Native Plant Garden grasses
Arboretum Public Talks
2023 Fall Art and Environment Workshops
Artists are inspired by and communicate powerfully about the natural world. Our fall workshops will help you find your own inspiration through hands-on activities that explore connections between arts and the environment. Free, registration required through Eventbrite.
Thursday, October 5
6:30–8:30 p.m. Art and Environment Workshop: Cultivate the Change You Wish to See
Mars Patterson, artist, master naturalist, land steward, ecological restorationist. Join Mars to connect with nature, others, and yourself through art making. We will learn about and create handmade gris gris pouches that include local stones and seeds. Meet at Visitor Center. Free, register through Eventbrite by October 1.
Thursday, October 12
6:30–8:30 p.m. Art and Environment Workshop: History, Ecology, and Comics – Reconnecting People and Prairie Through Drawing
Liz Anna Kozik, PhD candidate, UW–Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Past and present, prairies have been places with people. We will explore the past, present, and futures of Midwestern restoration from the perspective of the first prairie restoration at the Arboretum. Kozik will lead an illustrated prairie history research and drawing workshop. Meet at Visitor Center. Free, register through Eventbrite by October 8. (Note: Use Eventbrite only to register for in-person attendance. If you are unable to attend in person, follow this link to sign up to join remotely.)
Thursday, October 19
6:30–8:30 p.m. Art and Environment Workshop: Storytelling with Color
Susan Carpenter, Arboretum Native Plant Garden curator, quilter. The natural world is filled with vibrant color. In this workshop, we will develop color palettes from images in nature and explore value and impact of different colors. Try a small project that uses color to represent an environmental story. Meet at Visitor Center. Free, register through Eventbrite by October 15.
Thursday, October 26
6:30–8:30 p.m. Art and Environment Workshop: Nature Journaling to Reflect and Connect
Nature journaling brings endless possibilities for engaging with nature and reflecting on our world. Join Arboretum staff at Delta Beer Lab to explore different approaches to nature journaling. Inspiration from nature and supplies provided. Meet at Delta Beer Lab, 167 E Badger Rd, Madison. Free, register through Eventbrite by October 22.
Annual Learning Programs
Native Gardening Conference
Held every September at the Arboretum, the Native Gardening Conference promotes sustainable gardening practices and use of native plants in home landscapes. We inspire and inform gardeners, homeowners, and landowners to create and maintain native gardens or small-scale restorations on their own property. The program welcomes people with a range of interests and experience.
Winter Enrichment
The Arboretum’s long-running Winter Enrichment series offers lectures for naturalists and community member in the greater Madison area. The nine-week series runs February to March. See the Winter Enrichment page for more information.
Friends of the Arboretum Luncheon-Lectures
The Luncheon-Lectures series, organized by Friends of the Arboretum, presents monthly talks with a catered lunch. Friends receive priority registration, but talks are open to anyone as space allows.