Upcoming Events

Join Gail Olson, local Wild Ones member (Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands Chapter - Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands Chapter to learn about winter sowing .

Winter sowing is a method of starting seeds in winter. It involves sowing seeds in an enclosed container to be kept outside during winter, allowing them to germinate in spring.
In this Gail will share insights on how and why this method works. She will guide participants in creating their own containers to take home.
All materials, including native seeds, will be provided.

In this special collaboration, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, botanist, and founder of Plant Baby Plant, joins youth leader and Nurture Natives founder Esther Bonney for an intergenerational conversation about belonging, reciprocity, and native plant action. 

Together, they will explore questions such as:

How do we create opportunities for young people to have a voice and feel empowered, even when they are not homeowners or decision makers?What kinds of relationships and mentorships help people stay engaged in native plant work over decades?Why do stories, shared practices, and community invitations matter just as much as plant lists?

Robin and Esther will reflect on what invites people into this work, what keeps them here, and what elders and youth have to teach each other.

Join Joanna Currey (Senior Field Technician) and David Bellangue (Conservation Nursery Manager) as they share Piedmont Discovery Center’s approach to ecological restoration, along with resources and step-by-step instructions for adapting that approach to your own back yard. Take your native plant garden to the next level and start practicing ecological restoration for more resilient, biodiverse, and bountiful landscapes!

To learn about the variety of services, educational programs, and resources offered by the Center, follow the link:  Piedmont Discovery Center.

Zoom 3 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: WOAH Ecological Restoration at Home
Time: Jan 29, 2026, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/83789030716?pwd=FyhWcQ3GYRcMWiiRNpmDzKW3CtPbCW.1

Meeting ID: 837 8903 0716
Passcode: fB4B#p

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Join instructions
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/meetings/83789030716/invitations?signature=dE9b29oUXRjx0dg2sc3F4XzNCNcYudGzYI2FtYOzTQA

Grassland loss is one of the greatest conservation issues currently facing the Southeastern United States. Of the nearly 6,000 plant species native to the Southeast, 60% of these require or prefer grasslands. Despite this, grasslands across this region are being lost at an alarming rate. The Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) is an organization dedicated to studying, conserving, and restoring grasslands in the Southeastern United States. Alaina Krakowiak serves as SGI's Central Appalachian Grasslands Coordinator. In this presentation, she will discuss the history of grasslands in Virginia: what might these have looked like, and where would they have been found? She will also discuss the current state of Virginia's grasslands: what do we have left, and what is threatening them? Lastly, she will talk about what SGI is doing to restore grasslands, including some actions you can take at your own home.

Zoom Link:

Topic: Appalachian Highlands SE Grasslands Talk
Time: Feb 12, 2026, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://wildones-org.zoom.us/j/82964381488?pwd=b1SbEXfblLR2W3VYE298bFd2gUydOY.1

Meeting ID: 829 6438 1488
Passcode: .b9Ley

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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.!  

THIS EVENT, ORIGINALLY SECHEDULED FOR JANUARY 24, 2026, WAS RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2026, DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.  ALL DETAILS REMAIN THE SAME.

At 1:00 there will be a presentation in the Executive Auditorium entitled: The Plot Thickens! Solving the Mystery of How to Use Your Yard to Help the Environment! Join volunteers from Washington County Master Gardeners, Wild Ones of Appalachian Highlands, and Holston Rivers Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists to hear a success story about a small garden plot in the town of Abingdon that is already having a big impact on the environment. You'll hear about partners, processes, and plans for what's next. You'll also learn how you can make big differences in small ways to develop critical native habitats with your own plots at home.

Following the talk, the Seed Swap will begin.  Many local gardeners, organizations, and farms will have seeds to share. Feel free to bring your own seeds to swap with others, although this is not a requirement.  

This event is co-sponsored by Sustain Abingdon, Washington County Master Gardeners, and Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands.

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Executive Auditorium, Partnership Circle, Abingdon, VA, 24210

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.

Native plants have been used for their medicinal properties for 1000’s of years.  Casie Martinez will share her knowledge of native plants that are easy to find in this area.  She will describe when to use the plants and how to prepare them.  Casie is a member of both the Washington County Master Gardeners and the Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands chapter; both organizations are sponsoring this event.

Seed blocking helps reduce plastic waste and encourages strong root development, making it an eco-friendly and effective way to start seeds.  Participants will use the soil block makers to press soil into blocks, then plant their chosen seeds in each block. Afterward, they can take their blocks home and care for their seedlings until they're ready to transplant into their gardens.

Space will be limited, so please note that registration is required by March 8, 2026. Registration is open now - email Casie Martinez ([email protected])  to register. You will be notified if the class is full.

Enjoy a spectacular collection of Virginia Bluebells in bloom!  We will take a slow-paced stroll around the back forty with the bluebells as our centerpiece, and see many other blooming ephemerals and some of the insects they support.  Connie Deegan, Johnson City Parks and Recreation naturalist, will lead the walk.

We will meet at the Disc Golf Parking Lot.

Dr. Benjamin Lee, Assistant Professor of Forest Ecology Department of Biological Sciences and the Plant Ecology and Climate Change Lab at East Tennessee State University will guide us on a tour of the incredibly rich wildflower community on a wooded parcel uphill from the actual Fish Hatchery. It's easily accessible for us. There is also some research infrastructure there that is interesting to view.  Dr. Lee will be assisted in guiding the tour by ETSU students including WOAH's own members, Erin Helbert and Liz Howe, graduate students in Dr. Lee's Lab. 

This event is open to Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands members.  Participation will be limited to maintain a high-quality experience for all attendees. WOAH members can register via email to: [email protected].  The Fish Hatchery is about 1 hour’s drive from Bristol.  Confirmation will be provided to the registrants by email along with additional event details.  

The Washington County Master Gardeners have conducted the annual regional Garden Faire in Abingdon, VA for over 30 years.  The Garden Faire includes vendors selling plants, garden art, and crafts.  It is attended by several thousand participants.  In addition, speakers and workshops on gardening topics are included.  

The Chapter is looking for members to volunteer to help cover our information table. We greet guests at the event and educate participants about native plants and the Wild Ones organization. Volunteers will man the tables in 2-hour slots so there is plenty of time to enjoy the Garden Faire when your 2 hours are finished. The entry fee is waived for WOAH volunteers and participants have access to free refreshments and lunch.

If you decide that you want to join us, please click on the following link to Sign Up Genius, Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands: Wild Ones Volunteer Roster at The Garden Faire, Abingdon Va, where you will find a list of available volunteer times and duties. If you have any issue navigating Sign Up Genius, please do not hesitate to contact Terry at [email protected] and she will be happy to help you with any issues.

Hours: Friday April 9:30 – 6:00; Saturday April 11, 9:30 – 4:00

Love your planet!  It's the only one we've got. To celebrate Earth Week, come get down and dirty with some native plants.  Earth Day participants are invited to learn about native plants and plant them in the Park. Our volunteers will be stationed around the spillway, each with a different type of native plant that visitors can help us repopulate.  Each volunteer will be equipped to provide information about their chosen native plant while also helping participants to plant one here at our park.  If there are any plants left over, there will be a drawing from all the participants to see who gets to take a native plant home to plant in your own backyard.

The Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands Chapter has been invited to provide volunteers to assist with describing characteristics of the native plants to participants and demonstrating how to plant them.  There will be ten native plant stations open from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Our goal is to have enough volunteers to staff each station for 1½-hour shifts.  New members will be paired with more experienced members to learn about the plants.  Volunteers will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of native plants, connect with fellow members, and contribute to environmental education in our community.  This is a great way to celebrate Earth Day!

Click on the Sign Up Genius link listed below for information on scheduling and shifts available. Please register by March 31st. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094FA4AA2AA3FF2-62566521-woah

Please don't hesitate to contact Terry Gaffner at: [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns about using Sign Up Genius and as always you can send us an email at:

[email protected] 

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Many members may have participated in plant and seed swaps and know it’s a great way to expand your garden. However, our swap is unique in that it is exclusively for native plants and seeds—a special benefit for Wild Ones Appalachian Highlands members. You do not need to bring any plants or seeds; simply come ready to meet other members, learn, and take home native plants or seeds. This is a great chance to ask questions and expand your knowledge about native species, as experienced members will be available to help identify and discuss different plants.

The Swap will be followed by a potluck dinner and social hour.  Please bring your own beverage and a dish to share. You will be charged $2 at the gate for parking.

Most of us associate butterflies with flowers but trees play a big part in supporting butterflies and are every bit as important as flowers. An interesting example is the mourning cloak butterfly which only sparingly feeds on the nectar of flowers. Its larval food is primarily from tree species and as an adult it feeds mostly on tree sap from oaks.  

Jen Skarsaune, a nature lover, tree hugger, gardener, homesteader and Certified Tennessee Naturalist will be sharing a glimpse of the wild places at Lucky Dog Homestead in Butler, TN. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology, was an ISA Certified Arborist and spent most of her career in vegetation management doing jobs from invasive species control to utility forestry. During this walk we will discuss our native trees and the butterflies they support. 

Participation in this event will be limited to maintain a high-quality experience for all attendees.  Register by email to:  [email protected]

The site is about an hour’s drive from Bristol.  Confirmation and directions to the walk will be provided to the registrants by email

Details coming soon! 

The event is a family-oriented day of activities such as hikes, demonstrations, and talks. The WOAH Chapter will provide an information table describing Wild Ones and our Chapter events plus we provide activities for kids based on the weekend theme.

There will be a $2.00 parking fee.

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!