Outdoor Spring to Fall meetings are announced in the chapter newsletter and on this web site below.

Meetings consist of how-tos, networking, field trips, and other activities.

Download 2010 Plant Sale details and order form. Orders due April 20th. Pick up plants May 8th at WILD Center.

Fox Valley Area Chapter was founded in November, 1994, by a small nucleus of native plant enthusiasts from Outagamie and Winnebago Counties and now has a membership of 285 households in 12 counties of northeastern Wisconsin, with some members from outside our region as well. Our chapter leaders create a friendly, hospitable atmosphere that welcomes everyone who is interested in learning about natural landscaping with native plants.

We welcome new members. Join Wild Ones at any time during the year. Contact our Membership Chair or Wild Ones for a membership brochure.

Download current chapter Newsletter to learn details about events.

Chapter Meetings

View the Fox Valley Area Chapter 2010 calendar.

Most of the chapter's business is conducted at Board meetings, leaving chapter meetings free to concentrate on the program topic and networking. Contact our Program Chair for additional information on upcoming meetings.

Car pooling for field trips will be announced.

If using chartered bus transportation, pre-registration for all bus tours will be required no less than 2 weeks prior to each trip. A fee will be charged for bus tours. Please meet at the designated stops 15-25 minutes before departure times so we can leave on schedule.

Wild Yard Tours

One of our most popular programs is our annual tour of members' yards. For information on having your yard included on a tour, contact our Program Chair.

Natural Landscaping Conference

The Fox Valley Area Chapter holds an annual all-day natural landscaping conference, "Toward Harmony with Nature." The 2010 conference was held Saturday, January 30 in Oshkosh. Expert guest speakers on a variety of natural landscaping topics were featured in concurrent sessions, along with a keynote speaker, buffet lunch, and exhibits by native plant nurseries, nature centers, booksellers, nature artists, and environmental organizations. Be sure to join us next year on the last Saturday in January.

Native Plant Sale

One of our most exciting events is our annual native plant sale. For more information, contact our plant sale Coordinator.

Seeds for Education

The Fox Valley Area Chapter has established a "Natural Landscaping for Tomorrow" fund which awards grants ranging from $100-$500 to Fox Valley Wisconsin area schools, houses of worship, and other public and nonprofit organizations who wish to create natural landscapes or outdoor classrooms using native plants. Applications are due January 15. Notification of awards is given in March. Natural Landscaping for Tomorrow grant applications may be obtained from the Wild Ones national office at 920-730-3986 or downloaded from this website.

Downloadable files: Grant Cover Letter, Grant Application (pdf format), Grant Application (doc format)

Help Wanted

We welcome your help on our committees. We are especially looking for volunteers to serve on the Special Events Committee.

Here is a list of Wisconsin reference books pertaining to natural landscaping, plant and insect identification and more.

Additional information is available on officers, committees and chapter organization here.

Additional chapter projects and activities are described on this Project page.

Long-Range Goals

The top six goals of the Fox Valley Area chapter, as identified at a long-range planning session in January, 1997, are:

1. All schools in the Fox Valley area will have native planting areas and outdoor classroom curricula.

2. Chapter members will become knowledgeable about native landscaping and take plant rescue dig training.

3. There will be more visible native plantings on public and private lands.

4. Native plants and seeds will be readily available and reasonably priced and professional landscapers will recommend native plants when designing yards.

5. Wild Ones membership will increase and there will be a ready supply of strong leaders.

6. Local ordinances will encourage rather than discourage natural landscaping.

Additional Projects and Activities

The Fox Valley Area Chapter has many additional activities including plant rescues, a speakers bureau, a vendor listing, and Wild Ones merchandise.

    Feb 25, 2010 (Thu)    

Annual Meeting & Seed Exchange
6:30PM Social / 7:00PM Program
At: WILD Center
A special program celebrating our 15th Year!
Election of officers.
Bring native plant seeds to share

    Mar 25, 2010 (Thu)    

Benefits and Applications of Rain Barrels
for Landscape Water Management Purposes
6:30PM Social / 7:00PM Program
At: WILD Center

    Apr 17, 2010 (Sat)    

Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop
At: WILD Center
By: Fox River Academy Environmental Charter School
Fee/Pre-registration required. Download form here.

    Apr 22, 2010 (Thu)    

Learning About & Selecting Native Rain Garden Plants
6:30PM Social / 7:00PM Program
At: Evergreen Retirement Community, Oshkosh
By: Kathy Comqxwvsi, member, owner of Peace Gardens, LL

    May 08, 2010 (Sat)    

Two Bird Walks
1 hour each - 8:00AM and 11:00AM
Native Plant Sale & Order Pick Up
9:00AM–12PM
At: WILD Center
• Join Winnebago Audubon members for bird watching
on the WILD Center grounds.
• See "2010WO-FVACPlantSale.pdf" for plant ordering information.
Orders due Tuesday, April 20.

    May 27, 2010 (Thu)    

Evening Yard Tour - Spring on the Prairie, Oak Savannah and Woodlands
6:00PM
At: Ron and Marilyn Stroud, 5522 Grandview Rd, Larsen
Take a walk with the Stroud’s through their prairie, oak savannah and woodlands
to see shooting stars, lupines, jack-in-the-pulpit, columbine, buttercups, and
much more. Kathy Comqxwvsi, member, will be on hand to share reference material
about native woodland plants.

    Jun 24, 2010 (Thu)    

Invasive Plants (Loosestrife, Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard and Others)
“Tried and True” Suppression Methods
6:30PM Social / 7:00PM Program
At: WILD Center
By: David Bayer, retired Biology high school teacher of 31 years, member
of the Invasive Plant Association of WI (PAWS). The presentation will be
followed by an informal roundtable of members sharing their success in
controlling invasives.

    Jul 31, 2010 (Sat)    

Tour Three Locations
At: Fond du Lac
Between 10:00am and 12:00pm
• 790 Hampton Avenue, visit members Carol and Lew
Smith’s native-landscaped suburban yard;
• 525 E. Pioneer Road, just a mile away from Smiths’,
visit Theisen School Arboretum, with its 900 ft. trail
through a small woodland, wetland and prairie
created by students.
12:00–4:00 pm
• visit PrairieFest, UW-Fond du Lac’s annual festival
with tours of the prairie, educational and artisan
booths, children’s craft area and food booths.
At 12:30pm, gather for lunch at PrairieFest—
bring a sack lunch or enjoy the food booths.

    Aug 26, 2010 (Thu)    

Evening Rain Garden Tour
6:00PM
At: Ann Rosenberg; 3427 W. Larsen Rd., Larsen
See a beautiful, mature rain garden and pond.
There will be opportunities to ID plants.
You will also see birds and insects that are
attracted to the setting.

    Sep 23, 2010 (Thu)    

Geology of Native Plant Communities
6:30PM Social / 7:00PM Program
At: Evergreen Retirement Community, Oshkosh
By: Maureen Muldoon, Associate Professor of Geology, UW-Oshkosh.
Discover the relationships between native plants and the soils,
which are defined by the geology of the local areas.

    Oct 01, 2010 (Fri)    

October Seed Gathering
This October 1 date is provisional.
Actual date and locations to be announced in August.

    Oct 28, 2010 (Thu)    

Designing Flowerbeds With Natives
6:30PM Social / 7:00PM Program
At: WILD Center
The program includes four different presentations, by members,
who have planted flowerbeds using only native plants or who
have incorporated natives with non-native plants.
Includes photos of their results.

    Nov 18, 2010 (Thu)    

Presentation to be announced
6:30PM Social / 7:00PM Program
At: Evergreen Retirement Community, Oshkosh
Joint Program with Winnebago Audubon.

Additional Projects and Activities

The Fox Valley Area Chapter has additional activities including plant rescues, a speakers bureau, a vendor listing, and Wild Ones merchandise.