Wild Ones Events

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.