Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities Wild Ones is a not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization.

Wild Ones provides information and teaches people how to use native plants in their landscapes. Wild Ones distinguishes itself from other garden organizations by encouraging gardening with native plants and moving away from the use of chemicals, watering, excessive mowing and other practices commonly used by traditional gardeners. People come to Wild Ones to learn about environmentally friendly gardening—about plants native to our area that have evolved to survive our climate without help from artificial means.

The Rock River Valley Chapter carries out the mission of Wild Ones through a variety of activities, which typically includes any of the following:

• Informative Meetings, include how-to-do-it sessions, presentations by experts in prairie, woodland, and wetland native plants and related subjects and members profiling their own projects.
• Show Me/Help Me Day, members tour other members’ yards, share ideas, and offer suggestions.
• Seed Exchanges, we meet in November to exchange native plant seed that members have collected.
• Native Plant Sale, with orders being taken February through April, for delivery in May. Contact Native Plant Sale Chair to recieve a flier and order form.
• Native Tree and Shrub Sale, with orders being taken in July and August, for pick up on September 6. Contact S&T Sale Chair to recieve a flier and order form.
• Plant Rescues, where members dig plants in the path of development. The rescued plants go to home landscapes or are used for restoration efforts in the local area.

The Rock River Valley Chapter publishes a monthly newsletter for its members which contains informative and timely articles about upcoming events, past events, related events, and other useful information. For more information and a sample newsletter, click here.

The Chapter was established in July 1994. Currently we have about 178 household and business memberships. The chapter is lead by dedicated officers and chairs. For contact information, click here.

Visitors are welcome at most events and are invited to join the growing membership. For information about membership, click here or contact our Membership Chair.

    Mar 20, 2008 (Thu)    

Sedges
Learn to use and appreciate the many native sedges found in the upper Midwest. Learn how valuable sedges are to both home landscaping and creating natural habitat. Presented by Dr. Andrew Hipp. We meet at Burpee Museum of Natural History. The program starts at 7 PM. Open to the public. Contact Virginia Watson at (815) 398-0138 for details

    Apr 17, 2008 (Thu)    

Landscaping With Native Plants
The concept of landscaping using native forbs, grasses, trees and shrubs is growing in popularity as the wisdom of the idea becomes evident. Forward thinking environmentally conscious companies are advertising their awareness of the ecologically sound practice by showcasing their properties using attractive native species. Savvy neighborhoods are prominently displaying their understanding of this important movement by creating eye catching native habitats in their yards.



Creating your own native landscape is easy as the preeminent landscape architect, Prof. Evelyn Howell, from UW Madison, will show us at this meeting. We meet at Burpee Museum of Natural History. The program starts at 7 PM. Open to the public. Contact Virginia Watson at (815) 398-0138 for details.

    May 15, 2008 (Thu)    

Ecology of Woodland Communities
As with the many different kinds of native plant communities, the oak woodland is unique and wonderful…and disappearing. To protect this vital habitat it is important to understand the general characteristics of this significant Illinois environment.



Join us as Dr. John Taft, Senior Research Scientist (Plant ecologist/botanist) for the Illinois Natural History Survey, describes for us the vegetation ecology of oak woodlands as well as indicators of ecosystem health, how the woody overstory interacts with ground-layer vegetation and about the role of disturbance, particularly fire, in the maintenance of oak woodland communities. These issues will be presented in the context of our highly fragmented landscape and the role of public and private lands have in conserving biodiversity in woodland habitats. We meet at Burpee Museum of Natural History. The program starts at 7 PM. Open to the public. Contact Virginia Watson at (815) 398-0138 for details.

    Jun 19, 2008 (Thu)    

Invasive Aliens: Control Without Poisons
As we become increasingly aware of the harm that has been done to our environment we begin to take special note of all we do to our own yards which may have lasting effects, good or bad. Herbicides have been widely used to eradicate weeds and invasive aliens but is there a better, less toxic way to battle these perennial enemies?



Mary Blackmore, from the Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County, thinks there is and will share her ideas for chemical free weed control. Mary will discuss our more serious aliens such as garlic mustard, buckthorn, Dame’s Rocket, and the like and then discuss how to get rid of them without spreading chemical poisons around our increasingly stressed environment. For this program only we will meet at Second Congregational Church, 318 N. Church St., Rockford, IL. The program starts at 7 PM. Open to the public. Contact Virginia Watson at (815) 398-0138 for details.

    Jul 01, 2008 (Tue)    

Annual Native Shrub and Tree Sale - July and August

Orders for shrubs and trees that are native to the Rockford, IL area will be taken during this period. The selection includes many native species not found at most nurseries. Native species are better adapted to our climate, soil and moisture. They support more wildlife than non-native species and once established, they require very little care. Plants are sold at very reasonable prices and come in 5 gallon containers and some trees are offered in larger sizes. The pick up date is September 6, just in time for fall planting. Please contact John Peterson at 815-248-2110, or S&T Sale Chair with questions, or to request an order form.

    Aug 21, 2008 (Thu)    

Native Trees & Shrubs-Up Close and Personal
For so long homeowners and landscapers alike have looked to exotic foreign species of shrubs and trees to create dramatic and interesting landscapes, so much so that we have lost sight of the magnificent plants native to our region. Now, when we realize how important it is to decrease our use of the fertilizers and water for landscape hydration required by species not used to growing in our area, it is time to rediscover the wealth of natural beauty that once filled our lovely and richly diverse upper Midwest region.



Connor Shaw, owner of Possibility Place, a popular nursery specializing in native plants and located in Monee, Illinois, will put us on a first name basis with some of the wonderful native trees and shrubs once common to this area. He will cover plant specifications, light, soil and moisture requirements and companion plants as well as size considerations which may restrict ultimate plant location. Most trees and shrubs discussed will be offered for sale at our Native Tree and Shrub sale in July through August. We meet at Burpee Museum of Natural History. The program starts at 7 PM. Open to the public. Contact Virginia Watson at (815) 398-0138 for details.

    Sep 18, 2008 (Thu)    

Native Landscaping for Winter Interest
Winter landscape can be so much more than just flat snow/brown grass. Plan ahead to make your yard attractive and inviting during the winter months as well! Join us to learn how! Presented by Molly Fifield Murray, Naturalist, Landscape arch. & Mgr. Edu. Programs at UW Mad. Arboretum. We meet at Burpee Museum of Natural History. The program starts at 7 PM. Open to the public. Contact Virginia Watson at (815) 398-0138 for details

    Oct 16, 2008 (Thu)    

How Do We Know What Was Growing Here Before?
Join us for the fascinating story of exactly how we know what is native in our region. Presented by Greg Spyreas, Il Nat. History Survey. We meet at Burpee Museum of Natural History. The program starts at 7 PM. Open to the public. Contact Virginia Watson at (815) 398-0138 for details

Guests are welcome at most events. If you would like to receive a complimentary three month subscription to our newsletter please contact Newsletter Editor. You can request an electronic version (PDF) via email or a paper version via standard mail.