Join us for this hands-on class to make your very own winter wreath! Materials will be provided for attendees to get a chance to make an evergreen wreath. Teachers will instruct in the first ten minutes how to do the basic frame structure, then we will dive into creating your own.

Our 2024 fall wreath class was such a hit, that we are coming back this year to offer it again! Join us for a hands-on class where attendees will make their own fall wreaths or dry flower bouquets. We will spend ten minutes teaching the basics to making a wreath, then go right into creating them with the attendees. Materials are free and gathered from local gardens. 

In this compost 101 class, we will discuss modern approaches to the age old practice of composting. We will show resourceful ways to compost outdoors and at least two or three indoor composting methods to consider. 

Description: Join us for this informational and hands-on herbal remedy making class where students will make their own calendula salve! We will discuss how to make your own calendula-infused oil and then create a salve from the pre-made oil with other ingredients like beeswax and/or shea butter. No previous knowledge of herbalism or DIY body care products needed. 

Adults only
20 total participants welcome

Have you ever used leaves, branches, flowers, or food to create art prints? Come try out your hand at nature-based art class where we will practice stamping, painting, and watercolor in this fun class!  

Ages 3+
20 total participants welcome

Join us in this informational class in the edible learning gardens where we will show you various methods to vertical gardening from lean-to frames to tunnels. Learn about the benefits and resourceful ways to take your vegetable gardens to the next level.

Learn how to mimic nature in your own landscape. Discover Colorado’s common habitats, bioregional native plants, and low-water approaches to creating beautiful gardens that nurture local invertebrates. 

Nature’s Masterpieces: DIY Earth-Inspired Art

Let’s celebrate and love our earth momma all year round! Join us as we create and connect with nature in this hands-on, family-friendly workshop focused on earth-inspired art. Invites participants to use natural materials to craft unique, eco-friendly art pieces. Explore creativity while fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world and its resources. Together, you’ll make beautiful, sustainable art while in a fun and engaging way, making this a wonderful opportunity to bond through creativity and nature.

Pricing

This workshop is pay-what-you-can with a suggested price of $40 (and minimum price of $5)

Registration form opens 6-8 weeks before the workshop!

2025 Family Series Workshop Registration

Arte de la naturaleza: arte inspirado en el planeta

¡Celebremos y amemos a nuestra madre tierra todo el año! Únase a nosotros mientras creamos y nos conectamos con la naturaleza en este taller centrado en arte inspirado en el planeta y para toda la familia. Invita a los participantes a utilizar materiales naturales para crear piezas de arte únicas y ecológicas. Explore la creatividad mientras fomentando una apreciación más profunda por el mundo natural y sus recursos. Juntos, crearán arte hermoso y sostenible de una manera divertida e impactante, lo que hace de esta una maravillosa oportunidad para unirse a través de la creatividad y la naturaleza.

Precio

El precio es paga-lo-que-pueda con un precio sugerido de $40 (y precio mínimo de $5)

¡El formulario de inscripción se abre entre 6 y 8 semanas antes del taller!

Don’t have a large space to grow food? Don’t fret! We will show you great container garden options and how to utilize square foot gardening in them. Plus, learn how to grow vegetables and herbs indoors in small spaces. 

Join us for an inspiration-packed day around this year's theme of Beyond the Box- Growing a culture of native plant landscaping. Visit our website for a complete schedule, session descriptions, speaker bios and volunteer opportunities. http://landscapingwithcoloradonativeplants.org

Purchase tickets at this link on eventbrite -

10th Annual Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference 2025 Tickets, Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement (9 am)

Keynote Session (9:25 am): Cultivating Place: How a Garden Culture of Care for Native Plants Strengthens Places & People - Jennifer Jewell, author and host of the national award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden.

There will be concurrent sessions. During checkout you will be asked to indicate your session preferences for "New to Natives" versus "Knows the Natives." This will help us make appropriate room assignments, though you will not be held to these choices.

Session 1 Breakout:

• New to Natives: Creating a Culture of Native Plant Restoration - Jim Tolstrup, High Plains Environmental Center

• Knows the Natives: Breeding Native Cultivars: Is Artificial Selection Impacting Insect Visitation? - Tommy Roth, Colorado State University

Session 2 Breakout:

• New to Natives: A Seasonal Perspective on Community Engagement and Native Plant Availability - Maggie Gaddis, Colorado Native Plant Society

• Knows the Natives: How Colorado State and Local Policies Can Boost Native Plant Landscaping Panel

- Suzanne O'Neill, Colorado Native Landscape Coalition

-Deryn Davidson, Sustainable Landscape State Specialist, CSU Extension

-Joyce Kennedy, Director of the People & Pollinators Action Network (PPAN)

-Danna Liebert, Owner of Grounded Growth Landscapes, Board of Directors Wild Ones

Session 3 Breakout:

• New to Natives: Your Native Plant Garden, All Grown Up! - Dave Sutherland, City of Boulder OSMP (retired)

• Knows the Natives: Parks Pollinators and People: How landscape and local factors drive differences in pollinator biodiversity in Denver, Colorado parks - Nicki Bailey, Colorado State University

Closing Session: Celebration and Reflection: 10 years of the Landscaping With Colorado Native Plants Conference, a moderated panel with Jennifer Jewel and co-founders of the conference.

Join us for a celebration and sweet treats after the closing session to commemorate 10 years of the Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference!

We will have vendor booths available during registration, lunch and breaks, so be sure to join us when doors open at 8 am. Lunch will be provided.

Please note: This event will be held regardless of winter weather conditions unless CSU and/or major highways and interstates are closed due to inclement weather.

Thank you to our partners:

Butterfly Pavilion

Colorado State University Extension

Colorado Native Plant Master Program

Colorado Native Plant Society

Denver Botanic Garden

High Plains Environmental Center

Wild Ones Front Range

Susan Tweit

The Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference promotes the inclusion of native plants in our landscaping to benefit pollinators and songbirds, save water, and restore the beauty and health of nature in the places we live, work and play.

While we recommend the use of straight species and local ecotypes wherever possible, we support the use of varieties and cultivars of native species as long as their breeding doesn’t interfere with their ability to function in nature and maintain key relationships with pollinators and other lives.

*Please see the FAQs for important information about refunds.

Lory Student Center

1101 Center Avenue Mall Fort Collins, CO 80521

Learn how to start seeds indoors for the 2025 growing season. Together, we will discuss the basic indoor setup, types of grow lights, ‘potting up’, common seeds to start and when to start them, plus hardening off seedlings for transplanting. Free seeds will be provided from the Boulder Library available to sow your own this spring! 

Join Wild Ones for a free Webinar, “Bees Beyond Honey: Understanding the Roles of Native and Managed Bees in Pollination,” featuring Sam Droege, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Dave Hunter, Founder & Owner, Crown Bees; and Lora Morandin, Associate Director, Pollinator Partnership. Together, we will explore the diverse roles bees play in ecosystems, the challenges they face, and the delicate balance between managed and wild pollinators. Don’t miss this opportunity to broaden your understanding of bees and their vital contributions to biodiversity.

Event Date & Time:

Date: Thursday, February 20

Time: 6:00 p.m. CT

Join us virtually: Link provided with registration. This webinar will be recorded and available to watch after the premiere.

Register now

About the Webinar

Pollinators are essential to biodiversity and food security, but their complex roles often lead to misconceptions and conflicting approaches to conservation. In a round table format, we will discuss the complex roles and interactions of both bees and the people working in these areas and unpack the unique contributions and challenges of native, solitary, and honeybees. This webinar will explore the importance of responsible management practices, the interactions between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Attendees will gain insights from experts with over 90 years of combined experience, including Dave Hunter of Crown Bees, Dr. Lora Morandin of Pollinator Partnership, and Sam Droege of the U.S. Geological Survey. Together, they’ll address pressing topics such as competition between species, habitat restoration, and the role of advocacy in protecting pollinators.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the unique roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity.

• Learn about the competition and potential conflicts between managed and wild bees.

• Discover responsible practices for managing bees and fostering healthy pollinator populations.

• Gain actionable advice on planting native plants, participating in community science, and advocating for policies that protect pollinator habitats.

This engaging discussion aims to broaden perspectives, challenge misconceptions, and inspire attendees to take evidence-based actions to support pollinators and biodiversity.

About the Presenters

Sam Droege – Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Sam Droege is a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland. He has coordinated major wildlife monitoring programs, including the North American Breeding Bird Survey and the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, and has developed community-based initiatives like BioBlitz and FrogwatchUSA.

Currently, Sam focuses on native bee conservation, leading efforts to create comprehensive monitoring programs and online identification tools. He also works on reviving the North American Bird Phenology Program to document migration trends.

Dave Hunter – Founder & Owner, Crown Bees 

Dave Hunter is the founder of Crown Bees, a company dedicated to sustainable pollination through solitary bees. With over two decades of experience, Dave has shaped the commercial mason bee industry, co-authored The Mason Bee Revolution, and founded the Professional Orchard Bee Association.

Through programs like the Bee Buy Back and collaborations with researchers, Dave promotes ethical practices and regional bee conservation. He is a passionate educator, sharing practical knowledge with gardeners, farmers, and researchers to support pollinator health and sustainability.

Lora Morandin – Associate Director, Pollinator Partnership

Dr. Lora Morandin has been researching bees and pollination since 1997, with a focus on native pollinator conservation and sustainable agriculture. She earned her PhD at Simon Fraser University and conducted post-doctoral research at UC Berkeley, studying how small-scale farm restoration enhances pollinators and natural enemies of pests.

As Associate Director at Pollinator Partnership, Lora works to balance agriculture and biodiversity, advocating for habitats that support both managed and wild pollinators. She has authored numerous publications and guides, highlighting the economic and ecological benefits of pollinator conservation. Lora lives in Victoria, BC, where she enjoys her urban farm and exploring nature.

Come learn into-level information and easy-to-use preparations, methods, and other ways to apply this integrative approach to organic gardening. Ages 14+. FREE!

Join Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants for an inspiration-packed conference around this year's theme of making your landscapes count! Some keynote topics will include:

• The Land Was Always A Garden - David Newsom

• Understanding Garden Soil - Curtis Manning, Meadow Pro

• Soil Design and Mulching Best Practices for Colorado Gardens - Michael Guidi and Dr. Syed Wali Jalalzai, Denver Botanic GardensNew to Natives:

• Native Plants for Birds - Kate Hogan, Denver Audubon

• Garden Design 101 Workshop - Felicia Brower and Andrea Zimmer, Denver Gardens Designs

• AND MORE!

Join us for a beginner-level class to learn how to start perennial flower seeds outdoors. The focus will be on native flora and resourceful, low-cost methods. Ages 14+. FREE!

Wild Ones Front Range is happy to announce that it is once again partnering with other like-minded organizations to host the 5th annual Denver Native Seed Swap.  This event continues to grow in popularity as the landscaping with native plants movement grows and people seek economical sources for these useful plants.  The swap is free to the public.  Bring a friend and introduce them to native plants and this great community!

Please consider contributing some regionally native seeds and labeling them according to our guidelines below.  Seed may be brought in small paper/coin envelopes or plastic/glass lidded jars.  Please no large envelopes of seeds as it is too difficult for participants to collect a portion.  All seed will be inspected before being accepted so please only bring regionally native seeds that are properly labeled with the following:

Botanical Name, Common Name, Date of Collection, Location/Elevation of Collection and Donor's First Initial and Last Name.

Seed Saving 101: How to save seeds from your garden or kitchen scraps

In this class, attendees will learn how to properly harvest, process, and store seeds for flowers, vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Tips will include when and how to harvest seed, tools and materials needed for processing and storing, and then practical and resourceful methods for storage. Create your own seed bank with us in class!

One hour class - 30 minutes of class instruction and 30 minutes of hands-on workshop.  (Attendees should bring a small box such as a recipe box or notecard box for their seed bank)

Ages 18+

Cost - FREE

Instructors: Gayle Lohmar and Daniela EK

Wellness Gardens and Making Plant Medicine: Creating a pathway to wellness in your own garden.

Remember the saying, “You are what you eat”? Well, there’s a bit of truth in that! In this class, you will learn about integrating plants into your landscape that will help your health! From the food you eat to the medicine you take, we can actually grow many of them right within your garden. We will share our concept on ‘integrated wellness gardens’, and then class attendees will make their own body oil made from homegrown medicinal flowers!

One hour class - 30 minutes of class instruction and 30 minutes of hands-on workshop.

Ages 18+

Instructors: Gayle Lohmar and Daniela EK

Ethical wildcrafting for medicinal remedies: Learn how to ethically forage herbs for medicinal remedies in your own landscape!

Our landscapes are full of medicinal herbs that can be harvested and processed to boost our pantries and at home apothecaries. Come learn how to identify local medicine, how and when to harvest it ethically and what are a few ways you can process it for storage and consumption.

1 hour class in the Boulder Public Library- Edible Learning Gardens

Ages 18+

Instructors: Mariah Masters and Daniel EK

Saturday, June 3 2pm - Growing a Family Garden: Growing food for and with your family.

In this workshop in the BPL Edible Learning Gardens, you will learn how to select what vegetables and herbs to grow to best support your family. How and when to plant, then how to care for them. Most importantly, you will have the tools to get your whole family involved including kids and older generations.

1 hour class. 

Ages - families with children 2-18, adults 18+

Cost - FREE

Instructors - Gayle Lohmar and Daniela EK

Intro to Permaculture: Permaculture approaches to small spaces.

Sometimes, we don’t have a yard to grow food, and that is okay! In this class in the BPL Edible Learning Gardens, we will share ecological garden ideas for small spaces. Examples include container gardens and vertical growing options, plus we’ll cover low-water tips and a few ways to process the harvest with the most basic diy kitchen supplies.

1 hour class. 

Ages 18+

Cost: FREE

RSVP with the Boulder Public Library by visiting their website, Boulderlibrary.org or fill out the contact form on our website.

Creating Habitat Gardens and Food Forests: Let’s integrate native flora and more diverse polyculture gardens into our home landscapes! (Great for business owners, too!)

In this class, Gayle and one of the designers with Water It With Love will discuss various habitat gardens based on the local eco-system, including top plant choices that are most beneficial to those habitats. Another popular approach is to create a food forest with polyculture gardens, so we will briefly discuss the layers of the forest garden and unique food options that grow extremely well in our environment. Class attendees can co-create a design mock-up for their very own habitat garden or food forest!

One hour class - 30 minutes of class instruction and 30 minutes* for design mock-ups with class instructors.   *10 minute increments per attendee during class time.

Ages - 18+

Cost - FREE

Instructors: Gayle Lohmar in collaboration with other local landscape designers (more details to come soon!)