Events

Join us for an inspiring afternoon as you explore a diverse array of native plant gardens, created with help from the Muskegon Conservation District! As you stroll through gardens in both sun and shade, you will see sites at different stages of growth and maybe get a few ideas for your own garden or yard. This is a perfect event to ask questions, snap photos, and see firsthand how native plants can make a difference in urban landscapes.

Drop in anytime during the Open House between 1:00 and 4:00 PM. Street parking is limited, but additional parking is available one block away at a nearby church.

Everyone is welcome! Please register through the Muskegon Conservation District to receive directions.

Please join us at Big Bluestem Farm for a walking tour! The FREE tour will highlight beautiful native plants, local prairie habitats, and landowner practices that support local ecosystems. Learn about restoration projects featuring grasses, wildflowers, insects, and birds. Ask questions and get answers from local experts! 

Please register to help us manage group size, parking, and logistics. In case of rain, we will notify registrants via email about a reschedule. 

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

Join us for a special tour of the extensive and stellar native plantings in White Lake Methodist Church’s sunny parking lot! This is a great opportunity to see inspiring native plantings and gather ideas you can easily bring to your own spaces. This is a perfect event for garden enthusiasts and anyone interested in native plants to ask questions, snap photos, and see firsthand how native plants can make a difference in local landscapes.

Directions will be provided to all registrants via the Muskegon Conservation District. 

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Registration link coming soon.

Join us for an enjoyable stroll around the Foster Residence to explore a variety of native plants. Discover how the landowners have skillfully incorporated native plants, shrubs, and trees into their beautiful perennial gardens surrounding the property. This event is perfect for anyone interested in native landscaping or looking for garden inspiration. We look forward to seeing you there!

Directions will be provided to all registrants through the Oceana Conservation District. 

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Registration link coming soon.

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.