Events

Just Three Weeks Away!

While most in-person propagation activity is happening at the regional level, we’d like to resume periodic chapter zoom meetings about propagation with our expert, Jan Midgley. This free, virtual event is open chapter-wide, and we invite you to RSVP. Jan will update us on specific species she is working on figuring out germination protocols for, and she will cover some really timely propagation topics (this is a teaser, but timing of sowing! annuals! the use of indoor lights! and more!) A final agenda will be sent to registrants the week of the event. 

For over 30 years Jan operated a one wheelbarrow native plant nursery in MD and AL. She kept detailed notes on every step of the propagation process for each species. The notes supported the writing of articles, lectures, and books. She continues to self-publish Native Plant Propagation, 5th edition.

After a move to Colorado seven years ago, Jan embarked on a crash course on the flora of the Southern Rockies. She now volunteers arranging specimens two days a week at Denver Botanic Gardens Herbarium. The rest of the time she “plays” with seeds and maintains a Germination Guide for Colorado native plant seeds on the Wild Ones Front Range Chapter website.

Already Registered? We're looking forward to seeing you on the Virtual/Zoom program!

We will meet at a Wild Ones member's home in Wheat Ridge to dig up Ericameria nauseosa (rabbitbrush) seedlings for our June 14 Plant Share.

The sign-ups are full for this event.

How do you extend the seasons of your garden?

We will visit the garden at the private home of Jean Morgan in Louisville. Jean has been gardening for longer than all of us, we guarantee it, and her skill, eye, and whimsy have gotten her into countless garden tours over the years. (Really. Do a web search.) The focus of our two visits to Jean's garden will be right plant, right place and blooming the whole year. (Jean has flowers blooming ten months of the year.) Look forward to another visit in September. After an hour with Jean, we'll head to Louisville Community Park for a brown bag social (pack a lunch!). Jean's address to be emailed to registrants the week of the crawl.

Wild Ones Front Range is hosting our 2nd Annual Boulder County Regional Native Plant Swap! All plants are grown by volunteers and community members; plant stock isn’t commercially grown.

This swap is super early in the season; this is when plants will have best success being planted (cooler, moister), and we will have plenty of plants ready.  

Participation: no need to bring plants to receive plants. Event is at a private farm; registrants will receive address week of event. You must register to attend.

Please note: Wild Ones Front Range members will have first access to plants and are welcome at 10 am. Non-members (members of the public) are welcome at the swap, beginning at 11 am. If you are a non-member making a donation of native plants, get in touch, and we'll add you to the earlier entrance time.

Plant donations:
Please follow these general guidelines:

Label Plants:
• The plant’s botanical (Latin) name
• The plant’s common name
• Your first initial and last name

• Please include the general location or elevation of where it grew, if you can

No plants grown with pesticides nor neonicotinoids. No noxious weeds as defined by the CDA Labelling specifications.

We will gladly accept plants native to Colorado and neighboring states, including Arizona and Texas. If you have questions, please contact us.
 

Know you're bringing plants? As far in advance as you can, please fill this out! If you have a lot of plants and need help labeling or need to drop off in advance, please be in touch! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6VoGel4ZhM9lFaWFq-Z_UDwtr8_5vw6lSDw73Ro7SYvwu0w/viewform

Volunteer for a shift at this event, signup at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44AEAD2EABF5CE9-56119694-wild#/

Please considering volunteering for the event! Review & register for a volunteer shifts at the link above to sign up for a 2 hour shift if that works for you. Knowledge about native and pollinator plants is a plus, but not required. In fact, volunteering will help you learn more about them if you’re interested! Set up will be Saturday, May 3rd.  We will have a LOT of opportunities to volunteer from now through cleaning up in order to make the event a success.

This is a working private farm with farm animals; we ask that children be supervised by an accompanying adult.

PLEASE BRING A BOX OR A BAG TO TOTE YOUR PLANTS HOME!

(What about small plants which are in the pipeline which won’t be mature enough for this swap?  We would like to start a “culture” of people bringing excess plants to any and all regional events.  There will be more garden crawls, more hikes, more social events, and more propagation events, and we would just like to have a steady trickle of plants going out through October.  Instead of door prizes, come to regional events and maybe leave with a penstemon!)

This garden crawl features 4 hosts who are just getting started gardening with natives.  It is designed to help “jump start” newer native gardeners.  Visiting members with more experience can offer advice and education to the hosts.  By collaborating and sharing our knowledge we will assist newer gardeners have quicker success.  It should be a learning experience for all attendees as we discuss multiple gardening issues at the various stops.

Join us as we stroll the gently rolling shortgrass prairie to see native flowering shrubs and forbs and grasses!  Potential trail length is 2-3 miles.  There is ample parking and also a porta potty at the trailhead.  

RSVP to [email protected] 

Bring water and snack/lunch, wear sunscreen.  Hiking poles optional.  

Native Plant Share, open to the public.  This is the event's inaugural year.

Please join us  for our 2nd Annual Native Plant Swap  on June 1st, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, in Colorado Springs!  

Let's grow a vibrant native plant community in the Pikes Peak Region!  Bring native plants to share or just bring yourself.  You do not need to bring a plant to receive a plant.  

 New to native plants?  Welcome!  You'll be glad you came! 

Please mark the date on your calendar.  Registration is required.  Sign up today!  You won’t want to miss it! 

Together we're building a vibrant community of Coloradoscaping in the Pikes Peak Region!

COLORADOSCAPING is…

Landscaping for where you live: Coloradoscaping emphasizes the use of plants that are native to the state of Colorado and the Western US, inherently thrive in Colorado’s different climates and conditions, and celebrate Colorado’s natural beauty.

The first annual Jeffco Regional Native Plant Share strives to put native plants in the hands of home gardeners increasing the population of native plants in our environment.

We prefer to accept donations of regional native plant seedlings the day before the event, but can accept some on the day of.  Donors stop at the Plant Intake table before entering the event. One does not need to donate plants to adopt plants.

This event will be limited to registered Wild Ones members.  This event is not open to the public.  Copy & paste the link below to join Wild Ones Front Range Chapter prior to the event.

 https://join.wildones.org/?chapter=86

A signup link for volunteers and plant propagators will be sent to Jeffco members closer to the event. 

The annual NoCO Plant Swap & Giveaway supports geting more native plants into landscapes along the Front Range!

Bring your extra native plant seedlings to donate and/or pick up some new species to try in your garden.  You DO NOT need to donate plants to take home some free plants.

Please label each plant that you bring using plant tags or masking tape with the following: 

The plant’s common nameThe plant’s botanical (Latin) nameYour first initial and last name

CLICK HERE  to sign up for a volunteer activity in support of this fun and impactful event.

SAVE THE DATE!! We're finalizing plans for our 2025 Denver Metro Region Plant Swap! 

We know it'll be on June 21, 2025 from 10 am - Noon.

As soon as we have the location confirmed, registration will open and more information will be provided.

This garden crawl will feature 4 hosts in Jefferson County who have established mostly native plant gardens.  They will share the history of the creation of their gardens with lessons they learned in the process and advice to the visitors.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!