Chapter Events

In this special collaboration, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plant, joins youth leader and Nurture Natives founder Esther Bonney for an intergenerational conversation about belonging, reciprocity, and native plant action. 

Together, they will explore questions such as:

How do we create opportunities for young people to have a voice and feel empowered, even when they are not homeowners or decision makers?What kinds of relationships and mentorships help people stay engaged in native plant work over decades?Why do stories, shared practices, and community invitations matter just as much as plant lists?

Robin and Esther will reflect on what invites people into this work, what keeps them here, and what elders and youth have to teach each other.

Join members of the Midwest Native Plant Society and Greater Cincinnati Wild Ones for a Winter Botany Walk with naturalist Tom Borgman on February 7, 2026 at 10:00 am. 

All are welcome. This trip is part of a series of events offered during the Winter Bird Fest, February 7-14. 

February 7-14 at the Fernald Preserve.

This FREE week-long event features a menu of events geared for bird lovers of all ages, from Family Day, nature walks and birdwatching activities to hands-on educational opportunities, special guest performances and presentations, and sessions on bird identification and banding. Call the preserve for details. 

Our upcoming webinar with Basil Camu explores practical, evidence based ways to heal suburban and urban landscapes by working with trees, soil, and natural systems, drawing on real world practices from Leaf & Limb and community centered models for restoring life where we live, work, and play.!  

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

Join us on an exhilarating journey to discover our local native trees and shrubs to be held at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.  These vital plants in our ecosystems play a multifaceted role, providing structure, biodiversity, regulating processes, and supporting a diverse array of species. The health and stability of these ecosystems are intrinsically linked to the presence and functioning of trees and shrubs.  These magnificent plants play a crucial role in supporting various forms of life. Pollinators, birds, and a diverse array of wildlife rely on these plants for sustenance and shelter. They provide essential food sources such as caterpillars for birds, nuts, seeds, and fruits, as well as habitats and shelter for pollinators, insects, birds, and mammals.  Without them, many species would face the brink of extinction. Presenters: Jim McCormac, Brian Jorg, Sam Settlemyre, Tom Borgman, Greg Torres.  $95 registration fee includes a zoo pass for the day, free parking at the zoo, and a sit-down buffet lunch. Join us! 

On March 29, at 10:00 am, Join Dr. Denis Conover from the University of Cincinnati for a leisurely stroll around the picturesque grounds of Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. During our walk, Dr. Conover will engage us in a discussion about the distinctive characteristics of various native trees and shrubs. We’ll learn to identify these plants by examining their bark and observing the early spring buds. Dr. Conover has extensive experience leading surveys and projects aimed at removing invasive species, and we’ll be sure to identify and discuss the detrimental impact these species have on healthy ecosystems. Additionally, we’ll be on the lookout for and attentive to the local wildlife, particularly the diverse bird species that inhabit Spring Grove.  Please drive through the main entrance under the railroad archway to park along one of the roads, and please be careful not to park on the grass.

 Questions and RSVP to email: [email protected]. 

Meet members of Cincinnati Wild Ones and Western Wildlife Corridor for our annual hike  to view some of the most diverse and  beautiful display of wildflowers in Hamilton County.  Members may choose to walk all or part of the trail. Many wildflowers can be viewed without going too far along the trail. This loop trail starts at the gravel parking lot off Bender Road.  The trail winds through a shaded mature forest to the  hillside above the Ohio River. It is rich in wildflowers thanks to the invasive removal effort of WWC . Be prepared for rocky sections, steep parts, and exposed tree roots that can become slippery when wet—sturdy footwear is recommended, walking sticks offer more stability and please bring water. It’s been described as the “best place in Hamilton County to observe native wildflowers” by Dr. Denis Conover, botanist with the University of Cincinnati. The trails are well-maintained, have Trail markers (signposts), and feature four benches. 
RSVP: [email protected]. 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!