Diane Hilscher, President: e-mail or (651) 436-3836
Roger Miller, Programs: e-mail or (651) 275-0526

Our St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter sponsors monthly programs by enthusiasts and experts on native plants and natural landscapes. Meetings are normally free and open to the public. Special events may include a registration fee to help cover costs. Cold weather (indoor) meetings are held the third Thursday of the month, 7 pm, at the FamilyMeans building in Stillwater (Click for a Map). Warm weather garden tours and field trips are typically held Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. See our Chapter Calendar below for details. We welcome all levels of plant and gardening enthusiast. Join us to learn more about Minnesota and Wisconsin native plants and how they can enhance our outdoor spaces.

Our chapter president Diane Hilscher is a registered landscape architect and native plant ecologist. She founded Hilscher Design and Ecology in 1991, specializing in landscape design with a strong environmental emphasis. Diane has over twenty-five years of experience in ecological design and construction management, and has served as vice president of the Minnesota Native Plant Society. She enjoys native plant gardening and restoration on two acres of oak savanna near Stillwater.

    Aug 21, 2008 (Thu)    

Bird & Native Plant Tour of St. Croix Savanna Scientific & Natural Area (SNA)
Bayport, MN
Thursday, August 21st, 6:30 to 8:30 PM (storm date Sunday, August 24th, 3:00 to 5:00 PM)

NOTE: WE'RE FULL! Due to the delicate nature of the area, MN DNR asks that we limit the size of tour groups. We've organized two guided groups and both are now fully reserved. Tour details are being arranged by Joan (Thank you, Joan) at wildones.texlersnatour@gmail.com or phone (651) 436-5329. Joan will confirm reservations, provide driving directions, parking information, and details of our hike. If all our spaces fill, a short wait-list may be compiled; please release your reservation if your plans change.

Join us for a guided field trip through the sand-gravel prairie and oak savanna of St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). The savanna occurs along the top and side of a south-facing bluff just south of Bayport, with stunning views of the St. Croix River. DNR describes this as the best sand-gravel prairie and oak savanna along the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Difficulty: Easy walk wholly off-trail.

The tour is jointly sponsored by the St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter of Wild Ones and the St. Paul Audubon Society. Bring your favorite native prairie plant and bird field guides and binoculars. Our guides include Hannah Dunevitz Texler, MN DNR Regional Plant Ecologist, and Chase Davies, naturalist and field guide with the St. Paul Audubon Society. Additional information on the SNA, including plant and bird lists, can be found HERE.

    Sep 18, 2008 (Thu)    

Native Pollinators
John Arthur and Pamela Deerwood
Thursday, September 18th, 2008, 6:30-8:30 pm
FamilyMeans Building, 1875 Northwestern Ave., Stillwater Click for a Map

Pollinators--bees, beetles, flies, butterflies, moths, even some bats--are essential to our survival. Most flowering plants cannot reproduce without them. Native pollinators are also "indicator species" marking the health of the ecosystems they inhabit. Sadly, as habitat and food sources are degraded, native pollinators are threatened.

John Arthur and Pamela Deerwood, members of our Twin Cities Chapter, are known for their fascination with native fauna and their skill as nature photographers. Join us as they share their knowledge and their wonderful photographs. They'll help us identify and appreciate our native pollinators and share suggestions for protecting and promoting them in our landscapes. Refreshments and socializing begin at 6:30 p.m. with the main program at 7 p.m.

    Oct 16, 2008 (Thu)    

Biocontrol of Invasive Plant Species
Thursday, September 18th, 2008, 6:30-8:30 pm
FamilyMeans Building, 1875 Northwestern Ave., Stillwater Click for a Map

Reserve this date for our October meeting. We'll have more detail posted in the coming week. Encouraging news from the biocontrol front on controlling invasives.

    Nov 20, 2008 (Thu)    

Annual Membership Meeting, Potluck and Seed Exchange
Thursday, November 20th, 2008, 6:30-8:30 pm
FamilyMeans Building, 1875 Northwestern Ave., Stillwater Click for a Map

Celebrate our local Wild Ones community, share good food and native seeds, and look ahead to 2009. Chapter members and potential members welcome. Check back for details and to sign up for the pot luck.

This will be our final program of the calendar year.