Welcome to the Wild Ones Oak Openings Region Chapter. Wild Ones is a national not-for-profit organization with local chapters that teach the many benefits of growing native wildflowers and plants in your yard. This chapter serves all of Northwest Ohio and the nearby area of southeast Michigan.
Previously known as the Toledo Chapter of Wild Ones, the Oak Openings Region Chapter was renamed to highlight the globally threatened ecosystem, the Oak Openings Region of NW Ohio and SE Michigan. Located just SW of Lake Erie, in the Lake Plain, our area of NW Ohio is known for migratory bird watching, the largest tributary in the Great Lakes Region: the Maumee River, the Great Black Swamp, and especially, the hotspot of biodiversity, the Oak Openings.
From the Karner blue butterfly and lark sparrow, to the plains puccoon, lupine, prairie gentian, red baneberry, and orange fringed orchid– there’s so much for Wild Ones members to enjoy–and to help conserve. Here 1/3 of all Ohio’s rare plant occurrences are reported with 166 state listed species that are savanna and prairie specialists, coastal plain disjuncts and northern species.
From September to May, our chapter meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Nederhouser Community Hall, The Olander Park System, 6930 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania, OH. You are welcome to these informative and exciting programs from area experts and partners.
We gather for monthly outdoor activities such as field trips, native seed harvests, native garden installations, educational outreach, stewardship including invasive plant removal, and more.
Date, time and location details for Wild Ones Oak Openings Region are announced in advance via the chapter E-newsletter, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildonesoakopenings and on this chapter website.
Here is a sample of our chapter activities and member services since August 2012:
- Created an informative Monthly Member Newsletter with timely educational articles, handouts and calendar of events
- Created Special Member Learning Opportunities such as field trips and garden tours.
- Initiated a new member garden benefit: Help a Member
- Held regular monthly educational programs and meetings
- Created a Wild Ones Scholarship Program. Worthy students received memberships to Wild Ones.
- Developed first Wild Ones Native Landscape Award program
- Restored working relationships with the Nature Conservancy, Metroparks, Olander Park System, and Toledo Botanical Garden
- Established a new permanent Wild Ones Display and chapter slide show
- Collaborated to host area Conservation Events such as Blue Week activities; American Chestnut Workshop; Wild about Wildlife
- Stewardship: Goll Woods Garlic Mustard Pull; Meilke Road Savanna Clean Up, Orange Fringed Orchid Planting, Seed Harvests for the Nature Conservancy, Olander Park System and Metroparks
- Provided core leadership for national Wild for Monarchs Campaign and developed majority of resources
- Supported several local educational and community gardens; established a Wild Ones Butterfly Habitat at The 577 Foundation, and Pots for Pollinators at Secor Metropark
- Responded to community and regional requests with expertise and timely follow-through
- Presented Community Outreach: displays, slide presentations, nature walks and demonstrations such as Parking Day, Plant Sales and Exchanges, Master Gardener presentations, Oak Openings Forum, National Pollinator Week and more.
- Collected native seeds for Toledo GROW’s Seed Swap. Distributed over 400 free packets to the public.
- Assisted Toledo Botanical Garden build local genotype native seed resources for Wetland Restoration & Oak Openings Natives
- Increased member communication and participation with social media: new Facebook Members’ Group to share resources such as plants, program reminders, photos and useful links; and a new public FB page for information about our Wild Ones chapter: https://www.facebook.com/wildonesoakopenings