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]. 

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Staff a booth for Community Plant Day. Wild ones brochures, answer questions. New native plant seed library being started here. 

Native Plants for Birds, Butterflies & Moths

Join us to learn how adding native plants to your yard — whether perennials, shrubs, or trees — can create a welcoming sanctuary for local birds. Native plants provide the habitat, food, shelter, and nesting places birds need to thrive. Along the way, you’ll also invite more butterflies, moths, and other beneficial pollinators into your yard.

This friendly, informal program will be presented by the Cincinnati Wild Ones Chapter.

The presentation will include a short PowerPoint with before-and-after photos of a yard transformed with native plantings. Please feel free to bring your own photos, questions, and ideas so we can share, learn, and be inspired together.

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

EVENT UPDATED / CHANGED!! No garden tour included, begin discussion on Zoom at 2:00 pm.

____________________________________

Meet up on Zoom to discuss the text “From Wasteland to Wonder” and share ideas and experiences regarding your journey creating a more "wild" yard. 

Discuss ways to add (or add more) native plants to your landscape.  Chat will focus around information from the text “From Wasteland to Wonder" by Basil Camu. The book's subtitle is: Easy ways we can help heal Earth in the sub/urban landscape.  This book is great for those diving into planting for the environment and those who want to learn how to make a change. It delves into the impacts humans have had on the environment, then leads the reader through steps to upgrade your landscape with plants that give back, how to assess your soil and space, and what to consider when planting. For those who are hard at work and well into native planting, the book has many talking points you may find useful when talking to those who are considering native/ environmental planting and yard care.

The author has generously made the book free to download a pdf version here: https://www.leaflimb.com/wonder/ Currently, it can also be purchased for $10.75 on the same webpage. I encourage anyone to read or at least become familiar with the book to add to the discussion. 

Zoom Link here: https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/83436741218?pwd=I6ahsHenjhJVnthOxNMveoORNgrxts.1

Please note, there will be a waiting room; it is preferred that you use your name for the event in order to prevent disingenuous attendees. Nonmembers are welcome to attend, too. 

Note: By joining, you acknowledge that the discussion will be recording and any inappropriate behavior, discussion, etc. will result in immediate removal. Thank you!

We will record the discussion and send the link to members only via email after the event.

Take a stroll with fellow native plant enthusiasts around Shor Park off Tealtown Road (near Cincinnati Nature Center). 

Our stroll will center around the Wetland Restoration and Rain Garden and beyond into a wooded area in the park. The walk will be informal and lead by GCWO member.

From the park's website:

Take a walk on our wooded trail and you’ll probably hear some of the chorus frogs and other wildlife that make this habitat their home. In partnership with Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District and a grant from the Ohio EPA, a Wetland Restoration Project that included invasive plant removal, stream restorations and the installation of three wetlands was implemented at Shor. The restoration will be ongoing in our efforts to create a more native and diverse wildlife areas in the county.

Rain Gardens, like the one installed at Shor Park, are depressions that can help to collect rain water that may be carrying pollutants like oils, fertilizers and other chemicals. The water is filtered with the help of native grasses, perennials and the right combination of soil types that help to retain the pollutants and slow the water flow. Not only are rain gardens a benefit to water quality, they attract native wildlife, help to feed migrating species like the Monarch Butterfly, and bring additional color and beauty to any outside area.

RSVP's not required, however, it is helpful so we know to look for you before starting the walk. Email [email protected]

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Calling all members and nonmembers looking to have input into upcoming events, meetings, programs, projects, volunteering, etc!

Sadly, our chapter dangerously close to running out of steam and needs a refresh and input to get more involvement in GCWO. Please join us to brainstorm ideas to get on track and keep the chapter moving forward! Can you offer up your yard for a tour, give a presentation (in person or Zoom), host a planting event, host a book group, lead a public garden tour, help organize a seed exchange? Or other ideas!!

We will start with a follow-up discussion about the “From Wasteland to Wonder” text and ideas for a winter book group. Then, move to sharing ideas. Come with an open mind and a volunteer spirit!

Light snacks and beverages will be provided for in-person attendees, please RSVP to [email protected] so we can purchase an appropriate amount.

This is a hybrid event, please use the following link to access the meeting via Zoom:

https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/81645514765?pwd=FVvVW6ut2JpFaq8zCilg6LtGBhHTst.1

Please use your name when joining, there will be a waiting room for admittance by a host. The host will not admit any suspiciously named accounts/ names. Nonmembers are welcome to join. By joining, you acknowledge the event will be recorded and any inappropriate conduct will result in removal. Thank you!

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Our fall Book Group will be “Night Magic” by Leigh Ann Henion; October 22nd will be our first group meeting. For this meet-up we will take some time to introduce ourselves and schedule our second meeting. This meeting will be in-person and on Zoom.

For this meeting, please acquire the book and read ‘section one’: Season of Inspiration (preface through page 15). Please do not plan to discuss further for those who may not have read further than page 15. 

We will then read the book in 3 more sections: 

'Section 2' Spring (pages 19-104)

'Section 3' Summer (pages 107-219)

'Section 4' Fall (pages 223-294)

Nonmembers are welcome to attend with registration. Book is required. We will cap the book group at 12 persons.

Please email [email protected] with questions.

Register via the Google Form linked below by October 20th. 

Zoom link will be provided to all registrants, as will a post meeting recording. 

Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

We will not be able to provide copies of the book; to participate you will need to acquire a copy of the book for yourself whether it be print, electronic, or audio book.

**If you would like to be part of the Book Study and this time will not work for you, please fill out the form and 

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.