Events

First Quarterly Membership and Public Meeting of 2025. Presentation by Ally Harding.  Have a problem plant that you'd like advice on?  Grab as complete a plant as you can from your space, bringing the root, stem, and leaves if possible. Put the plant in a container to help make sure we're not propagating problem plants!  A tied garbage bag would be great for this. We'll avoid accidentally distributing seeds and cuttings by doing this.  If you have success dealing with problem plants, please bring your tips and tricks to help us battle our way back to more native spaces.

Do a Native walk with Scouts and identify trees and native plants in area, explaining the benefits of native plants as food source to wildlife and pollinators. Allow the boys to plant native seeds in designated areas and explain how and when seeds should be picked.

We will be cleaning seeds and packaging them into envelopes as giveaways to the public  for our upcoming tabling events in 2025. We usually have an assembly line, one person stamps envelope, another adds seeds,another seals pkg, another adds the labels. We usually have great conversation’s while we are doing this activity.

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Monthly Board of Directors meeting.

Seed Starting and Plant Propagation Hands-On Workshop. Free to members and the public for the first 40  that RSVP to [email protected]   Materials provided but bring your own cuttings (at least 12 inch of new growth).

Monthly Board of Directors meeting

Come join us for a Seed Packaging Social event. We will be packing up native plant seeds for our upcoming tabling events at festivals in our area.  We usually have some lively conversations while we work and always walk away having learned something new.
We would love for you to come join the party!

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Monthly Board of Directors meeting

Hour-long presentation on the importance of natives in our yards. We highlighted four different species with a show and tell. We handed out seeds and information on Wild Ones.

This is a quarterly meeting for members and the public. The presentation will be geared towards high school students and of interest to adults.  Catherine Fox,  LSU-Ag Extension Associate will be talking about the 4-H Youth Program  overall and about the 4-H Wetlands Ambassadors which is the statewide leadership opportunity for high school students with an interest in natural resources and conservation.  The 4-H Youth Wetlands Program engages Louisiana youth in the state's wetlands through classroom lessons, educator resources, field trips. camps, and other outreach efforts.

Rescue the native plants growing in an area that is designated for construction of a new roadway. We hope to dig as many native species in this area as possible to save them from destruction. We will also be tagging other native plants for a secondary rescue on the weekend to allow our working member to get involved in this endeavor.  The plants we save will go into  the Community Gardens Wild Ones Native Plants  are maintaining as well as donating to other Public Native areas in our community and allowing members to take plants to add to the beauty of their properties.

Monthly Board of Directors meeting

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Monthly Board of Directors meetings

Garden Tour, Plant Rescue and garden cleanup for a member of WOPB. A member couldn’t take care of his potted native plants and,ants and trees any longer.  They donated them to WOPB so they could be shared with other members, public and demo gardens we are taking care of. In return we cleaned up members garden area so it could be enjoyed by them. 

Plant Rescue, Garden Tour and cleanup at members house. Picked up several trays of potted native plants and trees a member was no longer able to care for. They donated them to WOPB so plants could be shared with others. In return we cleaned up the garden so it could be enjoyed by WO member.

Restoration ecology is a vital tool to mitigate the crisis caused by the global destruction of biodiversity, one of the most powerful existential threats to future generations.  Johnny Armstrong's “Rescuing Biodiversity” tells the story of one man's attempts to preserve a vanishing Louisiana ecosystem and restore the animal and plant species that once lived there.  The author, conservationist and retired medical doctor describes what science=based restoration looks like on what is now recognized as perhaps the best example of this native plant community type in the state.

Monthly Board of Directors meeting

Rescue native plants in containers from members home. They are currently unable to take care of them and would like to see them rehomed and shared with others.

A social gathering to sort and packaging native seeds while have a social event talking about native or gardens or whatever topics come up. We alsway have lively converStation and enjoy the fellowship.

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

Monthly Board of Directors meeting at a board member's personal residence.

Come out and relax and socialize with WOPB, for a fun Friday evening social.  We'll talk about our gardens/restoration projects, share successes and problems to be solved. We'll present an interesting and timely Wild Ones National YouTube video for those interested.  And, we'll host an always popular plant and seed swap to help you get your gardens just right for the Fall.  RSVP to [email protected] and remember to bring a snack to share.

Members only tour of roughly 40 acreage of private property where prescribed burns are conducted annually and for roughly 17 years. Many uncommon species including some quite rare, including Lilium catesbaei or pine lilies. Owners will be offered a complimentary membership to WOPB.

Seed sorting and Packaging Social. We will be packing seeds for future tabling event while having conversations and fellowship with other members and the public. This meeting is open to the public and we love to hear about your native gardens or plantings. We always have a good time with various topics of conversation, I always learn something new at these get togethers.

Pelican Park's Alex Landry will lead our WOPB group on a nature walk, in Northlake Nature Center, as part of their September participation in the Parks for Pollinator throughout the month of September. Alex is the Naturalist & Environmental Education Coordinator for Pelican Park. Be sure to come prepared for the walk. Wear appropriate footwear and a hat, Bring water, camera, binoculars, sunscreen and maybe insect spray.

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

Host table talk at Hummingbird festival

Members only tour of roughly 40 acreage of private property where prescribed burns are conducted annually and for roughly 17 years. Many uncommon species including some quite rare, including Lilium catesbaei or pine lilies. Owners are being offered a complimentary membership to WOPB.

Native Seed cleaning and packing Social. We meet monthly to clean and package native plant  seeds that will be handed out to the public at our tabling events. We always have fun at these events asking questions about how to grow plants , catching up to meeting like minded people. Please join us for this event.

Patty Zebrick presents talk on Wild Ones Pontchartrain Basin chapter and the Homegrown National Park

Mitch Mouton is the Senior State Soil Scientist for the USDA_NRCS.  He and his coworkers, Brandon Waltman and Gavin Faust will talk to us about our  Native Soils.

Monthly Board of Directors meeting

Come join us for a Family and Children friendly event put on by Louisiana WildLife and Fisheries. There will be activities for the kids and adults with pontoon rides in the Bayou, Shooting and Archery ranges, Fishing and more. There will be several tables with information on Native Plants, Bugs, Butterflies, Worms, Louisiana Irises and many more. There will be food, drinks and music available also. This event is free to the public and put on by Louisiana WildLife Life and Fisheries.

Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. 

WOPB is very excited to be hosting its first informational tabling event at the Washington Parish Free Fair on both October 17 and 18th, from 10 am till 4 pm. The W.P.Free Fair began in 1911 & is held annually on the week of the third Wednesday of October in Franklinton, LA. It is hailed as the largest free fair in our nation.

 Come and check out the Wild Ones Pontchartrain Basin  informational table! This is our first year to participate and we couldn't be more excited to participate. The W.P.Free Fair began in 1911 & is held annually on the week of the third Wednesday of October in Franklinton, LA. It is hailed as the largest free fair in our nation. 

Patty Zebrick to present on Native Plants at the Bush Branch of St. Tammany Parish Library. WOPB and the Homegrown National Park will be discussed.

Join the 250th Anniversary celbration of American naturalist William Bartram's visit to the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain and his journey in Louisiana to visit the Mississippi River.  A Bartram Trail Marker dedication will conclude the celebration.

Patty Zebrick to give a Native plant talk at the Pearl River branch of the Library. Topics will be WOPB and the Homegrown National Park.

Discover the power of ecological garden design in this free national webinar, Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard, with award-winning landscape designer Larry Weaner. Join us for a personal look at how dynamic, self-sustaining landscapes can emerge when we partner with nature instead of controlling it. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Larry will share practical strategies for designing dynamic gardens that evolve naturally, support biodiversity, and bring lasting beauty to your yard.

Annual Holiday Membership meeting and Election. New officers will be elected.

Designing with native plants isn’t just about what you grow, it’s about how you shape your space. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe Evans (Plan it Wild) and Heather Evans (Design Your Wild) guide you through the process of creating a cohesive yard plan that supports both your lifestyle and biodiversity.

Monthly Board of directors meeting