Events

Meeting of Boulder regional coordinators to plan for upcoming events, organize supplies, prioritize purchase of additional supplies. 

Help us kick off the new year with fellow Pikes Peak Region members!  Join us in Colorado Springs for coffee/tea and light snacks while we get to know each other and plan out the 2025 new year.  This is a great time to share what you are interested in and what you would like to see offered this year!  Nonmembers welcome!  Please join us!

Questions?  Please contact Sue Wright at [email protected].

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller

Join us in southeast Denver.

This month our social hour will continue to focus on propagation, since that's on our minds at this time of year. We'll chat about various propagation methods and share what species we've already started or want to start. Of course, feel free to bring up any other topic you're curious about as well! It'll be a great opportunity to share and gather helpful information from others.

We'll be back at the location on Arapahoe between Quebec and I25 - address will be shared upon registration.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AE5XZZayaznci8WN8

All members are welcome.  Please email us if you are interested in attending.

Let's get together and talk about native plant gardening plans! This is an informal social time to commune with fellow native plant enthusiasts. It can be a chance to inquire about or share our experiences gardening with natives or just have coffee with others.

Questions?  Contact Sue [email protected]

“Together we’re building a vibrant community of Coloradoscaping in the Pikes Peak region!”

Please join Wild Ones Front Range, in partnership with Cool Boulder, for a fun and cost-free winter workshop! Come start native seeds with us!

The sow-bag method for winter planting will be explained and demonstrated, with supplies provided to make your own & take home. This is a beginner-friendly way to get your hands dirty and grow your own native plants!  We will provide seeds for native plant species which do well with winter sowing, but feel free to bring seeds you picked up from our December 8th seed swap as well.  If you have any questions about whether those seeds are appropriate, consult the Germination Guide (https://frontrange.wildones.org/wp-content/images/sites/105/2024/07/Germination-Guide-7924-pdf.pdf) or bring them and ask!

Informal social time to commune with fellow native plant enthusiasts. Time to inquire of others and share our experiences gardening with natives.

We will socialize and share information/experience with each other about all things regarding native plants.

Mystified by the soil underground? 

Soil is living and not living and determines whether we thrive or perish on Earth. Join Kristine in the first of this two-part series (read more about Part Two, on Feb 26, below), as she lays out a foundation for how soil works, its complexity and interaction with plants.

She'll introduce the concept of Planetary Boundaries, a set of   ecological processes which keep the Earth stable and functioning. The way we garden, especially the way we interact with soil, adds up to help or hinder environmental systems.  

Starting with basic concepts about soil and how plants, microbes, and human beings interact with it, Kristine will move to practical applications for lightening our impacts and helping support pollinators, birds, and water and land conservation. 

Kristine Johnson consults on soil, water, fire, biodiversity, climate, equity, and community building. She is a Colorado Native Plant Master and Master Gardener, Boulder Pollinator Advocate, and is certified in water harvesting design. She focuses on climate resilient landscapes, with an intersection of habitat and species diversity, wildfire, carbon sequestration, urban heat, water and people. Kristine serves as a Wild Ones Front Range Chapter Board member and Boulder Regional Coordinator.

Members $5, Nonmembers $25

Register here for the February 12th webinar.  All registrants will receive the webinar recording within about a week after the webinar.  Registration will close at noon on February 12th.

Be engaged!  Meet new people!  Make a difference!  

Build relationships with other members, share gardening experiences, and make new connections. Please join us for an  informal meet-up to talk about native plants, challenges in our gardens, pollinators, and more. This is a time to mingle and get to know other native plant enthusiasts. 

Members and non-members are welcome.

Bring one challenge you are having or one goal you want to accomplish in 2025.

Questions?  Contact Sue at [email protected]

Location: NE Colorado Springs. Specific location provided upon registration.

Registere here!

All members are welcome.  Please email us if you are interested in attending.

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Please join us for a members only 2-hour workshop on starting native plants from seed with Allisa Zurbuchen, CSU Extension Horticulture Specialist in El Paso County. This is a hands-on workshop, and you will be leaving with samples of native plant seeds to get you started!   

Allisa is currently working on her Ph.D. researching container production of Colorado Native Plants.   She will be covering a host of topics relative to starting native plants from seeds including what is a native plant, seed science basics, propagation methods adapted for home growers, and exposure to a variety of native plant species.

Event limited to 15 participants.

Questions?   Contact Sue at [email protected]

Join us for a fun and informative two-hour workshop on winter sowing seeds in milk jugs! We'll provide all the supplies you need - jugs, soil, seeds - and you'll be able to take home a mini nursery or two! All of the plants you grow can be added to your own yard, given away to help others add native plants to their spaces, or donated to the Denver plant swap this summer. Whatever you choose to do with them, you'll be contributing to the health of our local biosphere. And it's just plain fun to watch them sprout and grow!

Don't miss this Wednesday's presentation on the biological perspective of life underground! Register now!

Soil is living and not living,  and determines whether we thrive or perish on Earth. Join Kristine Johnson, as she introduces the concept of Planetary Boundaries, a set of ecological processes which keep the Earth stable and functioning. The way we garden, especially the way we interact with soil, adds up to help or hinder environmental systems.

IN THE SECOND of this two-part series, Kristine will focus on the life in soil and how to care for it to best support all the creatures in our backyard ecosystems as well as to help do a little planetary healing.

Kristine Johnson consults on soil, water, fire, biodiversity, climate, equity, and community building. She is a Colorado Native Plant Master and Master Gardener, Boulder Pollinator Advocate, and is certified in water harvesting design. She focuses on climate resilient landscapes, with an intersection of habitat and species diversity, wildfire, carbon sequestration, urban heat, water and people. Kristine serves as a Wild Ones Front Range Chapter Board member and Boulder Regional Coordinator.

Note: you don't have to attend Part 1 to attend Part 2

Members $5, Nonmembers $25

Register here for the February 26th webinar.  All registrants will receive the webinar recording within about a week after the webinar. Registration will close on February 25th at 9:00pm.

Please join us at the 2nd Annual Louisville Seed Share in Louisville at the Louisville Library!  We are partnering with the Louisville Public Library and Bee City USA to bring you this FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC event.  We will be focusing on native flowering plants which don't require winter stratification to germinate.

You do not need  to provide seeds to participate! 

However, if you would like to donate native seeds prior to the event (and we do need native seeds) please make sure you label them with the scientific name, common name, your first initial and last name, address/elevation where harvested and the month/year.  Seeds brought to the event will also require this information and will be inventoried for future seed sharing events.  For more information on donating seeds please email Kristine or Kim  at [email protected] or [email protected] 

This is a native (Colorado and regional) seed share; we are looking for seeds of plants native to Colorado and neighboring states. And please, no seeds treated with pesticides. 

Questions?  Contact Kim or Kristine at the addresses above.

One of our Boulder members has been diligently stratifying seeds and propagating seedings, and she needs some help!  This small volunteer event/workshop will have two parts:  first, we will sow stratified seeds in containers, and second, we will “bump” (transplant) seedlings into bigger containers.  We expect to have more of these events, and there is limited space, so if you don't get in, don't worry.  There will be some mess (dirty fingers).   Also, if you have been diligently propagating at home and need help bumping for the swap, let us know, and we'll schedule an event just like this for you.  If you have never sown, if you have never bumped, you are still welcome to join, and we will teach you.  Registration required, space limited.

Join regional co-coordinator Kristine on a hike trying to identify seedheads and leafing out plants and see the very first spring wildflowers (maybe) on a 4-5 mile hike in the Boulder County foothills, location TBD (likely Shanahan Ridge, Flatirons Vista, or Gregory Canyon).  Email Kristine (kristinekjohnson at icloud dot com) to coordinate… all of these locations work best with carpools.  Wear appropriate footwear (hiking boots or trail shoes), bring water, bring a snack.  Sunscreen is suggested.  

Please join the Northern Region for a Free Winter Native Seed Sowing Workshop at a classroom in Fort Collins on Saturday, March 2, 2025, 1–3 PM. 

You don’t need any experience, and we will provide all the materials for starting seeds using the plastic bag method for winter sowing outside. Feel free to bring your own native seeds to plant; we will also provide seeds for these species:

Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leafed purple coneflower)

Liatris punctata (dotted blazing star or gay feather)

Penstemon secundiflorus (sidebells penstemon)

Click here to register for the Winter Native Seed Sowing Workshop. In the Comment section of the registration form, please indicate if you are a Member or a Guest.   Guests are always welcome to attend an event to learn more about Wild Ones before becoming a member. 

If you are interested in carpooling to the workshop, please join the carpool.

We get together and discuss all things related to native plants.

This month, join us to check in on how your seeds are doing and learn more about seed sowing in general.

It's not too late to start sowing seeds! Many plants need little or no cold stratification and we'll have a list of those for you along with some other resources. If you're fostering seeds planted at the February event, we'd love to have you tell us how it's going!

We'll meet at a central Denver location to be shared upon registration.

All members are welcome.  Please email us if you are interested in attending.

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Yay…  it's social time again!  Please join us for an evening of native plant community, collaboration, and fun!  

Bring pictures of your yards and gardens.    We will be on hand to assist you with decisions on native plant selections for your landscape.  Whether you are replacing, starting new, adding features, or just want a second opinion--we can help!  

Members--let's double the fun!  Bring a guest!

Let us know that you're coming!  Questions?  Contact Sue at [email protected]

One of our Boulder members has been diligently stratifying seeds and propagating seedings, and she needs some help!  This small volunteer event/workshop will have two parts:  first, we will sow stratified seeds in containers, and second, we will “bump” (transplant) seedlings into bigger containers.  We expect to have more of these events, and there is limited space, so if you don't get in, don't worry.  There will be some mess (dirty fingers).   Also, if you have been diligently propagating at home and need help bumping for the swap, let us know, and we'll schedule an event just like this for you.  If you have never sown, if you have never bumped, you are still welcome to join, and we will teach you.  Registration required, space limited.

Want to Know What's in the Works Along the Front Range for 2025?

Join us for our annual Member Meeting to celebrate our accomplishments in 2024, review our 2025 priorities, and discuss ways to get more involved with our chapter!

Pull up a seat for our free, virtual gathering!

Zoom link will be sent to registrants in the meeting reminder.

Saturday morning update:  muddy trails closure to Flatirons Vista.  Moving hike to South Mesa Trailhead, same time.  Bring rain jacket (though no rain expected this morning).  Text Kristine at three 0 three 8 eight 5 seven 5 six 7 if you are not already in email contact and are coming.

Update:  moving hike up to 9 am, meeting at Flatirons Vista Trailhead (overflow parking at Greenbelt Plateau Trailhead nearby).  Email Kristine to RSVP!  Two dogs will be present!

Join regional co-coordinator Kristine on a hike trying to identify seedheads and leafing out plants and see early spring wildflowers (hopefully!) on a 4-6 mile hike in the Boulder County foothills, location TBD (likely Betasso Preserve, Goshawk Ridge, or Flatirons Vista).  Email Kristine (kristinekjohnson at icloud dot com) to coordinate… all of these locations work best with carpools.  Wear appropriate footwear (hiking boots or trail shoes), bring water, bring a snack.  Sunscreen is suggested.  

Be a Jeffco Propagator!  Jeffco Propagators will plant native seeds in trays and containers to take home to watch over until the June 14 Plant Share. New and experienced gardeners are welcome to participate.  Materials and guidance will be provided.

This event is limited to registered Wild Ones members.

You'll receive the location of our meeting via email after your Wild Ones membership is confirmed.

Registration is full for this date and time.

Be a Jeffco Propagator!  Jeffco Propagators will plant native seeds in trays and containers to take home to watch over until the June 14 Plant Share. New and experienced gardeners are welcome to participate.  Materials and guidance will be provided.

This event is limited to registered Wild Ones members.

You'll receive the location of our meeting via email after your Wild Ones membership is confirmed.

Be a Jeffco Propagator!  Jeffco Propagators will plant native seeds in trays and containers to take home to watch over until the June 14 Plant Share. New and experienced gardeners are welcome to participate.  Materials and guidance will be provided.

This event is limited to registered Wild Ones members.

You'll receive the location of our meeting via email after your Wild Ones membership is confirmed.

Be a Jeffco Propagator!  Jeffco Propagators will plant native seeds in trays and containers to take home to watch over until the June 14 Plant Share. New and experienced gardeners are welcome to participate.  Materials and guidance will be provided.

This event is limited to registered Wild Ones members.

You'll receive the location of our meeting via email after your Wild Ones membership is confirmed.

We will be working with the city of Lakewood to pot up native seedlings.

Registration is full.

Update: this is being cancelled due to low registration and expected snow.  There is an opportunity to help with bumping for the plant swap Sunday afternoon instead… if interested, contact Kristine kristinekjohnson at icloud dot com or 303 eight eight five 7567. 

Spring propagation workshop. 2-4 pm  We will be sowing seeds which don’t need stratification.  Everyone will take home a flat to babysit, and we hope that leftovers are brought to the plant swap.  Members only, please register in advance to get the address.

Wild Ones Front Range member, Julie, will share her experience growing native plants from seed indoors and will provide us with a tour of her growing area.  Please come prepared to learn and ask questions as well as to share your own successess and challenges with growing native plants indoors.

This event is for current members of the Wild Ones Front Range chapter.  If you are considering becoming a member, you may attend one member event to get to know our organization better before joining.  We just ask that you enter "Guest" in the comments section of the sign up.

CLICK HERE to either add yourself as a carpool driver or join the car of a driver.

One of our Boulder members has been diligently stratifying seeds and propagating seedings, and she needs some help!  In this small volunteer event/workshop  “bump” (transplant) seedlings into bigger containers.  We expect to have more of these events, and there is limited space, so if you don't get in, don't worry.  There will be some mess (dirty fingers).   Also, if you have been diligently propagating at home and need help bumping for the swap, let us know, and we'll schedule an event just like this for you.  If you have seedlings you'd like to contribute to the plant swap and you need help transplanting, bring them! If you have never sown, if you have never bumped, you are still welcome to join, and we will teach you.  Registration required, space limited.  SOME PLANTS WILL BE ON HAND FOR ADOPTION.

One of our Boulder members has been diligently stratifying seeds and propagating seedings, and she needs some help!  In this small volunteer event/workshop  “bump” (transplant) seedlings into bigger containers.  We expect to have more of these events, and there is limited space, so if you don't get in, don't worry.  There will be some mess (dirty fingers).   Also, if you have been diligently propagating at home and need help bumping for the swap, let us know, and we'll schedule an event just like this for you.  If you have seedlings you'd like to contribute to the plant swap and you need help transplanting, bring them! If you have never sown, if you have never bumped, you are still welcome to join, and we will teach you.  Registration required, space limited.  SOME PLANTS WILL BE ON HAND FOR ADOPTION.

REGISTER by April 6 or ASK Questions at [email protected]  

Spring sowing several species in 2.5"pots using budget purchased supplies.  Species include Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed), Asclepias viridiflora (Green Comet Milkweed), Astragalus drummondii (Drummond's Milkvetch), Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate Flower), Erysimum asperum (Western Wallflower), Oreocarya virgata (Miner's Candle), Mentzelia decapetala (Ten Petal Blazingstar), Gaillardia aristata (Blanketflower), Ratibida columnifera (Prairie Coneflower), Dalea purpurea (Purple Prairie Clover).  Participants will take their tray of pots home and nurture throughout the germination process, hopefully producing plants for their gardens, community gardens or plant swaps.  

We will be working with Lakewood Parks Dept to pot up native seedlings.

Registration is full.

Monthly board meeting

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.

We have several jugs of sprouts to transplant (or "bump up") into small pots. We'll provide all the supplies and instruction - we just need volunteers to help us transplant the seedlings.

Look for us at the picnic tables under the pavilion at Welch Park in Denver.

It's a fun way to spend an hour or two, helping us prepare for the June plant swap while you socialize with knowledgeable, like-minded folks.

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

All plant donations will be screened for nativity and proper labeling.

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.  

3 WOFR board members staffed a table at the event. Although attendance was pretty low, we felt that it was a good opportunity to engage with a different audience than we normally engage with.

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

1 WOFR volunteer staffed a table at this event.

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

All members are welcome.  Please email us if you are interested in attending.

Join us for the Loveland Garden Crawl! We'll visit the homes of two Wild Ones members to learn from their experience with incorporating native plants into their gardens, then finish with light snacks at a wetland and Plant Select demonstration garden. If you have extra plants, please bring them to share with other members at the last stop. If you're looking for a specific plant, put it in the registration comment and maybe someone will bring it!

Register here

One of our most dedicated Boulder members has been propagating seedings for a native plant garden at Boulder Sports Recycler, owned by his daughter and son-in-law.  In this small volunteer event/workshop  “bump” (transplant) seedlings into bigger containers. There will be some mess (dirty fingers).   Also, if you have seedlings in sow bags you'd like to bump to take to regional swaps or to get bigger before planting, bring them! If you have never sown, if you have never bumped, you are still welcome to join, and we will teach you.  Registration required, space limited.  We will have 2.5" pots, potting soil, and trays on hand.  SOME PLANTS WILL BE ON HAND FOR ADOPTION.

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

Online registration ends June 13 at 3:00 pm.

Contact [email protected]

The annual NoCO Plant Swap & Giveaway supports getting 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 plant’s common name, the plant’s botanical (Latin) name, your first initial and last name, and if possible the location and approximate elevation where the plant was grown.

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

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.

Member Brian Rasmussen lives at over 8000', and the blue mist penstemon blooms for him later than for those of us in the lower parts of Boulder County.  But when it blooms, it really blooms!  This is a Bring Your Own Beverage and carpool from Boulder event; we'll sit on Brian's deck, ooh and ahh over the penstemons, and catch up with each other.  Registration is required, and we'll carpool from Boulder.  (Brian's driveway requires high clearance and 4WD.)  

Join us on Saturday June 21 for our Denver Metro Region native plant swap! The event is FREE and open to members only. Arrive at 9AM to participate in a Solstice Plant ID Walk with Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners prior to the swap.

Plant donation not required to attend.

Colorado native & regionally-native plants welcome! (If you are unsure whether a plant is regionally native, please reach out to us at [email protected] and we can help ID the species.)

Please share only chemical-free native plants.

If you do plan to donate: label plants with scientific name, common name, elevation or town, who donated (first initial and last name)

Ex: Monarda fistulosa, Bee-Balm, Denver 5,280', J. Doe 

NOTE: A Colorado State Parks Pass or daily parking pass ($10) is required for vehicle entry into the park.  We recommend carpooling with other members. Please reach out to our regional coordinators at [email protected] if you have questions.

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.

Join us for the Greeley Garden Crawl! We'll visit the homes of two Wild Ones members to learn from their experience with incorporating native plants into their gardens and finish with a social at the last stop. If you have extra plants, please bring them to share with other members. If you're looking for a specific plant, put it in the registration comment and maybe someone will bring it!

We will walk the conservation easement of Bayou Hills north of Franktown, identifying native plants from 9am to 11 am, and then share native plants that we have propagated at our workshops or individually.  This is a members only event.  Location address to be shared prior to event.  Please email Pam Schulz at [email protected] to register and supply list of plants that you will bring.  Bringing plants is optional.  We may initially limit the volume of plants per person until we see how many plants and participants are present.  Please do not publicize on facebook and instagram.  

PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.

We will have a guided tour and then socialize with a bag lunch.

From the RMBG website:  "The Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens features native plants of Colorado from five ecological zones: Prairie Grasslands, Foothills, Montane, Southwest, and Riparian. Created and maintained by community volunteers, we show the beauty and resilience of native plants to inspire gardeners to plant local. We serve as an educational resource so visitors may identify the plants they meet in the Colorado wilds. Our garden is run as a nonprofit with the mission to foster an understanding and an appreciation of Rocky Mountain native plants and wildlife, and to create a place where people can learn and enjoy the peace and beauty of the natural world. RMBG is free and open to visitors every day from dawn until dusk, except in extreme snowy conditions."

Partnered with City of Lakewood Natural Resources Dept we will collect native seed to be shared with Jeffco WOFR.

Members will gather, socialize, and get to know each other.  We will share our experiences (questions, stories, challenges, successes) about all things Native!

You've seen the video of Mike's DIY front yard redo, now visit in person!  Mike Artmann removed his front yard turf and planted a native plant habitat garden, all with plants he grew himself from WOFR seeds and/or obtained from WOFR plant swaps.  This will be fun and inspiring!  We'll be having a brown bag social at a nearby park afterward, so pack a lunch!

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

We will have a garden tour and social at the home of member Brian Rasmussen (recognize that name from any of your seeds???).  Brian is in the Foothills up Boulder Canyon in the Sugarloaf Mountain vicinity.  Registration is  required; we will have to carpool from Boulder, because Brian's driveway is challenging and requires high clearance.  (If you have 4WD and good clearance and can drive, let us know!) Brian has some interesting spaces--a very bee balm-y meadow, a moist spring, a mixed Ponderosa pine and dry shade area, and more.  He also has an excellent rock garden.

Boulder habitat gardener Sharon O'Brien has a thing for the genus Mentzelia and its pollinators, moths.   These flowers, commonly called blazingstars, generally bloom at night (plus or minus; some open in the afternoon, some only at night).  Sharon has  four species native to Colorado:  Mentzelia decapetala (ten-petal blazingstar), M. nuda (white-flowered blazingstar), M. multiflora (Adonis blazing star), and M. laevicaulis  (smooth-stem blazingstar).  

The crazy fun plan is to arrive at 7:30 when the earliest (M. nuda) is still open (it opens afternoon, closes at twilight).  We'll get to see it close, and we'll see the M. decapetala open.  The M. multiflora is in the middle, and the M. laevicaulis should be starting.  She has had two species of moths pollinating them, including (so we hear), sphinx moths.  (Ooh!)

Please bring a beverage and a folding chair.  We're going to sit in the driveway/hang out in the front yard, socialize, moth and flower peep, and enjoy the evening.  Sharon will have some snacks on hand. 

Please register at the link.  Registrants will receive the address a couple of days before the event.

Jeffco Wild Ones members gather to casually socialize and discuss topics of interest related to native plants.

Watch for emails from regional coordinator, Laurel Starr for details and sign up information.

This event is full.   If you would like to be put on a waiting list please email:  [email protected]

Please join us for our 2nd Annual Evening Native Plant Garden Crawl and Social beginning at 5:30 pm on August 16th!

Our group will tour 4 gardens at various levels of native plant development.  We will meet at the first location (carpooling available) and visit each garden in turn.  Each homeowner will be giving a brief overview of their journey with native plant garden designing and planting, as well as successes and challenges.  Sharing experiences is a great way to grow our gardens and build community!

We’ll end the crawl with snacks, beverages and great conversation at the last garden. 

You can also drop off any of your collected seeds!

Free to members.  Non-members $5.  Registration closes on August 14th.

Register here!  Interested in membership with Wild Ones Front Range? Click on “Read More”

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.

Members and their families are invited to a free chapter-wide gathering and potluck lunch. 

Invitations were sent by email on July 13 to all current Front Range Chapter Wild Ones members.  

A link to the potluck sign up will be sent after your WO membership number is confirmed.

Location details will be sent to all confirmed, registered members three days before the event.

The event capacity is limited to 100 people.  Please cancel your registration if your plans change and you are unable to attend.

Questions?  [email protected]

Join us on Saturday morning to tour three gardens in southeast Denver. All three houses are on the same block so there's no need to drive between houses. Garden hosts will share their garden journeys and successes/challenges.

We'll also provide seed collection demonstrations to get everyone started thinking about future seed collection events.
 

Registration is required and the starting address will be provided in the confirmation email.

Join us to explore three Fort Collins gardens to see how the hosts have incorporated native plants into their landscapes and to learn from their successes and challenges. At the last garden, we will have a member social with light refreshments and a native plant swap. Please consider bringing a food item to share as well as your extra native plant seedlings! You are not required to bring plants to take some home. 

This event is for members of the Wild Ones Front Range chapter. You will be asked to enter your member number after your registration is complete. Click here to look up your member number or to become a new member. You will receive the garden addresses in an email a few days prior to the event. If you are interested in carpooling, please click here to add yourself as a driver or a passenger. 

We will gather to discuss issues related to native plant gardening and have a tour of the host's native garden.

Please respond to Laurel Starr's regional co-coordinator email invitation if you plan to attend.  Address will then be supplied.

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 second of 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.) A bunch of us visited in April and were blown away.  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.

Join us on Sunday morning to tour two gardens in Denver. We'll meet at the first house at 9 am and drive to the second house about 10 am. Hosts will share their garden journeys / successes / challenges with you as you wander around their gardens. Refreshments will be served at the second house.

We'll also provide seed collection demonstrations (weather permitting) to get everyone thinking about future seed collection events.

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.

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

Join us for our last social of the year!  We are meeting  at the outdoor Beer Garden so come prepared for the weather.

The evening's conversation will include our successes and challenges of growing native plants, fall planting, and native seed collecting.  

Please bring any seeds you may have already collected.  We are also accepting small glass and plastic containers with lids at this time!

 This event is open to members and nonmembers.

Registration required!

Bring any extra produce from the garden to share, and a potluck dish and we will learn about seed collection, cleaning, and what seeds to sow in the fall (presentation by Fran Tate).  We hope to have several species of seeds for you to take home and sow in your garden this fall.https://photos.app.goo.gl/hsVwHu71dNGEDLrZ8

please rsvp [email protected]

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. No need to bring any supplies or know about seed collection - we'll show you what to do. The seeds will become part of our inventory for the November 16 Denver Metro/Jeffco seed swap!

Registration is required.

Join us Saturday, October 11 at Bluff Lake Nature Center for a guided tour around a beautiful lake, where we'll likely see several species of birds and turtles in addition to the native plants. Bluff Lake is a hidden gem in the northeast part of Denver! 

After the walk around the lake, we'll collect seeds from various native plant species. No need to bring any supplies or know about seed collection - we'll show you what to do. The seeds we collect will become part of the inventory for our November 16 Denver Metro/Jeffco seed swap!

Number of participants is limited and registration is required.

We casually sit in a circle and discuss topics of interest to the group members related to gardening with native plants.  Members can solicit advice on any gardening challenges they are facing.  Hosts can give a brief tour of their yard/garden if they like.

As a Jeffco WOFR member you should have received an email from your regional coordinator about this event.

Please respond to that email to get the address of the event.

Thanks!

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.

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 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.

NOTICE OF CHANGE OF DATE AND VENUE:  because of the numerous protests on Saturday, we're changing to Kristine's house in Boulder.  Please email or text Kristine to get her address.  kristinekjohnson at icloud dot com, three 0 three,  88 five, 75 six seven.a

Join us to clean seeds for our seed swap in December.  We'll harvest some seeds, clean some seeds, and gather materials for our swap in December.

Please bring:  your own seeds to clean (if you don't have any, that's fine, we'll have plenty).  Cookie sheets, colanders, strainers, and other seed cleaning tools (ask Kristine if you're not sure, also, we'll have extra).  Any empty pots for propagation you want added to the stash.  Empty clean wide-mouth plastic containers for seeds:  eg, peanut butter jars, prescription containers.

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

Seed cleaning event to prepare for the Denver-Jeffco seed swap. Come help us clean, package, and label our seed inventory! 

From 10 am to 1 pm: we will set up all the seeds in our inventory and members can come by in that timeframe to choose native plant seeds to take home.  Contact Pam Schulz for link to inventory.  [email protected]

Wondering how to remove turf or tackle weeds? Ask The Experts!

Danna Liebert, Wild Ones Front Range board member and owner of Grounded Growth Landscape Design

Caleb Gruber, owner of All Beings Ecoscapes

This event is for members only. Join us for an informal talk and Q&A with native plant professionals about turf/weed removal approaches. Followed by a work session and snacks/social time.

WHERE: Denver Urban Gardens Julian Street Community Garden and Food Forest at 48th and Julian Street, Denver

Bring a shovel and/or rake to assist with mulch application. Also bring your own water and work gloves. No children please.

Participation is limited and registration is required.

We need help with seed cleaning to prepare for the Denver-Jeffco native seed swap on November 16. Come help us clean, package, and label our seed inventory! We'll show you how to do it and you'll enjoy the company of other native plant enthusiasts.

Address will be sent upon registration.

From member Sharon O'Brien:  

If anyone is up for one more event before the season winds down I am moving around the block and would love some help transporting outdoor things from one house to the other. We’re talking garden ornaments, tools, containers, and patio furniture. 

Alas, I have to leave most of my garden behind but you can come collect seeds (mentzelia, gallardia, asters, solidago) and maybe even still dig up a few plants. I have loads of volunteer geum, blackberry canes, and a handful of opuntia varieties you can take pads from to transplant. If you’d rather not lift or dig, please just come to sit and  socialize! 

For your troubles, I will provide lunch on my new back deck with open space views. 

If you’re available, stop by to say hi any time. 1111 and 990 Utica Circle plus the sidewalk inbetween! 

I hope to see you! Halloween costumes optional. But bring gloves and containers if you plan on digging.

To get in touch with Sharon, call or texts 703-963-6472 or email [email protected] 
 

Come explore one of Aurora's natural open spaces and collect native riparian seed species! Park staff will also provide a guided tour of the area - it's famous for seeing pronghorn antelopes!

Bring your own water, hat and good walking shoes and we'll provide the rest of the supplies and show you how to collect the seeds.

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.

Getting Close!

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 3rd at midnight.

Free Seed Swap! 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]

Save the Date! More information and registration link coming soon.

Join us for a seed cleaning event to prepare for the Denver-Jeffco seed swap on November 16. Come help us clean, package, and label our seed inventory! Members will make friends and have fun while collaboratively completing the worthwhile task of cleaning “the seed from the chaff!”

Address will be sent upon registration.

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://wrv.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/noconativeplantexchange/event/6a45cee6-9e15-414c-b2f1-9774fb0d9e85.

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.

Discover the power of ecological garden design in this free national webinar, Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard, with award-winning landscape designer Larry Weaner. Join us for a personal look at how dynamic, self-sustaining landscapes can emerge when we partner with nature instead of controlling it. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Larry will share practical strategies for designing dynamic gardens that evolve naturally, support biodiversity, and bring lasting beauty to your yard.

Join us for Aurora’s Native Plant Seed Swap—a free community event celebrating the beauty and benefits of native plants! Bring seeds to share or just your curiosity and take home free native seeds for your garden. We will be hosting a swap with fellow gardeners, naturalists and plant enthusiasts.

Discover new species for your garden, learn about winter sowing and connect with others who share a passion for water-wise and pollinator-friendly landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned seed saver or just starting out, there’s something for everyone.

Please consider contributing regionally native seeds, labeled according to our guidelines:
- Required label information: Botanical Name, Common Name, Date of Collection, Location/Elevation of Collection, and Donor’s First Initial and Last Name.
- Seeds may be brought in small paper/coin envelopes or plastic/glass lidded jars.
- Please do not bring large envelopes of seeds—these make it difficult for participants to take a portion.
- All seeds will be inspected before being accepted. Only regionally native, properly labeled seeds will be allowed.

Join us to clean seeds for our seed swap in December. Text, call, or email Kristine for the address.  a303-885-7567 or [email protected]

Bring seeds (or don't!), bring colanders, cookie sheets, bowls, and strainers to clean seeds (or don't--we have extra!).  

We will chat, clean, and package seeds for our seed swap in December.  Get in contact if you have any questions.  Clean, empty, wide-mouth plastic containers for reuse welcomed.  Empty plant pots and trays for propagation welcom.

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.