Events

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/2026psc/event/psc2026/

Feb-April zoom classes to get certified as a POLLINATOR STEWARD:

Make a positive difference for pollinators, people, and the planet. 

 Topics include an introduction to the world of pollinators, how they live and thrive, threats to pollinators, and how we all can help. Details will be provided on habitat creation for pollinators in many landscapes including home gardens, parks, rights-of-way, and agricultural landscapes. Additional information on pollinator identification and how to share your knowledge through community outreach will be provided. 

 This course is ideal for home gardeners, land managers (large and small), farmers, organizations, government departments, and anyone who wants to do more to support pollinators. Join the growing community of Certified Pollinator Stewards!

*Out of the Fire, Into the Smoke: Emerging understanding of the effects of
smoke disturbance on birds by Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot, Cornell University (and UW-Madison alumna)

Wildfire activity is intensifying globally, exposing people and wildlife to
more frequent and intense smoke pollution. Here in Wisconsin, wildfire
smoke from megafires burning in the boreal forest has contributed to
hazardous air quality conditions in the spring and summer. Birds are likely
to be especially vulnerable to increased smoke disturbance due to their
sensitive respiratory systems.

Yet, we have so much more to learn about how wildfire smoke is impacting
birds and the ways in which smoke could be contributing to the decline of
our feathered friends. In this talk, Dr. Sanderfoot will share what we know
so far about how smoke impacts avian physiology, behavior, and reproductive
success and highlight opportunities for you to get involved in critical
research on this urgent conservation topic.

This engaging presentation will be followed by a Q&A session with Dr.
Sanderfoot.

*Co-hosted by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, Northeastern Wisconsin Bird
Alliance, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Chequamegon Audubon Society,
SOS Save Our Songbirds, Audubon Society-UW Madison, and UW Green Bay Bird
Alliance.*

Join like-minded gardeners and environmental enthusiasts at this three-day celebration of gardening, landscaping, local food culture and more! Learn from 150+ educational presentations, browse through the exhibitor mall, connect with us at the UW-Madison Extension Horticulture booth, or bring the kids to explore the PBS KIDS Backyard family area. 

VISIONS for our Chapter.  

Our upcoming webinar with Basil Camu explores practical, evidence based ways to heal suburban and urban landscapes by working with trees, soil, and natural systems, drawing on real world practices from Leaf & Limb and community centered models for restoring life where we live, work, and play.!  

Nick Coley 

Native Plant Nursery Owner & Consultant 

The Wild Within Us

Gardening for Homo sapiens habitat

In many ways, our modern Homo sapiens brains are nothing more than “Caveman brains in a modern world.” Join us to explore how we can craft better gardens through understanding our biological selves and our evolutionary past. We invite you to come with your own thoughts and answers to these questions: How would you describe “Us?” What kind of habitat do WE need as the species Homo sapiens? And what do our brains really want out of a native garden?  

Join Joey Santore, creator of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, for a candid Wild Ones National Webinar examining how inherited garden aesthetics shape native plant landscapes. Drawing on field experience and real ecology, Joey challenges tidy design norms and explores why dense, irregular plant communities are often the most resilient and ecologically sound.

Presented by Dr. Nicolas J. Dowdy. Head of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum

Tiger moths are among the most colorful, diverse, and captivating insects. They also offer remarkable insights into how animals evolve diverse strategies for survival and communication. 

One theme will be the extraordinary ways tiger moths use chemicals obtained from their host plants. Many species hijack toxic chemicals from plants to defend themselves from predators such as birds and bats. 

Available via zoom by emailing [email protected]

Gardening with native plants is a fun and beautiful way to improve the health of pollinators, birds, AND yourself. With a few basic tools and information, you can create a stunning garden that cares for the earth. Choose one or both of the sessions.

Introduction to Native Gardening for Beginners

Do you want to plant a native garden but don’t know how to start? Learn the importance of native plants and how to use them to attract and support wildlife, birds, and insects to your garden in a way that fits your time and space.

https://secure.friendsofwehr.org/np/clients/friendsofwehr/eventRegistration.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&event=3133

Dr Jeff Karron

Professor of Biology at UW Milwaukee

Bumble Bee Queens, Nests, and Spring Wildflowers

Dr. Jeff Karron’s talk features striking slow-motion videography to highlight the interdependence of bumble bee queens and spring-flowering perennial plants.  Early-blooming native perennials provide the essential food resources queens need to survive, establish nests, and successfully raise their first brood.  In turn, many spring flowering plants depend heavily on bumble bees for effective pollination and seed production.  All video and photography featured in this presentation were filmed in high quality prairie and woodland sites across southeastern Wisconsin.  The talk highlights the importance of conserving and restoring early-season floral resources to sustain bumble bee populations.

This event focuses on the connection between native habitat, birds, and biodiversity, and how small, intentional actions at home can make a meaningful difference. Participants will gain a better understanding of how native plants and other natural landscaping techniques support birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, while learning practical steps they can take to create healthier, more resilient landscapes.

The program will be moderated by WUWM's Environmental Reporter Susan Bence, and will feature a keynote presentation by Jen McGuinness of Bird-Friendly Gardening, who will share how home gardens can support birds through the use of native plants, organic practices, and thoughtful design. Her talk highlights what birds need to thrive and how gardens can provide food, water, shelter, and nesting habitat for nectar, seed, and fruit-eating species.

Following the keynote, attendees will choose from a set of breakout sessions, each approximately 45 minutes long with time for questions and discussion. A second breakout session will repeat the first, allowing participants to attend more than one topic. Breakout options include Native Plants: From Turf to Habitat with Danielle Bell, Migratory Birds and the Challenges They Face with Medhavi Ambardar, and Pollinator Conservation in Your Garden with Judy Cardin.

Danielle Bell will share simple, approachable steps for incorporating native plants into home landscapes, including how keystone species can dramatically increase the value of your yard for wildlife. Medhavi Ambardar will explore the incredible journeys of migratory birds, the threats they face, and meaningful actions people can take to help, from native planting to making windows safer. Judy Cardin will share her experience transforming her yard into native habitat and discuss how diverse native plants support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the seasons.

Together, this event is designed to inspire, educate, and empower participants with achievable actions they can take at home, while supporting Community Wildlife Habitat Certifications and strengthening wildlife corridors across Waukesha County.

Pre-order forms are expected to be available in early March https://www.friendsofwehr.org/plantsale

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!