• Saturday, April 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.

  • Saturday, April 21

    All About Bluebirds
    Class

    9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

    Walk the Arboretum’s 25-year-old bluebird trail in Longenecker Horticultural Gardens and learn about the fascinating bluebird, its behavior, reasons for its decline, and current restoration efforts. Dress for the weather. Instructor: Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by April 16. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, April 21

    Magnolias (rescheduled for May 6)
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, MAY 6, 3–5 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, April 22

    Earth Day Among Woodland Wildflowers
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    If this is a typical spring, we may find bloodroot, wild ginger, Virginia 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 22

    Earth Day
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Join us for an outdoor walk and indoor activities to honor Gaylord Nelson, father of Earth Day, and learn how each of us can help protect nature. 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.

  • Saturday, April 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.

  • Saturday, April 28

    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 28

    Broken Snowshoe Moon
    Night Walk

    6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

    Some Ojibwe use this name for the month's full moon (April 29). Join the naturalist for a spring walk in search of frogs, woodcocks, and snipe. Learn and practice some nighttime observation skills. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, April 29

    Trees and Shrubs with Spring Appeal
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens and Gallistel Woods offer a palette of spring blooms that attract insects, which provide food for spring migrating birds. Learn about the role of early bloomers as early season food on a naturalist-led hike. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, May 5

    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. NOTE: Monroe Street is under construction, with only one inbound lane open. Please plan your route accordingly.

  • Saturday, May 5

    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 David Stevens, Longenecker Horticultural Garden curator, who will highlight some of his favorite selections. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 6

    Spring Wildflowers on the Grady Tract
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Enjoy a naturalist-led hike to look for wildflowers in the Grady Tract oak savannas and prairies. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd.

  • Sunday, May 6

    Magnolias
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    3 p.m. – 5 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.

  • Saturday, May 12

    Friends of the Arboretum Native Plant Sale

    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 12

    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: 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, May 12

    Medicinal Plants
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Explore the historical and contemporary medicinal uses of woody plants with Jane Hawley Stevens of Four Elements Herbals. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 13

    Ecosystem Saunter
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Explore the Arboretum's woodlands, wetlands, and prairies with a naturalist. Bring mom to see the wildflowers. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 13

    A Spring in Our Step
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    The naturalist will lead families to explore the flourishing prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, May 19

    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 19

    Dragonfly Monitor Training
    Citizen Science Workshop

    1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    How many different types of dragonflies use Arboretum ponds and wetlands? Do natural ponds and wetlands attract the same species as stormwater ponds? We are seeking volunteers to help answer these and other questions. Participants will learn to identify many common dragonfly species, conduct surveys, and record and submit data. Instructors: Brad Herrick, Arboretum ecologist, and Robert Bohanan, outreach program manager, North Temperate Lakes LTER. Space limited, registration required by May 4.

  • Sunday, May 20

    World Biodiversity Day
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Created in 1993 and observed on May 22, International Day for Biological Diversity promotes biodiversity issues. As species loss increases, the day reminds us to value and protect the richness of biological life. We'll enjoy the diversity of ephemeral woodland flowers in Gallistel and Wingra woods. Meet at the Visitor Center. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

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

  • Saturday, May 26

    Light of the Moon
    Night Walk

    8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

    The Ho-Chunk call this month's full moon (May 29) the Earth Drying Moon, as when the earth dries enough to begin planting. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 27

    West Curtis Prairie and Noe Woods
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Curtis Prairie is the site of the first-ever prairie restoration, with early plantings by the Civilian Conservation Corps more than 80 years ago. Noe Woods has been studied since the 1930s to document changes in woodlands. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, May 27

    Wetlands
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    May is American Wetlands Month, and spring is the perfect season to explore wetland ecology. 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.