Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

10/27/2026

With winter just around the corner, consider skipping your fall chores and leaving your leaves, stems, and flowerheads as they are!

Swipe through this post for examples of wildlife that thrive in your leaf "litter". Note that all of these wildlife pictures were taken in a suburban garden in Pawtucket, surrounded by development!
📸 American toad
📸 DeKay's brown snake
📸 black firefly
📸 garter snakes

Check out the RIWPS’ website page on Ecological Gardening for more information.

10/23/2026

🎧 Looking for a new podcast and want to learn more about native and ecotypic plants? You’re in luck: Sue Theriault, RIWPS Vice President and head of ReSeeding RI, was interviewed by Wendy Fachon for the Story Walking Hour Podcast last month! 🌱

👂 Tune in to learn about the importance of native plants and how they benefit our ecosystems, and why ecotypic plants are particularly beneficial. Visit the link in this post to access the episode. Happy listening! 💚

09-07-26 Reseeding Native Habitat with guest Sue Theriault, Vice President of the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society (RIWPS) Wild plant collectives across the Northeast are propagating native plants to restore native ecosystems with healthy genetic diversity. Insects, birds, and other local wildlife co...

10/20/2026

🌱 Save the date for the 3rd Annual Southern New England Native Seed Exchange, to be held on Sunday, November 8th in Barrington, RI!

🪴 This event is open to native plant enthusiasts of all levels of interest and experience. Stay tuned for more info about this special event!

10/16/2026

🌳 Join the Beechwood Center next Wednesday, 10/21 for a lecture titled: “The Evolution of the American Urban Forest". Christopher Fletcher, Arborist and Superintendent of the of Juniper Hill Cemetery in Bristol, will outline the fascinating history of urban forests.

🌳 October 21, 2026 | 1:30- 2:30 PM
🌳 Beechwood Center | 44 Beach Street | North Kingstown, RI 02852

📋 This program is free and open to the public. Registration required as space is limited.
✏️ To Register: Contact the Volunteer/Program Coordinator at The Beechwood Center for Life Enrichment by calling 401-268-1594 or emailing [email protected]

📸 Photo by GGardener.

10/13/2026

🌱 Today is the last day to register for the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group’s 2026 symposium titled “From Awareness to Action - Strengthening Our Response to Invasive Plants”, to be held at UConn on October 28th!

🪴 Sessions will include a variety of techniques for management of terrestrial and aquatic invasives, as well as restoration with native alternatives.

📇 Note that this is a paid event and that advance registration is required. Tickets to attend (or to purchase the recording) are available at the link in this post.

Theme: From Awareness to Action: Strengthening Our Response to Invasive Plants Wednesday, October 28, 2026 UConn Student Union, 2110 Hillside Rd, Storrs, CT ...

10/08/2026

💚 RIWPS is excited to be co-hosting a happy hour with Providence Green Drinks at Kimi’s bar (373 Washington St, Providence, RI 02903) on October 22nd from 6-8pm!

🌱 Drop by this casual networking event to meet other plant and environmental enthusiasts, live and in-person! This is a great opportunity to learn about our fundraising efforts, native plant events coming up around the state, and how to get involved. 🪴

Head to eventbrite.com and search "PVD Green Drinks" to register. Hope to see you there! 🥂

10/05/2026

🍁 A (delayed, but massive) THANK YOU to all of the shoppers and more than 40 (‼️) volunteers who made the RIWPS Fall Native Plant Sale at Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market a huge success! 💥

🌱 Many of you may have purchased ReSeeding RI seeds at the event - THANK YOU for your support! For any questions about the best way to plant your seeds please visit the Ecological Gardening section at riwps.org or send your questions to [email protected]. If you missed purchasing seeds at the plant sale, you can go to northeastseedcollective.com anytime for online purchases. Happy sowing! 🌱

09/28/2026

🍁 This month’s invasive plant spotlight and native plant replacement are the invasive burning bush (Euonymus alatas) vs. our beautiful native high bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). Look through this post to learn more about both plants. 🌱

09/22/2026

🥾 Looking for fun events that get you outside and exploring Rhode Island’s native plants and their habitats? Check out our friends at the Rhode Island Land Trust Council and their 2026 Land Trust Days!

🌳 Land Trust Days is a statewide, 2-month celebration of the many special places protected by land trusts. Land trusts across the state host activities to share the special places they are protecting for everyone, young and old to enjoy. These events include guided walks, community festivals, full moon walks, farm tours and a whole lot more.

📇 Head to the link in this post to check it out! Note that some events require registration.

We also encourage people to take “Do It Yourself” walks — check out ExploreRI.org for 100+ trail maps around the state!

09/18/2026

🌱 Introducing RIWPS’ new Educational Resources Page!

🌳 This page was created with teachers, parents and the next generation of earth stewards in mind. Explore some of our favorite lesson plans, activities, and resources recommended by teachers for teachers – or parents, or anyone interested in discovering the natural world and becoming a better steward of our earth.

🖱 Click the link below to check it out!

Lins to lesson plans, activities and information recommended by teachers for teachers, parents, or anyone interested in learning how we can become better earth stewards.