• Saturday, February 23

    Ecological Restoration Work Party – CANCELLED
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    CANCELLED FOR WEATHER. 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, February 24

    Signs of Spring
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Even in the February cold, plants have buds and birds and mammals prepare for a warmer season. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, February 24

    Tracking Natural Cycles
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Phenology is the study of life cycle events and timing in nature. Learn how to track and record events such as flowering, leaf out, and migration in your own backyard. Walk, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, February 28

    Action on Climate Change—The Largest Health Intervention of the Twenty-First Century – SOLD OUT
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Jonathan Patz, director, Global Health Institute, UW–Madison. Fee: $10. Lecture is sold out.

  • Friday, March 1

    Green Fire Brown Bag Lunch
    Special Event

    11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

    Kick off Leopold Weekend by watching the Aldo Leopold documentary over lunch, followed by a discussion. Bring your own lunch and beverage. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented for Aldo Leopold Weekend.

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

  • Saturday, March 2

    14th-Annual Madison Reads Leopold
    Special Event

    9:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

    Free public reading from "A Sand County Almanac" and other works by conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Arboretum’s first research director. Readers from the community will share Leopold’s eloquent statements about humans’ relationship to the natural environment. Come for your favorite essays or stay all day. Presented for Aldo Leopold Weekend.

  • Sunday, March 3

    In Leopold’s Footsteps
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn where conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Arboretum’s first research director, conducted famous phenological research from 1935–45 and established the first restorations of Wisconsin’s natural ecosystems. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented for Aldo Leopold Weekend.

  • Sunday, March 3

    Celebrating Aldo Leopold
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    As a young boy, Aldo Leopold loved to read and explore the land. He kept detailed notes and drew sketches. Following Leopold’s example, we will investigate the Arboretum and create journals for observations and sketches. Walk, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented for Aldo Leopold Weekend.

  • Thursday, March 7

    50 Years of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Tracy Hames, executive director, Wisconsin Wetlands Association. Register by March 4.

    Register for this event ($10)

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

  • Sunday, March 10

    Awakening Land
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    We will look for buds swelling, the return of birds such as sandhill cranes and turkey vultures, and signs of mole and worm activity in the thawed soil. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, March 10

    Mud Season
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about changes to the plants, animals, and ground we walk on as spring approaches. Walk designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, March 14

    Seed Sourcing for Habitat Restoration
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Keynote: Laura Jackson, director, Tallgrass Prairie Center. Discussion panel: Amy Alstad, land protection associate, Driftless Area Land Conservancy; Corrine Daniels, director, Nursery Operations, Taylor Creek Restoration Nursery; Rich Henderson, board member, The Prairie Enthusiasts; and Kevin Kawula, owner, Lone Rock Nursery. Fee: $10. Lecture is sold out. Rescheduled from January 31.

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

  • Sunday, March 17

    Looking for Green
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Mother Nature always begins to show some green around this time of year—we’ll search for it. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Wednesday, March 20

    Spring Equinox
    Night Walk

    6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

    Enjoy a sunset walk on the first day of spring, halfway between the winter and summer solstices. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, March 21

    Native Plant Gardens at the Arboretum: Then and Now
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Susan Carpenter, Native Plant Gardener, UW Arboretum. Register by March 18. Rescheduled from March 14.

    Register for this event ($10)

  • Saturday, March 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, March 24

    Early Migrants
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Birds are returning from the south. Neotropical migrants spend the winter in Central and South America, then return here to nest. We will look for early migrants as well as early nesters among our year-long residents. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, March 24

    All About Birds
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    This time of year, many birds are on the move. Learn about migration, why some birds make the journey while others do not, and which ones you might see in your yard. Walk, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, March 31

    Reading the Early Spring Landscape
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    The arrival of spring is different every year. If you observe closely you’ll begin to notice the variations. Get tips on what to look for as nature awakens from the long winter. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, April 6

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

  • Saturday, April 6

    Phenology—Tracking Nature
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Tune in to signs of early spring. Phenology—the study of periodic occurrences in nature—is both art and science, practiced for millennia across cultures and regions. Learn about different approaches, and even invent your own. Instructor: Kathy Miner, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by April 2. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Sunday, April 7

    Transitions
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Early spring brings variable weather, influencing plant awakenings and animal behavior. Walk with the naturalist to areas where changes are most evident. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, April 7

    Garden Excursion
    Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about Arboretum history, land, and science on a gently paced walk in the gardens. This new monthly stroll offers a multigenerational learning experience on the first Sunday of each month, April–October. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, April 13

    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, April 14

    Effigy Mounds
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    The Arboretum contains rare mound groups built more than 1,000 years ago. On this naturalist-led walk in Wingra and Gallistel woods, you will learn about these ancient earthworks and the people who built them. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, April 14

    Frogs
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Walk to nearby ponds and wetlands to listen for frog calls and learn about how they grow from egg to adult. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, April 18

    Skydance
    Night Walk

    7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

    The American woodcock is a funny-looking bird that has an amazing spring ritual for attracting mates. Aldo Leopold called it “skydance.” We can’t guarantee that wildlife will appear, but if they do and the sky is clear, the nearly full moon could illuminate their performances in Curtis Prairie. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, April 20

    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, April 21

    For Love of Earth
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Honor Earth Day (April 22) on an early spring walk to search for signs of renewal in the gardens and woodlands. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, April 27

    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

  • Saturday, April 27

    Early Signs of Spring
    Native Plant Garden Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    As trees begin to leaf out, Dutchman’s breeches, twin-leaf, and rue-anemones might be blooming in the woodland gardens, and pasqueflower and prairie-smoke in the prairie gardens. Susan Carpenter, Arboretum native plant gardener, will lead this tour. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, April 27

    All About Bluebirds
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    The Arboretum’s bluebird trail in Longenecker Horticultural Gardens is more than 30 years old. In this indoor/outdoor class, you’ll walk the trail and learn about bluebirds, their behavior, their decline, and restoration efforts. Dress for the weather. Instructor: Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by April 23. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Sunday, April 28

    Woodland Wildflowers
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    If this is a typical spring, we may find bloodroot, wild ginger, bluebells, and Dutchman’s breeches (among other delights) along the trails of the restored woodlands. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, April 28

    Earth Day Celebration
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    This year, many Earth Day (April 22) celebrations will focus on protecting endangered species. Learn about the Arboretum’s efforts to conserve plants, animals, and their habitat. Walk, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

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

  • Saturday, May 4

    Magnolias
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Tour the gardens’ extensive magnolia collection, and other spring flowering plants encountered along the way, with Michael Jesiolowski, Chicago Botanic Garden senior horticulturist. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 5

    Spring Wildflowers in Wingra Woods
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Look for wildflowers in Wingra Woods and watch for other signs of renewal. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 5

    Garden Excursion
    Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about Arboretum history, land, and science on a gently paced walk in the gardens. This new monthly stroll offers a multigenerational learning experience on the first Sunday of each month, April–October. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, May 11

    Friends of the Arboretum Native Plant Sale
    Special Event

    9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

    Visit the big tent on the lawn in front of Curtis Prairie to shop for all your native plant gardening needs. Organized by Friends of the Arboretum, open to the general public.

  • Saturday, May 11

    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 Drive parking lot, off Monroe St. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, May 11

    Lilacs and Crabapples
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Enjoy spring blooms and scents in the lilac and crabapple collections with LHG curator David Stevens, who will highlight some of his favorite selections. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 12

    Ecosystem Saunter
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Explore the Arboretum’s woodlands, wetlands, and prairies with a naturalist and look for wildflowers. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 12

    A Spring in Our Step
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Explore Gallistel Woods to look for blooming wildflowers. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

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

  • Saturday, May 18

    Rare and Uncommon Native Wisconsin Trees and Shrubs
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Join Keith Phelps, Arboretum horticultural technician, on a tour highlighting unique and rare Wisconsin woody natives. Learn about their ecology, cultural significance, conservation concerns, and landscape use. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, May 18

    Light of the Moon
    Night Walk

    8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

    The Ho-Chunk call this month’s full moon the Earth Drying Moon, as the earth dries enough to begin planting. Walk by the light of the moon with a naturalist. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 19

    Springtime on the Savanna
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Discover May on the savanna, where we may see lupines, trout-lily, wild geranium, and other blooms and new growth. We’ll also listen and watch for birds. Free, no registration required. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St.

  • Saturday, May 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.

  • Sunday, May 26

    Teal Pond and Curtis Prairie Wetlands
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Visit wetland areas with a naturalist to learn about the impact of urbanization, stormwater, ecological restoration, and wetland benefits to humans and wildlife. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 26

    Wetlands
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    May is American Wetlands Month. Learn about wetland habitats and the animals that live in them. Walk, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.