Archives

• Director’s Note 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

• A Time to Reflect October 31, 2018

  Director’s Note October 1 marked the end of my first year at the Arboretum. This anniversary, combined with amazing autumn weather, gave me a chance… 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 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

• UW Arboretum Workshop Tracks Endangered Bees with Photos July 21, 2017

  “With a trained eye and quick finger stabbing the air, University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum native plant gardener Susan Carpenter counts off the bumble bees… Read more

• Student Art Exhibit Explores Arboretum Prairies through Comics, Stories April 27, 2017

  “Growing up, Liz Anna Kozik didn’t think of the restored prairies around her home in Naperville, Illinois, as a special habitat worth noticing — until… Read more

• Stories in the Land: Tales of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum March 31, 2017

  The Arboretum is rich in history, research, and beauty. Liz Anna Kozik, a graduate student in Design Studies, has created visual stories of Arboretum past… Read more

• How to Protect Our Disappearing Bumble Bees March 24, 2017

  “On March 21, the rusty-patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis, officially became the first bumble bee listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. This designation recognizes… Read more

• Endangered Bumble Bee Gets Help from Citizen Scientists March 23, 2017

  The rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) was officially listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act on Tuesday, March 21. Citizen science projects contributed high… Read more

• Happy in the Arb, Endangered in the World January 13, 2017

  “This winter may now feel a shade lonelier for a handful of bumble bee princesses tucked away underground in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum, but… Read more

• Arboretum Prairies Offer Rare Refuge for Vanishing Bumblebee October 4, 2016

  “A proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to seek endangered status for the rusty-patched bumblebee has focused renewed attention on bumblebees living at… Read more