Events Calendar

September 1, 2024 - 1:00pm

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Admission: Suggested $10 Donation to The 39 STEPs and Lynden Sculpture Garden goes to help offset the cost of the production. Click here to make a donation.

The 39 STEPs, a homeschool theater collective from the Fox Cities, presents William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew on the patio of the Lynden Sculpture Garden. In this comedy of courtship, the head of a prominent Italian family refuses to allow her sought-after daughter, Bianca, to wed until someone marries Bianca's older, headstrong, and independent sister, Katherine. And Katherine wants none of it.

September 2, 2024 - 10:00am - 5:00pm

The sculpture garden will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024.

September 3, 2024 - 10:30am - 11:30am

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2024 Summer Session (June 4-August 27): Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am
2024 Fall/Winter Session (September 3-December 17): 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. Register online now. In the event of inclement weather, sessions move indoors.

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

September 8, 2024 - 10:00am - 11:30am

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Fee: $10/$5 members. Advance registration available but not required. Click here to register.

Join poet and Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer Chuck Stebelton on the second Sunday of each month to bird by eye and ear with a focus on the life histories of wild birds. We’ll watch for seasonal migrants and resident bird species and seek out the best bird habitats to identify as many species as we can. Please dress for the weather and plan to walk in varied terrain. Bring your binoculars and field guides if you have them; no previous birding experience required.

Click here to listen to Chuck Stebelton discuss his 'spark bird,' the Northern Flicker, on WUWM.

About Chuck Stebelton

Chuck Stebelton is author most recently of One Hundred Patterns & Three Heuristics (Green Gallery Press, 2023). His previous poetry collections include An Apostle Island (Oxeye Press, 2021), The Platformist (Cultural Society, 2012), and Circulation Flowers (Tougher Disguises, 2005). He currently serves as Project Manager at Woodland Pattern Book Center, a nonprofit literary arts organization in Milwaukee. As a Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer, he has led workshops and field trips for nonprofit organizations and conservancy groups including Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters; Milwaukee Public Library; Woodland Pattern Book Center; Friends of Lorine Niedecker; and Lynden Sculpture Garden. He recently completed an ARTservancy artist residency with River Revitalization Foundation and has held residencies at Lynden Sculpture Garden in 2011, 2014, and from 2018 to 2024.

September 10, 2024 - 10:30am - 11:30am

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2024 Summer Session (June 4-August 27): Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am
2024 Fall/Winter Session (September 3-December 17): 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. Register online now. In the event of inclement weather, sessions move indoors.

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

September 11, 2024 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm

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FREE
This is a virtual event.
Watch live on our Facebook page.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Yosan Yosief (Eritrea/Milwaukee, WI) in conversation with Lidya Gebrekidan (Eritrea/Milwaukee, WI)
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, - 2:00pm - 3:00pm: TBD
Wednesday, September 11, 2024, - 2:00pm - 3:00pm: TBD
Wednesday, December 4, 2024, - 2:00pm - 3:00pm: TBD

Stories As We Move: A HOME Interview Series is an ongoing project that launched in 2020 as part of Lynden's HOME virtual platform. The series pairs individuals who have faced forced displacement in its many forms in a conversational setting. Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants interview those that have resettled to the United States, including friends and family that are based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as those that remain overseas. The series covers a range of backgrounds and narrative identities, professions, and interests; participants include artists, community members, advocates and leaders, healthcare workers, caseworkers, interpreters, and students and educators. These interviews are reflections of relationships and conversations that we continue to have long after resettlement; they explore issues that our refugee friends and family members continue to face as they remain in their country of origin or interim country.

As we approach World Refugee Day 2024, Lynden’s community engagement specialist Kim Khaira will begin screening interviews from the series on one Wednesday each quarter on our Facebook page.

September 11, 2024 - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Lynden Art Club

Fall 2024 Session: (14 Weeks) Wednesdays, September 11–December 18, 2024 (no class 11/27) | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $308/$224 members for the 14-week session

Art club is a community of young artists who are independent in their art practice but value a place to exchange ideas and support ,and learn from one another. Students will design a long-term independent art project at the beginning of the session and gather for in-progress reviews, take part in creative art challenges, have conversations about contemporary artists, and discuss their work with Lynden educators and their peers. Students will present their work at our final art club meeting.

To view our Safety Guidelines for Parent-and-Child, Youth Workshops, click here.

Registration: Registration is closed.

September 12, 2024 - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

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Fall 2024 Session I: (7 weeks) Thursdays, September 12-October 24, 2024 | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $154/$112 members per 7-week session. Registration is closed.
Fall 2024 Session II: (7 weeks) Thursdays, October 31-December 19, 2024(no class 11/28) | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $154/$112 members per 7-week session. Registration is closed.

Lynden’s Art + Nature Lab engages participants aged 7-11 in inquiry-based art and nature learning, problem solving, and creative making. Over the course of two seven-week sessions, art educator Jeremy Stepien will take you on a series of art challenges and studio projects. Art + Nature Lab will meet indoors in the studio at Lynden with occasional excursions in the garden.

To view our Safety Guidelines for Parent-and-Child, Youth Workshops, click here.

Registration: Group size is limited; advance registration required. Register online now.

September 14, 2024 - 10:00am - 11:30am

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Fee: $25/$20 members
Registration: Registration is closed.

It can quickly become overwhelming to convert your existing landscape into a pollinator haven. What native plants should I choose? How do I get rid of the grass? Where should I place my plantings so I don't upset my neighbors? This talk will provide you with the tools to design a native landscape plan and explain how to take those first steps toward implementing the plan and bringing your yard to life.

About Danielle Bell
While growing up in rural Wisconsin, Danielle Bell explored the natural world starting in the oak hickory woodland of her parents’ home. Later, working in the green industry and on large-scale restoration projects, she noticed the disconnect humans have with our landscapes, especially in the urban environment. Seeing a need for restoration on small urban properties, she began Native Roots, LLC to help homeowners incorporate native plants into their landscapes. She uses her experience from restoring native wetlands, prairies, and woodlands throughout southeastern Wisconsin to inspire her residential designs. Her passion is to restore sterile turf monocultures to healthy, sustainable, diverse habitats that both people and wildlife can enjoy. As part of helping homeowners create healthy, functional landscapes, she educates them on how to sustainably manage their property through invasive species monitoring and plant identification.

September 14, 2024 - 1:00pm - 3:30pm

planetary elegies 9.14.2024

Fee: $45/$38 members
Registration: Registration is closed.

In this workshop, we will read and write elegies – the poetic form for reflection and lamentation of the dead and the dying. These elegies will often focus on our planet and will just as often celebrate and grieve our brief lives on our planet. Part climate grief circle, part creative development, this workshop is a container to feel deeply and to find language for what might be difficult to express.

Our workshop will begin in Artist-in-Residence Jenna Knapp’s labyrinth. We begin with gentle movement through the path of the labyrinth made in the prairie on Lynden Sculpture Garden’s property. Then, the participants will be welcomed into the second floor art studio for the remaining time.

Workshop guide KP Kaszubowski will lead participants in welcoming, playful, and contemplative writing prompts. Participants will be encouraged to share what they write and affirming feedback and discussion will be woven throughout.

About KP Kaszubowski
KP Kaszubowski (she/her) is a poet and filmmaker. Her debut poetry collection “somnieeee” was published in 2019 by Vegetarian Alcoholic Press, and her debut feature film “Ringolevio” premiered in 2020 at Dances With Films in Los Angeles. As narrative designer and producer, her first feature length documentary “My First and Last Film” (director: Tracey Thomas) premiered in 2019. Her previous poetry has been published (as Kristin Peterson) by pitymilk press, Great Lakes Review, dancing girl press, Juked, Flag + Void, ICHNOS, and elsewhere. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing through Eastern Washington University in 2023. KP Kaszubowski is also a practicing archetypal and ancient astrologer. In her practice, she seeks the patterns in her clients’ charts for affirming and life-enriching pathways. She lives close enough to the Lake to pretend she can hear it. When she lived in Spokane, she could hear Lake Michigan there too.

September 15, 2024 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

A Workshop with Kallia Walkowiak and Dennis Carl

From Crop to Fiber


Fee: $25/$20 members
Registration: Space is limited; advance registration required. Register online or by phone at 414-446-8794.

Flax is a plant harvested for seed, oil, paper, and fiber. It is a centuries-old bast fiber traditionally used for bedding and underclothes. This versatile plant requires less water than cotton, naturally resists weeds, and matures quickly. In this demonstration, participants will learn how flax is grown and harvested, work with traditional hand tools to process the crop, and finally see their fiber spun into linen yarn. Kallia Walkowiak is a fiber artist and weaving instructor at the ABK Weaving Center in Milwaukee. Dennis Carl is a leatherworker, gardener, and current steward of the Benjamin Church House Herb Garden.

September 17, 2024 - 10:30am - 11:30am

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2024 Summer Session (June 4-August 27): Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am
2024 Fall/Winter Session (September 3-December 17): 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. Register online now. In the event of inclement weather, sessions move indoors.

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

September 18, 2024 - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Lynden Art Club

Fall 2024 Session: (14 Weeks) Wednesdays, September 11–December 18, 2024 (no class 11/27) | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $308/$224 members for the 14-week session

Art club is a community of young artists who are independent in their art practice but value a place to exchange ideas and support ,and learn from one another. Students will design a long-term independent art project at the beginning of the session and gather for in-progress reviews, take part in creative art challenges, have conversations about contemporary artists, and discuss their work with Lynden educators and their peers. Students will present their work at our final art club meeting.

To view our Safety Guidelines for Parent-and-Child, Youth Workshops, click here.

Registration: Registration is closed.

September 18, 2024 - 5:45pm - 7:15pm

Fee: $30/$25 members
Registration: Space is limited; advance registration required. Register online or by phone at 414-446-8794.

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Join artist-in-residence Jenna Knapp and collaborator Sevan Arabajian for September’s Full Corn Moon. This full moon honors the season of harvest and invites us to look at what we are ready to harvest in our own lives. Under the light of the full moon, take some time out of your week to pause and take notice of all that you’re currently cultivating. Relax into a healing sound bath and sunset candle-lit labyrinth walk.

Sound baths are an ancient form of healing and deep meditation; they include various ambient sounds and frequencies playing in a space where you can hear and experience their vibrations moving through you. Everyone’s experience will be different; unique as you are, and according to what is needed most at the time. Your sound facilitator for the evening will be Milwaukee’s own Sevan Arabajian-Ries, musician, ritualist, spiritual guide, and relational counselor.

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.

2024 Sound Bath Schedule
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Monday, August 19, 2024
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Wednesday, October 2, 2024

September 19, 2024 - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

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Fall 2024 Session I: (7 weeks) Thursdays, September 12-October 24, 2024 | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $154/$112 members per 7-week session. Registration is closed.
Fall 2024 Session II: (7 weeks) Thursdays, October 31-December 19, 2024(no class 11/28) | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $154/$112 members per 7-week session. Registration is closed.

Lynden’s Art + Nature Lab engages participants aged 7-11 in inquiry-based art and nature learning, problem solving, and creative making. Over the course of two seven-week sessions, art educator Jeremy Stepien will take you on a series of art challenges and studio projects. Art + Nature Lab will meet indoors in the studio at Lynden with occasional excursions in the garden.

To view our Safety Guidelines for Parent-and-Child, Youth Workshops, click here.

Registration: Group size is limited; advance registration required. Register online now.

September 19, 2024 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm

January-April: No Friend but the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison by Behrouz Boochani.
May-September: Radiance of Tomorrow by Ismael Beah.
October-January: My American Dream: A Journey from Fascism to Freedom by Barbara Sommer Feigin.

Fee: Free.
Registration: This discussion takes place via Zoom; advance registration required. Click here to register.

The Lynden/HOME Refugee Steering Committee book discussion group, moderated by Lynden’s Kim Khaira, is for those interested in firsthand accounts of displacement. We consider works of non-fiction and fiction, including autobiographical and semi-autobiographical works, by writers who have faced or are facing forced displacement as refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. Where stories of persecution, historical trauma, and loss of livelihood are effortlessly conveyed by storytellers, journalists, and humanitarians who search out or stumble upon the lives of refugees, we seek out the words of those to whom these stories belong: the narrators who are the closest to their own stories, and the stories of their people, friends, family and, of course, refugees. Newcomers always welcome!

September 21, 2024 - 10:00am - 4:00pm

Photo: Molly Rosenblum/Sam LaStrapes/Kodah

Visitors must adhere to our visitor guidelines.

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

September 21, 2024 - 11:00am - 4:00pm

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Sessions:

  • Saturday, September 21, 2024, 11 am-4 pm – Wood Mallet
  • - Registration closed.

  • Saturday, October 19, 2024, 11 am-4 pm – Tree Walk and Open Carving
  • Saturday, November 23, 2024, 11am-4pm- Wood Bead Carving and Daniel Minter’s Muti


Fee: $15/$10 members. You are welcome to attend for the entire day, or for a portion, but registration is required. Add a Mora Knife for $35.
Registration: Space is limited; advance registration required. Register online or by phone at 414-446-8794.

Join us for the fall session of Lynden’s Greenwood Gathering, an open-ended carving event where both new and returning participants can bring their current or finished carving projects to share with fellow woodcarvers. Gather around the campfire to carve, exchange ideas, share techniques, and draw inspiration from each other’s work. The gatherings will include occasional themed demonstrations and relevant garden tours.

Enjoy a day in Lynden’s back acres to carve, share, and connect. We’ll take a break from carving to eat lunch (please pack your own) and make tea from foraged plants. Dress for the outdoors and consider bringing sunscreen and bug repellent. While we’ll provide some green wood for starting new projects, please bring your own carving tools (Mora knives will be available for purchase, or order yours, above). We have tree stumps around the fire for seating, but if you prefer something more comfortable seat, bring a camp chair. Suitable for ages 16 and up.

You might also be interested in:
Spoon Carving: A Sloyd Intensive with Jeremy Stepien, October 12 & 13, 2024

September 22, 2024 - 12:30pm - 2:30pm

From September through December, we will be offering monthly, drop-in workshops for families. Stop by for engaging, hands-on activities that bring art and nature to life. Whether you make a quick visit or stay the entire two hours, count on spending some quality creative time with family and friends.

Fee: $15/$10 members per session per family (all materials included). All ages are welcome; children younger than 12 should attend with an adult.
Registration: Click here to register online.

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Sunday, September 22, 2024, 12:30-2:30 pm
Clay Magnets
Drop into the art studio to create a sculptural magnet to hang on your refrigerator. Get creative with shapes, patterns, and colors to make your magnet truly unique. Let your imagination fly as you work with air dry clay and a variety of materials and methods.

Sunday, October 20, 2024, 12:30-2:30 pm
Leaf Printing
Celebrate the beauty of autumn by gathering leaves from the trees of Lynden and using them to create nature-inspired prints. Design a card for a friend or a loved one.

Sunday, November 10, 2024, 12:30-2:30 pm
Make a Woolly Wish
Drop into the art studio to explore the art of wet felting with a creative twist: we’ll write a personal wish or something we’re grateful for on a rock before encasing it in layers of soft wool. The process of felting around the rock is a way of embracing what we’re grateful for and nurturing our hopes and dreams for the future.

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 12:30-2:30 pm
Bird Seed Ornaments
Show our feathered friends some love this cold season. Create your own unique, edible (to birds) ornament using found objects, seeds, and other bird-friendly treats. This is a nuts-free workshop.

September 24, 2024 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

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

Join the Lynden land team—Alyx Christensen, Robert Kaleta, and Esther Portnoy--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 23, 10 am-12 pm
In April, help us control invasive garlic mustard within the forested ravine. Learn about invasive species control and leave with a handful of garlic mustard and a recipe for Garlic Mustard Pesto as a thank you for your time.

May 21, 10 am-12 pm
In May, we are back in the ravine to control garlic mustard and the now-blooming dame’s rocket. As we move through the season, we will be tracking different species of plants as they pop up around the grounds. Catching these plants at the correct time will help prevent them from seeding and spreading next year. While we may not want dame’s rocket in our landscapes, the leaves are edible; some compare them to a "sweeter arugula" (also known as rocket) or spinach.

June 25, 10 am-12 pm
In June, we're on the lookout for white sweet clover in Lynden's prairies and savannas. This clover tends to outgrow ecologically significant species, shading out the sun-loving plants we are working to cultivate in these microhabitats. While sweet clover is not so desirable in the landscape, it can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or dried and used for vanilla flavoring in sweets and tea.

July 23, 10 am-12 pm
In July, we're still on the lookout for white sweet clover in Lynden's prairies and savannas. This clover tends to outgrow ecologically significant species, shading out the sun-loving plants we are working to cultivate in these microhabitats. While sweet clover is not so desirable in the landscape, it can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or dried and used for vanilla flavoring in sweets and tea. We will also be watching for wild oregano, particularly in and around the labyrinth. Help us remove this vigorously spreading but pleasantly pungent plant to make way for native Wisconsin prairie. While we prefer to not keep this oregano in our natural areas, it can be a good companion in the form of fresh tea or when dried and used as a spice. Wild oregano is also thought to have some properties that are beneficial to human health.

August 27, 10 am-12 pm
In 2019, artist Jenna Knapp and the Lynden land team created a five-circuit walking labyrinth, 69 feet in diameter. Thoughtfully “nestled away from Lynden’s formal lawn, this labyrinth is carved into the tall grasses of the native prairie and evolves with the seasons, peaking in the early fall when the field is bright with goldenrod." In
August, we will spend some reflective time in Lynden’s labyrinth while also encouraging the native prairie plants to fill out by removing competitors like wild oregano, Queen Anne’s lace, Shasta/oxeye daisies, turf grass, and smooth bromegrass.

September 24, 10 am-12 pm
Lynden’s back areas are not open to the public, but they are home to heritage oaks and other unique tree species, ephemeral and native herbaceous species, and many land restoration projects. In September, we will take you behind the scenes to clear paths to ensure that staff can continue to traverse these landscapes, tending to projects and plant life.

October 22, 10 am-12 pm
This fall we hope to add about 30 new trees to the Lynden landscape. While much of our 40 acres consists of sculptures on mowed lawn and landscaped gardens, we also have a robust tree catalog of nearly 100 different species. With so many trees, there is constant maintenance and replenishing to be done, as some trees age or get sick and new ones get planted, strengthening the various ecosystems. Tasks that will be completed consist of digging holes, moving and planting trees ranging from 3-5 feet in height, and mulching them in to protect their roots.

November 12, 10 am-12 pm
Winter is a critical time for managing buckthorn, one of the most persistent and prolific plant species that competes against diverse plant ecosystems. Buckthorn has characteristics that allow it to outcompete other plant species; it grows and matures much faster than other plants and rapidly colonizes, leaving little time or room for the growth of anything else. In November, we will be on the eastern side of the grounds, tending the understory of our, within the understory of our paper birch island by manually removing buckthorn using the “cut-stump” method. This will clear the area and relieve competition for future native plantings.

September 24, 2024 - 10:30am - 11:30am

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2024 Summer Session (June 4-August 27): Tuesdays, 10:30 am-11:30 am
2024 Fall/Winter Session (September 3-December 17): 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. Register online now. In the event of inclement weather, sessions move indoors.

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

September 25, 2024 - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Lynden Art Club

Fall 2024 Session: (14 Weeks) Wednesdays, September 11–December 18, 2024 (no class 11/27) | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $308/$224 members for the 14-week session

Art club is a community of young artists who are independent in their art practice but value a place to exchange ideas and support ,and learn from one another. Students will design a long-term independent art project at the beginning of the session and gather for in-progress reviews, take part in creative art challenges, have conversations about contemporary artists, and discuss their work with Lynden educators and their peers. Students will present their work at our final art club meeting.

To view our Safety Guidelines for Parent-and-Child, Youth Workshops, click here.

Registration: Registration is closed.

September 26, 2024 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

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

Join the Lynden land team—Alyx Christensen, Robert Kaleta, and Esther Portnoy--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 seeding and 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 continue with the removal of any remaining invasive species, as well as spreading seed for new dye plants to grow. Khaira will introduce the native plants she has chosen for the garden, including the significance of the seeds chosen, 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
This fall we hope to add about 30 new trees to the Lynden landscape. While much of our 40 acres consists of sculptures on mowed lawn and landscaped gardens, we also have a robust tree catalog of nearly 100 different species. With so many trees, there is constant maintenance and replenishing to be done, as some trees age or get sick and new ones get planted, strengthening the various ecosystems. Tasks that will be completed consist of digging holes, moving and planting trees ranging from 3-5 feet in height, and mulching them in to protect their roots.

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.

September 26, 2024 - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

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Fall 2024 Session I: (7 weeks) Thursdays, September 12-October 24, 2024 | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $154/$112 members per 7-week session. Registration is closed.
Fall 2024 Session II: (7 weeks) Thursdays, October 31-December 19, 2024(no class 11/28) | 3:30pm – 5:30pm | $154/$112 members per 7-week session. Registration is closed.

Lynden’s Art + Nature Lab engages participants aged 7-11 in inquiry-based art and nature learning, problem solving, and creative making. Over the course of two seven-week sessions, art educator Jeremy Stepien will take you on a series of art challenges and studio projects. Art + Nature Lab will meet indoors in the studio at Lynden with occasional excursions in the garden.

To view our Safety Guidelines for Parent-and-Child, Youth Workshops, click here.

Registration: Group size is limited; advance registration required. Register online now.

September 28, 2024 - 10:00am - 5:00pm

FREE

The Lynden Sculpture Garden joins Doors Open Milwaukee for a day of free tours and activities. Visit the Milwaukee Bonsai Foundation’s Bonsai Exhibit and the pollinator gardens, take a sculpture mini-tour, check out a self-guided activity, or explore on your own.

September 29, 2024 - 1:00pm - 3:00pm

October 3, 2020

Fee: $15/$10 members
Registration: Space is limited; advance registration required. Click here to register online.

Join Lynden land manager Robert Kaleta on a walk around the grounds to learn how to identify, harvest, and process some of nature's delicious fall offerings--Wisconsin's own edible tree nuts. You will learn all you need to know to begin or continue your foraging endeavors, as well as the tools and techniques required to keep you busy processing your harvested nuts all winter long.

About Robert Kaleta

Robert Kaleta has been at Lynden for four years. He is very interested in restoration ecology, native plants, and edible wild plants. These interests guide a lot of his management decisions as land manager of Lynden's 40 acres. Robert enjoys sharing this knowledge while constantly learning from others in the field.


©2024 Lynden Sculpture Garden