Wild Ones Events

In this special collaboration, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plant, joins youth leader and Nurture Natives founder Esther Bonney for an intergenerational conversation about belonging, reciprocity, and native plant action. 

Together, they will explore questions such as:

How do we create opportunities for young people to have a voice and feel empowered, even when they are not homeowners or decision makers?What kinds of relationships and mentorships help people stay engaged in native plant work over decades?Why do stories, shared practices, and community invitations matter just as much as plant lists?

Robin and Esther will reflect on what invites people into this work, what keeps them here, and what elders and youth have to teach each other.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: January 25, 2026 Meeting - Now Zoom-Only

Due to impending winter weather, our in-person + Zoom meeting on Sunday, January 25 at 1:30pm has been changed to Zoom-only.

Wild Ones HGCNY Chapter  presents “Creating a Meadow One Step at a Time” with Deanna English, Owner of Grow Wild! Native Plant Nursery

You don’t have to be an expert to create a meadow! Deanna will take you on a journey through her continuing efforts to restore an old farm field to a diverse meadow ecosystem.  Along with a description of the how-to’s of this process and the resources she has used, the talk will include the rewards, surprises, challenges, frustrations and utter confusion that she has experienced. This technique can be scaled up or down to meet the landowner’s needs.

About our speaker: Deanna’s life ambition is to support the healing of the natural world. She owns the native plant nursery, Grow Wild!, in Brooktondale, NY, near Ithaca, which is one of the nurseries featured in HGCNY’s native plant shopping guide. Her background is in education and ecological restoration. She has a BA in Middle School Education and a MS in Environmental Studies.

Location
Zoom-only: attendees will be able to hear the speaker, view their slide presentation, and ask questions during the Q&A at the end.
Registration required at the link below.

Recording
Meetings are typically recorded and posted on our YouTube channel.

Our upcoming webinar with Basil Camu explores practical, evidence based ways to heal suburban and urban landscapes by working with trees, soil, and natural systems, drawing on real world practices from Leaf & Limb and community centered models for restoring life where we live, work, and play.!  

HGCNY Wild Ones is excited to announce our first-ever booth at the 2026 Northeast Plant Show!

When: 

Saturday, February 21st: 10 AM–3 PM general admission; VIP entry starts at 9 

Sunday, February 22nd: 10 AM–3 PM general admission; VIP entry starts at 9 

Where: The Oncenter Convention Center, 800 S. State St., Syracuse, NY

This show is a houseplant paradise, drawing crowds eager for rare aroids, tropicals, succulents, orchids, and more. It's the perfect chance to reach a brand-new audience already passionate about plants - we can inspire them to extend that love to native plants for outdoor habitats, pollinators, birds, and biodiversity in Central New York!

Our booth will highlight easy native gardening tips, wildlife benefits, and why natives make great low-maintenance companions to indoor collections.

Help us make our debut shine! 

We need friendly volunteers to staff the booth (flexible shifts, no experience needed—just enthusiasm!). Volunteering lets you connect with fellow plant lovers and spread the Wild Ones message to thousands. *Entry fee will not be required for volunteers.

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

Description: Are you overwhelmed by piles of plastic pots, cell packs, and trays in your garden shed? Concerned that the wave of plastics in your garden, soil, plants and water seems endless? Wondering how you can grow a garden for family and wildlife without hazardous plastics?

Melanie Cutillo of Lazy Dirt Wildflower Farm will present how she ditched plastics at her wildflower farm and native plant nursery in Mexico, New York.

Her presentation will share how she grows her farm’s plants plastic-free including

Winter Sowing (Stratification)Propagation from seeds & cuttingsSeason extension without plasticsSharing the abundance of native plants and flowers without plastic pots, trays etc.

About Our Speaker: Melanie began her native flower farm in 2021 with a dream to transform her 220-year-old farm into a habitat for wildlife featuring native plants. She is a Master Gardener and member of the Flower Collective of Central New York. Melanie creates eco-friendly flower arrangements without metal, plastic or foam. May thru December, bouquets of native flowers and foliage are ‘conservation starters’ to raise awareness about ecological gardening and wildlife conservation here in Central New York.

Schedule
• 1:00 p.m. — Refreshments and conversation with fellow native plant enthusiasts
• 1:30 p.m. — Presentation begins

Location
This meeting is both in-person at the Liverpool Public Library and online via Zoom. Zoom attendees will be able to hear the speaker, view their slide presentation, and ask questions during the Q&A at the end.

Registration is required for Zoom attendance only.

Recording
Meetings are typically recorded and posted on our YouTube channel.

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

HGCNY Wild Ones is excited to announce we'll have a booth at the 2026 CNY Home & Garden Show!

When: 

Friday, March 27th: 10am to 7pm

Saturday, March 28th: 10am to 7pm

Sunday, March 29th: 10am to 5pm  

Where: New York State Fairgrounds, Exposition Center (Syracuse, NY)

This is one of Central New York's largest home and garden events, drawing thousands of attendees eager to learn about landscaping, home improvement, and outdoor living. Our booth will be a fantastic opportunity to connect with a wide audience and share the benefits of native plants, natural landscapes, and creating healthy habitats right in our own yards.

We Need Volunteers! 

To make the most of this outreach opportunity, we're looking for enthusiastic chapter members and supporters to help staff the booth. Shifts will be available throughout the three-day event (Friday–Sunday), and no prior experience is needed—just a passion for natives and a willingness to chat with visitors! Entry fee will not be required for volunteers.

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

Habitat Gardening for Life, presented by Janet Allen, President of Wild Ones HGCNY, will take place at the Men and Women’s Garden Club of Syracuse booth at the NYS Fairgrounds Expo Center (Booth 1304).

Description: Caring for our yards is the most direct way we care for the earth. By planting native plants, we can provide habitat for even the smallest creatures, and by using earth-friendly landscaping practices, we can create a healthy yard for our family and a healthy planet for future generations. Just as important, we can reconnect with the natural world as we enjoy our own piece of the earth every day. Become a habitat gardener and watch your yard come to life!

Speaker Bio: Janet is the co-founder and president of Habitat Gardening in Central New York Wild Ones chapter (hgcny.wildones.org/). Her yard is certified as Monarch Waystation #581 by Monarch Watch and as a Certified Wildlife Habitat #27815 by the National Wildlife Federation. She earned the Toastmasters Advanced Communicator Gold certificate.

Creating a Butterfly-Friendly Landscape, presented by Janet Allen, President of Wild Ones HGCNY, will take place at the Men and Women’s Garden Club of Syracuse booth at the NYS Fairgrounds Expo Center (Booth 1304).

Description: 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 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! 

Speaker Bio: Janet is the co-founder and president of Habitat Gardening in Central New York Wild Ones chapter (hgcny.wildones.org/). Her yard is certified as Monarch Waystation #581 by Monarch Watch and as a Certified Wildlife Habitat #27815 by the National Wildlife Federation. She earned the Toastmasters Advanced Communicator Gold certificate.

PROGRAM UPDATE: Due to a family emergency, our program with Sarah Sutton, “Hyper-Local Garden Design”, will be on Sunday, April 26 on ZOOM ONLY. 

Description: Janet Allen will present, “Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard”. Do you enjoy watching birds in your yard? Learn some interesting facts about some favorite backyard birds and how to provide food, water, cover, and places for them to raise their young. Learn about the vital role of native plants in providing for their needs. Finally, learn how you can help birds beyond your own yard. Create a bird-friendly landscape and enjoy the daily companionship of birds right at home! 

Speaker’s Bio: Janet is the co-founder and president of Habitat Gardening in Central New York Wild Ones chapter (hgcny.wildones.org/). Her yard is certified as Monarch Waystation #581 by Monarch Watch and as a Certified Wildlife Habitat #27815 by the National Wildlife Federation. She earned the Toastmasters Advanced Communicator Gold certificate. 

Schedule
o 1:00 p.m. - Refreshments and conversation with fellow native plant enthusiasts
o 1:30 p.m. - Presentation begins

Location
This meeting is both in-person at the Liverpool Public Library and online via Zoom. Zoom attendees will be able to hear the speaker, view their slide presentation, and ask questions during the Q&A at the end.

Registration is required for Zoom attendance only.

Recording
Meetings are typically recorded and posted on our YouTube channel.

Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY) is excited to host a table at the Skaneateles Home & Garden Show!

Join us for this family-friendly local event full of inspiration for homeowners, gardeners, and community members. Stop by our booth to:

Chat about native plants and eco-friendly landscapingGet tips on creating pollinator-friendly habitats and supporting local wildlifeLearn how to transform your yard into a beautiful, low-maintenance natural spacePick up resources and connect with fellow native plant enthusiasts

This is a great opportunity to spread the word about the benefits of native landscaping in Central NY. Everyone is welcome—come say hello!

Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY) is excited to partner with the Fayetteville Library for a special screening of "The Extraordinary Caterpillar"!

This inspiring documentary explores the fascinating world of caterpillars, their critical role in our ecosystems, and why supporting native plants is essential for these extraordinary insects — and the butterflies and moths they become.

Join us for an evening of learning and wonder!

Location: Fayetteville Library, Fayetteville, NY

Free public screening (open to everyone!) This is a partnership between Wild Ones HGCNY and the Fayetteville Library and registration will need to be done via the Library website - link below! 

Bring your family, friends, and anyone who cares about pollinators, native plants, or the wonders of the natural world. This is a great opportunity to learn, connect, and get inspired to create more habitat in Central New York!

We hope to see you there as we celebrate the incredible life cycles happening right in our own neighborhoods! ✨

Join us at Pompey, NY's Earth Day Fair!

The Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY) Chapter will be tabling- stop by to say hello, learn about native plants, and discover how to create biodiversity-friendly landscapes.

Volunteer with us!

To make the most of this outreach opportunity, we're looking for enthusiastic chapter members and supporters to help staff the booth. No prior experience is needed - just a passion for natives and a willingness to chat with visitors! 

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

Join Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY) for a beautiful spring wildflower walk led by Lew Troast!

Date: Sunday, April 25th 

Time: 9:30 AM (please arrive by 9:15 AM) 

Location: Green Lakes State Park Nature Center, Fayetteville, NY

We'll explore the park's trails in search of early spring ephemerals and other native wildflowers in their natural habitat. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from Lew while enjoying the awakening woods and the park's stunning meromictic lakes.

Note from Lew: We will be walking around Green and Round Lake. We will also have a chance to observe spring migratory birds and other native shrubs that the park has planted. Bring binoculars, if you wish. The route is approximately three miles.

Important Details:

Members Only – This event is exclusively for current Wild Ones HGCNY members. 

Each member may bring one named guest only (maximum 15 participants total). 

To register, sign into your Wild Ones account and provide the name of your guest (if bringing one).

Registration is first-come, first-served. No waiting list will be maintained — sign up early!

Please register at the link below.

Spots will fill quickly - don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow native plant enthusiasts and welcome the spring season!

We look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate the beauty and biodiversity of our local landscapes.

Description: From wetlands, to upland forests, sand dunes and oak savanna fragments, this talk will cover how we can intentionally connect our yards to local ecosystem types. Through closely observing and learning from exemplary trails and natural areas within the Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands, we can learn which plant choices and layers support struggling and fragmented plant and wildlife communities close to home. 

Speaker’s Bio: Sarah Sutton is an Ontario County master gardener and owner of Spicebush Swallowtail Native Plants and Ecological Garden Design.

Registration is required.  This meeting is by Zoom only.

Recording
Meetings are typically recorded and posted on our YouTube channel.

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Join the Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY) chapter of Wild Ones for this year's Garlic Mustard Pull at Baltimore Woods Nature Center! Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an aggressive invasive species that outcompetes native spring wildflowers and harms forest biodiversity. By pulling it early in the season—before it sets seed—we help restore and protect the beautiful native plant communities in this 270+ acre preserve.

This is a hands-on volunteer opportunity on Saturday, May 2nd —no prior experience needed! We'll meet in the lower parking lot at 9:45 AM, then walk together to the work site starting at 10:00 AM. We'll pull garlic mustard plants by hand (or cut larger ones if needed), bag them for proper disposal (if necessary), and make a real difference for local pollinators, birds, and native flora.

After the Pull: After the pull, join us for an informal BYO picnic lunch, followed by a casual group walk on the trails to enjoy emerging native plants!

What to Bring/Wear:

Clothing that protects against ticks (long pants/sleeves, tuck pants into socks, consider permethrin-treated gear if you have it);

Comfortable garden gloves for pulling;

Garden scissors or pruners (for cutting taller/mature garlic mustard stems); 

Knee pads (optional—most folks just bend over, but bring if you prefer);

A bagged lunch/snacks and water (we'll take a break afterward for an informal picnic-style lunch). 

Friendly reminder: Baltimore Woods operates on a carry-in, carry-out basis—no trash receptacles available—so whatever you bring in, please carry it back out with you! Thanks for helping us protect this special place. ♻️

This event is free, open to all, and a great way to connect with fellow native plant enthusiasts while giving back to our Central NY ecosystems. 

We'd love to know if you're joining us for the Garlic Mustard Pull - to sign up, please click the Registration button below!

This helps us prepare for the group size and send any weather or last-minute updates.

Join us in welcoming back our migratory birds at the Great Swamp Conservancy’s 24th Annual Spring Migration Festival!

Wild Ones Habitat Gardening Chapter of Central New York will have a table there on Sunday, May 3rd, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Stop by, say hello, and chat native plants and habitat with us!

We Need Volunteers!

To make the most of this outreach opportunity, we're looking for enthusiastic chapter members and supporters to help staff the booth. No prior experience is needed - just a passion for natives and a willingness to chat with visitors! Entry fee will not be required for volunteers.

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

HGCNY Wild Ones will be tabling at this event in Fayetteville, NY!

We Need Volunteers!

To make the most of this outreach opportunity, we're looking for enthusiastic chapter members and supporters to help staff the booth. No prior experience is needed - just a passion for natives and a willingness to chat with visitors! 

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

HGCNY's Spring plant sale will be held on Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th. 

This will be a browse-about sale as well as a tree and shrub pre-order.

Please see the Wild Ones HGCNY newsletter for plant sale details and location.

HGCNY's Spring Native Plant sale will be held on Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th.

This will be a browse-about sale as well as a tree and shrub pre-order. 

Please see the Wild Ones HGCNY newsletter for plant sale details and location.

Native plant fans—here's a great chance to share the habitat gardening message!

The Syracuse City School District is hosting their Open Enrollment Benefit Fair themed “World Cup of Wellness” on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. at the Professional Development Center.

They've invited us to set up a table so SCSD employees can learn about native plants, pollinators, biodiversity, and how habitat gardening supports wellness in our yards and communities.

We need volunteers to staff the table for the 3-hour event (no experience needed - just enthusiasm for natives!). 

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

We're hosting a table again at the 2026 Baltimore Woods Nature Center's Annual Native Plant Sale - a wonderful weekend event full of native plant buyers and habitat enthusiasts!

When:

Friday, May 15, 2026: 4–7 PM

Saturday, May 16, 2026: 10 AM–5 PM

Where: Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Rd, Marcellus, NY

This popular sale draws locals eager to buy native plants for their yards—it's the perfect opportunity to connect with a new, motivated audience already sold on natives. We can chat about creating pollinator/bird habitats, share Central NY-specific tips, and introduce folks to HGCNY programs, Wild Ones resources, and our mission.

Volunteer with us! 

We need friendly chapter members and supporters to help staff the table over the two days (flexible shifts, no experience needed - just enthusiasm for natives!). Great way to meet plant lovers and spread the word in our area.

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

Details coming soon! 

We're excited to return to the Grow Native! Native Plant Festival & Sale - a fantastic event dedicated to native plants and wildlife habitat!

When: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 9 AM–3 PM 

Where: Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 3395 US-20, Seneca Falls, NY

This popular festival features native plant sales, expert talks, guided tours, vendors, and more - drawing crowds of gardeners, birders, and conservation enthusiasts eager to support pollinators, birds, and biodiversity. It's the perfect opportunity to reach a new, highly motivated audience already committed to natives - we can share Central NY-specific tips, highlight habitat benefits, and introduce HGCNY programs and Wild Ones resources.

Volunteer to help spread the word! 

We need enthusiastic members to staff the booth (flexible shifts throughout the day - no experience needed, just passion!). Great chance to connect with like-minded folks and inspire more native-focused action in our region.

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!