UW-Madison Extension Forestry

Current woodland topics, classes, webinars, publications, and more to help you meet your goals.

Current Topics

Lesser celandine flower

Be on the Lookout for Lesser Celandine

Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), sometimes known as fig buttercup, is a short, perennial plant that is spreading in the Midwest. It has shiny, dark green, heart-shaped leaves and small, bright yellow flowers. Natural resource professionals are asking for your help to prevent the spread of this invasive plant and protect our landscapes.

many oyster mushrooms growing out of the side of a bucket

Growing Mushrooms in Buckets

You can produce edible mushrooms in your home easily using a bucket, some wood chips, and mushroom spawn (the “seeds” for growing mushrooms). If you follow the right process, you can harvest mature mushrooms several times from one mixture before the materials have completed all their growth. Learn the process by reading or watching our new tutorial.

buckthorn thicket

Identifying and Managing Invasive Plants

People have introduced plants from all over the world to Wisconsin to add beauty, a new fruit, or a new food source for livestock. Most of these have been relatively harmless, but some of these plants can dramatically change the character of our forests—and not for the better. Learn how to identify and manage invasive plants in your woods.