May Events at the UW-Arboretum in Madison

General Arboretum event information:

Events are open to the public, and tours take place regardless of weather unless the naturalist decides it would be unsafe. Call 608-263-7888 if in doubt. Unless otherwise noted, public events are free and tours begin at the Arboretum Visitor Center. Visit our Web site at uwarboretum.org

Arboretum Visitor Center Hours: Weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Weekends 12:30 - 4 p.m.

Steinhauer Trust Gallery: "The Majesty of Trees." Artist Nikki Coulombe's multimedia exploration focuses on the nature and beauty of trees. (May 1 - June 29)

The Arboretum in May
May is one of the most beautiful times in the Arboretum. Early in the month you can see a carpet of wildflowers along the trails of Wingra and Gallistel woods. The best places are near the effigy mounds in both woods and the trail in Gallistel Woods that leads from the panther mound to the CCC stone building.

It is also a pleasant time to walk from the effigy mounds in Wingra Woods to Big Spring. Be sure to look up now and then for migrating warblers.

May is also the most popular month to visit Longenecker Gardens. People come from all over to see the crabapple display and lilacs. Lilacs are usually blooming by May 15. The showiest time for crabapples is just before the lilacs bloom.

By the mid-May, the Grady Tract puts on a spectacular show with acres of lupine. Mixed in among the grasses in the Arboretum?s prairies are thousands of blue-eyed grass and yellow star flowers. In mid-May there are usually more than 40 species of plants in bloom, and you can see up to 25 species of birds.

In late May, walk into Leopold Pines to see plantings of northern wildflowers. You'll find them along the service road in the middle of the woods and along the trails marked by signposts D7 and D8.

Public Events for May 2010

May 1 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon

Arboretum Ecological Restoration Work Party: "Wingra Oak Savanna." Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at the gravel parking lot along Arbor Drive just off Monroe Street. For more information: 608-265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

May 2 - Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m.

Arboretum Walk: "Spring Wildflowers." What better way to spend a May Day, a cross-quarter day like November 1 and February 2--half way between an equinox and solstice. Walk with naturalists through the woodland wildflower restorations near the Visitor Center.

May 2 - Sunday, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Arboretum Special Event: Free narrated tours aboard the Badger Trolley begin at the Visitor Center. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. See what's in bloom in Longenecker Gardens, view our prairies and woodlands in spring color and learn more about the Arboretum's history and purpose.

May 5 - Wednesday, 7-8:15 p.m.

Arboretum Longenecker Gardens Tour: "Flowering Woody Ornamentals." This tour, led by UW-Madison professor of horticulture Laura Jull, will include the yellow and little girl series magnolias, early lilacs and rhododendrons, and other spring flowering plants.

May 8 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Friends of the Arboretum Native Plant Sale. More than 100 species of quality prairie plants, woodland plants, shrubs, vines and trees are available for purchase under one tent. Experts will be on hand to answer questions. Proceeds support Arboretum projects.

May 9 - Sunday, 8-10 a.m.

Arboretum Walk: "Birding before Brunch." Enjoy the chorus of returning migrants establishing their nesting territories through song and the songs of birds that are just stopping by on their way north.

May 9 - Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Arboretum Special Event: "Mother's Day Brunch at the Arboretum." Treat Mom to a delicious selection of organic and/or sustainable foods at one of the most beautiful locations in Madison. Reservations required. Call the Arboretum at 608-263-7888 for information or go to uwarboretum.org

May 9 - Sunday, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Arboretum Special Event: Free narrated tours aboard the Badger Trolley begin at the Visitor Center. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. See what's in bloom in Longenecker Gardens, view our prairies and woodlands in spring color and learn more about the Arboretum's history and purpose.

May 9 - Sunday, 1-2 p.m.

Arboretum Mother's Day Walk: "Arboretum Sampler." Explore an Arboretum woodland, wetland and prairie for a sampler of what is happening near the Visitor Center.

May 9 - Sunday, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Arboretum Family Walk. "Spring Is Here." This naturalist-led walk is tailored to families with young children and explores the prairies, woodlands or wetlands near the Visitor Center.

May 12 - Wednesday, 7-8:15 p.m.

Arboretum Longenecker Gardens Tour: "Flowering Crabapples and Lilacs." Emeritus Professor of Horticulture Ed Hasselkus, curator of the Longenecker Gardens, will concentrate on the Arboretum's excellent collection of flowering crabapples and present highlights in the Gardens' large lilac collection.

May 13 - Thursday, 6-8:30 p.m.

Arboretum Class: "Introduction to Restorative Permaculture Design." This 3-session class combines the best of permaculture design and ecological restoration and covers definitions, principles and practices of permaculture with a native, edible plants focus. There will be a mix of classroom talks, hands-on activities, and site visits. Participants receive plant lists, native shrub cuttings and a base map for home landscape design. Registration required by May 3. Fee: $120 ($110 for members of the Friends of the Arboretum). Contact the Arboretum for a registration form, or register and pay online at uwarboretum.org

May 15 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon

Arboretum Ecological Restoration Work Party: "Grady Tract." Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot. For more information: 608-265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

May 16 - Sunday, 1-3 p.m.

Arboretum Walk: "Oak Openings and Restored Prairies." Look for wildflowers and see what makes Greene Prairie one of the most spectacular prairie restorations. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot, located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway.

May 16 - Sunday 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Arboretum Special Event: Free narrated tours aboard the Badger Trolley begin at the Visitor Center. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. See what's in bloom in Longenecker Gardens, view our prairies and woodlands in spring color and learn more about the Arboretum's history and purpose.

May 19 - Wednesday, 7-8:15 p.m.

Arboretum Longenecker Gardens Tour: "Azaleas and Rhododendrons."

Dr. Deb McCown, a specialist in woody ornamentals, will discuss the care of these plants in the Madison area.

May 22 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon

Arboretum Ecological Restoration Work Party: "Core Area and Curtis Prairie." Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at the front steps of the Visitor Center. For more information: 608-265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

May 23 - Sunday, 1-3 p.m.

Arboretum Walk: "West Curtis Prairie and Noe Woods." Noe Woods is a 41-acre white oak/black oak woods typical of those that developed on former savannas. Many of the trees date back 150 years, a time when European settlers put an end to the fires that had maintained the savannas.

May 23 - Sunday, 12:30-4 p.m.

Arboretum Family Day: "Plants and Animals with Wet Feet." At this drop-in event, learn about wetlands and the plants and animals that depend on them. Use a microscope for a close up view of water critters. Try a mapping activity marking the pathways of migrating waterfowl. A naturalist-led walk from 1:30-2:30 p.m. goes to a pond for dipping into the water for hands-on discovery.

May 26 - Wednesday, 7-8:15 p.m.

Arboretum Longenecker Gardens Tour: "Small Ornamental Trees"

Jeff Epping, Director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, will highlight some of the Gardens' interesting, and unusual, ornamental small trees.

May 29 - Saturday 1-4:30 p.m.

Arboretum Special Event: "CCC Day at the Arboretum." An afternoon of history and inspiration begins with a presentation and discussion by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) historian and author Robert Moore, followed by the Milwaukee Public Theatre and Voices Theater performance of "Camp We-Kan-Tak-It," a musical that explores the legacy of the Wisconsin CCC and the Works Progress Administration on their 75th anniversary. At 3 p.m., Emeritus Professor and Arboretum Historian Frank Court, leads a post-show reflection followed by a tour of the Arboretum's Curtis Prairie and CCC Barracks.

May 29 - Saturday, 8-9:30 p.m.

Arboretum Night Walk: "Sunset Serenade." Take in the sights and sounds of a late spring evening with a prairie or woodland sunset at 8:30 followed by an hour of twilight time.

May 30 - Sunday, 1-3 p.m.

Arboretum Walk: "Greene Prairie Spectacular." Look for wildflowers and see what makes Greene Prairie one of the most spectacular prairie restorations. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot, located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway.