• Wednesday, June 20

    What’s Blooming?
    Native Plant Garden Tour

    7 p.m.

    Join Susan Carpenter, Arboretum native plant gardener, to find, compare, and learn about flowers on native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, June 21

    Arboretum Summer Third Thursday Book Group

    2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Read engrossing environmental books and discuss them with fellow nature lovers at the Arboretum’s summer book group. June title: "Walking Home Ground: In the Footsteps of Muir, Leopold, and Derleth," by Robert Root. Discussion led by Troy Hess, volunteer team leader. BYO book. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, June 21

    Summer Solstice
    Night Walk

    8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

    Enjoy a sunset walk on the longest day of the year and learn some fun facts about the solstice. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, June 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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, June 24

    Prairies and Savannas on the Grady Tract
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Keep your eyes open for June bloomers. Showy butterfly-weed and subdued New Jersey tea both attract bees for nectar. Learn about these and other flora-fauna associations. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd.

  • Sunday, June 24

    A Wisconsin Prairie
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Many flowers are blooming on our Wisconsin prairies in late June. Walk through the world-renowned Curtis Prairie and learn more about flowering prairie plants. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Friday, June 29

    Strawberry Moon
    Night Walk

    8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

    The Ojibwe call June’s full moon the Strawberry, or Heart-berry, Moon (full June 27). Watch as it rises in the night sky, and look and listen for wildlife who may be stirring at night. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, July 1

    A Prairie Birthday
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    This walk is named after an Aldo Leopold essay. We will look for the plants he wrote about, including blazing-stars, prairie grasses, and many sunflower species in bloom. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, July 7

    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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, July 7

    Identifying Summer Prairie Flowers
    Class

    10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Learn techniques for identifying native wildflowers. This is a field class, please wear sturdy shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Instructor: Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by July 2. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Sunday, July 8

    Prairies and Savannas on the Grady Tract
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Join a naturalist to search for the many species of butterflies in prairie and savannas. No facilities, some sloping terrain. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd.

  • Sunday, July 8

    In Search of Butterflies
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    We will explore the prairies and gardens looking for native butterflies and other important pollinators. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, July 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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, July 15

    A Curtis Prairie Tale
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Join a naturalist to learn about the long history and botanic richness of this famous prairie. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Wednesday, July 18

    Plants for Pollinators
    Garden Tour

    7 p.m.

    Learn about summer-blooming native and ornamental species in Arboretum gardens. Susan Carpenter, Arboretum native plant gardener, will highlight plants and gardening practices that support essential pollinators in urban/suburban landscapes. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, July 19

    Arboretum Summer Third Thursday Book Group

    2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Read engrossing environmental books and discuss them with fellow nature lovers at the Arboretum’s summer book group. July title: Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver. Discussion led by Troy Hess, volunteer team leader. BYO book. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, July 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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, July 22

    Greene Prairie and Grady Knolls
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Explore the Grady Tract knolls, oak savanna, and prairie with a naturalist. In late July, we may see Culver’s-root, mountain mint, rattlesnake-master, blazing-stars, and swamp milkweed. No facilities, some sloping terrain. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd.

  • Sunday, July 22

    Insects Galore
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    The sounds of summer include insect songs. Learn about the animals that make this chorus and their important ecological role. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Friday, July 27

    Summer Serenade
    Night Walk

    8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

    Enjoy a free concert by musical summer insects on a full moon walk with a naturalist. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, July 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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, July 29

    Curtis Prairie Forbs
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    July is an ideal month to see many wildflowers in bloom. Learn about their particular needs and characteristics on a naturalist-led walk. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, August 4

    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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, August 4

    Insects and Spiders
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    We will cover the basics of insect and spider identification and learn about their ecological roles, and then spend time outside looking for them in the prairie and gardens. Indoors, with outside field time; wear sturdy shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Instructor: Lisa Andrewski, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by July 30. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Sunday, August 5

    Henry Greene’s Prairie
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    The renowned botanist hand-planted more than 130 species from 1942 through the early 1960s. Join the naturalist to learn how Greene Prairie continues to thrive. No facilities, some sloping terrain. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Road.

  • Wednesday, August 8

    Native Grasses
    Native Plant Garden Tour

    7 p.m.

    Susan Carpenter, Arboretum native plant gardener, will focus on color, size, and features of native Wisconsin grasses, from tiny mustache grass to big bluestem. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, August 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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, August 12

    Sample of 1834 Dane County
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Restored prairie, savanna, and wetlands provide an example of what Dane County looked like in the 1830s. Ecological restoration was unknown when experiments started here in 1935. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, August 12

    “Pond”-ering Life
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about pond critters, the fascinating lives of predators and prey, and the relationships between the animals of Teal Pond. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, August 16

    Arboretum Summer Third Thursday Book Group
    The Driftless Reader

    2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Read engrossing environmental books and discuss them with fellow nature lovers at the Arboretum’s summer book group. August title: The Driftless Reader, edited by Curt Meine and Keefe Keeley. Discussion led by Troy Hess, volunteer team leader. BYO book. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, August 19

    Grady Oak Savanna
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    What are oak savannas, why are they ecologically important, and what can we do to conserve them? Join a naturalist to learn about this now rare ecosystem. No facilities, some sloping terrain. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Road.

  • Saturday, August 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. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, August 25

    Full Sturgeon Moon
    Night Walk

    8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

    The fishing tribes named this moon (full August 26) for the large Great Lakes fish readily caught in late summer. A few tribes call it the Full Red Moon for its reddish hue as it rises through a sultry haze. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, August 26

    Late Summer on the Grady Tract
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Gentians and orchids are just two plant families you are likely to find in bloom as you walk with a naturalist through knolls, savanna, and prairie. No facilities, some sloping terrain. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Road.

  • Sunday, August 26

    Citizen Science
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    People of all ages can be citizen scientists. Learn about projects happening in your community and how to get involved. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.