Events

Hike through the ravine behind San Altos Elementary School and see the area we've applied for a grant to rewild.

Yearly in person San Diego Wild Ones Chapter Meeting. Come ring in the New Year and take home some native seeds.

Evaluate propagation area and start a wildflower lot to harvest seeds from. 

Come out and make a wildflower seed ball and/or a macrame wall hanging. Channel your inner hippie!

Come for a special tour of the Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve with representatives of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Get your hands in the dirt of a biodiversity hotspot to help keep things Wild!

Directions from Downtown San Diego: follow Highway 94 (AKA Campo Road) east through the town of Jamul. Approximately two miles after passing the Jamul Fire Station is the entrance on the south/west side of Highway 94.

San Altos elementary is partnering with Wild Ones SD to revamp their garden area. The new garden will feature a native plant section as well as vegetable garden beds. This will be used to teach students the connection of pollinators to food sustainability. 

Wild Ones SD will help prepare the garden areas by helping to eradicate invasive weeds, remove areas covered in landscape rocks, and bring in mulch to prepare the site for future planting. 

Explore how native gardening can address climate challenges in our next Wild Ones national webinar, “Cultivating Change” with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Learn about the pivotal role of gardening as an act of stewardship in the face of climate and ecological challenges. Discover the profound connections between individual gardens and the broader world and learn how these green spaces can serve as catalysts for positive ecological and social change.  Join Wild Ones for a practical and insightful discussion on gardening's positive impact on the environment and our future. 

Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch the talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Pop up event for free plant and seed exchange. Good time to reach the public.

We will be tilling and planting native wildflowers in an enclosed plot for harvest in the fall. 

San Altos elementary is partnering with Wild Ones SD to revamp their garden area. The new garden will feature a native plant section as well as vegetable garden beds. This will be used to teach students the connection of pollinators to food sustainability. 

Wild Ones SD will help prepare the garden areas by helping to eradicate invasive weeds, remove areas covered in landscape rocks, and bring in mulch to prepare the site for future planting. 

Quarterly Chapter meeting

Come ask Brigid your tech questions and get connected! Our Wild Ones shared documents, event calendars, social media and website will be addressed.

Come and learn how to propagate cutting from native herbaceous plants, bushes and trees. 

Come see the conservation through propagation efforts the San Diego Botanic Garden has been up to, and socialize outside in one of the most beautiful settings in the city.

Come help plant a native garden that will educate the public about indigenous plant knowledge.

Come get free seeds for your garden and visit us for companion planting natives!

Registration for this event is now closed, and registrants have been emailed about attending. Please contact [email protected] if you have any issues getting in.

This will be a paid event for both in-person and remote viewing. Virtual registrants will receive a link to watch Dr. Kimmerer's talk live as well as a link to the recording. The recording will only be available for a limited time. 

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This talk explores the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. We trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice and consider how integration of indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.

Wild Ones is excited to cohost this event with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's Earth Week 2024 and the Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter. 

Learn various techniques to propagate Narrowleaf milkweed, and take home your own potted seeds.

Iipay Nation Earth Day is a public event to help promote the theme of this year. “Reduce Your Carbon Footprint”! 

Come to Alice Birney Elementary School to see us talk about upcoming opportunities and plant some native seeds to take home. Free narrowleaf milkweed sprouts also available.

Come pick up some free seeds and seedlings from Wild Ones and celebrate Earth Day with the South Bay community.

http://santeehistoricalsociety.org/historyof-santee/edgemoor-history/

Come check out a long-standing community educational garden.

Help process seeds and make a T-shirt!

Come help beautify this school with drought tolerant plants and native species.

Fantastic Seed Swap!

Come to our regular San Diego Wild Ones Chapter meeting. We will be discussing and summer and fall events.

Come to the beautiful San Carlos Community Garden to pick up some of our infamous California Poppy Corn seed packets or native milkweed and buckwheat seedlings to spruce up your garden.

Join us for a native plant tour of one of our local canyon habitats, and take home some native seeds.

We will meet at the Julian Station to tour the Wild Ones flower plots we planted in the fall and help Felicia transplant oak saplings. Finish up at the winery for some socializing and go home with baby plants!

Come check out a long-standing community educational garden and meet some more Wild Ones in part of our summer fun program.

This is a weeding, seed gleaning, and sign installation event. 

The Dartmoor Naturehood Project is currently the only WO Certified Native Habitat in California. This event will include some heavy weeding and seed collecting. We are also excited for the certified sign installation. We do have a journalist interested in the story, and are hoping that works out!

**Edit. The news story was not green-lit for the project. However it was promoted on the local FB page, Lemon Grove Happenings, which promotes events in Lemon Grove.

Come for a free docent tour of the Torrey Pine Nature Reserve!

Meet Ken, the head of Caterpillar Chow, take a tour of his native milkweed nursery, and see his efforts towards education and native seed banking. We will also be processing seeds from Linda's property in Ramona!

Come to our regular San Diego Wild Ones Chapter meeting. We will be discussing and summer and fall events.

This will be very light weeding and then installation of a native plant butterfly garden. 

Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Plenty of free parking on site. 

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

Sara and Coralie are part of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) Landscaping team, and they have collaborated on diverse projects across Indiana, including native planting schemes for schools, community gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Humane Society. Their new design for Indianapolis reflects typical sub-divisions in Indiana and considers future climate challenges, such as increased flooding and hotter, drier summers. The design features resilient, native Indiana plants that thrive in local soil conditions and contribute to the ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from leading experts in native plants! Participants will gain practical insights into native garden designs and learn how tailored landscaping can support wildlife, promote ecological balance, and help restore natural habitats. 

We'll be talking technology, communication, and what to order for snacks. There will also be seeds to process.

Come help us process seeds we've collected for our upcoming give-aways. Food, friends, fun, and oh so many seeds. 

There is a dog and cat on site, so please take any necessary allergy precautions. And bring a dish to share if you are so inclined.

Come learn how native plants to help with fire safety on your property.

Come swap seeds with the University Heights Garden Club at the beautiful San Carlos Community Garden. There will be free seeds, plants, and tools, live music, tool sharpening, and Master Gardener consultations. All FREE! Register below.

https://universityheightsgardenclub.wordpress.com/events-2/

Let's organize some seed packets for upcoming seed swaps and create our own unique macrame plant hangers.

Bring any recently gathered native seeds and your smile!

You can create your plant hanger in about 30 minutes, once you decide on a design. All materials will be provided. Feel free to bring a pot that you'd like to use for sizing your hanging creation. 

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

 You will also learn about Heather McCargo and the Wild Seed Project's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Portland, ME. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading expert in native plant restoration and take your landscaping skills to the next level. 

Showing of Doug Tallamy's film followed by an explanation of the work Wild Ones and Busy Bee Garden Co-op volunteers have been doing, and how others can get involved.

See how Dwelling for Carbon transforms a crab grass parkway into a native habitat patch, while sequestering carbon and attracting pollinators. 

This is our second Fall Harvest Festival with the University Heights Garden Club. Enjoy live music and Fall Harvest Fun for the whole family.

Celebrate the San Diego Bird Alliance and pick up some free bird-friendly seedlings at Liberty Station. 60+ vendors!
 
https://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/who-we-are/celebrating-75-years.html

Learn how to use high-density plantings that replicate natural ecosystems in aesthetically pleasing designs, enhancing ecological functions while reducing maintenance efforts in our upcoming Wild One's national webinar, "Matrix Landscape Design" with author, landscape designer, activist, and educator Benjamin Vogt.

Matrix planting is a landscape design approach that mimics natural ecosystems by closely planting and layering compatible perennials and grasses to cover the soil, provide more ecosystem services, and eliminate the need for wood mulch or aggressive weeding.  Join Wild Ones for a webinar to learn how author, educator, and landscape designer Benjamin Vogt applies this approach to create stunning native gardens. Learn the principles behind this method, its ecological benefits, and practical steps to implement matrix planting in your own garden. 

You will also learn about Benjamin's latest collaboration with Wild Ones on the new Native Garden Design for Lincoln, NE. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leading voice in natural garden design and take your gardening skills to the next level. Register now to secure your spot! 

Learn how to respectfully gather seeds from the land in this beautiful mountain town. Then grab an apple pie on your way home.

Come to our regular San Diego Wild Ones Chapter meeting. We will be discussing winter events.

Come hang out, meet our Treasurer's cats, and collect native seeds from her beautiful back yard.

Native plants have an incredible ability to adapt to climate extremes, offering sustainable solutions for resilient landscapes. Join Wild Ones and the Native Plant Society of Texas to explore the power of native plants to thrive in challenging conditions.

This event features Christy Ten Eyck, founder of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. Drawing from her latest Dallas-Fort Worth native garden design, Christy will share insights into designing low-maintenance, ecologically rich spaces that withstand intense climate fluctuations.

Watch Dwelling on Carbon in action as we install another plot of native grass seeds in an overgrown parkway to help transform the neighborhood.

Practice yoga outside in the garden and check out our latest seed library. Please bring your yoga mat and water. $5 suggested donation.

Happy Holidays! We'll be making merry and creating seed cards at the same time. Feel free to bring any unfinished macramé projects for Hayley to help with.

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.