February & March Programs

February 21 & March 21

All programs are free and open to the public.
In-Person with Hybrid Online Options

Wood Lake Nature Center | 6710 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield, MN 55423

See below program description for how to register for online access.


Meet and Greet at Wood Lake | 6:30 pm 
Meet and Chat on Zoom | 6:45 pm
Announcements and Program | 7:00 to 8:30 pm

Want to join Wild Ones Twin Cities or renew your membership? Click here!

Tuesday, February 21:

Landscaping for Wildlife


Presenter: L. Peter MacDonagh


The news is filled with dire predictions for our natural world, and it’s wildlife.

More and more of our smaller native fauna have gone from common to rare to threatened; including songbirds, insects, pollinators and amphibians. What to do? The positive answer is to take action by hosting wildlife on your land. No matter how small your plot or garden, these actions will help make wildlife more at home.

All available places that you provide for wildlife to live and reproduce, helps. The four key ingredients of habitat enhancement for wildlife we will focus on are: food, water, shelter and structure. Think of it as setting the table for your wildlife guests. Specific wildlife habitat enhancement tools will be shown. This lecture will focus on smaller wildlife, many weighed in grams or maybe ounces; but all less than one pound in weight.

In our fraying natural world, taking these habitat actions can rejuvenate, both us and wildlife. Recent research has shown that this stewardship in our gardens is a critically important action for both our health and well-being.

While this is not the answer to all the troubles of our world’s wildlife, it is part of the solution. 

L. Peter MacDonagh PLA, FASLA, RHS. 
Landscape Architect, Horticulturist, Arborist. Director & Principal Emeritus; Co-founder of Kestrel Design Group (1990-2020). Adjunct Faculty University of Minnesota (1999 to present). Cert. Ornamental Horticulture, National Botanic Garden Ireland (1980); Bachelor Landscape Architecture/BLA University Minnesota (1985); Master Professional Studies Horticulture/MPSH, University Minnesota (2018). Specialist in Urban Trees, Green Infrastructure, Stormwater Management, Native Plants, Soil Bioengineering, Wetlands, Habitat Enhancement. 

Program is free and open to the public

HOW TO ATTEND:

REGISTER HERE for online access.

Email info@wildonestwincities.org to preregister for In-Person attendance.  

Walks ins always welcome! 

VOLUNTEER HERE to help at the event!


Tuesday, March 21

A Natural Harmony: 
Using Feng Shui to enhance how you tend your patch of the planet


Presenter: 

(Lois) Elaine R Anderson, Red Tortoise Feng Shui


When we hear about Feng Shui it is often in relation to home and business interiors… where is the bed or desk to be placed? what do I do about so many stairs? Is our bathroom in the wrong place?!

However, Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese method of living in harmony with one's environment, originated in the landscape. This introduction to Feng Shui will focus on applying the principles to your own gardening style, helping you create a landscape that more deeply reflects who you are. Feng Shui can provide your gardening efforts, whether large or small in scale, with meaning and intention to positively impact your life. Principles of ch’i (energy) flow, Yin/Yang, use of color, the Bagua (the Feng Shui map), the Feng Shui meaning of plants, and the significance of water in the garden will be explored, illustrated by 
photos of gardens and landscapes from around the world.  

Lois Elaine R. Anderson, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, is the founder of Red Tortoise Feng Shui.  A professional Feng Shui practitioner since 1998, she is certified in both contemporary style “Black Sect” Feng Shui and traditional “Compass School” Feng Shui.  She is a founding board member and President Emerita of the Feng Shui Institute of the Midwest, and a former faculty member of the Wind and Water School of Feng Shui. An avid gardener, Elaine provides consultations, classes and customized workshops on using Feng Shui in the home, garden and landscape, as well as business, educational and healing settings. She is an oncology nurse with M Health Fairview Cancer Care, and a certified holistic nurse with broad clinical, administrative and teaching experience.  The mother of adult identical twin sons and GramElaine to two grandsons and three “granddogs”, Elaine lives in Plymouth, MN, with her husband, Marc.

HOW TO ATTEND:

REGISTER HERE for online access.

Email info@wildonestwincities.org to preregister for In-Person attendance.  

Walks ins always welcome! 

VOLUNTEER HERE to help at the event!



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Thanks to everyone who attended and helped with our Winter Seed Sowing on January 14th!

Almost 500 packets of native Minnesota wildflower and grass seed were distributed and sown for planting in spring!








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January Events


Saturday, January 14th

Winter Seed Sowing!

12:45 to 3:15 - Native Plant Q & A Table 
1:00 - 1:50 - Mini Workshop Group A
2:00 - 2:50 - Mini Workshop Group B

Wood Lake Nature Center • 6710 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield, MN 55423

Last year's winter seed sowing event at the Nokomis Naturescape.
Join us this year INDOORS at Wood Lake Nature Center!

Meeting is free and open to Wild Ones members and the public. Invite friends and family!

Last year Wild Ones braved the elements to hold our Winter Seed Sowing event outdoors at the Nokomis Naturescape. This year we're partnering with Wood Lake Nature Center. One of their naturalists will join us to share some of the Center’s efforts to restore native plant communities in the park. We’ll be cozy fireside, while inside looking outside, upon the beautiful marsh landscape

Join us for this family-friendly event and get a jump-start on your 2023 habitat garden. The two mini workshops teach you winter sowing basics. Table sowing stations will offer the essential supplies of containers*, soil, water and seeds. A Wild Ones educational table will offer a selection of native seeds, native plant informational resources and experienced Q&A assistance. 

A number of pollinator garden seeds will be freely available, including milkweeds and blazing stars. Wood Lake Nature Center is also offering a variety of native grasses. ‘The more the merrier’, so we encourage people to bring their collected native seeds to sow and share. Please label with the following information:

  • Species Botanical/Latin name  
  • Common Name
  • Seed Source/Location

* While translucent containers will be available, as supplies last, we encourage people to bring, if possible. Clear liquid 1 or 1.5 gallon jugs (as used for water, milk, vinegar) and large, salad containers with lids work well. We can puncture drainage holes at the event. 

Check out our guide to Winter Seed Sowing!


And introducing our latest information sheet...
Native Seed Collection!
Tuesday, January 17th

Board Meeting

Social 6:30 pm 
Chapter Board Meeting 7:00 pm

In-Person & Online BoardMeeting

Wood Lake Nature Center, 6710 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield, MN 55423

Please RSVP to access meeting online. 

Want to help plan our 2023 chapter activities?

Want to learn more about volunteer opportunities?

Thinking about volunteering for a chapter leadership position?

Join us at Wood lake Nature Center for out First Quarter Chapter Board Meeting!

Board Meetings are open to Wild Ones Twin Cities Members. 

_________________________________________________

Check out our current volunteer and leadership opportunities here.

Want to join Wild Ones Twin Cities or renew your membership? Click here!


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November Member Meeting

Tuesday, November 15

Social 6:30 pm 
Short Presentation: 7:15 pm
Business Meeting 7:30 pm

In-Person & Online Meeting

Wood Lake Nature Center, 6710 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield, MN 55423

Meeting is free and open to Wild Ones members and public, registration is required to access meeting online. 

REGISTER HERE for online access.

RSVP HERE if attending in person.

Please feel free to name your favorite (and least favorite) pizza topping, we'll do our best to have a nice variety.

Want to join Wild Ones Twin Cities or renew your membership? Click here!

Volunteer Recognition and Annual Membership Meeting

Fall nature collage by Roz Johnson
We invite you to attend our Annual Membership Meeting either online or at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield. We strongly encourage in-person attendance, mask use is welcome. Officer elections will be held during the brief hybrid business meeting.

Following the business meeting and election, there will be a short program on Climate Resilient Landscapes, based on the new native plant gardening guide produced by Wild Ones.

We'll also have a native seed exchange and volunteer appreciation pizza party for those who attend in-person! 

Please bring any native seeds you've collected, labeled with the following information:
  • Species Botanical/Latin name
  • Common Name
  • Seed Source/Location


PRESENTATION:
Climate Resilient Landscapes

Are you looking for something you can do to help slow down climate change, promote climate resilience and fight biodiversity losses all at the same time? Fill your garden with native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers! Native plants pull carbon from the atmosphere and keep it safely stored in soil. A well-designed native garden can help manage flooding and stormwater runoff – or conserve water if you’re facing drought. These beautiful plants also reduce polluting toxins, lower energy consumption, and provide habitat for threatened species. Learn how you can put their earth-healing powers to work in your garden.

All members attending in person will receive a printed copy.

Board and Volunteer Opportunities Available in 2022/2023

The Wild Ones Twin Cities community is 260+ members strong.  The chapter has long-time members, many of whom have supported the chapter since its founding in 2001, and many members who are new to Wild Ones.  Please consider serving in a leadership position or volunteering—more hands make the work lighter and more joyful!

Interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities?
Join us for an online information session.

To RSVP, please click the session date you would like to attend.

We have an immediate need for additional volunteers to fill the following the positions:

Co-Presidents — Oversee chapter business and activities to ensure they meet national Wild Ones requirements, including committee work and progress. Co-Presidents provide leadership and facilitate chapter affairs, working with members of the board to support our educational mission with our membership and the general public.

Volunteer Outreach — Help maintain a Chapter volunteer database and communicate volunteer needs for various chapter outreach activities and events.  Promote volunteer opportunities through various Chapter communication channels including Sign-up Genius.  Call and recruit volunteers if necessary.  Work closely with Membership. 

Monthly Programs — Help coordinate our educational program season, which includes selection of topics, sourcing, booking and introducing speakers for presentations on the 3rd Tuesday of September-October and January-May.  Currently offering in-person programs at Wood Lake Nature Center with a hybrid Zoom option.  

Summer Tours — Help source and coordinate two or three inspirational tours of member’s habitat gardens, community restoration projects and regional natural areas. 

Publicity — Help promote our chapter activities and educational events in local media, social media, and occasional targeted email messages.

Membership Committee — Welcome attendees at Chapter monthly programs at Woodlake Nature Center and help with registration/membership.  Make sure that membership information is available at Chapter outreach events and online.  Revise and send new member letters out monthly.  Conduct bi-annual “meet and greet” orientation meetings for new members via Zoom or in person.  Be familiar with the online Membership database. 

Plant Sale — We are currently in need of three of four volunteers who would be willing to meet in December or January to coordinate and take over management of Wild Ones Twin Cities annual plant sale. This sale is more than a fundraiser, it is an opportunity to educate and help local residents and gardeners source native plants not readily available at garden centers. Key roles for team leaders include designing the collections, working with vendor, setting up the order process, managing incoming orders and day of delivery and pick up. We are also open to ideas from these new leaders on how to downsize the plant sale into a smaller scale event. There are many member volunteers eager to help the day of delivery, this is a specific ask for coordinators and team leaders.

Members join Wild Ones out of a deep concern for the environment and a desire to change landscaping practices at home and in their communities.  Members of Wild Ones Twin Cities are invited to participate and to support the chapter in ways that fit their skills and schedules.  Wild Ones chapters provide opportunities for collective action and a space to inspire and empower local change.  In chapters we pool our knowledge and resources to transform home and public spaces into living landscapes.  Chapters provide a forum to celebrate and share with others the multitude of benefits that native gardens offer.  Chapters are the gardens that Wild Ones plants across the country and fulfills its mission through this growing network of support.

Looking forward to seeing you at Wild Ones Twin Cities Program Meetings & Events! 

Miss our October Program?
Watch it here:

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