Wild Ones Events

Via Zoom-Desiree Nurango's recorded presentation "Cultivating Wildlife Conservation with Native Plants"

Via Zoom-Xerces Society's recorded presentation, "Gardening with native plants: Learn from our mistakes and successes"

Via Zoom-Annie White's recorded presentation "How native cultivars affect pollinators"

Via Zoom-an open forum to discuss our successes, failures and share experiences, answer questions, problem-solve among attendees on Zoom.

Guided walk at this NYS park. Mike Serviss was our guide. He pointed out the rare and interesting ferns that grow in this park.

Guided walk at this NYS park. Katie Mulverhill was our guide. She pointed out the areas of the forest that had been logged vs. old-growth areas.

Homeowner shared her experiences growing native plants from seed. Also, showed us several garden beds and bird-friendly features, as well as some problem areas in her yard in this dense neighborhood of mostly pre-WW2 single family homes.

This program highlights the progress being made in creating a meadow, which was started last year (2021). Sam Quinn of SUNY-ESF’s Restoration Science Center will be our presenter.

We will visit various meadows-in-progress at the Doce Lume Farm/Go Native! perennials property on East Lake Road in Skaneateles. Sam Quinn from the SUNY ESF Restoration Science Center will show us how the natural patterns and processes have influenced their current condition and the techniques that were used to achieve them. Learn how you can change your lawn to a meadow!

David DuBois, Land Steward at Baltimore Woods, will explain the plan and show us the site of the new re-forestation project that WO HGCNY Chapter is supporting. Previously, the land was a cornfield and was recently acquired by BW. It is being planted to re-generate a forest.

We are pleased to have Dr. Tim McCay of Colgate University who will summarize the biology of jumping worms, recent work on these species, and a look at the direction of current research.

Jumping worms include a group of three invasive earthworm species that can change the soil and organic (leaf litter) layer of gardens, lawns, and forests. In recent years jumping worms have continued their spread within the Northeast and upper Midwest, now into Canada. Most disturbingly, jumping worms have demonstrated an ability to invade intact forests of the Adirondacks and New England. Although researchers have advanced our knowledge of their distribution and negative effects in recent years, methods for control of jumping worms are still in the early stages of development.

It has been five years since warnings of an insect apocalypse or armageddon filled the headlines.  What have we learned since this wake-up call was issued? Has the science born out the media blitz of doom and gloom or was it just media hyperbole?

We will take an updated look into the issue and explore what has been learned, do we know the cause, and how you can help the insect world survive the apocalypse.

Jim D'Angelo is the Executive Director of the Sterling Nature Center in Sterling, NY.