Local Wild Ones Chapter to Host a Native Plant Seed Exchange

Wild Ones Northwoods Gateway Chapter members really love fall and one way they celebrate this lovely season is to harvest seeds from their native plants. They’re sad to see this year’s native plants fade away but in the spirit of eternal optimism, they harvest their seeds to grow more plants to expand existing gardens and start new ones next year.

When you grow a native wildflower, shrub, ground cover or tree you are supporting native pollinators and animals which have co-evolved and adapted to their native environment. They have thrived over centuries and sometimes millennia in the habitat they have created together. When one species’ numbers are in decline, whether it be a plant species, pollinator or animal species, the other species in the habitat will decline as well because of their interdependence. It starts with the plants-organisms in the habitat that can use solar energy to produce the energy needed to create life.

With the mission to put more native plants in the ground in mind, they will be sharing seeds at their annual seed exchange on Thursday, November 5th at the Antigo Public Library at 617 Clermont Street. They will be having a general membership meeting at 11 a.m. until noon, take a short break and continue through 1 p.m. with their seed exchange. Everyone is invited to both the meeting and seed exchange, but you can also come for just the seed exchange. You do not need to bring seeds to attend but if you do they ask that they are from true natives-not nativars or cultivars please. (They love some of these varieties, but for their exchange they want to stick with natives). Don’t forget to leave some seeds on the plants for birds and other animals that rely on them for nutrition.

At the seed exchange they will answer questions you have about how and when to plant your seeds. They’ll include information on winter sowing which is a fun way to get a head start for next year’s growing season. Hope to see you there!