Denise Ellsworth presents, "What is the Status of Ohio's Wild Bees?"
Presentation: Denise Ellsworth, Program Director of Honeybee and Native Pollinator Education at the Ohio State Department of Entomology, will share updates on community science efforts underway to help shine a light on the 450-ish wild bee species in the Buckeye state. She'll also discuss bee phenology from spring through fall-- a sequence that helps to predict which bees are flying and which plants they prefer. Join us to learn ways we can all make a difference to help conserve our wild bees.
Speaker bio: Denise directs the honeybee and native pollinator education program through the Ohio State University Department of Entomology on the Wooster campus. In this outreach position, Denise supports and teaches beekeepers, farmers, gardeners and others across the state through a variety of workshops, webinars, written materials and electronic resources. In addition to chasing bees, Denise enjoys gardening, yoga, photography and hiking the towpath trail along the Tuscarawas river with her husband and dogs.
Zoom information:
Time: Mar 13, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 819 2466 3354
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Meeting ID: 819 2466 3354
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdxZidy22N
April 2021
April 10th: What Bees are These? Incorporating Wild Bees in Our Garden and Landscapes (Virtual)
Wild Ones Columbus Virtual Event:
Dianne Kadonaga (Sunny Glen Garden) presents, "What Bees are These? Incorporating Wild Bees in Our Garden and Landscapes (Virtual)"
Event description:
There are 500 native species of Ohio bees with lifestyles that are very different from honeybees. Understanding them can help us find ways to tweak our garden, landscaping, and farming practices, to be more inclusive and supportive of wild bees, many that are 90% better pollinators than our honeybees or specialize on certain native plants. Pollinator specialization advocate Dianne Kadonaga will provide tips on identifying them, delineating them from flies and wasps, suitable habitat and food sources for them, and explain how mulching, tilling, winter clean up, and other common garden practices destroy native bee habitat. Learn what you can do instead to enhance survival of these vital creatures. Dianne will also share free tools and resources, and demonstrate how you can contribute to citizen science bee projects.
Speaker bio:
Dianne turned her urban grass lawn into a vibrant organic eco-system and permaculture-based edible food forest that provides food and habitat for people, pollinators, and the planet. She only had to go grocery shopping four times in the last year as the garden provided most of her needs. She uses methods that are free or inexpensive, to build soil health, fertilize, get seeds for free, manage pests without chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides, while reducing the need to water or weed. She gets to enjoy a beautiful backyard that is vibrant and full of life of bees, butterflies, insects, and other bugs, birds, and all the creatures, where we all live in harmony and share in the bounty of nature. She has been featured on 10TV and Columbus Dispatch for Zero Waste Families and Eco-friendly lifestyles, and Sunny Glen Garden was presented with the GreenSpotLight award from Mayor Ginther and the City of Columbus in the small business category for demonstrating excellence in sustainable business practices.
Zoom information:
Topic: What Bees Are These? Incorporating Wild Bees in Our Garden and Landscapes
Time: Apr 10, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 870 5773 5090
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 870 5773 5090
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcQr4jHGWj
April 17th: Creating Native Plant Month for Ohio and Leading the Way for National Legislation
Event description: April is Ohio Native Plant Month! Learn as one of the creators discusses Ohio Native Plant Month and now National Native Plant Month. She will discuss how this organization was formed, last year's initiatives in the first year, what's planned for this year in Ohio, the process to create National Native Plant Month including the organizations who supported this legislation, and ideas to build awareness of native plants in Ohio.
Speaker bio: Nancy Linz is a life-long Ohio gardener. With degrees in Horticulture from both The Ohio State University and The Pennsylvania State University, Nancy spent many years conducting research and helping to teach university classes. Growing plants in the Penn State greenhouses was the start of her interest in plant propagation. While in college, Nancy served as the National President of the collegiate branch of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, and a founding member of the National Association for Women in Horticulture.
As a volunteer, Nancy is a member of several garden clubs and associations. She is an active member in the Garden Club of America where she travels the country as a horticulture judge, attending several shows every year including the prestigious Philadelphia Flower Show. She is also heavily involved in the organization's horticulture and plant conservation initiatives.
For the past few years, Nancy worked with Hope Taft to pass legislation designating the month of April as Ohio Native Plant Month. Signed into law on July 18th, 2019, by Governor Mike DeWine, this legislation makes Ohio one of the first states in the country to have a month dedicated to native plants.
Since then, Nancy has been working with several other states to help them create Native Plant Months using the processed developed in Ohio as a template.
Over the past year, Nancy has led the effort to pass a resolution making April 2021, National Native Plant Month. The lead sponsors for Senate Resolution 109 include Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). On March 25th, 2021, S. Res. 109 received unanimous approval in the Senate, and passed.
Zoom information:
Topic: Creating Native Plant Month for Ohio and Leading the Way for National Legislation
Time: Apr 17, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 851 7397 1722
Passcode: VS8!@h
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Meeting ID: 851 7397 1722
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kh1EbUYqK
April 24th: Backyard Spring Ephemerals (Wild Ones Columbus Members Only) Members Only
Members Only Home Garden Tour
We will be touring the Reuters' garden, filled with spring ephemerals and other native trees and shrubs. Don describes his garden as, “…certainly not an English Garden. It's mostly wild, with certain areas somewhat controlled. I wanted to attract native birds, butterflies, etc.” This will be a Wild Ones Members only event. Please visit our Membership page if you are interested in becoming a member.
May 2021
May 1st: Native Plant Rescue
Public Welcome Plant Salvage/Rescue
Wild Ones Columbus President Barbara's native gardens need to be reduced. Come help us dig up plants for our Wild Ones Columbus Annual Plant Sale on May 22nd! Wild Ones Members may also collect plants for their own gardens.
May 22nd: Annual Native Plant Sale
We hope to see you at our Annual Wild Ones Columbus Native Plant Sale on May 22nd! We will have a great selection of native perennials, shrubs and trees... including a lot of unique ones you aren't likely to find elsewhere. View our plant list here.
Plants will be provided by Wild Ones Columbus volunteers and our native plant nursery partners Natives in Harmony and Leaves for Wildlife.
Come early for the best selection!
Where: Whetstone Community Center (outdoors, rain or shine), 3923 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43214
When: Saturday, May 22nd | 9am - 1pm
How to purchase plants: Each of the three vendors will have their own area at the sale. Wild Ones Columbus plants are cash only. Natives in Harmony and Leaves for Wildlife will both accept credit card or cash. No pre-sale orders this year.
Pricing: Most Wild Ones Columbus plants will be between $2 - $8, based on size. There may be a few larger, more established plants that will get above $10. Natives in Harmony and Leaves for Wildlife will set their own pricing based on the size of their plants.
Plant list: View here
Transporting your plants: Shop our sale like a pro and bring your own cardboard box, tray, bag, whatever to carry all your plant purchases in. We may have a few trays and boxes on hand, but we don't go out and buy any extra plastic.
Have lots of plant pots and trays taking up space? Drop them off at our plant sale! We do our best to re-use pots and trays for our plant sale.
June 2021
June 26th: Tour of Fern Hollow Farm
Address: Fern Hollow Farm - 5809 Township Rd 143, Somerset, OH 43783
We will be touring Fern Hollow Farm with owners Erik and Olivia Peterson. Fern Hollow Farm is an all-natural, permaculture-oriented farm providing ethically grown and affordable healthy foods. They strive to help build community resilience in the Appalachian region by facilitating interactive learning and therapeutic opportunities. Pack a lunch to enjoy at the farm with friends or family.
Fern Hollow Farm website: https://www.fernhollow.org/
July 2021
July 24th: Tour of Guy Denny's Prairie - "18 Years of Natural Ecological Beauty"
Public Welcome Home Garden Tour
Guy Denny, naturalist and President of ONAPA, will once again open his 22-acre tallgrass prairie located in Knox County to those who want to enjoy Ohio's native tallgrass prairies. This planted prairie is situated approximately 20 miles east of the Sandusky Plains, a once vast remnant of native Ohio tallgrass prairie that covered about 300 square miles at the time of earliest settlement. Denny's tallgrass prairie was established over an 18-year period beginning in 1992. For more information about ONAPA and other opportunities, visit http://www.onapa.org/
August 2021
August 14th: Tour - Scioto Gardens
Location: Scioto Gardens - 3351 State Rte 37 W, Delaware, OH 43015
Join us for a tour of Scioto Gardens, led by Denise Gualtiere! In May 2019, Michael and Linda sold the nursery business to a team of partners who will carry on their legacy and allow them to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. The new group of owner-partners notes that while there may be changes, they are committed to producing high-quality plants that will awaken any landscape.
Website: https://sciotogardens.com/about-us/
September 2021
September 11th: Tour of Riverside Native Trees and Nursery
Location: Riverside Native Trees and Nursery, LLC - 2295 River Rd., Delaware, OH 43015
Description: Join us for a tour of Riverside Native Trees and Nursery with owner Ed Kapraly. Riverside sells container grown, local provenance Ohio and Midwest native trees and shrubs. Their primary products include 4'-6' trees and 2'-3' shrubs in 3 gallon, root pruning containers. Seedling-sized trees are also sold. Come learn about our native trees and purchase some for your own yard!
Website: https://riversidenativetrees.com/
September 18th: Garden Tour - Larry Shepherd
Public Welcome Home Garden Tour
Description: Since his retirement last year, Wild Ones Columbus member Larry Shepherd's main pastime has been spending time working on his garden. Larry will give us a tour of his yard and show how he has incorporated native plants into the landscape. Stop by and get some ideas for your native gardens!
October 2021
October 23rd: Social Gathering - Inniswood Metro Gardens
Location: Inniswood Metro Gardens - 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH 43081
Description: Join us for a morning walk through Inniswood Metro Gardens! Situated on 123 acres, Inniswood Metro Gardens is a continual source of inspiration for central Ohioans of all ages. A natural woodland is home to native wildflowers, wildlife and waterways which provide a majestic backdrop to the beautifully landscaped gardens and lawns. We will meet outside the welcome center. This event is open to the public.