Archives

• Land Care Crew Visits Buena Vista Wildlife Area October 2, 2019

  Every summer, the Arboretum field crew visits another property and meets with their land managers to learn about the site’s history, management, challenges, and more. Read more

• Floating like Butterflies September 20, 2019

  Monarch populations have rebounded after years of decline. “What we want,” says Oberhauser, “is for the monarch numbers we’ve been seeing this summer to be… Read more

• Arboretum Hosts Native Gardening Conference September 15 August 5, 2019

  Learn Sustainable Gardening Practices and How to Use Native Plants in Home Landscapes The UW–Madison Arboretum will host its 2019 Native Gardening Conference, “Native… Read more

• Gardening with Native Plants: How Are the Bees Doing This Season? August 2, 2019

  August brings peak summer bloom and the first hints of fall. In the garden, we are weeding, edging, trimming plants along paths and trails, updating… Read more

• Workshops Engage Educators in Monarch Conservation August 2, 2019

  The Arboretum hosted two teacher workshops in July focused on monarch conservation and schoolyard ecology. From July 10 to 12, fifty-six K–12, early childhood, and… Read more

• AmeriCorps NCCC Volunteers Bring Dedication and Good Spirits to Madison July 1, 2019

  Just as the arrival of spring migratory birds enlivens the landscape, the arrival of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) infuses enthusiasm and energy… Read more

• Gardening with Native Plants: Summer Begins May 30, 2019

  As June 2019 begins, cool wet spring conditions continue. June is Madison’s rainiest month; the long-term average monthly precipitation is 4.5 inches. The State Climatology Office… Read more

• Director’s Note, May 2019 April 29, 2019

  I am a fan of fortune cookies. I don’t really like the cookies themselves but have had surprisingly relevant fortunes over the years. In fact,… Read more

• To Spray or Not to Spray: Controlling Mosquitos Comes with a Cost March 25, 2019

  “When I moved to Madison from St. Paul, Minnesota, in the late summer of 2017, I was thrilled to see fireflies in my neighborhood, lots… Read more

• Monarch Butterflies: Spring Migration and Habitat Restoration March 4, 2019

  Monarch butterflies are getting ready for a big journey north to Wisconsin. Karen Oberhauser was a guest on the Larry Meiller Show to talk about… Read more

• The Vanishing Flights of the Monarch Butterfly February 20, 2019

  “Walking around my family’s property in upstate New York last summer, I noticed something I hadn’t seen in years: scores of monarch butterflies flying around the… Read more

• Land Care Report: Crew Tales from the Field January 2, 2019

  After a growing season filled with rain and mosquito bites, the Arboretum natural areas crew has been busy preparing for winter. Tree thinning and seed… Read more

• On the Trails: Volunteers Blaze Through Trail Improvements October 31, 2018

  Water can cause major trail damage, and we had a lot of rain this summer, with more than 25 inches of total rainfall. Flooding inundated… Read more

• Director's Note, October 2018 October 31, 2018

  A Time to Reflect October 1 marked the end of my first year at the Arboretum. This anniversary, combined with amazing autumn weather, gave me… Read more

• Faville Prairie Brush Mowing Project September 30, 2018

  In addition to the 1,200-acre property in Madison, Arboretum staff manage eleven properties throughout Wisconsin that are owned by the University of Wisconsin Board of… Read more

• Research Update: Bluebird Restoration May 31, 2018

  In the early 1900s, Eastern bluebird populations in North America were dwindling. Several factors contributed to their decline: ice storms in their wintering grounds, a… Read more

• Director’s Note, May 2018 May 1, 2018

  April 1 was my six-month anniversary as the UW–Madison Arboretum director, and I have answered the question “How’s your new job?” about 1,000 times since… Read more

• UW Arboretum Joins the Monarch Joint Venture January 17, 2018

  The University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum has joined the nationwide conservation cooperative the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV). The first arboretum to partner with the MJV,… Read more

• On the Trails: Arboretum Boardwalks September 29, 2017

  Arboretum trails invite hours of exploration for thousands of visitors. The nearly 20-mile trail system winds through prairies, savannas, woodlands, and wetlands, offering recreational opportunities… Read more

• Gardening with Native Plants:  Space for Thistles September 29, 2017

  October is a transition month in the garden, with median first frost date mid-month, plants dying back, seeds dispersing, birds flocking and feeding on fruits… Read more