Upcoming events
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Please be advised that all classes & events may be postponed/cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. We are monitoring the evolving situation and will adhere to recommended safety protocols.
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April 2020
“Just Say No to Pesticides”:
Diplomacy and Nurture in Pest Management
a talk by Mikl Brawner
When: POSTPONED/DATE TBD Sunday, April 19, 2020, 1pm – 3pm
Where: Harlequin’s Gardens
4795 North 26th Street Boulder, CO 80301
There is no need for poisons if we support our plants with good nutrition, and grow them in a diverse ecosystem. There are non-toxic methods and products in case of emergencies. Learn how to be successful with this approach and how to judge when to do something and when to trust Nature to manage the pests. Mikl Brawner will also share information about insectary plants – plants that attract beneficial insects. Mikl has been researching alternatives to toxic pesticides for 45 years. Harlequin’s Gardens has never used poisons in their 28 years of professional plant care and their nursery stock is completely pesticide and neonicotinoid-free.
Following the class there will be an opportunity to tour the demonstration gardens and browse the nursery’s great selection of native plants. We encourage you to shop local! We also encourage you to carpool to this event as it falls on Earth Day weekend.
POSTPONED Tickets: $20 Call 303-939-9403 or register online.
May 2020
Native Plant Sale & Habitat Fair
When: Saturday, May 16, 2020, 9am – 3pm
Where: High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC)
2698 Bluestem Willow Drive Loveland, CO (located in The Lakes at Centerra)
Directions: From I-25 take the Loveland/Highway 34 exit. Head west on 34 to Boyd Lake Road, go north on Boyd Lake to the 2nd roundabout, head east on Long Pine Lake Drive to the end of Long Pine Lake and park on the surrounding streets.
Browse and purchase native plants at the HPEC Nursery, tour the HPEC Visitor Center, check out Partner Booths (including Wild Ones, Front Range Chapter), participate in Educational Activities, and support local food trucks.
HPEC will have a large selection of 4-inch and 1-gallon Native Perennials & Grasses, and a limited supply of Native Shrubs. 2020 Species List COMING SOON.
June 2020
Deer Creek Canyon Wildflower Walk
with Jen Toews,
Native Plant Master®
When: Wednesday, June 3, 2020, 2pm – 5pm
Where: Deer Creek Canyon County Park
13388 Grizzly Drive Littleton, CO 80127
Save the Date: registration link is due to go live in April
Wild Ones Members: $10, General Public: $20
Spend the afternoon with a guide learning about the foothills life zone and searching for foothills flora that are appropriate for Front Range landscapes. This hike will occur at the JeffCo Open Space Park, Deer Creek Canyon, which is approximately a 27-mile drive from Denver. Deer Creek Canyon Park boasts diverse plant communities including Gambel oak groves, ponderosa pine forests, Douglas-fir forests, grasslands, and riparian. The park is one of the choicest locations to see wildflowers in late spring, including larkspur, Yucca, locoweed, several species of Penstemon and Astragalus. The participants will be provided with a plant list which includes scientific and common names of some of the plants that may be encountered on the hike. The hike itself is approximately 2.5 miles and is rated as moderate, due to a few steep, rocky sections.
Bio
Jen Toews works at the Denver Botanic Gardens in the Plant Records department. She is responsible for researching nomenclature and the accessioning of all plants entering the Gardens. A native plants enthusiast, she is coauthor of the recently published field guide Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountain Region (2018) and has developed content for and taught native plants classes at the Gardens. She holds a BA in Biology from Metropolitan State University of Denver, an MA in English from CU Denver, and is a Native Plant Master®. Outside of work Jen enjoys hiking and photographing Colorado’s diverse plants and their habitats and writing about nature-themed adventures in her blog.
Tour the Mordecai Children’s Garden
with Michael Guidi,
Horticulturist, Denver Botanic Gardens®
When: Tuesday, June 9 & Friday, June 12 2020, 4pm – 5:30pm
Where: Mordecai Children’s Garden (across the street from the DBG Main Entrance/Visitor Center)
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street Denver, CO 80206
Save the Date: registration links are due to go live in May. Due to the limited group size, please register for only one tour date.
Tickets: $10
Join us for an evening tour of the Mordecai Children’s Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG). The Mordecai Children’s Garden is designed to showcase the major life zones in Colorado, from the plains to the alpine tundra and contains interpretations of many Colorado native plant communities. Notably, the top section of the garden, which showcases the alpine life zone, is a green roof which has over 700 species of plants growing. The green roof is also the site for research investigating how altered flowering phenology of plants on green roofs affects pollinator foraging and other ecosystem services. We will discuss the ecological role gardens play in urban environments and to what degree plant nativity enhances ecological function. You will see a number of western native and regionally appropriate plants, while learning about plant selection, design, and maintenance. Due to the popularity of this event, there are two tour dates offered.
Bio
Michael Guidi is a horticulturist and plant ecologist based in Denver, CO. In 2017, Michael joined the horticulture team at Denver Botanic Gardens, where he manages the Colorado-themed Mordecai Children’s Garden. Ecological garden design, Colorado native flora, and scientific research are his main areas of horticultural practice, but he is broadly interested in alpine and arid land flora and ecology. He is involved in a number of active research projects aimed at better understanding the plants and ecology of the Rocky Mountain region. Michael holds a B.S. in biology with plant physiology and is a graduate student in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology at CSU. He currently sits on the board of directors of the North American Rock Garden Society.
Past events
March 2020
VIP Reception & Lecture with David Salman
When: Thursday, March 5, 2020, 5pm – 8pm
Where: The Inn at Hudson Gardens
6115 S Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
Join David Salman, High Country Gardens Catalog Founder and Chief Horticulturalist, for an intimate reception prior to his presentation, “Native Plants for all Seasons: Creating a Natural Nectar Feast for Pollinators.” Listen to David speak to passion for collecting and propagating native plants. At this special VIP event you will have the opportunity to mingle with the legendary horticulturist and other likeminded gardeners while enjoying crafted hors d’oeuvres and a coffee bar. Admission to the lecture is included with the purchase of a VIP ticket.
For details and to register, go to https://hudsongardens.doubleknot.com/event/vip-meet-greet-with-david-salman-native-plant-expert/2631409
Native Plants for All Seasons: Creating a Nectar Feast for Pollinators
a talk by David Salman
When: Thursday, March 5, 2020, 6:30pm – 8pm
Where: The Inn at Hudson Gardens
6115 S Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
David Salman, Founder and Chief Horticulturalist of High Country Gardens Catalog will share his vast knowledge of native plants well-suited for cultivation on the Front Range. Plants will be presented in order of bloom time to help you create a continuous supply of nectar for pollinators. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
For more information and to register, go to
https://www.hudsongardens.org/event/native-plants-for-all-seasons-creating-a-nectar-feast-for-pollinators
DAVID SALMAN BIO
David Salman, a Colorado State University horticulture science graduate and founder of High Country Gardens, has been a leading voice for practicing xeriscaping and planting habitat for pollinators for the past 35 years. In addition, to serving as the chief horticulturist for High County Gardens, he operates his own wholesale/retail green house and plant development company, Waterwise Gardening, LLC. David has decades of experience in greenhouse production management, perennial propagation and production, ornamental plant seed production, commercial tree farming and ornamental plant breeding and development. David is also very experienced in Xeric (waterwise) landscape design, installation and maintenance for the Great Plains and Inter-mountain West. He has been published in regional and national horticultural journals and magazines. David continues to focus on the breeding and selection of improved of water-wise, ornamental plants for the Western US. He places special emphasis on native species from North America, as well as cold hardy, xeric species from western Asia and South Africa.
February 2020
2020 Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference
When: Saturday, February 29, 2020, 9am – 5pm
Where: Tivoli Turnhalle on the Auraria Campus
900 Auraria Parkway, Denver, CO 80204
Learn how to create a beautiful native landscape from the ground up with experts from around the state!
Seminar topics include:
Replacing lawns with Colorado native plants
Examples of existing native plant gardens
Seed collection and propagation of natives
Managing native plant garden pests
Rooftop and rain gardens
And more!
This event has sold out each year, so don’t wait to get your ticket!
For more information and to register, go to https://tinyurl.com/2020-LWCNP-conference
January 2020
Movie Night – Wild Hope
When: Wednesday, January 8, 2020, 5:45pm – 7:45pm
Where: Sheridan Library, Thersa Dando Meeting Room
3425 West Oxford Avenue, Denver, CO 80236
Wild Hope tells the story of our deep spiritual connection to the natural world, a connection that has the power to rewire our brains, take us back to our deepest roots, and change how we think and act in a world needing our care.
Wild Hope challenges the economic underpinnings driving climate change and awakens us to the possibility of a more meaningful life—a life defined not by consumption, but by compassion.
We invite an interactive audience discussion after the film screening. Introductions of the 2020 Chapter Board and 2019 chapter highlights will precede the film. Light refreshments will be provided. Chapter members are encouraged to attend!
FREE to attend! Please RSVP to: frontrangewildones@gmail.com
October 2019
Native Grasses Tour – Denver Botanic Gardens
When: Wednesday, October 2nd, 3pm-4pm
Where: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street Denver, CO 80206
Here on the Front Range, east of the glorious Continental Divide, is home to Colorado’s short grass prairie. Are you interested in learning more about Colorado’s prairie ecosystem, and its native grasses? Then join the Front Range Chapter of Wild Ones for a very special tour of native grasses showcased at the Denver Botanic Gardens with one of its horticultural specialists, Nick Daniel. Attendees will receive special group pricing. No additional entrance fee to the Gardens is required. Space is limited so sign up today to reserve your spot! **UPDATE: TOUR IS SOLD OUT!**
Purchase Tickets Here
$10 registration fee
Fall Native Seed Swap
When: Sunday, October 6th, 10am-1pm
Where: CSU Denver Extension, 888 East Iliff Avenue Denver, CO 80210
*Start saving your native plant seeds!!* Come out and bring your seeds to swap with other native plant enthusiasts! Seed swaps are a terrific way to get your hands on different native plants that are difficult to buy, and you know that the plants are grown locally. The event is free to attend. Plant information, seed envelopes, and light refreshments will be provided. This event is co-hosted with the People and Pollinators Action Network. Please RSVP to: frontrangewildones@gmail.com with the native plant seeds you are planning to bring.
September 2019
Native Garden Yard Tour – West Centennial
When: Thursday, September 19th, 5:30pm-6:30pm
Where: The residence of John & Meagan Murgel, full address provided after registration
John Murgel’s bold changes have transformed this suburban property in west Centennial. He has piqued the neighborhood’s patient curiosity and broadened the awareness and appreciation of ecologically sound methods as the garden delivers more interest every year.
After purchasing the property in June 2016, John’s priorities quickly turned to eliminating difficult-to-maintain turfgrass in the front and re-structuring a backyard pond and surrounding lawn into a xeric rock garden. Taking inspiration from nature in design, most of the gardens are watered only by natural precipitation. John uses both native and non-native plants to evoke a “native-esque” landscape where pollinators abound.
John Murgel was educated in ecology, evolutionary biology, and horticulture. He has worked at the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Denver Zoo as a horticulturist. He currently serves as the horticulture manager at Denver Zoo.
Come enjoy his garden and learn about his process. Plants lists, raffle and refreshments provided to registered attendees.
Purchase Tickets Here
Wild Ones members FREE / $15 non-member
August 2019
Native Garden Yard Tour – Littleton
When: Sunday, August 25th, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Where: Residence of chapter member Marsha Plucker, address provided upon registration
Purchase tickets
Wild Ones members FREE / $15 non-member
Since Marsha and her family moved to their 1960s style home in 2013, she and her husband have been converting their yard into the marvelous landscape it is today. With inspiration from the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms and the Mordecai Children’s Garden, the Pluckers completed several “do-it-yourself” projects to transform their space. Today, with close to 200 species of trees, shrubs, and perennials, many native to Colorado, the yard now brims with life: birds, bees, butterflies, and bugs of all sorts. Come learn about the why that motivated the Pluckers, how they did it, and what is thriving in their yard. Light refreshments will be provided.
June 2019
Meet the Natives: A Talk by Beth Hanson
The Front Range Chapter has partnered with the Highlands Garden Center to bring you a FREE lecture by Beth Hanson, Park Interpreter and Naturalist at the Carson Nature Center in South Platte Park in Littleton. Beth will discuss which native plants have proven themselves in our challenging Colorado landscapes, including plants suited for hot and dry areas, full shade, and poor soils, with an opportunity to purchase Beth’s native plant recommendations from the nursery after. There is a native plant that would love to grow in your garden! Click here to view the flyer for the event.
When: Saturday, June 29th, 10am-11am
Where: Highlands Garden Center, 8080 South Holly Street, Centennial, CO 80122
FREE to attend!
Please RSVP to:
FrontRangeWildOnes@gmail.com
May 2019
Native Plant Sale & Habitat Fair
When: Saturday, May 4th, 9am-3pm
Where: High Plains Environmental Center, 2698 Bluestem Willow Drive Loveland, CO
The event is FREE to attend! The Front Range Chapter will have a booth at the event. Stop by to buy native plants, tour the new visitor center, and participate in activities. More information on the event can be found here.
April 2019
Town of Erie 22nd Annual Arbor Day and Earth Day Celebration
When: Saturday, April 27th, 10am-12pm
Where: Erie Community Park, 450 Powers Street, Erie, CO
The event is FREE to attend! The Front Range Chapter will have a booth at the event. Stop by for free tree seedlings, refreshments, activities, and educational resources on tree planting. More information on the event can be found here.
March 2019
In association with Audubon Rockies, an evening with Kenton J. Seth
Purchase Tickets
February 2019
Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference, 4th Annual
More information
When: Saturday, February 16th, 8am-4pm
Where: Auraria Campus, Tivoli Turnhalle Hall, 900 Auraria Parkway Denver, CO 80204
January 2019
Wild Ones Movie Night
The Wild Ones Front Range Chapter is hosting a free screening of the film Hometown Habitat!
The documentary features Dr. Douglas Tallamy and educates viewers on why and how native plants are important to local ecosystems.
When: Thursday, January 31st, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Belmar Library, large meeting room
555 South Allison Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80226
There is free parking available.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP by email to FrontRangeWildOnes@gmail.com
April 2018
Harlequin’s Gardens Field Trip
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Are you interested in learning about native plants, the difference between a true native and a cultivated native, and how to design your landscape? If so, then you need to join WildOnes at Harlequin’s Gardens for an exciting presentation!
Participants will learn about the following topics and participate in a nursery tour with the option to buy native plants:
*True Natives vs. Cultivated Natives
*What is a GENOME Specific Native?
*How to design a home landscape using natives
Presenter: Mikl Brawner
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Harlequin Gardens, 4795 N. 26th Street, Boulder, CO 80301
COST:
Front Range Wild Ones Member: $15.00 / Non-Members: $20.00
NOTE: Email frontrangewildones@gmail.com to request your membership code to receive the reduced rate
Space is limited, so please register by March 31st to ensure your spot at this great event!!!
COLORADO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NATIVE PLANT SALE
April 20-21, 2018
Location: Denver Botanical Gardens
Bloomapalooza
May 19, 2018
Location: Butterfly Pavilion
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