Events Calendar

2023 Summer Session (June 6-August 29): Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am
2023 Fall Session (September 5-December 19:) Select Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am

Tuesdays in the Garden, designed for children aged 1-3, provides a nurturing environment where children’s curiosity and wonder are extended through play and exploration, and children and their caregivers learn and discover side-by-side. Join art educators Claudia Orjuela and Denice Niebuhr for hands-on art making and all-senses-engaged exploration of the outdoor world at Lynden. We’ll consider different themes, each designed to connect Lynden’s environment with children’s interests. We will encourage experimentation and the manipulation of art and natural materials to tell stories, solve problems, and develop relationships.

Fee: $16/$12 members for one adult and one child.
Registration: Group size is limited; advance registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration does not guarantee admission. Once we receive your completed registration form, we will follow up via e-mail with an invoice for payment – or a notification that you've been added to the waitlist – and a confirmation after payment is received. Register online now.

To view a list of the session themes, click here.

2023 Summer Session (June 6-August 29): Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am
2023 Fall Session (September 5-December 19:) Select Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am

Tuesdays in the Garden, designed for children aged 1-3, provides a nurturing environment where children’s curiosity and wonder are extended through play and exploration, and children and their caregivers learn and discover side-by-side. Join art educators Claudia Orjuela and Denice Niebuhr for hands-on art making and all-senses-engaged exploration of the outdoor world at Lynden. We’ll consider different themes, each designed to connect Lynden’s environment with children’s interests. We will encourage experimentation and the manipulation of art and natural materials to tell stories, solve problems, and develop relationships.

Fee: $16/$12 members for one adult and one child.
Registration: Group size is limited; advance registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration does not guarantee admission. Once we receive your completed registration form, we will follow up via e-mail with an invoice for payment – or a notification that you've been added to the waitlist – and a confirmation after payment is received. Register online now.

To view a list of the session themes, click here.

Visitors must adhere to our social distance walking visitor guidelines.

Bring your canine friends for an afternoon of romping in the garden.

FREE

The HOME Refugee Steering Committee at the Lynden Sculpture Garden invites you to observe World Refugee Day in a series of outdoor events and programs that celebrate Milwaukee’s refugee communities through art, food, fashion, and performance.

This year, the youth-directed HOME Fashion Day will unfurl against the background of our August Craft Market. The two events will showcase the rich and varied fashion and crafts of refugees within the local community. The craft market runs from 11 am to 4 pm, and the fashion show is scheduled from 12 to 1:30 pm. For those wanting to tour the grounds, a tree walk with the Lynden land team is scheduled from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. In addition, HOME sponsor Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will provide community resources, PHE unwinding materials, and health and wellness educational information. Covering Wisconsin will provide health insurance coverage information and information for Medicaid members attending, important renewal and next steps if transitioning from current BadgerCare.

Schedule

The theme for Fashion Day is STORYTELLING and is organized by HOME intern and youth leader Maryam Yusuf. Yusuf and her peers are taking an archival approach to fashion, using clothes to tell a story about the past in order to deepen understanding and connection in the present. They have invited fiber-based artists, budding refugee designers, and clothes vendors to join them on the stage, and are extending the opportunity to learn about other cultures through an accompanying interactive booth.

Drop by any time to browse our outdoor market featuring crafts and other goods from Africa, Asia, and Indigenous makers. Bring a picnic and a blanket to enjoy the outdoors with friends, family, and community. Be sure to have cash with you to purchase food and refreshments prepared by community chefs from the Ethiopian community.

Complete list of participants and menu coming soon!

Participants

Beana’s Bouquets: Bouquets, live plants, and handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry by Indigenous and Mexican designer Sabrina Lombardo

bibi_hennaa: Henna by Afghan artist Bibi Farishta Sulaimankhel

Bloom For Growth: Artworks and merchandise from Palestinian artist Nada Alzalloum, including tote bags, shirts, and sweaters, that promote a more positive representation of refugee groups.

Crafty Mom: Winter hats knitted by Artemisa Zavala

Fairouz LLC: Gifts, accessories, and antiques from across the world from Syrian vendor Suheir Rashid.

Hmodern Made: Ashley Xiong’s Hmong handmade hair accessories, apparel, and other wearables.

Ladi Nayaase: Organic, natural, and sustainable self care brand whose mission is to bring holistic wellness to communities of color, with sustainability at the core of its business practices. Products include body scrubs, shampoo and conditioning bars, candles, natural deodorant, body oil, facial oil, facial masks, soaps, and make up remover.

Mai Glow: Handcrafted jewelry, instruments, bags and more hand selected and crafted from Nigeria.

Mchete's African Treasures: Authentic, handmade African and Tanzanian clothing, fabric, and accessories, and other African treasures.

Mh Trendz: Traditional and contemporary henna (mhendi) designs by Muneeba Irslan.

Myanmar Art: Watercolor paintings of Myanmar landscapes and portraits and other artworks by Myanmar artists organized by Aung Myo Tin.

Nyota Musimbwa: Handmade bags from recycled materials by Congolese craftsperson Nyota Musimbwa

Olive Essence Soap, sold by Palestinian Syrian Seedra Amer.

Rosidah Abdul Shukor: Burmese desserts including sago and sticky rice, prepared by Ros

Rumaneh Nourish: Natural and organic skincare products inspired by owner Bisan Musa's Palestinian heritage.

Skylight: Traditional Rohingya and Burmese desserts by Hasina Ahmed.

Song of the Sun Ceramics: Indigenous beaded jewelry and ceramics by Melissa Lombardo.

Wisconsin Ukrainians: Ukrainian souvenirs and crafts.

YC Kitchen: Savory Hmong snacks, including egg rolls, meat skewers, noodle soup and spring rolls, prepared by Der Yang

Yenepa Herbals: Indigenous herbal products and medicinal remedies from Angela Kingsawan.

About HOME
HOME is the theme of our work with refugee community leaders, community members, Call & Response artists, and allies. The HOME Refugee Steering Committee is building a space of leading, coming together, and celebrating refugees.

World Refugee Day 2023 celebrations extend into three additional HOME “days” featuring music, dance, food, fashion (both ethnic and traditional), and two markets offering handicrafts and homemade goods. For all HOME 2023 programming, click here.

HOME 2023 is sponsored in part by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Refugee Programs; Anthem Blue-Cross Blue-Shield; and Hanan Refugee Relief Group.

Additional partners include Milwaukee Public Library, UWM Libraries, Tables Across Borders, Wisconsin for Ukraine, Community Center for Immigrants, and more.

2023 Summer Session (June 6-August 29): Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am
2023 Fall Session (September 5-December 19:) Select Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am

Tuesdays in the Garden, designed for children aged 1-3, provides a nurturing environment where children’s curiosity and wonder are extended through play and exploration, and children and their caregivers learn and discover side-by-side. Join art educators Claudia Orjuela and Denice Niebuhr for hands-on art making and all-senses-engaged exploration of the outdoor world at Lynden. We’ll consider different themes, each designed to connect Lynden’s environment with children’s interests. We will encourage experimentation and the manipulation of art and natural materials to tell stories, solve problems, and develop relationships.

Fee: $16/$12 members for one adult and one child.
Registration: Group size is limited; advance registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration does not guarantee admission. Once we receive your completed registration form, we will follow up via e-mail with an invoice for payment – or a notification that you've been added to the waitlist – and a confirmation after payment is received. Register online now.

To view a list of the session themes, click here.

The eleventh annual fundraiser to benefit Lynden's education programs

The funds we raise through the barbecue are used to underwrite the cost of tours, field trips, and transportation for schools with limited financial resources; to provide scholarships for young people attending our art studio classes and summer camps; and to support professional development for K-12 teachers, particularly through our Innovative Educators Institute. The majority of K-12 students we serve attend MPS and receive our programs without charge. In 2022, we were able to serve over 5,000 children and youth, most of them through hands-on, multi-service programs, and the majority of them in person at Lynden or in local classrooms—a welcome change from prior years. This returns us to pre-pandemic levels—and beyond--at a time when inflation and soaring bus costs have made it harder to sustain our education program, and when students and educators struggle with tight budgets and learning gaps and adjustment issues exacerbated by the pandemic. With your support, we can focus on developing the long-term and multifaceted relationships with teachers that enable us to fully integrate our resources into classroom curricula and to make a difference in students’ lives.

Tickets

Thursday, August 24, 2023
5-8 pm
2145 West Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee, WI 53217
The Backyard Barbecue is sold out.

Join us for our annual fundraiser to benefit Lynden’s education programs, featuring a feast of local, sustainable foods catered by Braise; dessert from Isa's Artisan Ice Cream; magic from Matthew Teague; music from Kiran Vedula + Julio Pabon; and a mix of classical and pop from members and alumni of the Nathan Hale High School Orchestra.

Make a Donation

Can't attend but would like to support our Education Programs? Make a donation to Lynden.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Baird Private Wealth Management - The ECAB Investment Group
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
David & Julia Uihlein

Menu

Buffet Menu by Braise:
Pig Roast
Korean BBQ Tofu
Esquites (Spanish Street Corn)
Spanish Tortilla
Tomato & Cucumber Panzanella Salad
Grilled Green Bean Salad
Eggplant & Pepper Caponata
Watermelon

Kids' Selections:
Chicken tenders and buttered noodles

Dessert by Isa's Artisan Ice Cream

Fee: Free.
Registration: Advance registration required. Click here to register online. Work days are weather dependent.

Join the Lynden land team—Kyle Welna, Alyx Christensen, and Annalesa Albright--for a volunteer work day on the grounds. The Lynden Sculpture Garden is transforming its natural habitats and formal landscapes into sustainable and diverse ecosystems that highlight the natural beauty inherent in them. The Lynden's goal is to steward healthy habitats for an array of native plants and wildlife while adding a vibrant mosaic of color and texture to this sculptural landscape through every season.

With over 40 acres and more than half a dozen specialized garden spaces, the Lynden provides many volunteer and learning opportunities, from removing invasive species to planting new trees and plugs, weeding, pruning, collecting, and spreading seeds. If you or someone you know has a few hours or are looking for regular, ongoing volunteer work that keeps you outside, you are welcome to join us. With a small land staff, volunteer help is essential to the evolution and restoration of the Lynden grounds.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring their favorite gardening gloves and digging tools (if you have them)! Water, snacks, and additional tools will be provided.

Schedule

April 25, 10 am-12 pm
In April, we will assist artist-in-residence Kim Khaira with spring cleanup in her tinctorial garden (a garden of plants that can be used in natural dyeing). Work alongside Khaira and the land team to remove invasive species--from burdock to buckthorn. Khaira will introduce the native plants she has chosen for the garden and talk about their many uses beyond their role in natural dyes.

May 23, 10 am-12 pm
Lynden’s two forested ravines are treasures: shady oases in the summer, home to many species of tree and plant life. Unfortunately, some of the older transplants are crowding out native species. In May, we will be removing daylilies from the upper ravine and learning about how to replace this fast-spreading plant with other, pollinator-friendly options.

June 27, 10 am-12 pm
Now that the fragrant lilac bloom has ended, it's time to prune all the dried-up buds. Pruning spent lilac buds helps promote the growth of more flowers next year. Spend a couple of hours in the formal gardens with us sprucing up the lilacs and learning about blending native and non-native plants to enhance the beauty and pollinator value of the aesthetic gardens here at the Lynden.

July 25, 10 am-12 pm
Upon your arrival at the Lynden Sculpture Garden, you are greeted by a picturesque waterfall and formally landscaped hill, home to an array of unique shade-loving perennial species, evergreens, and shrubs. Waterfall Hill has undergone many changes as we work to incorporate this small ecology into the larger Lynden landscape and to create a design that serves as an introduction to the tranquillity and the excitement that unfolds across the grounds. One month into summer, we are knee-deep in peak growing season and could use your help keeping Waterfall Hill tidy.

August 29, 10 am-12 pm
On the western edge of Lynden’s formal gardens, leading up to and embracing The Bremen Town Musicians, is our annual display garden. This traditionally styled garden plays with symmetry, structure, and color using annually grown plant species—species that don’t survive the Wisconsin winter--and it changes each year. Annuals play an important role in feeding pollinating insects because they bloom throughout the growing season. This is also a garden that accentuates a sculptural focal point, making an impact on visitors. In addition to acknowledging that flowers play an important role in pollination and visual engagement, we also like to understand and encourage the many functional uses of the plant communities we engage with. As we weed, prune, and deadhead the annual garden, we will be collecting the plant detritus to create floral teas or bath soaks to take home.

September 26, 10 am-12 pm
The stone path leading up to the patio is nestled between an evolving native shade garden and a sprawling beech tree that is more than 100 years old. In September, we will be removing thistles and dandelions and sprucing up this welcoming walkway. We will also let you in on our new plans for this area. While standing under such majestic trees as the beech or the neighboring elms is always awe-inspiring, over time our steps have been compressing soil and root structures, leaving little space for them to breathe. In 2024 we plan to extend the walkway garden to encircle the beech tree. This will minimize traffic under the tree, and adding plants will help support the beech tree's roots by regulating water availability and giving the soil a chance to recover through herbaceous plant root development. Not to mention adding plant diversity for the other living species we host at the Lynden. It will be a healthier and more beautiful environment for all, and we look forward to including you in that growth next season.

October 24, 10 am-12 pm
In October, we prepare the formal gardens for winter: a final round of pulling thistles and dandelions, pruning trees and shrubs, and responding to the ways plants have evolved, spread, or struggled in their current locations. The majority of the dormant plants will stay in place throughout the season, or as long as possible. The hollow stems benefit overwintering insects, seed heads provide food for birds, the plant skeletons house garden critters, and we are able to enjoy some extra color in winter’s palette. We will also sow the annual bed with a cover crop of rye, oats, peas, and radish to reintroduce nutrients, protect the soil from harsh winter winds, and avoid compaction by encouraging root growth. Join us on what is sure to be a beautiful day in the gardens.

November 14, 10 am-12 pm
In November, we shield the soil from the harsh winter conditions by spreading fallen leaves and tucking in all the bare spots within the gardens. This leaf mulch—which we will till into the ground next spring before planting--will protect the top layers of soil, reintroduce nutrients, and boost fertility for next season’s barrage of flowers. Join us for one last garden work day as we say goodnight to the gardens until spring, jump in crisp piles of leaves, and enjoy the musty scents of autumn.

Ice cream social: 5-6 pm
Sound bath and labyrinth walk: 6-7:30 pm

Fee: $30/$25 members
Registration: Space is limited; advance registration required. Register by phone at 414-446-8795.

Join artist-in-residence Jenna Knapp and collaborator Sevan Arabajian for an evening of full moon celebration. We'll kick off the evening with a blue moon ice cream social on the patio. Then, under the full moon we'll reflect on all that's come to fruition in the most recent lunar cycle with a relaxing sound bath and sunset candlewalk.

Sound baths are an ancient form of healing and deep meditation; they include various ambient sounds playing in a space where you can hear and feel their vibrations. Your sound healer for the evening will be Milwaukee’s own Sevan Arabajian, initiated by Akhilanka of the Temple of Singing Bowls in Mysore, India, when he was traveling in the U.S.

The sound bath lasts approximately 45-60 minutes. We recommend arriving 15 minutes ahead of time to give yourself time to set up and prepare. Please bring something to rest on and to cover yourself with (if you think you’ll want that) for the duration, and dress appropriately for the weather. The labyrinth walk takes place on a hill so please consider comfortable footwear as well. A little insect repellent may be in order, too. Candles are provided and you are invited to bring your own.

2023 Sound Bath schedule
Tuesday, June 20
Monday, July 17
Wednesday, August 30
Friday, September 29