Cherished by Friends since 1982, the Luncheon Lecture 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 soon. Each lecture costs $48.
Register online at foamadison.org. Online registration is fastest. New this year, you can also register for the entire series as a package.
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.
2025–26 Luncheon Lectures
Wednesday, September 17
The Mighty Bur Oak: From Hybrid Genomes to Insects, Fungi, and the Tangled Web of Life. Andrew Hipp, director of the Herbarium and senior scientist in plant systematics at The Morton Arboretum, and lecturer at University of Chicago
The bur oak is a foundation of eastern North American forests and savannas. It is massive, long-lived, strong, and enormously variable. But the bur oak is no lone wolf: it exchanges genes with other oak species from the Black Hills to Vermont, and from northern Minnesota down to Texas. This talk will introduce current research on how genes move between bur oak and its relatives and shape their evolution, and how oak genomes shape the natural history of our region.
Wednesday, October 15
A Journey Toward Great Lakes Resilience. Jane Elder, President, Jane Elder Strategies, LLC
The Great Lakes are one of Earth’s most significant freshwater ecosystems. A complex network of agencies strives to manage this vast and vulnerable ecosystem at multiple government levels, but current policies fall short of needed protections when it comes to threats ranging from agricultural pollution to climate change. Lifelong advocate Jane Elder will share observations from her memoir and policy critique, Wilderness, Water & Rust, on the region’s environmental challenges, why we’re “stuck” in policy progress, and potential system-scale solutions.
Wednesday, November 19
The Longenecker Horticultural Gardens at 90: History and Current Initiatives. David Stevens, Ed Hasselkus Curator, Longenecker Horticultural Gardens, UW–Madison Arboretum
The Longenecker Horticultural Gardens are the UW Arboretum’s arboretum, housing the largest and most diverse collection of woody plants in the state. First planted in 1935, they are consistently one of the most visited natural areas in Madison, where visitors come to experience the beauty and wonder of woody plant diversity from Wisconsin and around the world. Though steeped in history, the collection continues to evolve, with new plants added yearly and staying current with technologies to help maintain and interpret it. Longenecker curator David Stevens will discuss the garden’s history and bring us up to date on what’s happening in it today.
Tuesday January 20
Loving Orphaned Space: The Art and Science of Belonging to Earth. Mrill Ingram, Participatory action research scientist, research fellow, UW–Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
We are surrounded by overlooked and neglected bits of land; street medians and right-of-ways, drainage basins, empty lots, and other spaces “orphaned” from social and ecological connection. Often dismissed as eyesores or evidence of societal failure, Mrill Ingram suggests orphaned space can offer meaning, even transcendence, or at least a good story. She combines the arts and sciences to explore how these everyday spaces can foster human connection to the Earth, and she will share how her thinking grew from visits to the scruffier edges of the UW Arboretum.
Tuesday February 10
The New Wisconsin History Center: Exploring Human Landscapes. Joe Kapler, lead curator and curator of cultural history, The Wisconsin History Center
Designed to be a welcoming beacon of inspiration and exploration, the new Wisconsin History Center will share history and connect communities in new and engaging ways. Wisconsin History Center curator Joe Kapler will present a special preview of the “Human Landscapes” gallery, one of four dynamic galleries exploring the long history of the people of Wisconsin. Through dramatic renderings, Kapler will provide a virtual look into the exhibition that carefully investigates how we depend on the physical world to live, work, and play.
Tuesday March 17
Nurturing Nature by Protecting our Animal Neighbors. Dr. Rebecca Christoffel, co-director of Turtles for Tomorrow, sole proprietor of Christoffel Conservation
Our varied non-human neighbors include plants and animals residing above and below the ground. Some are reptiles, amphibians and mammals that we rarely observe, while others, like many birds, are flashy and frequently seen. Each is fascinating! We’ll explore how people are taking new action to nurture their non-human neighbors, with a special focus on turtles. Specifically, we’ll look at the protection of turtle nesting sites and the application of conservation practices on agricultural lands.
Thursday April 16
Wisconsin Waters: Exploring Their Geology and Ancient Stories. Scott Spoolman, science writer and author
Explore Wisconsin waterways and learn about their ancient backstories. The placid rivers, waterfalls crashing over rock ledges near Lake Superior, the great Horicon Marsh, Madison’s own five lakes, and many other waterways all have fascinating stories to tell. Scott Spoolman will include readings from his book Wisconsin Waters: The Ancient History of Lakes, Rivers, and Waterfalls, along with samples from the travel guides that follow each story, helping attendees to plan their own explorations of these scenic sites.
Wednesday May 20
Bird-friendly Coffee and Chocolate Tasting and the Songbirds You’ll Save. Lisa Gaumnitz, Coordinator of SOS Save Our Songbirds, and Amy Haban, owner and CEO of Barnwood Coffee Company
Your morning cup of coffee can help save songbirds! What about the chocolate you savor? Sample bird-friendly coffees and chocolates that meet the gold standard for protecting bird habitat in Central America, where many of our favorite songbirds winter. Learn what it means to be Bird Friendly®, and why buying these certified products is important. Options for preventing window collisions will be discussed and samples will be provided. The value of native plants for supporting birds will be explored and you will take home a free native plant.
Tuesday, June 2
Eyes on the Skies. Dr. James Lattis, retired director, UW Space Place, and faculty associate, UW–Madison Astronomy Department
This talk will present a tour of the current sky and astronomical events, recent past and near future, that will be of interest to stargazers young and old.