Past events by Wright County Horticultural Society!
Weed 'em Out! workshop on 4/15/26
Some of our members attended this workshop in St. Cloud. Goals were to: Learn how to identify and report invasive plants early, before they become big trouble. You will learn identification skills and apply them to target species samples to distinguish them from common look-alike species. High-priority plants include: stiltgrass, Johnsongrass, swallow-worts, rough potato, Dalmatian toadflax, golden honeysuckle vine, porcelain berry, common and giant butterburs, teasels, Amur corktree, tree-of-heaven, rowan mountain ash, plus regional specialties.
Verification to earn SAF and ISA CFEs is provided on request. This program is a joint venture between University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Transportation and the U.S. Forest Service. It was free, but you had to register in advance (and bring your won lunch!).
Edible Herbs and Natives for the Home Garden by Courtney Tchida on 4/13/26
For our WCHS meeting in April 2026, our speaker was Courtney Tchida. Her talk was to help us explore herbs and native plants that are both beautiful and edible. We learned how to weave them into our flower and vegetable gardens to create vibrant spaces that support pollinators and add fresh flavor to our kitchen. She talked about how to grow, harvest, and enjoy them in daily cooking. Courtney is an experienced horticulturist and educator with a passion for sustainable agriculture. Currently, Courtney holds the position of Midwest Program Associate growing the midwest program at Wild Farm Alliance where she works on protecting and restoring natural habitats that create a strong, resilient agriculture.
Zoom with Keweenaw Native Plant Symposium on 4/4/26
Via Zoom, we learned from renowned pollinator advocate Heather Holm how to build "soft landings" under trees to protect bees and other beneficial insects. We also learned how to control mosquitos and support beneficial insects from pollinator conservation expert Aaron Anderson of the Xerces Society. We also learned how to plant the right tree in the right place from RJ Laverne.
WCEMG Spring Workshop on 3/21/26
We attended the Wright County Extension Master Gardeners spring workshop! Visit the UofMN extension website for info and future events.
March 2026 Kick-Off Meeting with speaker Katie Kodoun
At our 2026 kickoff meeting on 3/9/26 , speaker Katie Kodoun from Natural Shoreline Technology shared tips on using native plants in home gardens, gardening for pollinators, plant restoration, rain gardens, and shoreline planting. See examples in her online book:
https://www.blurb.com/books/12370397-2024nstbook
and on her website https://www.naturalshore.com/
Holiday Party and Potluck 12/8/25
We had a great year-end celebration!
Bruce The Bug Guy on 11/10/2025
Speaker Bruce Giebink talked on The Amazing World of Bugs at our November monthly meeting. He brought a tarantula for us to touch, and many other bugs!
Wolves Foxes & Coyotes by Stan Tekila 10/13/2025
Minnesota native and naturalist Stan Tekila gave a talk on Wolves, Foxes, & Coyotes, and signed books at our October monthly meeting.
Putting Your Garden to Bed 9/8/25
Speaker Kristina Kjellberg talked on Putting Your Garden to Bed for the winter at our September monthly meeting.