Events

Join us Thursday October 9 at 4:30 pm for a tour of Aurora's Water-Wise Demo Garden! We'll start with an introduction from the garden's manager and look at the unique plants they have. Then we'll be collecting seeds from various native plant species. The seeds will become part of our inventory for the November 16 seed swap!

Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. 

Join us to clean seeds for our seed swap in December.  Information will be added in September about seed donations and a volunteer signup will be included.

Join us to celebrate the end of the growing season with a potluck and garden tour in Eaton. This event is for Wild Ones Front Range chapter members and their guests. Our host has a property of 10 acres that includes a professionally designed 7' x 70' native plant border in part shade. With luck, the cottonwoods will still be leafed out and in color.

We will start with the potluck and social, where we can share successes from this growing season as well as plans for next year. Then our host will show us around her place. Feel free to bring native seeds and/or seedlings to share.

Note: The potluck will be held in a 100+ year old barn loft up a flight of stairs with handrails. A bathroom is available in the main house, which is a short walk from the barn.

Monthly meeting of the Front Range Chapter's Board of Directors. All members are welcome to attend. Email us at [email protected] if you're interested in joining the call.

The native seeds we collected need to be cleaned and packaged for the Northern Colorado Seed Swap & Giveaway. We would love your help with that.

Seed cleaning equipment and instructions will be provided. No experience required; just bring yourself and your love of native plants! A light snack will also be provided.

The seed cleaning is in Berthoud. You will receive the address and directions after you register. Registration closes on Wednesday, October 22.

Thanks!

The NoCO Native Plant Exchange Committee

The Pikes Peak Region will be adding a modern twist to  the centuries old tradition of community gatherings such as quilting bees, threshings, and barn raising!

Members will build relationships, make friends, and have fun while collaboratively completing the worthwhile task of cleaning “the seed from the chaff!”

Learn the “how to”  of cleaning native seeds in preparation for our Native Seed Share on November 8, 2025.  

Registration required.

Direct seeding with custom seed mixes offers an affordable, efficient and sustainable way to establish vegetation in urban and residential landscapes. Yet, in semi-arid climates, this approach is often dismissed as impractical due to perceived aesthetic limitations, difficulties supporting high germination rates and ongoing management challenges. At the same time, seeds provide unparalleled access to a wide range of plant species, creating opportunities to build high-diversity, ecologically valuable communities that would be far more costly or logistically difficult to establish with container-grown plants.

Join Michael Guidi, Manager of Horticulture Research Programs at Denver Botanic Gardens, as he shares experiments and case studies testing the feasibility of direct seeding in urban contexts, with a focus on the semi-arid Front Range of Colorado.  Additionally, he will present seed mix design, site preparation and soil conditions that influence both ecological outcomes and aesthetic performance in urban and residential ecosystems.

Members $5,   Nonmembers $25

All registrants will receive the webinar recording within a week after the webinar. Registration will close on Monday, November 3 at midnight.

No matter your gardening experience, you’ll find something of interest at the WOFR Pikes Peak Region 2025 Native Plant Seed Share.  This is a free event.  There will be a variety of Pikes Peak regional native seeds including annuals, perennials, shrubs, and grasses ranging from easy-to-difficult to propagate. Find seeds of native plants to add to your garden—for free!   You do not need to bring seeds to participate.

Want to contribute?  Donate your seeds prior to the event by contacting Sue at [email protected]  OR bring your seeds to the share and volunteers will catalogue and stock them for future seed shares.

Remember… please collect your native seeds responsibly!  For more information on collecting seeds responsibly go to https://nanps.org/seed-collecting/

Participating Organizations:

Front Range Wild Ones: https://frontrange.wildones.org/pikes-peak-seed-swap/

Manitou Seed Library: https://www.facebook.com/ManitouSeedLibrary/

El Paso County Extension: https://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/native-plants-for-el-paso-county/

People &  Pollinators Action Network: https://www.peopleandpollinators.org

Colorado Native Plant Society: https://conps.org

Questions?  Contact [email protected]

Join us to clean seeds for our seed swap in December.  Information will be added in September about seed donations and a volunteer signup will be included.

Join us to clean seeds for our seed swap in December.  Information will be added in September about seed donations and a volunteer signup will be included.

Save the date for our seed swap on November 16 - more information coming soon!

This seed swap will be available only to members.

There will be opportunities to volunteer (emails about volunteering will be sent separately).

We hope you can join us! We’ll have a variety of seed including annuals, perennials,  grasses, shrubs, and trees. We will also have information about how to grow native seed. You don't need to bring seed to attend the event or bring home seed.

If you do have native seed to share, please label each species with this information:
* Botanical Name
* Common Name
* Collection City or County, Elevation, and Year 
* Your First Initial and Last Name
* If your seed is from a wild population rather than a garden site, add “WILD”

We happily accept seed from species native to Colorado and adjacent states. Please avoid cultivars, which might not support native pollinators and wildlife. We do NOT accept seeds from plants designated as noxious weeds.

You can drop off seed before the event in Fort Collins or Longmont. Email [email protected] to coordinate. If you plan to bring seed the day of the event, email the species name(s) to [email protected] ahead of time so that we can prepare information for attendees about your seed.

If you would like to volunteer to help the NoCO Native Plant Exchange Committee at the swap, go to this page and then select Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/native-plant-seed-cleaning-tickets-1671576262599?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=email&utm_medium=sparkpost&utm_campaign=postpublish.

Monthly meeting of the Front Range Chapter's Board of Directors. All members are welcome to attend. Email us at [email protected] if you're interested in joining the call.

Details coming soon! 

Designing with native plants isn’t just about what you grow, it’s about how you shape your space. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe Evans (Plan it Wild) and Heather Evans (Design Your Wild) guide you through the process of creating a cohesive yard plan that supports both your lifestyle and biodiversity.

Save the date for the Boulder County Regional Seed Swap.  This description will be updated with volunteer and seed donation information.

Monthly meeting of the Front Range Chapter's Board of Directors. All members are welcome to attend. Email us at [email protected] if you're interested in joining the call.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! This will be a paid webinar with all proceeds supporting the Seeds for Education Program. 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!