Wild Ones Madison Events

January Board meeting 

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. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-QzKbz-R6-zIcJ-mJmjPv6aqlB7Ee96rE3ZCga3--7A/edit#heading=h.pmazbh81wixz

Wild Ones Madison members will be helping you design and plan your native planting from start to finish. Get expert tips on selecting the right plants and designing a beautiful, vibrant space. Whether you are brand new or experienced with landscaping and just want some specific advice, we are here to help. 

There will be books, plant lists, and volunteer experts available to help with vision, planning, and inspiration (if you don’t know what you want, but know you want something, we will help you figure out what you can do); mapping your yard and creating a design plan; site preparation; and plant selection.

Where: Goodman Community Center  - 214 Waubesa St, Madison, WI 53704
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Time: Two time slots - 9am - 9:45am and 10am - 10:45am (15 spots per time slot)
Cost:
$10 for Wild Ones members
$20 for non-members (For a $30 membership join Wild Ones to enjoy member perks and opportunities. Join here)
Payment will be taken via cash or check upon arrival. Please notify us at least 48 hours prior if you can't attend so we can notify another on the waitlist.

Expect a confirmation email within a few days of submission. There is space for 30 registrants. First come first serve. 

Note: If you attend this event, we ask that you take photos and measurements of your yard and existing or planned beds to make it much easier for us to help you with your property! Consider taking your photos when it is sunny, so we can see where shade and sun areas will fall.

Phil Gaebler from the city of Madison engineering department will discuss the basics of rain gardens, how to choose a site, and examples of measuring and planting.

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. 

in this wildflower walk, ecologist Frank Hassler will lead the group to the Skunk Cabbage bridge at the Arboretum and discuss this plant's unique qualities. Frank will also discuss the woodland ecology and history and the group will look for other blooming spring ephemerals.

Wild Ones - Madison Chapter 

Monthly Board Meeting

March 21, 2024 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Zoom 1 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/83537997239?pwd=aTRKb3VvZmdOcE1uSDdyUUpNWElxZz09

Attendees: Laurie Yahr, Jeff Steele, Athena Salzer, Amy Yocum, Sarah Ditton, Kate Engler, Ellen (member)

Agenda
Call to Order (order called)
Approval of February  Minutes (approved and seconded)
Financial Report 
Erin’s report via email: We currently have two banks. Erin is working to schedule a time with Amanda to close our Old National account this month or early in April. I have already filled out the information to change our dues disbursement to Summit.

Account Balances as of 2/29:

Old National: $3,669.37
Summit Checking: $542.00
Summit Savings: $1.00
No outstanding checks or receipts
Dues Disbursement Q1 - “Members pay annual dues to Wild Ones. Chapters receive a disbursement of these dues on a quarterly basis. The amount paid to chapters is dependent on a member’s membership type and the age of the chapter (a flat percent based on chapter’s age).”

Membership Report: Per the Chapter pulse, we have 196 members! Last meeting we were at 184. 
19 new members, 12 expired, and 19 renewals

Referral sources listed:

“Word of mouth” - 7 new members
“Facebook” - 4 new members
“Other” - ‘chapter hosted a talk at my workplace”, Garden Expo, Larry Meiller show on NPR, “working with Athena”
Planning Committee Recap (and Data Entry into Nat’l Event Editor)
Plan Your Pollinator Garden number of attendees:

Recap - 

Rain Garden Basics number of attendees (20 total?)

Recap - We should give Phil an honorarium of $50

Skunk Cabbage Arboretum walk (8 total)

Recap: all members except one who saw us on FB

From Erin - First Dane County Humane Society Work Day is April 27th. Sarah, can you please make the Facebook events? We were funded 100 plants through Plant Dane, those will be arriving for the May work day. 

Old Business
Publicity and FB events - Kate’s “Lurker Report” on other chapter’s use of social media (not all chapters have page or group, be careful what you search, some chapters had “community” as their chapter page, agree to keep FB pages “as is” for now)
Photos from events: where to put them and how to use them? Can we develop “booklets” with before/after members’ yard photos? (National is working on developing a national photo album of really cool native plants and smart yards)
Bibliography and resource list - we have an old one from Frank/Good Oak - who can update this?

New Business
New tabling materials: banner and brochures (Amy to buy 100 more brochures! Approved and seconded)
to also make additional �" page inserts for the ~100 WO national brochures that were received.
 

Speaker requests - how to handle these?
Sarah is going to help create a presentation template we can use for our chapter. Will make it easier to plug and go if we want to offer presentations. Laurie is currently revising the one from national for her Friends of Olbrich Gardens group and will share that with the board. 
Wild Ones advocacy for Natural Areas Ordinance and city ordinances
This was a suggested topic by Frank Hassler
Discussion about how we could work to revise it or even just eliminate it. Possible letter writing campaign to common council. 
Athena will pick up where we left on with contacting alders about it and getting city support. Amy will draft a letter template for letter writing campaign. Hopefully we can launch campaign for Earth Day. 
Questions from the City of Madison Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management plan - Amy sent separate email to the board, please respond by first week of April and Amy will compile the responses
Action Items
Amy - reach out to Phil Gaebler re: honorarium

 Order 100 chapter brochures 

 Draft letter regarding natural lawn ordinance

 Enter meeting into Events editor and on planning sheet on the drive

Athena - will contact alder re: natural lawn ordinance

Sarah - will look into photo storage on the drive

 Offered to assist with streamlining power point presentations

tour of local native plant wholesaler

Wild Ones member Laurie Yahr presented an introduction to Wild Ones power point to the Olbrich garden club

Wild Ones assisted installing native bare roots in this public library garden

Wild Ones member Frank Hassler leads a wildflower walk to show what is currently blooming and to discuss the ecology of this nature preserve

Monthly board meeting

Wild Ones hosted a garlic mustard pull, wildflower walk, and snacks including hot fresh waffles at the Hoyt park shelter

Wild Ones tabled an Earth day event with other sustainability groups in the Madison area to provide resources and education about native plants

Wild Ones gathered for pollinator garden clean up and site prep

Frank Hassler, Wild Ones member, leads a group through the Heritage Park Sanctuary to see trillium and other blooming native flowers and discuss the ecology of this preserve.

board meeting

Zoom 3 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Madison Chapter Board meeting
Time: May 16, 2024 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WqBZH0R-w27aYNZQ0hVi_84L7wIM9A0grQMWn31Le08/edit?pli=1#heading=h.2gazcsgmxkub

Wild Ones - Madison Chapter 

Monthly Board Meeting minutes

May 16, 2024 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: 

Zoom 3 

Attendees: Amy Y., Erin L., Laurie Y., Athena S., Amanda L.
Absent: Jeff Steele, secretary

Agenda
Call to Order
Approval of April Minutes - approved and seconded
Announcement of Sarah Ditton’s resignation from the board - Amanda suggested sending a thank you card
Financial Report 
Current balance: $4636.37

Outstanding Receipts & Checks - none noted

Erin has changed the direct deposit info per National

Approval for funds: 3 yard sign for outdoor events approved with updated logo

Membership Report
Active Members: 200 - this does not include add on members to current memberships as noted in mtg discussion.

Since last meeting: 6 new members,  8  renewals, and 5 expired memberships.

Planning Committee Recap (and Data Entry into Nat’l Event Editor)
Pollinator garden at DCHS - 5 attendees
Trillium walk - 8 attendees
Reese Woods - 5 attendees, small group but good for questions
Upcoming events 

DMNA Prairie 1st work day went well
Madison Bike Week - discussion about how WO can have a presence; possible a table offering refreshments/activity/pamphlets? Athena will consider for June 6 5;30-8:30 
Lakeview Library - Kelly Kearns to work with new member Christine Blau on these plantings

Old Business
Stormwater committee updates - meeting scheduled for 5.29 via ZOOM at 2pm - Amy will attend for sure
City of Madison natural lawn ordinance  - call for volunteers for committee? No responses to recent email, next steps TBD pending the new ordinance
Advertising events in Isthmus/WI State Journal Amy to f/u with Isthmus to see time requirements. We would like to advertise the Jumping Worms talk, Sauk Prairie tour, and Laurie’s orchid talk.

New Business
Ice Cream social - Member Steve Hazell would like to perform and is asking about a PA system. Are we having art events for kids here? Board agreed that a PA would be too loud; Amy will reach out to Steve to see if he would be willing to do a more acoustic background performance. Amanda has ideas for art activities and will bring to next meeting.
Discussion re: FB postings and visibility: Erin noted that FB posts with texts in graphics does not show for folx with visual impairments. We need to include all the info written in the post text. Thanks for catching that, Erin!
Yard tours - Laurie will reach out to the members who got WO Certified Habitat yards. Athena mentioned that there are Google forms ready to go for people who would like to do this. 
Memorandum of Understanding form from National: Amy shared as an FYI to the group in case we wanted to use this for our community partnerships.   https://members.wildones.org/chapter-guides/memorandum-of-understanding-mou/

Action Items: 
Amy: Follow up with Steve Hazel, Signs for Tomorrow, and Isthmus as discussed above.

Erin: Send thank you to Sarah for her service on the board

Amanda: bring ideas for Ice Cream Social activities to next board meeting

Athena: Possible email to volunteers to coordinate with Madison Bike Week

Next Meeting Agenda Items - Date 6.20.24 Time 5:30

Madison chapter board meeting

We have 47 species of native orchids in Wisconsin (and one introduced). Worldwide, only the sunflower/composite family is larger. Plants range in size from nearly 4 foot tall showy lady’s slippers to several that may only be 4 inches tall, with green adders mouth having the tiniest flowers (less than ⅛ inch). 
 
Laurie and Rich have been searching and photographing them since 1998.Laurie is a long-time Wild Ones member and newsletter editor. In this talk, she will share her knowledge about how to get familiar with our native orchids and how to look for them in the wild. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1km-q0bHV237-T311Y1EtkJBKw_li0DjpR9Xlh_9RnDQ/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.2gazcsgmxkub

Board meeting via Zoom 3

Wild Ones - Madison Chapter 

Monthly Board Meeting minutes

August 15, 2024 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Zoom 

Zoom 3 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Madison Board meeting

Time: Aug 15, 2024 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/85390602296?pwd=yg6Rh9ccf64IQycgmWMd8UcAOlDYSS.1

Meeting ID: 853 9060 2296

Passcode: vxcV6!

Attendees:  Amy Yocum, Athena Salzer*, Amanda Langer, Kate Engler, Laurie Yahr, 

*Athena was recording secretary in Jeff’s absence

AgendaCall to Order Approval of July Minutes Athena motions, Amanda seconds. PassesAnnouncements: Congrats to the Ordinance committee!Financial Report 

Current balance: $5,034.50

Outstanding Receipts & Checks - GE $250 and Goodman check will go soon.

Approval for funds: Room reservation for seed swap approval. Laurie motions to approve funds for seed swap reservations. Amanda seconds. Motion passes. 

*check sent out for Garden Expo booths. Will mail check for Seed Swap reservation at Goodman Center

Membership Report

Active Members: 206

Since the last meeting:  7 new members, 5 renewals, and 3 expired memberships.

Planning Committee Recap (and Data Entry into Nat’l Event Editor)Odana Hills Golf Course Prairie Tour - ~20 people in attendance. Marcel was mildly under the weather so he had difficulty speaking, but overall great. Ice Cream social reschedule - Amy would like to propose Sept 12 at ALNC, push board meeting to that date as well. Agreed to move Sept board meeting and ice cream social 9/12. Amy to contact Chocolate Shoppe for ice cream and confirm new date with ALNC. Athena to contact DMNA prairie since it will conflict with their workday. Work days/volunteer opportunities updatesDCHS DMNA Lakeview library Old BusinessBylaws updates to be reviewed in NovemberNew BusinessSOS plant sale updates - slow start to sales. Johnsons says it usually starts slower and then picks up. Do another social media push and Lisa had suggested possibly some radio/tv interviewsJumping Worms presentation next weekEastmorland Market 9.14.24, 10am - 1pm skip it this year. Too busyPlant Dane Workshop upcoming 9.24.24, 5-7pm; Susan checking in to see if we have volunteers - she requested 5. We’ll confirm have at least 4 peopleExpo updates (Athena) - double booth secured. Athena will confirm we want participate in kids activity. Nominating Committee updates (Athena) - Today is the deadline for forming the Nomination Committee. Amanda and Kate volunteer to be board member committee members, Eric Gertner to serve as an at-large member (vacant spot for 1 other at-large member committee person). Addendum - Kevin Cronin added as second at-large member! Committee is fulfilled! 

Erin motions to adjourn. Laurie seconds. Meeting adjourned!

Action Items: 

Amy to order more bookmarks from National

Amy to f/u with ALNC regarding ICS reschedule

Next Meeting  - Date September 12

Brad Herrick of the UW arboretum will give a presentation on the biology and significance of Asian jumping worms, now found in Wisconsin. We will also have an opportunity to go to the arboretum gardens and see jumping worms.

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. 

It is once again time for our annual Ice Cream Social! Join us for some delicious Chocolate Shoppe ice cream with plenty of toppings (and a dairy free ice cream sandwich option!)
 
This event is a chance for us to get together and socialize, strengthen bonds and create new connections, all in the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center facility overlooking a gorgeous prairie. Let's talk about what we've accomplished and enjoyed this year, and look ahead to dream and make plans. 
 
This year we will have an art activity for all attendees to participate in. It's mess free and you will get to take it home with you at the end of the night (and it involves native plants & flowers...!)
 
This event is BYOB--Bring Your Own Bowl (and spoon!) Toppings will be provided.

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. 

Description:
Ready to share in the abundance of the season with your Wild Ones community? Come to our annual Wild Ones meeting and potluck to enjoy some delicious food, engage in Wild Ones elections, and have fun with fellow native plant enthusiasts. 
 
The festivities start at 5:30 with the potluck with the annual meeting to follow at 6:30! 
 
The event will be in the Community Room at the Neighborhood House Community Center: 29 S Mills St. Madison WI 53715

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! 

 Expand your species list or share extra seed of native plants. Come to our seed exchange! 

 
Bring seed or seedheads of native species to share. Please keep each species you have in a separate bag - labeled with its name, and ideally the location and when it was collected. Reminder: it is generally prohibited to collect seed on any state, county or city property without a permit. 
 
Envelopes and paper lunch bags are handy for storing seed. Bring a couple along if you want to take only portions of want will be available. Wild Ones board members will be on site to help discuss plant suitability or answer any other questions you have!
 
*Native species ONLY please. Please do not bring seed of cultivars or non-native plants.
 
Seed swap starts at 6:30pm at the Goodman Community Center (149 Waubesa St, Madison WI 53704) Ironworks Building - Room Bolz A. 
 
We'll host our monthly board meeting prior to the swap at 5:30pm. You're certainly welcome to come early and join us for that if you'd like to get more involved and learn about our planning initiatives for next year! We'd love to have you!

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.

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.

Wild Ones - Madison Chapter 

Monthly Board Meeting minutes

December 19, 2024 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Zoom 3

Attendees: Frank Hassler, Jeff Steele, Athena Salzer,  Amy Yocum, Erin Lemley, Megan Saucke, and Laurie YahrAgenda

Call to Order (order called) 

Approval of November Minutes (minutes approved and seconded)

Financial Report 

Current balance: $5,273.04

Outstanding Receipts & Checks - no outstanding receipts or checks

Approval for funds: no funds requested

Membership Report

Active Members:  209 active members  (up from 206 last month)

Since the last meeting:  3 new members plus one add-on,   8 renewals, and   2 expired memberships.

Wild Ones tended spaces need names for the certification DCHS - Ruth’s prairie? DMNA prairie -  Sue Reindollar’s Prairie (sp?)Lakeview library - Old BusinessNative planting shorelines for Friends of Lake Kegonsa (FOLK)Frank to reach out to FOLK and keep officers updatedComplementary memberships offered to Alder Field and Megan Saucke.Megan has accepted complementary membershipChapter donations to help new chapter hubs  - Update: meeting on 12.18 with Theresa Possley (Oregon Nature Alliance) and Debbie from National to discuss Community Hub assistance from our chapterAmy and Athena met with Nat’l.Discussion on potentially changing the name of our chapter from Wild Ones-Madison to something more encompassing to include neighboring communities. New BusinessPlanning Committee updates:

Jeff’s presentation January 30, 5:30pm at Harmony Bar confirmed

Jeff to provide a description for the event asap. Athena to bring projector and screen (Jeff also has a screen if needed). Frank to provide guidance and feedback for Jeff.

Garden Expo February 7-9

Amy to begin to recruit for volunteers soon

Plan Your Pollinator Garden February 22, double meeting room at Pinney Branch library reserved

Need to recruit volunteers soon. Leaning on Theresa and Susan

Urban Canid Project tentative March 11 at 5:30, Lakeview library

“Leave the Leaves” committee next stepsMegan reached out to the City with mixed resultsWants to create a “toolkit”Phil presented options for what to do with leavesLaurie mentioned Florida’s “Smart Yards” conceptMegan to send out email to coordinate a follow-up meeting for January and announce it to the Facebook groupAdvertising at Expo this year - do we want to have an ad? (consensus was against an advertisement at this time)

End of year reporting: SOCR questions for the boardWhat did your chapter accomplish this year that you are most proud of? (please describe)Advocating to eliminate the existing Natural Lawn Ordinance and succeeding.(Athena)What do you find most fulfilling as a chapter leader?Being able to educate and empower people to utilize native plants in their home landscapes. (Athena)What do you find most challenging as a chapter leader?Time management w/ personal obligations and leadership duties. Not being able to follow through on many of my big ideas due to time. (Athena)Late last year, Wild Ones introduced new branded assets and updated core messaging. The rebranding included a refined mission statement that reflects our evolving organizational culture and goals: Wild Ones promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy and collaborative action. We invite chapter leaders to share their thoughts about how Wild Ones national board and staff can support chapter efforts in fulfilling our three mission pillars.It would be great to have more Wild Ones branded educational handouts that could come from national.(Athena)What educational tools or resources provided by the national organization would help your chapter promote native landscapes more effectively?Printable literature. 1-page handouts, etc. Native plant alternatives How can Wild Ones national organization better support your chapter's advocacy efforts to influence local policies and promote native landscapes?In what ways can Wild Ones national facilitate stronger partnerships between chapters and other organizations to enhance collaborative efforts for native landscaping initiatives?* If Wild Ones national office could provide one resource (e.g., a tool, template, guidance, policy, etc.) to make managing your chapter's administrative work easier, what would it be? (please describe)Action Items: Next Meeting  - Date: January 16, 2025 via Zoom