About Us

Wild Ones® is a national non-profit organization with over 100 local chapters in 36 states that promote the many benefits of landscaping using native plants – wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses. You can learn more about Wild Ones, join or renew membership, find other chapters, and visit the Wild Store.

Mission

Wild Ones promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy and collaborative action.

Vision

Native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community.

Core Values

Wild Ones inspires change through shared core values:

• Respect is at the heart of Wild Ones^®. We have respect for each other, for nature and for the earth. 
• We’re an inclusive community. Diverse voices and backgrounds make us stronger. That’s why we welcome everyone to join us. 
• We provide evidence-based information, because the seeds of change spread most efficiently when grounded in data. We monitor and share the latest evidence-informed strategies. 
• We’re action and growth oriented. Just dig in! We learn, grow, and share our knowledge. 

History

The Rock River Valley Chapter was established in July 1994. We currently have approximately 200 household memberships. The chapter is led by dedicated volunteer officers, chairs and coordinators.

Monthly Educational Programs

The majority of our monthly educational programs meet at Cherry Valley Library, the third Thursday of each month except December. Most meetings begin with social time at 6:00 p.m. and the educational program at 6:30 p.m. Details about monthly educational programs will be posted regularly on the Chapter’s Website and in the monthly newsletter. Monthly programs are open to the public.

Monthly Newsletters

The Wild Ones Rock River Valley Chapter publishes a Monthly Newsletter for its members, which contains informative and timely articles about upcoming events and other useful information related to native plants.

Native Plant Sales

The Wild Ones Rock River Valley Chapter offers two plants sales each year: The Native Plant Sale in spring and the Tree and Shrub Sale in autumn. Both sales offer plant species native to Winnebago and surrounding counties that are suitable for many growing conditions. Click the following link for details about the chapter’s Upcoming Native Plant Sales. Both plant sales are open to the public.

Dirty on the 30s Yard Tours

Dirty on the 30s Yard Tours offer the public the opportunity to visit selected home landscapes of chapter members in Winnebago and surround counties that feature native plantings. Hosts will provide details about their yards, how they got started, answer questions, and offer suggestions about selecting native plants. The tours typically occur on the 30^th of selected months of the year. Registration is required and tours last approximately one hour.

2026 Yard Tour Calendar

Garden Sampler Bureau

New in 2026, the Garden Sampler Bureau has been created to offer limited guidance and insight to chapter members who would like assistance in establishing natural landscapes in their own yards. A select number of chapter members have offered to open their yards to individuals who would like to visit and discuss native landscapes while gaining valuable information about their native gardening needs. The assistance does not include physical labor but rather first-hand knowledge, suggestions, and resources useful in planning and maintaining native gardens. Chapter members who are interested in arranging such a visit will need to complete an online request application and then be matched with a yard host member.  Join Wild Ones now to take advantage of this members-only benefit.

Visit https://rrvcwildones.org/garden-sampler-bureau/ for more information and to sign up!

Mini Grant Program

The Rock River Valley Chapter Wild Ones Mini Grant Program is geared toward nonprofit organizations, schools, scout troops, Master Naturalist/Gardener projects, etc., who are interested in starting or expanding native plant gardens and landscaping projects with native plants. Examples include pollinator and rain gardens, native plant monarch waystations, prairie patches, and woodland gardens. Starting small is a great way to increase your chances of success; therefore, one or two flats of native plants can help toward that end. Please note that the RRVC Mini Grant Program cannot be used for private or home landscaping projects.

Selected applicants will be allowed to obtain plants from either one of the chapter’s plant sales. For the native plant sale, the first flat of plants is free. Additional flats will be sold at the chapter’s wholesale cost, which is approximately 50% of the pre-order retail price. For the tree and shrub sale, only a slight discount is given due to the higher plant material cost to the chapter.

Application Deadline

Native Plant Sale: Applications are due no later than April 15, 2026

Tree and Shrub Sale: Date TBA

Click for Mini Grant Application 

Seed Exchange

The annual chapter seed exchange, which takes place at our November meeting, offers native plant seeds that have been collected by its members. Native plant seeds help increase the opportunity for more native plants to grow in our communities. Everyone is welcome to take part in the exchange, and you don’t have to provide seeds to take seeds.