A big thank you to the Alliant Energy Foundation volunteers for helping remove invasive species in the Arboretum and Wingra Park Oak Savanna last Thursday, June 15! The 33 volunteers picked enough hedgeparsley, dame’s rocket, and garlic mustard to fill…
In the library, a monarch butterfly rested on a small boy’s hand. Suddenly it fluttered upward—zig-zagging over bookshelves toward a window. Four squealing children ran to where it landed on a windowsill. Catalina approached, coaxing it onto her fingertip. Her…
The zoo has a new exhibit! While it may not be as breathtaking as a polar bear, we are still pretty excited about it! The new attraction is an interactive watershed model that lets children (and children at heart!) explore…
As our loyal Friends, we know that you’ve heard from us before about the problem of road salt contaminating Lake Wingra. Environmentalists can easily visualize how road salt in the water supply is bad for biodiversity. The problem…
Phosphorus is natural and essential, but when present in excess it can cause algal blooms, fish deaths, and decreases in water clarity. Phosphorus is currently one of the biggest challenges facing Lake Wingra so it’s time to get creative about…
Rain gardens are a beautiful way of making our watershed a happier and healthier place. This year, Friends of Lake Wingra received a grant from the Natural Resources Foundation to spread the appreciation for all our dedicated rain garden…
A majority of Americans believe climate change is real and caused by human activity. Yet Donald Trump has said climate change is a hoax. Our current political climate is a challenge to all environmentalists. Even the Wisconsin Department…
Happy New Year! As Friends of Lake Wingra transitioned from 2016 to 2017, we looked ahead to the coming year, and saw immense opportunity, often balanced by immense challenges. Opportunities and their associated challenges lead to change,…
Black ice is relatively smooth, hard, and clear. Packed snow eventually turns to black ice, especially when it rains, or when there’s a thaw, followed by freeze. You must completely remove packed snow if you want to prevent ice buildup.…
We’re looking for homeowners to help demonstrate salt-free methods for clearing snow from sidewalks, including solar snow removal. We’re testing some improved methods. But you can use any method, provided no salt and that it’s a showcase job. All the…
