Upcoming Events

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.

Join us for a special day at the beautiful and historic Chestnut Farm, a 90-acre property dedicated to large-scale habitat restoration and biodiversity. While not a traditional garden, this landscape is a living example of what it means to care for the land with purpose and passion.

Owners Byron and Jean Black have restored pollinator-friendly meadows, managed invasive species, and documented more than 1,160 species of flora and fauna on the property—including 19 species listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. Their deep commitment to environmental stewardship shines through every acre.

After the tour, we’ll gather for a potluck lunch in the garden so bring a dish to share, this is a chance to learn from two deeply experienced advocates and connect with fellow nature lovers.

Don’t forget to wear sturdy shoes, bring a water bottle, and a potluck dish to share with 25 others.

This event fills up quickly so don't hesitate to get this special tour on your calendar!

All registrants will receive the address in an email the day before the event.

Join Wild Ones Western Pennsylvania for an evening exploring the powerful connections between native plants, pollinators, and the food we grow.

“From Pollinators to Plate: How Native Plants Support Productive Gardens” will bring together local experts to explore how native plants can help create healthier, more resilient, and more productive gardens and growing spaces. From supporting the bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that make pollination possible to building greater biodiversity around our food systems, we’ll look at the many ways native plants can work alongside the plants we grow and eat.

Through engaging conversation and practical perspectives, attendees will discover how gardeners, growers, and communities can create spaces that nourish both people and the ecosystems around them.

Enjoy an evening of expert panel discussion, food, drinks, and opportunities to connect with fellow gardeners, growers, native plant enthusiasts, and community members at Spirit in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood.

Whether you grow vegetables in a backyard garden, tend a community plot, work in urban agriculture, or simply want to better understand the connection between native plants and our food system, this event will offer ideas and inspiration you can bring home.

Come hungry for food, conversation, and new ideas—and discover how planting for pollinators can help put food on our plates.

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.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

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.