Most events are free, with no registration required, unless otherwise noted.
Outdoor public walks are subject to cancellation due to the following weather conditions: 10 degrees Fahrenheit or less with a wind chill factor; excessively snowy, icy, or muddy conditions; thunderstorms; a heat index above 100 degrees Fahrenheit; air quality index above 200.
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Saturday, April 18
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Grady Tract9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Volunteer for habitat restoration activities in prairies, savannas, and woodlands. 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. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Saturday, April 18
Magnolias
Garden Tour1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Celebrate the return of spring on a flower-filled stroll through Longenecker Horticultural Gardens’ dazzling collection of 110 magnolia trees. Tour led by David Stevens, garden curator and Magnolia Society International board member. Due to the popularity of this tour, free registration through Eventbrite is required by April 14: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Sunday, April 19
Nature Hike in the Wingra Oak Savanna
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. (No restroom facilities at site.)
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Sunday, April 19
Family Nature Program: Love the Earth
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This program is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Nature walk: 1:30–2:30 p.m., activities: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Saturday, April 25
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Wingra Woods9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Volunteer for habitat restoration activities in prairies, savannas, and woodlands. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Wingra Springs parking lot, at top of hill on Arboretum Dr., northeast of the Visitor Center. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Saturday, April 25
Early Signs of Spring
Garden Tour1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
As trees begin to leaf out, Dutchman’s breeches, twinleaf and rue-anemones might be blooming in the woodland gardens, and prairie-smoke in the prairie gardens. Susan Carpenter, garden curator, will lead this tour of the Native Plant Garden. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Sunday, April 26
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
This gently paced walk explores ecological communities near the Visitor Center. Themes may include the land, plants, animals, other organisms, phenology, and ecology. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Routes are wheelchair accessible when weather allows. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Saturday, May 2
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Noe Woods and West Curtis Prairie9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Volunteer for habitat restoration activities in prairies, savannas, and woodlands. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Curtis parking lot, on McCaffrey Dr. west of the Visitor Center. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Saturday, May 2
Lilacs
Garden Tour1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Established in 1935, the Longenecker Horticultural Gardens’ lilac collection is the third largest in the country. Join David Stevens, garden curator, to explore lilac history, lore, culture, and color. Due to the popularity of this tour, free registration through Eventbrite is required by April 28: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Saturday, May 2
7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight, listen to the night sounds, and experience the darkness on this naturalist-led walk (full moon May 1). Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, register through Eventbrite by April 28: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Sunday, May 3
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Sunday, May 3
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This walk is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Saturday, May 9
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Noe Woods and West Curtis Prairie9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Volunteer for habitat restoration activities in prairies, savannas, and woodlands. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Curtis parking lot, on McCaffrey Dr. west of the Visitor Center. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Saturday, May 9
Spring Highlights
Garden Tour1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Explore the wonders of spring flowering woody plants in Longenecker Horticultural Gardens as garden horticultural specialist Neil Schmidt presents seasonal highlights from the Gardens’ expansive collection. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Sunday, May 10
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Tuesday, May 12
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Abraham’s Woods9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Help pull garlic mustard in a high-quality woodland in Albany, Wisconsin, 30 miles south of Madison. Tools and training provided. Advance registration via Eventbrite by May 10 is required: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Volunteers must provide their own transportation. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Tuesday, May 12
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
Virtual Citizen Science Training10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Monarch Joint Venture will lead a virtual one-day training about collecting monarch data. Learn about monarch biology, monitoring procedures, and data entry protocols. Monarch biologists will be available for questions. Newcomers and active participants in monarch citizen science projects are welcome. The training includes a one-hour break. Fee: $50. Advance registration required: go.wisc.edu/992g89.
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Saturday, May 16
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Grady Tract9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Volunteer for habitat restoration activities in prairies, savannas, and woodlands. 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. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Saturday, May 16
Friends of the Arboretum Native Plant Sale
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
In the large tents on the lawn near the Visitor Center, shop for more than 130 species of native grasses, woodland, prairie, and savanna plants, available to purchase while supplies last. Organized by Friends of the Arboretum, open to the general public.
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Sunday, May 17
Nature Hike in the Wingra Oak Savanna
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. (No restroom facilities at site.)
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Sunday, May 17
Family Nature Program: Flower Power
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This program is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Nature walk: 1:30–2:30 p.m., activities: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Tuesday, May 19
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Abraham’s Woods9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Help pull garlic mustard in a high-quality woodland in Albany, Wisconsin, 30 miles south of Madison. Tools and training provided. Advance registration via Eventbrite by May 17 is required: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Volunteers must provide their own transportation. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Saturday, May 23
Ecological Restoration Work Party
Wingra Oak Savanna9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Volunteer for habitat restoration activities in prairies, savannas, and woodlands. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. (No restroom facilities at site.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.
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Saturday, May 23
Class: Bluebirds and the Arboretum Trail
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Learn about the fascinating lives of bluebirds, their behavior, why their populations declined, and restoration efforts. Instructor Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist, created the Arboretum bluebird trail in 1988 and has monitored it for more than 30 years. Indoor presentation followed by a walk of the trail. Fee: $25. Register by May 19. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Sunday, May 24
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
This gently paced walk explores ecological communities near the Visitor Center. Themes may include the land, plants, animals, other organisms, phenology, and ecology. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Routes are wheelchair accessible when weather allows. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Monday, May 25
All day
The Visitor Center will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday. Arboretum grounds remain open.
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Saturday, May 30
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight, listen to the night sounds, and experience the darkness on this naturalist-led walk (full moon May 31). Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, register through Eventbrite by May 26: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Sunday, May 31
Nature Hike in the Grady Tract
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. (No restroom facilities at site.)