Donna VanBuecken, Executive Director
PO Box 1274
Appleton, WI  54912-1274
Phone:  877-394-9453
Email:  execdirector@for-wild.org

ANNUAL MEETING

The 2008 Annual Wild Ones Meeting will be hosted by Fox Valley Area Chapter during the late summer at the new Wild Ones EcoCenter on the west shore of Little Lake Butte des Morts in Neenah, Wisconsin.

A Photo Contest will be head in conjunction with the Annual Meeting; click here for details on the Photo Contest. Photo entries will be judged by a professional nature photographer, as well as annual meeting/conference participants. Click here for the entry form.

For further information conference.

Additional Conferences

For additional conferences, see the listing below or go to the list maintained by the National Park Service at Plant Conservation Alliance, or the one maintained by The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at national events calendar.

    Jul 24, 2008 (Thu)    

Growing Fertile Minds and Communities
The American Horticultural Society's 16th Annual
National Children & Youth Garden Symposium
July 24-26, 2008
Greater Philadelphia Area
Hosted by:
Camden Children's Garden
Longwood Gardens
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate

The Symposium will be headquartered at the John M. Clayton Hall on the University of Delaware's Newark campus. Early registration fee is $320. AHS members receive a discounted rate of $285. Daily registrations and student rates are also available.
For information visit this web site or email.
You can also call 703-768-5700, ext. 132

    Aug 04, 2008 (Mon)    

• 21st North American Prairie Conference
  The Conference will take place August 4-8 on the campus of Winona State University in Winona, MN.
  Because Winona is located next to the Mississippi river and close to a variety of prairies ranging from sand prairie to dry prairie to wet prairie to the special thin-soiled "goat prairie", The Prairie Meets the River has been chosen as this year’s theme to emphasize the importance of water in the prairie environment.
  
  Attendees will range from biologists and botanists to prairie enthusiasts and community members, as well as businesses specializing in prairie seeds and prairie restoration.
  
  Additional information, including registration and vending and/or sponsoring opportunities, can be found Here, or by e-mailing Blandine Berthelot

    Aug 09, 2008 (Sat)    

Appalachian Butterfly Conference
Saturday, August 9th & Sunday, August 10th
Shawnee State Forest and the Edge of Appalachia Preserve
Adams and Scioto counties, Ohio

Saturday evening keynote speaker is, Jaret C. Daniels, author of Butterflies of Ohio.
Field trips both days are led by experts, focusing on finding maximum butterfly diversity.
Registration is now open!
See web site for more information and updates

    Sep 20, 2008 (Sat)    

Maryland Native Plant Society
2008 Annual Conference
September 20-21, 2008
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Edgewater, Maryland
and field trips throughout the Region

Early Registration Fee: (includes lunch)$50 members; $65 nonmembers
Saturday Social Fee: $30 per person (includes dinner)

Focus this year is on the Western Shores of the Chesapeake, from brackish tidal wetlands to the riparian forests of the Patuxent River.

Contact Karyn Molines, Fall Conference Chair by email or phone 410-286-2928

Register by July 1 to take advantage of the early registration price.

    Sep 27, 2008 (Sat)    

2nd Biennial Native Plant Symposium
Presented by
Gibson Woods Chapter of Wild Ones

Saturday, September 27
The Center
Purdue University
Calumet
2300 173rd Street
Hammond, Indiana

Program Schedule
Denise Sandoval -- "What is a native plant?"
Denise has many years of experience working with native plants. She operates her own business "Good-Natured Landscapes" and will explain what a native plant is, summarize some of the various habitats they're found in and their many benefits. She promotes, "Think globally, plant locally"!

Jack Pizzo -- "Landscape Tips Using Native Plants"
Jack Pizzo is a founding partner of Pizzo & Associates, Ltd. and has been involved in the restoration, design, construction and stewardship of many natural areas in the Midwest. Jack will present how to landscape using native plants.

Bob Allision -- "Shade and Woodland Plants"
Bob comes to us with a lot of hands on experience. For 12 years Bob has worked for
JF New as manager of seed collection, plant extraction, and seed production and cleaning. Bob will advise us on what native shade plants are good for our area.

Bill & Jennifer Tobin -- "Native Trees and Shrubs"
Bill and Jennifer have been master gardeners for many years and have spoken to numerous groups in Indiana and Illinois on several subjects including native trees and shrubs. They will acquaint us with trees that are common to our area and the wild life that is attracted to them.

Early Registration -- Prior to August 30th is $25.00
Registration(August 30th to September 13th) is $35.00
Absolutely NO Registrations accepted after September 13th, 2008
Registration fee includes Continental Breakfast and Lunch

For more information call: Joy at Gibson Woods 219-844-3188 or Pat at 219-865-2679.

    Oct 07, 2008 (Tue)    

6th Eastern Native Grass Symposium
Columbia, SC
October 7 - 10, 2008

The 6th Eastern Native Grass Symposium will be held in Columbia, SC. October 7 - 10, 2008. We invite you to participate in this important forum on the many issues facing our wonderful native grasslands in the Eastern US and Canada. We are planning an excellent array of plenary presenters; oral and poster presentations on research, outreach and experiences; hands-on applied workshops; and a set of field trips into the varied geography of our State. Our cast of plenary speakers is designed to spark thorough-going discussion into many aspects of preserving, restoring and managing our native grassland communities here in the East. A partial list of subject areas includes natural grassland communities, as well as management of grasslands for wildlife, livestock and bio-fuel potential.

For more information about the Symposium, and a call for papers and other participation, see the symposium web site
A registration form is available at this web site.

Native grasses have an important role to play in our future, and this event is designed to increase
the knowledge and awareness of native grass communities in the Eastern US. We have an excellent
event planned for you, so register now, and come to South Carolina, the little state with the great outdoors!

Continuing education credits will be available

    Oct 18, 2008 (Sat)    

Natural Landscaping with Native Plants Conference

Saturday, October 18, 2008, 8:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Kliebhan Conference Center, Bonaventure Hall,
Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee
Plenty of free parking available

Cost: $25 in advance; $30 at door; $15 students with ID
Lunch: Cafeteria or bring your own

Reducing greenhouse gases, conserving water, guarding against flooding, providing habitats for birds and insects are a few reasons why Wild Ones, a nonprofit organization, promotes replacing lawns with native plants. To help people learn how to help slow down global warming and prevent extinction of America's birds and insects, Wild Ones is sponsoring a one-day conference called: Natural Landscaping with Native Plants on Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at Cardinal Stritch University, (Glendale) Milwaukee.

Using native plants to replace lawn grass helps in slowing down global warming because native plants have long, fibrous roots which absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Roots of native plants also absorb, filter, and release water into the ground slowly, preventing flooding. Native plants are drought-resistant and do not require artificial watering. Considerable energy is wasted to purify and pump the water used to irrigate yards. In addition, water is a scarce commodity in many areas making conservation vital.

So much land has been developed that public lands no longer provide enough food for migrating birds and butterflies. Landscaping with native plants sustains American birds and insects which depend on our yards for their survival.

Program choices will include homeowner experiences. . .and more.

To register or for questions, call 414-299-9888, press 3.

    Oct 22, 2008 (Wed)    

2008 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC)
Theme: The Nearshore
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
October 22-23, 2008
Information can be found at the State of the Lakes Conference web site
Important note: U.S. citizens are advised to carry a passport for border crossing

    Oct 31, 2008 (Fri)    

The Openlands 2008 Annual Luncheon
Celebrating 45 years as the regional leader for open space in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.
October 31, 2008
11:30 a.m. Reception
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon and Program
Keynote Speaker: Bruce Katz
Conservation Leadership Award Recipient: George A. Ranney, Jr.
The Fairmont Chicago
200 N. Columbus Drive
For further info see this web site

    Feb 26, 2009 (Thu)    

14th International Water Conservation & Xeriscape Conference

Water – Food – Landscape – Sustainability
February 26-27, 2009
Marriott Pyramid Hotel -- Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sponsored by the Xeriscape Council of New Mexico & Intel
(Early registration now available online)

The 14th Water Conservation Conference in Albuquerque will focus on the links among global, regional and local water issues and how the interests of food/agriculture, ecosystem stewardship and management dovetail with landscape and reduced-water consumption.

Global water keynote address by Maude Barlow, Chairperson of The Council of Canadians and author of Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and The Battle for Right to Water. The food/agriculture keynote on day two is Wes Jackson, President and Founder of the Land Institute.

Please see web site for registration information.

In conjunction with and immediately following the conference, February 28th and March 1st, there will be a 2-day Expo featuring over 225 exhibitors and free seminars both days. The Expo focuses on the “how to” of xeriscaping with sessions on planning and design, site preparation, plant selection, irrigation and pest management. General interest seminars are also offered featuring water harvesting, bees and their importance, hummingbirds and the landscape, and others. Last year’s Expo was attended by about 7,000. This year, to tie the Expo directly with the Conference, we will also have at least 50 local food producers at the event.