The Arboretum is a gift from past generations to the present, and in the present we pass on this gift by stewarding the land for future generations of humans and all that live and rely on it. The folks who volunteer at the Arboretum generously give their time and talents in myriad ways, building relationships with the land and people. Each year we celebrate all that volunteers do and share deep gratitude for their efforts and the relationships that grow from them. There is much to celebrate from 2023! Last year, 678 people volunteered at the Arboretum, contributing more than 8,000 hours over t ..read more

Are you curious about the natural world? Do you want to make valuable collective contributions that advance scientific discovery and support initiatives locally and globally? Are you interested in making a difference and contributing to important research – and having fun learning about nature while doing it? Enter citizen science! Citizen science projects have gained significant momentum in recent years, revolutionizing the way scientific research is conducted. From collecting data about the quality of freshwater to tracking species migrations and so much more, citizen science projects vary i ..read more

April can be a month of all-too-rapid spring growth or all-too-slow development in our gardens and landscapes. Often, the month brings both as temperatures and precipitation vary widely. With warmer than average weather in February and March this year, some species in the native plant garden bloomed last month: wind-pollinated Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), American hazelnut (Corylus americana), and pasqueflower (Anemone patens), which is pollinated by small bees. Prairie-smoke (Geum triflorum) and shooting star (Dodecatheon meadii) rosettes (short stalks with many leaves close to t ..read more

Environmental outreach can help neighbors learn to address environmental issues, such as urban stormwater, that affect their communities. Residents who are well-respected within their social networks can play a role in promoting environmentally responsible behaviors that support healthier environments. Research led by Theresa Vander Woude, as part of her master’s degree at UW–Madison, focused on understanding the beliefs that motivate these influential residents, or opinion leaders, and what shapes their willingness to participate in environmental outreach efforts around issues of urban water ..read more

An old greenhouse, which has not been used to grow plants in several years, occupies the south-facing section of the Arboretum’s lab building, east of the Visitor Center. It had become a random storage space and was falling into disrepair. During 2023, the land care crew envisioned bringing it back to life and growing native plant plugs for restoration projects. Planting healthy native plugs grown in a controlled greenhouse environment is sometimes favored over spreading seed because plugs can establish in a restoration site significantly faster. Growing plugs is also especially desirable for ..read more

March is a month of change – from winter to spring, from cool temperatures to warmer, from frozen soil to early mud season. So far, winter 2024 has brought strong contrasts and variability, warmth and abrupt temperature changes, as well as precipitation falling as rain, snow, sleet, or wintry mix. This month we are working outdoors as conditions permit. Garden planning and plant orders are still in progress here and for gardeners in the community who are sharing their plans and questions. Rain gardens are an excellent way to incorporate native plants in your landscape and realize the bene ..read more

“Patterns and Seasonality of Wisconsin,” encaustic mixed-media paintings by Karen Faller, will be on view in the Steinhauer Trust Gallery in March and April. Faller’s paintings focus on iconic Wisconsin native birds, plants, and landscapes through the year. These moments in time bring familiarity of place while also suggesting change, ephemerality, and patterns of plants and animals and season. The primary media is beeswax, and there may be visual elements layered in to add dimensions of time and pattern that connect to a sense of place ..read more

In honor of Aldo Leopold Weekend, the UW–Madison Arboretum will host a community reading of A Sand County Almanac and writings by other environmental thinkers on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Visitor Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Listeners are welcome to drop in for favorite selections or stay all afternoon. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available, including tea and snacks. Throughout the afternoon, community members will give voice to Leopold’s keen observations and eloquent conservation philosophy. The readings will include the well-known “calendar” essays ..read more

February falls in the middle of winter but often brings early hints of seasonal change – softening ice and snow, more daylight, and warmer winter days. We still have time for garden planning, imagining changes and additions to our gardens, and making plant orders. This month we explore a common topic for home gardeners: short-stature gardens and gardens for small spaces. Short native plants are easy to grow, allow good sightlines for safety and aesthetics, fill in small areas, and provide habitat. Areas in full sun (more than six hours of direct sun per day) will support short prairie plants ..read more

During January, gardens are typically quiet, snow-covered, chilly, and dormant. It is an inviting time to envision additions and changes to your garden, consider adding more diversity to plantings, and plan for color and growth. Sketches, contours and slopes, plant lists, and imagination can come together, shaping garden possibilities and decisions. Native seeds, stratifying under snow and germinating in native plant nursery greenhouses, will yield plants for gardens when spring arrives. This month’s article, and the next two, will cover three home gardening situations that I commonly encounte ..read more