If you are in Madison WI, and want to visit a beautiful garden, then Olbrich Botanical Gardens is an excellent place to go. This 16-acre garden features a variety of different plant species and is perfect for the whole family.
The gardens are open year-round and feature a 50-foot-tall glass pyramid that houses a diverse collection of tropical plants. It also has a rushing waterfall and free-flying birds and butterflies. Read on for some ideas.
The Bolz Conservatory
Olbrich Botanical Gardens is home to 16 acres of outdoor display gardens and a year-round tropical conservatory. This Wisconsin tourist attraction is an ideal destination for families to explore.
The Bolz Conservatory is a sunny glass pyramid that houses a diverse collection of plants, a waterfall, free-flying birds, and blooming orchids. This Wisconsin tourist attraction also features a gift shop and horticultural library.
While at the garden, visitors can learn about sustainable gardening practices that use smart water usage, natural insect control, and composting. The gardens also feature a 60,000-gallon cistern and solar panels to store rainwater collected on the roof of the building.
The gardens are wheelchair-accessible and stroller friendly. There are no stairs in the outdoor garden and the conservatory has wide brick paths with frequent benches for resting.
The Rose Garden
The Rose Garden at Olbrich Botanical Gardens Madison WI celebrates the beauty and adaptability of hardy, disease-resistant shrub roses. They bloom repeatedly throughout the season, require little water or pesticides, and are fragrant and colorful.
The garden also features perennials and annuals that thrive in the Upper Midwest climate and a variety of landscape plants. The prairie-style architecture complements the garden’s theme.
On a recent chilly Wisconsin winter day, the Bolz Conservatory felt like a breath of warm, humid air. The 10,000-square-foot glass conservatory reached a peak of 50 feet at its diamond-dome center, and temperatures ranged from 65 to 95 degrees with humidity hovering around 60%.
The conservatory’s two levels are connected by narrow cobblestone paths, and a 20-foot waterfall feeds a small pond containing big, orange koi and goldfish. Species of tropical birds including canaries, waxbills, and diamond doves flit in the canopy above. The pond is also home to frogs, toads, and geckos. Explore more!
The Thai Pavilion and Garden
The Thai Pavilion and Garden at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison WI is a unique place to visit with your family, especially in the winter. The gardens are 16 acres of beautiful displays that are perfect for a stroll with your little ones.
The outdoor area of the gardens is free to enjoy year-round. You can take a guided tour or attend a class, which is great for those who are new to the gardens or even just looking for something different to do.
Guests can explore the Sunken Garden, which is done in the style of traditional British gardens. It is full of well-trimmed hedges, large reflecting pools, and plenty of flowers!
Another popular spot is the Rose Garden, which is full of innovative mixed borders that are made up of Midwest hardy shrub roses. There are also a few other specialty areas of interest such as the Perennial Garden and Herb Garden. The Thai Pavilion and Garden is a must-see area in the garden as it features several tropical plants and plenty of beautiful Thai sculptures.
The Sunken Garden
If you’re looking for a beautiful place to take your family, you won’t want to miss Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison WI. This beautiful garden is open year-round and has an incredible display of flowers, trees, and ponds.
In addition to the beautiful outdoor displays, the garden also has a tropical conservatory. Here you can find a waterfall, tropical plants, and birds.
It’s a wonderful place to visit year-round, but there is one part of the garden that really stands out and deserves to be highlighted in this blog post: The Sunken Garden.
The Sunken Garden is one of three areas of the garden and is made up of limestone terraces, hedges, and an 80-foot (24 m) long reflecting pool designed to connect the garden thematically with nearby Lake Monona.
The other area of the garden is the Thai Pavilion and Garden, which is one of only four Thai Pavilions outside of Thailand. This ‘castle’ and surrounding exotic gardens, nestled just across the Starkweather Creek, are both stunningly beautiful and transport you to another part of the world! Check our next area of interest here.
Driving directions from Madison Window Cleaning Co. Inc. to Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Driving directions from Olbrich Botanical Gardens to Lake Kegonsa State Park
