Arboretum News

Explore Nature in Indoor Comfort

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

Tour the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium: February 28, 2012 Enjoy a day of independent exploration with dynamic fresh water aquarium and live animal displays, historical and interactive exhibits tracing the human experience along the Mississippi River, and entertainment in immersion theaters and living history demonstrations. Read more. ... Read more »

  • Explore Horicon Marsh

    MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    Journey into the heart of the marsh, exploring Wisconsin’s only “Wetland of International Importance” on June 6, 2012 This tour of the largest freshwater cattail marsh ... Read more »

  • A Record Breaking Year?

    MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    On a 40+ degree F January day, we had a great turnout for Sunday’s walk. The theme was “phenology” –the study of natural cycles of ... Read more »

  • Winter Trail Use

    WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 :: ANNOUNCEMENTS

    The Arboretum is prepared for snow and the skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking season. We have designated over 10 miles of ski trails for winter ... Read more »

  • Winter Birds in the Arboretum

    SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    How are our woodland, prairie and water birds able to survive the winter here? Feathers, which are unique to birds and distinguish the Class Avies, have a lot to do with birds being able to stay over winter. Read more »

  • Conifer Tour

    SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    This afternoon twenty visitors gathered in the visitor center for our tour featuring Wisconsin’s twelve native conifers. Read more »

  • Late Fall Woodlands

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    In just two days, from Friday’s almost 60 degrees, sunny and only a light south breeze, we have gone through a day of rain to ... Read more »

  • Arboretum Featured In Aerial Artistry Project

    TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2011 :: ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Wisconsinites often claim they love the state’s four seasons, including autumn in all its glory. Those in the UW–Madison community often claim they study, live ... Read more »

  • Leaf Peeping in Longenecker Gardens and Wingra Woods

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    If you are considering a visit to the Arb this week, I would encourage a hike through Wingra woods. It is fall at its finest. Read more »

  • Woodland Walk to Enjoy Fall Colors

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    From last weeks “Indian Summer” weather with above normal temperatures, highs in the 70’s, winds from the southwest, sunny days and bright fall colors, especially ... Read more »

  • Red Lanterns

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    A funny thing happened on the way to this year’s “Red Lanterns” tour. I looked at my notes for the same tour last year, ... Read more »

  • Autumn in Curtis Prairie

    SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    This rain paused and the sun even came out for a bit during Sunday afternoon’s walk. We “sampled” autumn in Curtis prairie, Teal pond, the ... Read more »

  • Grady Savanna and Greene Prairie

    SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    On this 9/11 Day of Remembrance we experienced a beautiful 84o summer-like September afternoon on the Grady Tract. Fluffy white clouds drifted gently across ... Read more »

  • Curtis Prairie 4th September, 2011

    SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    The first neat discovery we made on Sunday’s public tour didn’t have anything to do with Curtis Prairie. It was not one, but TWO, ... Read more »

  • What Dane County Looked Like in 1834

    SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Oak openings or savannas, marshlands, and prairies – that’s what our Arboretum and the lands of present day southern Wisconsin looked like before the land ... Read more »

  • “Like” UW-Madison Arboretum and Win!

    MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2011

    UW-Madison Arboretum has joined Facebook and invites you to get up to date news and events information by clicking the Like button on our Read more »

  • A Delightful Day for a Tour of Greene Prairie and the Grady Tract

    SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    On a delightful, mid 70 F, mostly sunny afternoon with an 8-12 mph northwest wind clearing out the previous day’s rain and humidity, a tour ... Read more »

  • Wingra Oak Savanna – rich in history and beauty

    SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Picking a favorite part of the Arboretum is nearly impossible. Every section has its own geological treasures, fascinating history, and biological gems. But the Wingra ... Read more »

  • Enjoy professional chamber music at the Arboretum

    TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    Oakwood Chamber Players return to the Arboretum for a second season. Imagine being at a concert and, during a brief pause in the music, getting a ... Read more »

  • Friends offer a tour of the International Crane Foundation and Leopold Memorial Reserve

    TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    International Crane Foundation and Leopold Legacy Trip – September 28, 2011 Join the Friends of the Arboretum on this exciting visit to two internationally recognized organizations ... Read more »

  • Travel with Friends to Southwest China – May 7-18, 2012

    TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    Lost in Shangri-La: A Cultural and Natural History Exploration The Friends of the Arboretum offer a unique travel opportunity to the fabled Chinese province of Yunnan. Yunnan, ... Read more »

  • A Prairie Birthday

    SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Our scheduled walk was in Curtis Prairie. With temperatures in the 90’s, strong sunshine and high humidity, we headed for the outer edges of ... Read more »

  • Flowers, Butterflies and Birds on the Grady Tract

    SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Visit the prairie often. Every week more lovely flowers will parade their colors across the landscape for you to enjoy. Read more »

  • Curtis Prairie, with a Royal Diversion

    SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    At this time of year I am constantly hunting for Monarch eggs. They are always laid on milkweed plants Read more »

  • Arboretum Corps of Discovery Exhibit opened Saturday July 2 at the Arboretum Visitor Center.

    SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2011 :: ANNOUNCEMENTS

    The Arboretum Corps of Discovery consists of a group of dedicated volunteers who have been trained to provide an esthetic documentation of the natural ... Read more »

  • Storm Water Work Begins along Manitou Way

    MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011 :: ANNOUNCEMENTS

    A stormwater detention pond is being built near Manitou Way in the Arboretum. This new facility will intercept urban storm water sediment that is filling ... Read more »

  • Grady Tract and Greene Prairie

    SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    The showiest thing on the West Knoll of the Grady Tract during Sunday’s tour was puccoon. Its brilliant orangey-yellow flower clusters can be seen ... Read more »

  • Learning from the Land: Leopold’s Legacy in Action

    THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011 :: ANNOUNCEMENTS

    In a new summer youth leadership experience at the Arboretum, students will develop skills to restore, preserve, and protect local ecosystems. Through hands-on activities, field ... Read more »

  • Beauty and Bloom: Grady Tract

    SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    in flower on the Grady knoll and the Greene prairie: hoary pucoon, spiderwort, sand (rock) cress, shooting star, golden Alexander, yarrow, hawkweed, false dandelion, a few cream wild indigo, prairie blue-eyed grass, yellow star grass, prairie phlox, large-flowered beard tongue, and certainly others that I am forgetting. Read more »

  • Greene Prairie and Grady Knoll – numerous delights, botanical and otherwise.

    SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Naturalists don’t have the good sense to stay in out of the rain! Important note: as of this writing some Greene Prairie trails were closed due to wet conditions. If you go there, please respect the closures. They are there to protect both people and plants. We will make every effort to re-open trails as soon as it is safe to do so. Read more »

  • Annual Meeting: “Morningstar Tapestry” with Debra Morningstar – Saturday, June 4, 2011

    MONDAY, MAY 23, 2011 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    Please join us as we celebrate another year of providing interesting and enlightening programs, activities and trips for our members and financial and volunteer support for the Arboretum. Read more »

  • School of the Land

    SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2011 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    A series of presentations and workshops for delving into the history and potential of the land for sustainable living and restoration of native plant communities. Improve ... Read more »

  • Spring on Curtis Prairie

    SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    “For the birds …” That’s how this walk got off to a slow start. Distracting our attention from the prairie were dozens of barn swallows ... Read more »

  • Learning from the Land: High School Student Leadership Institute set for July 11-15, 2011

    WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011 :: EARTH PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOLS

    In 2011, 40 high school students from school districts with school forests including Madison, Monona, Middleton, McFarland, Cambridge and Verona will participate in a week-long ... Read more »

  • Milwaukee EPS Mural Project with Urban Ecology Center and Forest Service Urban Connections

    WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011 :: EARTH PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOLS

    On May 9th, 2011, 8:30am through 2:30pm four Milwaukee Public Schools: Fernwood Montessori School, Maryland Avenue School, Hamlin Garland School and Downtown Montessori School created ... Read more »

  • Spring for a Day

    SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    The cool weather didn’t discourage visitors or naturalist as we found wild strawberries and other spring time flowers. Read more »

  • “Wildflowers of May Day” – 1st May, 2011

    SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Spring is coming late to the Arboretum in 2011. Most blooming things are 7 to 10 days behind schedule. But we did find many gratifying reasons to be out walking. Read more »

  • Woodland Wildflowers

    MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    A beautiful day and a great crowd for our Woodland Wildflowers walk. Before the walk, I looked back at notes from last year. Remember last ... Read more »

  • Follow the Water

    SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    I’m going to open these notes with something that has nothing whatsoever to do with water: several newly-blooming wildflowers which can be seen at ... Read more »

  • Unexpected Signs of Spring

    SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Signs of spring? We were hoping to get a glimpse of a few early bloomers, such as pasque flowers in the prairie or toothwort in ... Read more »