• Sunday, August 20

    Wingra Oak Savanna Restoration and Monroe Street Environs
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    This oak savanna has been a cooperative restoration with the Arboretum, Dudgeon Monroe Neighborhood, and volunteers since 1992. We will visit the restoration, the Wheeler Council Ring designed by Jens Jensen, and two bubbling springs Native Americans relied on for centuries. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St.

  • Saturday, August 26

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. More information: 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, August 27

    Grasslands on the Grady Tract
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    This is a good time to see the contrast between the sandy dry West Knoll and wet-mesic Greene Prairie. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Road.

  • Sunday, August 27

    Listen to the Buzzzzz of the Prairie
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Join us to listen to the late summer sounds of the prairie and discover birds, grasshoppers, crickets, bumblebees, and maybe even the sound of a snake slithering through the grass. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, September 2

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Wingra Oak Savanna

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, September 2

    Moonlit Migration
    Night Walk

    6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

    Hear the last insects calling in the grasslands and see migrating birds on their way south. We will walk under the waxing moon (full Sept. 6), looking and listening for animal life and sky shadows. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, September 3

    Fall Flowers in Grady Oak Savanna and Greene Prairie
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Enjoy goldenrods, asters, sunflowers, gentians, and the many insects living among them. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. No facilities on site; some sloping terrain.

  • Saturday, September 9

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, September 9

    Edible Landscaping
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Join Judy Kingsbury and Marian Farrior, permaculture designers and Arboretum outreach specialists, as they explore the collection’s edible plants and highlight some of their favorite trees and shrubs. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, September 10

    Curtis Prairie
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    The tallgrass prairie is at peak height and color. Big bluestem can grow more than 7 feet tall and will be a beautiful red color. We will watch for animals preparing for winter. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, September 10

    Fun with Fungi
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Families will join a naturalist to investigate mushrooms growing in the natural areas and the gardens. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, September 16

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Grady Tract

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, September 17

    Native by Design: Gardening for a Sustainable Future
    Native Gardening Conference

    8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    The annual Native Gardening Conference teaches and promotes the use of native plants in home landscapes for biodiversity, habitat, beauty, and sustainability. Expert-led workshops inspire and inform gardeners and landowners to create and maintain native gardens or small-scale restorations on their own property. Keynote: "A New Garden Ethic," Benjamin Vogt, landscape designer and author. Fee: $65 ($59 FOA). Preregister by Sept. 7.

  • Sunday, September 17

    Grady Grasslands
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    On this walk through West Knoll Oak Savanna and Greene Prairie, we will look for the five species of gentian that grow here as well as asters and goldenrods. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. No facilities on site; some sloping terrain.

  • Friday, September 22

    Equinox
    Night Walk

    6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

    Walk with a naturalist as the sun sets and learn about autumnal equinox science and folklore. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, September 23

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, September 23

    Fall in the Native Plant Garden
    Native Plant Garden Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Color, fruits, seeds, late-blooming plants, late-season insects—we will find these and more in the diverse native plant gardens. Susan Carpenter, Arboretum native plant gardener, will lead this tour. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, September 24

    Arboretum Sampler
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about the ecosystems that support plants and animals at the Arboretum. Explore the restored woodlands, wetlands, and prairies near the Visitor Center with a naturalist. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, September 24

    Nature’s Transformers
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Come learn about fascinating transformations animals make throughout their lives. Naturalist-led hike from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., indoor activities from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 1

    October Birds on the Move
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    The naturalist will talk about Wisconsin birds as well as those passing through en route to wintering grounds. Bring binoculars or scope if you have them; we have some to share. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, October 7

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Wingra Oak Savanna

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, October 7

    Fungi—Food for Thought
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Don’t fear fungi! They are incredibly diverse and play important roles in ecosystems. Learn the basic classes of fungi, growth and life cycles, and cultural significance. Instructor: Amy Jo Dusick, Arboretum naturalist. Come prepared for time outdoors. Fee: $25 (FOA $23). Preregister by Oct. 3.

    Register for this event ($25)

  • Saturday, October 7

    Fall Favorites
    Longenecker Horticultural Garden Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Enjoy the colorful show of trees and shrubs before their winter hibernation. Michael Jesiolowski, Senior Horticulturist at Chicago Botanic Garden, will highlight the best fall foliage and fruit displays from Acer to Zelkova. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, October 7

    By the Light of the Harvest Moon
    Night Walk

    6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

    The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Traditionally an asset to farmers harvesting crops, the light of this moon is also memorable for bird watchers during fall migration. How many bird silhouettes can you identify? Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 8

    Woodlands
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Enjoy what may be peak for fall color in the restored woodlands. Our naturalist will share stories about Arboretum woods and their history. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 8

    Why Do Leaves Change Color?
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Families will learn about the wonders of fall color in native trees and prairie grasses. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Wednesday, October 11

    Invasive Species Identification and Monitoring
    Class

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Early detection can minimize the impact of invasive species. The Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) app is one tool citizen scientists can use to help report invasive plant species. This workshop will cover impacts and identification and how to use the app. Come prepared for time outdoors and bring your smartphone. Meet at the Visitor Center. Instructor: Anne Pearce, Wisconsin First Detector Network program coordinator. Fee: $30 (FOA $27). Preregister by Oct. 7.

    Register for this event ($30)

  • Saturday, October 14

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, October 14

    Wisconsin Bats and How to Help Them
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in the U.S. since the early 2000s. Since first detected in Wisconsin in 2014, the disease has spread in hibernating sites, decimating bat populations. Learn about these important insectivores and how we can help them. Come prepared for time outdoors. Meet at the Visitor Center. Instructor: Lisa Andrewski, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20 (FOA $18). Preregister by Oct. 10.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Saturday, October 14

    Conifers
    Longenecker Horticultural Garden Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    David Stevens, LHG curator, will explore the pinetum, the largest and most diverse conifer collection in the state. Located on a glacial drumlin, the collection ranges from pines, spruce, and firs to Japanese umbrella trees. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 15

    Trees and Shrub Identification
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Learn to identify the most common native trees and shrubs in our area, as well as characteristics of some invasive shrubs. Come prepared for time outdoors. Meet at the Visitor Center. Instructors: Sara Christopherson, Arboretum naturalist, and Marian Farrior, Arboretum restoration work party manager. Fee: $25 (FOA $23). Preregister by Oct. 11.

    Register for this event ($25)

  • Sunday, October 15

    Autumn Woodlands
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Fallen and falling leaves, mushrooms, and other delights are possible this time of year. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, October 21

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Grady Tract

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, October 22

    Red Lanterns
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Blackberry leaves turn bright red this month. According to Aldo Leopold, they indicate the best place to look for woodcock and grouse when hunting. We don’t have grouse (or allow hunting), so we will look for fall color, migrating white-throated sparrows, and other fall delights. Bring binoculars or scope if you have them; we have some to share. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 22

    Colors of Nature
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Hike and explore the colorful forest and prairie, then draw, paint, and write about your discoveries. Naturalist-led hike from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., indoor activities from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, October 28

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, October 29

    Getting Lost in the City
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    One hundred years ago, developers planned a "Venice of the North," to be called Lake Forest. That land now comprises the eastern portion of the Arboretum. We'll hike to the site of the failed subdivision, discovering fragments of pavement and other construction remnants along the way. Portions of this tour require stepping over obstacles. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. See also related class on Nov. 18.

  • Saturday, November 4

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Wingra Oak Savanna

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, November 5

    Wisconsin Geology
    Exploration Stations

    12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

    Learn about the Arboretum’s landforms and geological history, shaped by the glaciers and now affected by a changing climate. Explore the links between geological layers and the land we experience through plants, animals, waterways, and air. Ponder how changes in one part of an interconnected system can influence the whole. Drop in for Wisconsin Science Festival Exploration Stations for all ages in the Visitor Center. See also the two afternoon walks, listed separately.

  • Sunday, November 5

    Follow the Glacier
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Learn how the last continental glacier's path sculpted Arboretum land and how climate and weather patterns today continue to alter it. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented in conjunction with the Wisconsin Science Festival.

  • Sunday, November 5

    Shapes on the Land
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Families will explore and discover hills, hidden ponds, and valleys while learning how glaciers shaped the land. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented in conjunction with the Wisconsin Science Festival.

  • Saturday, November 11

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, November 12

    The CCC and the Arboretum
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up its only camp on a university campus. More than 200 men served here until the camp closed in 1941. Learn about their extraordinary efforts to restore the ecosystems of Wisconsin and hike through the landscape they helped create. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, November 18

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Grady Tract

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, November 18

    History of the Lost City
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Delve into the fascinating history of the "Lost City," concentrating on the failed Lake Forest development project and the Arboretum’s subsequent acquisition of the lots. Who were the personalities involved, why didn't the original project succeed, and what is the current status of the area? Meet at the Visitor Center. See also Oct. 29 Lost City tour. Instructor: Kathy Miner, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20 (FOA $18). Preregister by Nov. 14.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Saturday, November 18

    Deer Running Moon
    Night Walk

    6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

    Hear night sounds and consider what may have inspired the Ho-Chunk to give the November full moon this name (others call it the Frost Moon). Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, November 19

    Thinking Like an Arboretum
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Aldo Leopold's essay "Thinking Like a Mountain" is the basis for this tour about the predator-prey relationships and ecosystem diversity. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, November 25

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, November 26

    Arboretum Sampler
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Visit the Arboretum horticultural and native plant gardens as well as natural areas near the Visitor Center. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.