Arboretum News

Mother’s Day – Butterflies, Turtles, and Azaleas

MONDAY, MAY 14, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

It was a busy Sunday at the Arb—lots of folks out to enjoy the sunny 70 degree weather and Mothers’ Day. A very large group of us took a shorter (1 hour) tour today. We wound down through the native plant garden on the path from the Visitor Center’s front ... Read more »

  • Join our “Recruit a Friend” campaign

    SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    Friends of the Arboretum marks 50 years In honor of its 50th anniversary, the Friends of the Arboretum is rolling out a “Recruit a Friend” campaign. For ... Read more »

  • Friends 2012 Annual Meeting is June 2

    SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    The Friends will celebrate another year of providing interesting and enlightening programs, activities and trips for our members and financial and volunteer support for the ... Read more »

  • Free tours of the Arboretum on the Badger trolley in May

    FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    Each spring, the Arboretum’s Longenecker Gardens, Native Plant Gardens, woodlands and prairies come alive with blooming flowers, shrubs and trees. Adding to the colorful landscape ... Read more »

  • Travel Opportunities with the Friends

    FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    The Friends offer meaningful, well-planned trips geared toward travelers who appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature and are eager to learn more from experts ... Read more »

  • Spring Wildflowers Still early

    SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Want to see spring wildflowers? Come out here soon. Although, the official start of summer is over a month and a half away, our extraordinary ... Read more »

  • Oakwood Chamber Players Celebrate Earth Day at the Arboretum

    SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012 :: FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM

    Join the Oakwood Chamber Players at the Arboretum on Sunday, April 22 at 1:30 p.m. for music for winds, strings and piano. The Oakwood Chamber ... Read more »

  • Transitions

    SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    “To what purpose, April, do you return again?” asked Edna St. Vincent Millay in her poem Spring. On Sunday, if April’s purpose was ... Read more »

  • The Awakening Land

    SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    This year, with a mild winter and then ten or more days of outrageously warm weather, the land was wide awake and wearing her party clothes. Read more »

  • End of Winter – no doubt!

    SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Well, what a surprise this late winter weather has been! We have had a week of upper 70 s and lower 80 degree weather ... Read more »

  • Spring stirrings in Arboretum gardens

    THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012

    After a mild winter, the gardens at the Arboretum are showing early signs of spring. Changes in day length, thawing, budding, greening in cool season ... Read more »

  • A Call for Artists

    MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012 :: PRESS RELEASES

    A juried committee meets once each year to select art for exhibit in the Arboretum Steinhauer Trust Gallery. Submissions are reviewed in April, and artists ... Read more »

  • Winter Bird Walk

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    This tour is always listed as a “winter bird walk”, but by the last weekend in February most people are more interested in what early ... Read more »

  • American Transmission Company Begins Work Along Arboretum Property

    WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 :: ANNOUNCEMENTS

    The American Transmission Company (ATC) will be erecting power lines along the eastbound beltline near the Arboretum starting this summer. To accommodate the new power ... Read more »

  • About Mammals in the Arboretum

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Today’s topic was mammals. My quick count revealed thirty-eight of them right in front of me on the steps of the Visitor Center. I predicted ... Read more »

  • Winter Water

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    “Can’t complain.” This seems to be the most common retort regarding this winter’s weather in Madison. What does this mean? We are city dwellers. Icy ... Read more »

  • Upcoming 2012 Earth Partnership and RESTORE Institutes:

    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 :: EARTH PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOLS

    The following 2012 Institutes have been scheduled, some tentatively: Full Institute Listing (PDF) Check back for more Institutes in more places or contact: Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong, ... Read more »

  • Halfway to Spring!

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    This year’s Halfway to Spring walk was Feb 5. Last year it fell on Feb 13. This year, similar to last year, it was low- ... Read more »

  • Winter Wonders

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    Despite freezing drizzle this foggy afternoon, our tour group searched for winter wonders in Longenecker Gardens. Myriad animal tracks led us where we found “Pussywillows”, ... Read more »

  • Animal Signs

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012 :: NATURALISTS’ NOTES

    One of the most striking animal signs from Sunday’s tour was the one that WASN’T there – rabbit tracks! Grateful to at last have ... Read more »

  • From the Great Lakes to the Rivers, the Northwoods to Milwaukee, Woodlands to Watersheds, Youth Leadership to Indigenous Arts and Sciences

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012 :: EARTH PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOLS

    2011 was another year of firsts for Earth Partnership for Schools (EPS), and the RESTORE (Restoration Education, Science Training and Outreach for Regional Educators) program. ... Read more »

  • 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, ... 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 »

  • 54 teachers from 13 schools link Schoolyards to School Forests

    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2011 :: EARTH PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOLS

    Funded by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB), UW-Madison Arboretum collaborated with UW-Stevens Point LEAF, USDA Forest Service Urban Connections, and the School Districts 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 »

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

    MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 :: EARTH PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOLS

    In July 2011, funded by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB), 40 high school students from school districts with school forests including Madison, Monona, Middleton, ... 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 »