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.

With guidance from the National Wildlife Federation, speaker Cathy Tiffany will be
sharing ideas on how to add elements into your outdoor space to create a safe haven
for nature--a nature space that can be your happy place.

Cathy Tiffany is the founder (and Chief Groundskeeper) of Backyard Columbus. With
various platforms (blog, podcast, social media), she shares how to get the most out of
your yard, with a special emphasis on native plants and wildlife habitats.  Cathy is
Habitat Ambassador for the National Wildlife Federation, as well as a board member
with Franklin County Pollinator Pathway.  While it is not her career, nature is Cathy’s passion, and she loves sharing and educating folks on how to be more connected to nature and how to obtain happiness from bringing it home.

Please register at the link below.  Also, please copy and save the Zoom invitation (below) for this presentation.

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Zoom 1 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: How to Create a Habitat for Wildlife 
Time: Jan 26, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/85614603487?pwd=dBaKZucQ8QCyRy8r7kr5v7HrBuxkgD.1

Meeting ID: 856 1460 3487
Passcode: ^X%Tx5

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One tap mobile
+12678310333,,85614603487# US (Philadelphia)
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Join instructions
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/meetings/85614603487/invitations?signature=eDMpL0YpAs8hyhhnwenrNepD8n2Q9W-SpsPnKLY_Jx0

Hosted a Dayton Area Wild Ones table at this event and gave away native seed packets.

Join naturalist and DAWO board member Mandy Wolski to launch the monthly Dayton Area Wild Ones book club, where we will focus on books (non-fiction and fiction) for nature lovers. Each month we will also learn a bit about a chosen native plant; this month it is spring’s harbinger, skunk cabbage! Bring your suggestions for books, as well as your preferences for meeting dates and locations. Have coffee, grab a snack, and meet with other native plant enthusiasts who like to read. Feel free to stay the whole time or just drop in for a bit.  (If you cannot attend this meeting but are interested in taking part in the future, send your book suggestions and schedule preferences to [email protected].)

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.!  

NOTE: REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS FULL

Are you new to gardening with native plants or want to enhance your knowledge? Join Dayton Area Wild Ones and the Marianist Environmental Education Center for an informational, inspirational, and FUN day about native plants and their role in creating healthy, functioning ecosystems. Highlights of the day include a special viewing of the new Homegrown National Park film, "The Extraordinary Caterpillar;" a Q&A with butterfly and moth expert Elisabeth Rothschild; a talk on native trees and how to create "soft landings" with Dr. Ryan McEwan; and a quick-start guide to native plant gardening with Macy Reynolds.  Doors open at 8:30 am and the symposium begins at 9:00 am.
 

(NOTE: REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS FULL, but a waiting list is available.)

As more homeowners explore native plants and communities consider how to define a “well-kept” yard, an important question emerges: What should a typical yard look like today, and why?

In this engaging and practical presentation, Patrick Higgins of Patrick Goes Native explores how native plants and thoughtful habitat features can create outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and ecologically valuable. You’ll learn simple design principles that help native plantings look intentional and maintained, not “messy” or neglected, along with strategies for incorporating elements like purposeful pollinator gardens, cues-to-care, seasonal interest, and even habitat features such as brush piles, dead hedges, or water sources in ways that fit comfortably within neighborhood expectations.

Whether you’re just beginning your native plant journey or ready to take the next step, this talk will offer clear, real-world guidance for creating yards that support wildlife while remaining attractive, ecologically valuable, and community friendly.

(This event is co-sponsored by the Washington-Centerville Public Library.)

Doug Tallamy speaks about his book, How Can I Help?  Event hosted by the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association

Pollinator Day is a museum-wide family friendly event that supports the mission of the museum by promoting knowledge and conservation of pollinator species. 

Themed programming will run from 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.

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.

We are reading A Sting in the Tail by Dave Goulson and the plant this month is Snow Trillium. Reader warning: Though nothing official has been reported, reader reviews state that the book includes flippant content in the prolog about the killing of insects/animals.

Parking garage entrance is on N. St. Clair St (one-way, southbound) or metered street parking ($0.25 for 30 minutes). Food and drink permitted are permitted in the conference room; we must clean up after ourselves including trash removal. (FYI: the cafe in the library will be closed.)

April's book is From Wasteland to Wonder by Basil Camu.

Bringing Back the Bluebirds: Best Practices for Conservation 

In this presentation by Bethany Gray, we will learn about the plight of eastern bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting birds and what we can do to offset the damage done by the loss of nesting habitat, harsh weather, pesticides, and fierce competition from non-native species such as house sparrows and European starlings.  We will also review best conservation practices for installing nest boxes and troubleshooting/ protecting against predators and learn which native trees and shrubs support bluebirds through winter.
 

About the Instructor:

Bethany Gray has been a bluebird trail monitor since 2010. She has a degree in education from Wittenberg University, and for the past 15 years her focus has been environmental education. Bethany completed the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) program and the Habitat Ambassador program of the National Wildlife Federation. She is co-founder of "Operation Bluebird," a citizen science partnership with a local public school district and the subject of an article published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (at NestWatch.org). She is a regional contact for the Ohio Bluebird Society and a past board member of the Glen Helen Association and Tecumseh Land Trust. Starting in 2020, she has also served on a committee that helped the Village of Yellow Springs achieve certification as a "Wildlife Habitat Community" with the National Wildlife Federation. 

This spring, join the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association and Beavercreek Parks, Recreation & Culture at EJ Nutter Park for All About Flowers! a family-friendly event designed to celebrate and protect our native plants. Journey through a series of interactive stations to learn about Ohio’s state flower and wildflower, identify flower parts, discover beneficial and medicinal native plants, and understand the difference between native, non-native, and invasive species. You’ll also get to play a native plant card game under the shelter house. After visiting the stations, you may choose to lend a hand by helping remove invasive garlic mustard along the Creekside Trail. Together, we can help our native wildflowers thrive! (Rain date is April 18.)

Dayton Area Wild Ones will have a table there with an activity.

Fee: $5 individual/groups of 1-5, $10 for groups 6 or larger

This 31-acre MetroPark has picturesque Wiles Creek, a prairie, woods, and gardens planted with both native and cultivated flowers. Five Rivers MetroParks Education Coordinator Betty Hoevel will lead us through the lower gardens, past the woodland garden and home (which are on both the Ohio and National Historic Registries), to the woodland filled with Virginia bluebells and other spring wildflowers.  The garden and woodland trail is about a mile long and is a combination of grass, gravel, soil, and pavement, with a couple of minor slopes. 

Meet in the Stillwater River Access parking lot.  Note: The entrance is about 0.25 mile past the Aullwood Audubon Center entrance on the opposite side of the road!

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Caesar Creek Gorge, rising 180 feet above Caesar Creek, was “formed by large volumes of glacial meltwater cutting down through the bedrock to expose Ordovician limestone and shale rich in fossils.” Dayton Area Wild Ones is offering an all-day exploration of two different areas of the gorge to view its abundant spring wildflowers. Join us for any combination of activities offered on this field trip—morning walk, lunch at a local restaurant, afternoon walk—or join us for all three!  

Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve, 9:00–11:15 am; 4080 Corwin Road, Oregonia, OH 45054.  This preserve features diverse habitats including heavily wooded hillsides and a floodplain covered by “luxuriant herbaceous flora,” which is an understatement! As a possible bonus, zebra swallowtail butterflies were abundant at this time last year. This is a moderate walk; the trail is a dirt path with a steep descent/ascent to and from the gorge. Our leader will be Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser. Total distance: about 1.75 miles

Lunch at Sun Sprouts Cafe, approx.11:30 am–12:45 pm; 69 S. Maple Street, Corwin, OH 45068. Park along Corwin Rd. or Maple St. Order and pay at the counter; seating will be in the front room to the left of the counter. 

US Army Corps of Engineers Caesar Creek Gorge, 1:00–3:00 pm; Meet at the Caesar Creek Fishing Pier parking lot, Caesar Creek Gorge Access Road, Waynesville, OH 45068. Join leader Kim Baker, USACE retiree, to explore the wooded trails along Caesar Creek, just downstream of the dam. Over the years, much work has been done in this area to eliminate non-native invasive species, so it is now a great area for viewing healthy woodland structure. The canopy trees, understory shrubs, and woodland wildflowers will be inspiration for creating your own woodland habitat!

There are two options for this afternoon walk:

Option 1 – Easy.  The first section is a level gravel trail parallel to the creek.  There is a wooded strip between the trail and the creek, with the wooded hillside rising from the opposite side and wildflowers and native understory shrubs on both sides. This is an easy walk with lots to see for those who may not be able to walk the full loop trail with the steep hills. Those who prefer this easy walk option will need to turn around to head back to the parking lot while the rest of the group continues up the hill.  Total distance: about 3/8 mile

Option 2 – Moderate. Continue on the loop trail, ascending the steep hill on wooden stairs.  This overlooks a tributary stream and a hillside covered with wildflowers. The trail loops back at the top of the hill and the descent is on an old road. Total distance: about 1.0 mile

Family event involving native plants.  Dayton Area Wild Ones will have an informational table.  We will also be making seed bombs with children.

A family event celebrating trees.  Dayton Area Wild Ones will have an informational table and a children's activity involving acorns.

(Update: This upcoming Dayton Area Wild Ones speaking engagement is FULL, but you may join the waiting list until April 21.)

Join Brooke Medlin, co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes, for a Centerville-Washington Park District presentation on planning and designing a garden for wildlife. After the presentation, Brooke and Dayton Area Wild Ones members will answer questions and offer information on planting for wildlife. Each participant will receive a CWPD native seed packet to help them get started!

Ages 14 and up

Registration deadline: Tuesday, April 21

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.

Join Ohio Division of Natural Areas & Preserves Regional Manager Michelle Comer to explore this mature woodland. It was named in honor of the Davey Tree Expert Company, which provided The Nature Conservancy with half the necessary funding for acquiring the property in 1989. It has numerous large tulip trees, sugar maples, and oaks as well as an excellent array of spring wildflowers. The rolling topography of this site is indicative of glacial moraine deposited after the last glacial event. The preserve totals 103 acres, with about 90 acres of old-growth forest. It was inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network in 2021. This is a moderate walk with hilly terrain. Total distance: about 1.5 miles

Note: There are just 4 or 5 parking spaces available outside of the gate. However, the gate will be open for our guided hike. Enter and drive back on the grassy lane to the parking area in the clearing.

Three Dayton Area Wild Ones board members and some community members met with Washington Township government officials to follow up on our concerns about a proposed Natural Landscaping resolution.  This meeting was arranged with the government officials. 

This opportunity for advocacy was part of our weed ordinance project.

Join us on the Oldfield Trail at Cowan Lake. This moderately difficult trail is approximately 1 mile and loops back to the parking lot—perfect for a slow stroll through the woods. Park at the campground/main office.

No registration is necessary. Hike will be cancelled in the event of bad weather.

Join us on the Argonne Forest Trail at Possum Creek Metropark. This easy trail is approximately 1.6 miles and loops back to the parking lot—perfect for a slow stroll through the woods with the added feature of a history lesson about the area. Park and meet at the Argonne Forest Lot.

No registration is necessary. Hike will be cancelled in the event of bad weather.

tabling event at native plant conference

Tabling at event sponsored by Beaver Creek Wetlands Association

Great Council State Park, established on the site of the Shawnee village of Old Chillicothe, “celebrates and honors the history of the Native Americans and European settlers of the region.” (ODNR) It features a 12,000-square-foot interpretive center modeled after a historic Shawnee longhouse, historic displays and exhibits, and a living stream.

For this Dayton Area Wild Ones tour, ODNR naturalist Ryan will meet us in the conference room and provide an overview of Great Council, followed by a presentation entitled “Rooted Knowledge”: “Discover how people and plants are deeply connected through the study of ethnobotany and why this knowledge still matters today. Explore traditional medicinal plants used by Indigenous communities of the Ohio Valley and the stories behind them.”  Ryan will then lead us on a tour of the restored prairie and the native plantings around the interpretive center. After the program, attendees may explore the interpretive center exhibits at their leisure.

Hosted an information table at the annual WPAFB Pollinator Expo.

Hosted an information table at the Osborn Historic Garden Club Garden Affair.

Join Mandy to view the beautiful blooms of queen of the prairie! This boardwalk is a 1-mile, handicap accessible loop but has stairs if you want to go on the overlook. If you haven't been here in a while, come check out the newly renovated boardwalk. Bring water. Registration is not required.

Drop by Wright Library to learn more about gardening with native plants

Wild habitat is being quickly replaced by office complexes, shopping centers, new housing developments, and the pesticide-managed lawns that surround them. Pollinators can’t survive in these new environments, and unfortunately humans can’t survive without pollinators. 

That’s why people around the country are using their own small pieces of land (or even containers) to support birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Native plants feed native pollinators! These plants are hardy, beautiful, and actually require LESS work than traditional lawns. 

Visit both the Sun Garden and Shade Garden and get advice from experienced native plant gardeners. At 7:30 participants will be invited to view the backyard of a nearby house, whose owner has slowly been adding native plants over the last ten years to create a homegrown habitat. Bring your questions and take notes! It’s a great chance to talk to experts. Sponsored by Green Oakwood and Dayton Area Wild Ones.

Rain date 6:00-8:00 PM, Monday July 15, 2024

Did you know that mosquito spraying kills other insects, including pollinators, and can harm or kill other wildlife as well? Join us for a presentation about the dangers of mosquito spraying and learn to create a eco-friendly "mosquito bucket of doom."  Participants may hike around the Mount St. John property after the presentation (optional).
Registration is required as we will be giving away samples of the special ingredient for the mosquito bucket.  

PLEASE REGISTER BY MONDAY, JULY 13 so we will have a sample for you.

Click HERE to register.

Join Mandy for a walk through the meadow and prairie.  Chat with fellow nature lovers while enjoying the summer evening weather.  This ~2 mile trail is mostly flat but can be uneven in some areas.  Bring water.  Registration is not required.

Patrick Higgins of Patrick Goes Native will lead a tour of his property, which he has transformed from lawn into a thriving native habitat.  The tour location is near the Sugarcreek and Beavercreek Township boundary, southwest of Xenia. The address will be provided upon registration. 

(Bonus: After the tour, Patrick will have native plants for sale!)

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.

Dayton Area Wild Ones will have an information table at the Everything Environmental Festival. The festival will focus on sustainability, conservation, environmental education, outdoor recreation, and community engagement. We are bringing together a wide range of organizations, vendors, and educational partners to help connect the community with environmental initiatives and career pathways.

This educational, community-focused event brings together native plant enthusiasts, gardeners, and nature lovers for a weekend of learning and exploration. 

Dayton Area Wild Ones will have an information table at this event on Friday afternoon and throughout the day on Saturday.

(The conference is sold out.)

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.

Registration link coming soon.

Join DAWO board members and friends for the Dayton Area Wild Ones book club, where we will focus on books (non-fiction and fiction) for nature lovers. Each month we will also learn a bit about a chosen native plant.   September's book pick is Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration by Sara Dykman.

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.

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.

Registration link coming soon.

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.