Cherished by Friends since 1982, the Luncheon-Lectures Series has provided many afternoons of warm connection and opportunities to hear engaging speakers.

Luncheon-Lectures are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Arboretum Visitor Center Auditorium. A buffet lunch is followed by an educational presentation. This popular series fills up quickly, so register as soon as you can. Each lecture costs $45.

Register online at foamadison.org. Online registration is fastest.

To pay by check, make payable to Friends of the Arboretum and mail to: Friends of the Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy., Madison, WI 53711. Please indicate the lectures you wish to attend, attendee names and email addresses, and your mailing address.

A registration confirmation will be sent to you. If a program you request is full, you will be contacted promptly. Reservations are transferable. If you give away your reservation, please call us at 608-890-2555 and let us know the name of the attendee. You also may cancel a reservation and request a refund at least 2 weeks ahead of the event.

2024–25 Luncheon-Lectures

Tuesday, January 14
Gravel Gardens – Gardens for Changing Climate. Jeff Epping, Horticultural Consultant and Garden Designer, Jeff Epping Design and Consulting, LLC
In these challenging times of climate change and global warming, environmentally conscious gardeners are looking for better ways to garden.  Water guzzling, chemically dependent, pollution causing lawns are not sustainable and can be replaced with so many better alternatives. One such alternative is earth-friendly gravel gardens that require little water, no fertilizer or other chemicals, no organic mulches and require less time and money to maintain. Don’t be fooled by the name, these gardens are as beautiful as they are resilient and support a myriad of native fauna.

Tuesday, February 11
Gardening with Native Plants at Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Translatable Tips to Take Home. Erin Presley, Horticulturist, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Madison’s own Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a leader in beautifully blending Midwestern native plants into a wide variety of garden styles. Olbrich horticulturist Erin Presley outlines how native plants are selected for the Gardens and managed to promote their ecosystem value, while providing an inspiring experience for over 350,000 annual visitors. This presentation offers down-to-earth, relatable advice for people anywhere on their journey of appreciating and gardening with native plants!

Tuesday March 11
Buzzing Gardens and Landscapes: Bumble Bee Conservation in Wisconsin. Judy Cardin, Educator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bumble Bee Brigade Citizen Science Program, and Susan Carpenter, Native Plant Garden Curator, UW Arboretum
Discover the fascinating life history and healthy habitats of Wisconsin’s native bumble bee species. Learn how anyone can help these important pollinators in home and community gardens. Use photography to document and learn more about the bumble bees you see and participate in the statewide citizen-based monitoring project, Bumble Bee Brigade. We’ll share the latest findings from this project and what to watch for as bumble bee season begins this spring. Join us in conserving Wisconsin’s bumble bees!

Thursday, April 10
The Problem with Birds and Windows: Studying and Reducing Bird-Window Collisions. Brenna Marsicek, Director of Outreach, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon)
Up to a billion birds die every year in the U.S. after hitting windows, and almost half of those happen at homes. The good news is that the solutions are easy and affordable! This seminar will share some science behind why birds hit windows, how a local citizen science group is studying the problem, and provide recommendations on ways to address problem windows at home to make them more bird-safe.

Wednesday, May 7
Preserving Green Space in Urban Areas. Brian Ohm, Professor Emeritus, Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Wisconsin has a rich history as a national leader in the preservation of green space in both urban and rural areas. This talk will explore that history and the evolving concepts of green space. It will also provide an overview of current preservation practices and the challenges for the future.

Wednesday, June 4
What’s New in the Wisconsin State Climatology Office? Steve Vavrus, Wisconsin State Climatologist
The Wisconsin State Climatology Office (SCO) has been revitalized recently with additional resources, a new director, and expanding staff.  The SCO provides “climate services” to help Wisconsinites use weather and climate information more effectively, and we also conduct basic and applied research. This knowledge will improve our understanding of Wisconsin’s fascinating climate and help decision-makers around the state. I will explain how the SCO is monitoring Wisconsin’s weather variations and documenting long-term climate changes since the 1800s.

Past lectures

Thursday, September 26, 2024
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation in Wisconsin. Joshua M. Kapfer, Ph.D., Professor, and Certified Wildlife Biologist,  Biology Department, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater
Joshua will review the major threats and challenges that face Wisconsin’s amphibians and reptiles.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Gardening for Hummingbirds. Michael and Kathi Rock
Hummingbird gardening has been Michael and Kathi’s passion for over 20 years. Learn how to create a sanctuary for the ruby-throated hummingbird in your own backyard. Through the use of perennial and annual plants, wildflowers, shrubs, trees, water features, and hummingbird feeders, you can discover the magic and excitement of hummingbirds!

Thursday, November 14, 2024
A Musician and a Score: The Spirit of Experimentation in Music and Science. Dr. Paul Hanson, Research Professor, UW–Madison Center for Limnology, and Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines, professional musicians
Surprisingly, science and music are very similar disciplines. Both scientists and musicians are creators whose work establishes a foundation for future experimentation and discovery in their respective disciplines​. In this hybrid lecture/musical performance, the group will use this history of Lake Mendota’s water quality as a theme (or “medium”) to demonstrate how cycles of creativity connect the realms of science and music.