Wild Ones Events

Wild Ones HGCNY Chapter will be hosting a table at The Salt Museum at Onondaga Lake Appreciation Day, weather permitting. Come out and say hello!

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Join Janet Allen, President of Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in CNY, for a presentation about butterfly-friendly landscapes!

Are you seeing fewer butterflies than in the past? The populations of many species of butterflies and moths are in decline, but you can help reverse this trend by creating a butterfly-friendly habitat in your own yard. Learn some simple things you can do so your landscape benefits not only butterflies, but other insects and people, too!

Registration required.

Update: 1pm tour is full!

Update: 2nd tour full!

Join us for a guided tour of Wild Ones HGCNY member Jennifer Staples’ property, showcasing a thoughtful approach to native planting and habitat creation. Jennifer has shaped her landscape to support local wildlife while maintaining a friendly, traditional curb appeal.

From her front-yard plantings to her wilder backwoods, this tour offers a real-world look at the balance between beauty, biodiversity, and community.

In Jennifer’s words:
 "Over the past 10 years, I’ve come to see the land I steward as less about me and more about its environmental usefulness. I aim to support as much wildlife as possible while keeping things neighbor-friendly. Come see both the triumphs and the missteps I’ve made on this journey.

My property consists of 3/4 acre of land all on rich fairly alkaline soil with a clay under layer.  The front gardens are dry to moist and the property gets more moist to wet with vernal pools the further it goes back.  My front beds are small to medium height plants; the back beds include small to medium trees and bushes and the forest consists of large trees to which I am adding small trees, bushes and understory.  As such I am blessed to have sunny, dappled, part shady and deep shade areas on my property."

Don’t miss this chance to explore how one gardener blends ecological purpose with suburban practicality.

Registration Required - please indicate Show Me, Help Me Tour Sign Up at link and include date, venue and if any others will be joining you. The address will be emailed to you prior to the event.

Attendance limit: 10 people  (A second time lot may be added if interest exceeds capacity)

Optional Backwoods Walk: Long pants, boots and bug spray recommended

Join us for a guided tour led by Amanda Accamando, Director of the Beaver Lake Nature Center, along the Lake Loop Trail, featuring the newly constructed 2,000-foot boardwalk stretching across scenic wetland habitat at the lake’s edge. Learn about the geological formation of Beaver Lake, the history of the boardwalk, and its eco-friendly design to protect the sensitive wetland ecosystem and withstand future environmental changes.

Distance: Approximately 2.25 miles round trip

What to Bring: Water, insect repellent, and sunscreen recommended

Parking: Each car must pay a $5 parking fee, payable at the exit. 

Attendance Limit: 17 people. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended.

Registration: To secure your spot, register at the link button below, select the "Other" option, and indicate that you are interested in the Beaver Lake trip. Please include whether others will be joining you. For more information or assistance with registration, contact [email protected]. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore Beaver Lake’s natural beauty and innovative conservation efforts with Amanda Accamando!

Join us for a guided tour of Kara Tyler-Julian and Paul Julian’s 15-acre property in LaFayette, NY, led by Catherine Landis, PhD, from SUNY-ESF. This walk will explore the couple’s ongoing efforts to restore their land by removing invasive plants and reintroducing native species, with a focus on soil conservation and insect habitat creation.

Kara, an entomologist, and Paul, a soil scientist, are especially focused on establishing native wildflowers in a meadow area currently being allowed to grow naturally to observe existing species. Their goal is to transform it into a vibrant native wildflower meadow.

Purchased in February 2025 and occupied since mid-March, the property sits on a sloping hill and features a mosaic of habitats—open meadows, wetlands, a stream, forest, and remnants of an old apple orchard. The land supports diverse wildlife, including birds, chipmunks, groundhogs, deer, turkeys, foxes, and spotted salamanders, which were seen laying eggs in ephemeral pools in April.

This “Show Me, Help Me” tour, organized by the Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY) chapter of Wild Ones, offers a practical look at balancing ecological restoration with biodiversity enhancement.

Event Details:

Registration: Required via the Wild Ones HGCNY website's “Contact Us” form. Indicate “Show Me, Help Me Tour Sign Up” with your preferred date, venue and if others plan to join you. The address will be emailed prior to the event.

Attendance Limit: 13 people, handled on a first-come, first-serve basis. A waiting list will be maintained.

Parking: Very limited; carpooling is required.

Details coming soon! 

Wild Ones HGCNY Chapter will be tabling again this year at Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex “Bee Smart: Grow Native!” native plant festival.

This event includes a native plant sale and presentations by several native plant experts, as well as a guided walk.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!