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Our facility is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm, and from 10am to 2pm on weekends.

Visit us. Everyday, our trails are free and open from dawn until dusk.

Our facility will be closed on Friday, Mar 21st for an all-staff meeting.

Our building will reopen to the public at 10am on Saturday, Mar 22nd.

Everyday, our trails are free and open from dawn until dusk.

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Green thumbs aren't born; they're grown! May is a

Green thumbs aren't born; they're grown!
May is a busy time for gardening and the Nature Preschoolers got a head start by planting spinach seeds two weeks ago.
Introducing young children to gardening is a wonderful hands-on learning experience. It teaches kids about plants but also instills responsibility and a love for the environment. The Nature Preschoolers learned that plants need water, sunlight, and care to thrive. They tended to the garden and carefully observed changes as the seeds began to sprout and grow over time. The children eagerly await their first harvest, reinforcing the value of patience and hard work as well!
Photos: Aldo Leopold Nature Center
#ALNP #NaturePreschool #Gardening #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside

The fluttering flight of tiny, blue butterflies fl

The fluttering flight of tiny, blue butterflies flashes azure in forest openings…
Azure butterflies are a spectacular sight with blue colors usually seen during flight, when the upper wings flick open. Once these butterflies land, it is harder to spot them as they keep their wings closed, only showing their pale grey under wings with small, dark spots.
Belonging to the family ‘Lycaenidae’, specifically within the genus ‘Celastrina,’ for a long time, azure butterflies were considered one large species, made up of several subspecies, but now scientists believe there are distinct species within the family. In Wisconsin, the most common azure species are the spring azure (Celastrina ladon) and the summer azure (Celastrina orestes). They are both small butterflies, with about one inch wingspans, that overwinter as pupae and emerge at different times. Like the names suggest, spring azure emerges in early spring as soon as the soil warms, while summer azure waits until early summer to emerge.
This butterfly was found a couple of weeks ago in the Basswood Forest, leading us to believe this is a spring azure. We observed the butterfly camouflaged on the ground, near muddy puddles. Adults have a short lifespan and don’t eat much, while they look for mates along forest edges. They may drink a little nectar but are mostly known for their habit of mud puddling in search of minerals and moisture.
After mating, females lay single eggs on a wide variety of flower buds of woody host plants. The caterpillars have many predators but they have developed a symbiotic relationship with ants, enlisting their help in protecting them rather than eating them. The caterpillars exude a sugary liquid called honeydew that ants love and, in return, the ants protect them from insect predators. Isn’t nature amazing!?!
What other signs of spring do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood to observe life cycle events that are influenced by seasonal changes!
Photo: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
#PhenologyFriday #AzureButterflies #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside

Thanks for supporting children's nature education

Thanks for supporting children's nature education with a cocktail!
Throughout April, Settle Down Tavern, Oz by Oz, and the Turn Key Supper Club all featured a drink on their menus called… The Aldo Leopold Nature Center. And a dollar from each drink sold - 231 total - is supporting children’s programming and environmental conservation at ALNC.
Even though the fundraiser has ended, it’s not too late to give the Aldo Leopold Nature Center a try. The drink will be on the menu through the summer season, keeping the Aldo Leopold Nature Center on your lips.
Thank you to Settle Down Tavern, Oz by Oz, and Turn Key Supper Club for supporting our cause with this fundraiser and getting our name out there with this drink!
Photo: Ryan Huber
#ThankfulThursday #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside @settledowntavern @ozby.oz @turnkeysupperclub

Aldo Leopold Nature Center is at Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

9 hours ago

Green thumbs aren't born; they're grown!May is a busy time for gardening and the Nature Preschoolers got a head start by planting spinach seeds two weeks ago. Introducing young children to gardening is a wonderful hands-on learning experience. It teaches kids about plants but also instills responsibility and a love for the environment. The Nature Preschoolers learned that plants need water, sunlight, and care to thrive. They tended to the garden and carefully observed changes as the seeds began to sprout and grow over time. The children eagerly await their first harvest, reinforcing the value of patience and hard work as well!Photos: Aldo Leopold Nature Center#ALNP #NaturePreschool #Gardening #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside ...

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Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Contact Us

330 Femrite Drive
Monona, WI 53716

Phone: (608) 221-0404
Fax: (608) 709-1611

alnc@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org

Building Hours

Monday through Friday: 9am to 4pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 2pm

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Open daily from dawn until dusk!

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Aldo Leopold Nature Center

ABOUT
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