The Certificate in Native Plants program deepens participants’ understanding of southeastern botany, ecology, conservation, and the uses of native flora. The curriculum blends classroom learning with hands‑on activities and guided hikes. Classes are open to everyone, and members of Wild Ones, the Tennessee Native Plant Society, and Reflection Riding receive discounted fees.

Students pursuing the Certificate also complete volunteer hours supporting approved native plant projects in our region. Updated volunteer requirements and a downloadable form are available on our website.

For more information about the program and to view upcoming 2026 courses, click here.

Find information and registration links for all upcoming programs, classes, hikes, and members‑only events by clicking below.

Volunteer with Us!

Whether you have a few hours a month or want to dive into a leadership role, there's a place for you. Join a committee, help organize events, assist with outreach, or lend your skills behind the scenes. Every contribution helps us spread the word and deepen our roots in the community.

Why Get Involved?

• Shape the direction of our chapter in 2026 and beyond
• Connect with like-minded nature advocates
• Gain experience in conservation, education, and nonprofit leadership
• Be part of a movement that restores and protects our local ecosystems

Ready to grow with us? Check out the current volunteer opportunities below:

• 2026 Public Program Greeters
• 2026 Ecological Gardening Series Greeters
• 2026 Spring Native Plant Sale

Mt. Cuba Trial: Solidago (Goldenrod) for the Mid-Atlantic Region

The Mt. Cuba Center released the results of their multi-year trial of solidago for the mid-Atlantic region this week.

If you’re unfamiliar with these trials, or the Mt. Cuba Center, we encourage you to visit their website and read up in depth on all the great information they have about native plants ... Read more.

Black History Month: Honoring Land, Legacy and Stewardship

Black history is deeply connected to land, plants, and place. This month, we invite members to explore voices and resources that align strongly with Wild Ones values: ecological stewardship, community knowledge, and care for the landscapes we call home, especially here in the Southeast.

Listen

• Subscribe to Black to Nature and Black in the Garden podcasts. Both offer thoughtful perspectives on culture, landscape, and our relationships with plants.
• The National Park Service’s Black Voices of Appalachia oral history project is a powerful resource.

Read

• When Trees Testify and Black Earth Wisdom ground Black history in ecological knowledge, land stewardship, and lived experience.

Get Outside

• Explore local opportunities with Outdoor Afro, which connects Black communities with nature through hikes, walks, and environmental education.

Black History Month is a reminder that conservation is not just about plants; it’s about people, memory, and responsibility to place. These resources help us deepen that understanding and carry it forward into our work.

Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana, or eastern red cedar, is a coniferous evergreen native to eastern North America. This slow‑growing juniper forms a dense, conical crown and typically reaches 16–66 feet in height. As a pioneer species, it readily colonizes open or disturbed sites, helping stabilize soils and initiate early successional plant communities. Eastern red cedar also produces abundant bluish, berry‑like cones rich in waxy sugars—an important winter food source for cedar waxwings, robins, bluebirds, and many other bird species - including this male cardinal.

Photo by: Jonathan Nicholson

When you join Wild Ones, you’re embracing the native plant movement and gaining a community of experienced, generous ecological gardeners who will support you every step of the way.

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