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Boerner Botanical Gardens

Boerner Botanical Gardens, Garden House, built by the WPA

Boerner Botanical Gardens

Thousands of plants bring the seasons to life, with colorful and fragrant displays laid out in a variety of formal gardens. Enjoy a stroll under blossoming crabapples and magnolia trees while exploring a rose garden, peony garden, daylily garden, and more! Here we work at cultivating the beauty and living legacy of Boerner Botanical Gardens to inspire, connect, and engage people with nature.

See What's Blooming

 

  • Visit
  • Events
  • Membership
  • Rentals
  • Weddings & Permits
  • Buy a Brick

Admission Fees

  • IDs required for discounts

  • Effective May 1st – Oct. 31st
Pass Milwaukee County
Resident
Non Resident
Adult (age 18-59) $8 $9
Senior (age 60+) $6 $9
Junior (age 3-12) $6 $6
Adult Group of 20+ (per person) $7 $8
Junior Group of 20+ (per person) $5 $6
Student (of any age) $6 $6
Military Veteran or Active Duty $6 $6
Person with Disability $6 $6
FBBG or AHS* Member Free Free

*Note: Each AHS card will admit only the individual whose name is listed on the card and one other person. In the case of a family, couple, or household membership card that does not list individual names, the Botanical Gardens will admit a total of two of the members. A photo ID is required.

Hours

  • Last admission one hour before close
  • The Garden House is locked one hour before garden closing

May 1 – Aug. 31 

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., last admission at 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., last admission at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sunday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., last admission at 5 p.m.

Sept. 1 – Oct. 31

  • Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., last admission at 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sunday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., last admission at 3 p.m.

Nov. 1 – April 30

Education & Visitor Center Only
  • Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 

Boerner Botanical Gadens, aerial view

Explore the Garden Spaces

Themed garden spaces offer a succession of blooms from early spring through late fall. See something new each time you visit!

Near the Education & Visitor Center

  • Fragrance Garden 
  • Butterfly Garden
  • Terrace Garden

Deeper in the Botanical Gardens

  • Rose Garden
  • Annual Garden
  • Perennial Garden
  • Heirloom Garden
  • Peony Garden
  • Herb Garden
  • Daylily Walk
  • Shrub Mall
  • Rain Garden
  • Bog Garden Walk
  • Rock Garden

Margie's Garden Playhouse, a cute little blue house with a crooked window, at Boerner Botanical Gardens

Margie’s Garden

This 3-acre garden is designed especially for children. The flower-themed garden features an "enchanted village" with a playhouse, fiddlehead path, twig hut and mushroom-chair rings. Additional spaces within Margie's Garden include a sound garden, secret garden, bug garden with friendly bug sculptures, a storybook nook, a pollinator garden, sunflower garden, and prairie and wildflower zones.

 

Boerner Botanical Gardens Trial Garden, with woman contemplating the latest introductions

The Trial Garden

In keeping with its educational mission, Boerner Botanical Gardens offers a Trial Garden, featuring over 500 new varieties of plants. These plants are tested for their suitability for the Great Lakes region.

Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens lead a tour near the Rock Garden

Garden Tours

May – September

Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens offers one-hour, educational, docent-guided tours to groups of 12 or more.

More About Garden Tours with the Friends

Boerner Botanical Gardens Education & Visitor Center, exterior

Education & Visitor Center

Stop at the Visitor Center to find unique items in the Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens Gift Shop. Entry to the Visitor Center is free. The Visitor Center also houses a library, classrooms and event spaces available to rent.

Arbor Day at Boerner Botanical Gardens, group planting a tree

Arbor Day

Last Friday in April

Each spring we celebrate Arbor Day at Boerner by inviting local school children to plant a new tree in the gardens with the Milwaukee County Parks Forestry team. The day also marks the official start of the botanical gardens season, with free admission to view the work that goes into preparing the gardens for the season. Admission fees begin May 1st through October 31st.

Concerts in the Gardens, stage at Boerner Botanical Gardens

Concerts in the Gardens

July & August

Enjoy a free summer concert series, sponsored by Wimmer Communities, held on Thursday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Food and beverages are available for purchase at the concerts but guests may also bring food.

Learn More About Concerts in the Gardens

China Lights, sculptural lantern of a fish

China Lights

September & October

Brighten your autumn evenings with a visit to China Lights, on the grounds of Boerner Botanical Gardens. Enjoy illuminated scenes, live performances, cultural displays, and a bustling marketplace. Food and beverages are available for purchase at this family-friendly event. 

Learn More About China Lights

 

Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens logoFriends of Boerner Botanical Gardens

The Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens (FBBG) is an independent, non-profit group that supports Boerner Botanical Gardens through fundraising, educational programing and special events.

Members Receive

  • Free Unlimited Admission to the Gardens
  • 10% Discount on FBBG-labeled items in the Gift Shop
  • Discounts on FBBG classes and events
  • E-blasts and mailers with updates of FBBG classes/events
  • Membership Appreciation Event
  • Reciprocal admissions to over 300 American Horticultural Society gardens (www.ahsgardening.org)

Become a Member

Indoor Rentals

Boerner Botanical Gardens offers variety in venue size, function and decoration. With expansive wide-windowed halls, as well as more intimate gathering spaces, the Gardens has options for every event, wedding, or corporate party. Located just 15 minutes outside of Milwaukee, this location not only offers convenience, but also impresses — and offers 300 free parking spaces!

exterior of the Boerner Garden house, surrounded by grass, trees and flowers

Boerner Garden House

The Garden House was constructed in 1935 using native fieldstone. The Exhibit Room features hand-carved animals above the entrance, hand-hewn oak beams, wooden furniture, and a fireplace mantel inscribed with an excerpt from a poem by Alexander Pope. Renters may bring in beverages, home-prepared foods, and light snacks only. Formal catering is available from Zilli Hospitality Group.

During the garden season, April through October, admission fees to the Botanical Gardens are required with rentals. Ask about group rates for admission.

Capacity: 45

Request Rental

classroom table surrounded by chairs

Boerner Classrooms

These rooms are ideal for presentations, meetings, or art and garden workshops. Educational partners, plant societies, and garden clubs qualify for special rates. Group admission rates to Boerner Botanical Gardens are also available. Audio/video equipment is available for an extra fee. Catering is available from Zilli Hospitality Group.

Capacities:

  • Room 114 – Garden Tree Club Room: 36
  • Room 115 – Connie Grove Memorial Room: 36
  • Room B05 – Grandparents Room: 45
  • Room B06A – Multi-Media Room: 96 classroom style or 180 theater style

For more information, including rates and reservations, call the Botanical Gardens at (414) 525-5601

 

Photography Permits

Boerner Botanical Gardens provides the perfect backdrop for engagement, wedding, prom, and family photos. Formal photography requires a photography permit.

  • Package Rate (includes admission for up to 20 adults): $160 plus tax for up to 1 hour 
  • Additional Half-Hour: $80 plus tax per additional 30 minutes beyond package

For more information, call the Botanical Gardens at (414) 525-5601

Complete the Boerner Photo Permit Request

Weddings at Boerner Botanical Gardens

Boerner Botanical Gardens is ideal for everything from an intimate wedding for 30 guests in the Annual Garden gazebo to a large ceremony for 200 guests in the Shrub Mall. The historic Garden House can also be rented for use as a bridal room, or an alternative ceremony site in case of inclement weather. Outdoor areas are available spring through fall and remain open to the public. 

Boerner also offers several indoor spaces for receptions through our catering partner, Zilli Hospitality Group.

Ceremony Site Map

Annual Garden & Gazebo

The Annual Garden includes a central water garden with water lily and lotus, grassy malls with flowered borders, ornamental flowering trees, and dazzling beds of colorful annual flowers. A low, decorative wall made from native glacial-stone outlines the garden, and a traditional gazebo offers quiet repose.

Capacity: 30

Rock Garden Vista

In early spring the Rock Garden is carpeted with Wisconsin wildflowers and the delicate blooms of Asian and European bulbs. As spring flows into summer, Japanese Primrose and Siberian Iris lead a parade of flowering perennials. Summer gives rise to a host of ferns, fragrant-flowered Japanese Hostas, and bright South American and African tropical flowers.

Capacity: 200

Boerner Botanical Gardens: Rose Garden Fountain

Rose Garden

The Rose Garden that today’s visitor sees is very much the same garden seen by guests in the 1930s. Many of the roses originally planted in this garden were provided by Eugene Boerner. The wedding site also offers a vista beyond the Rose Garden.

Capacity: 200, larger events may expand into the Perennial Mall

Boerner Botanical Gardens: Shrub Mall with Vista

Shrub Mall

The Shrub Mall has the regal look and feel of an English country estate garden. Its impressive central lawn or “mall” offers an impressive vista to the south. 

Capacity: 300

Indoor Wedding Venues

Rentals and catering are provided by Zilli Hospitality Group. Contact Zilli’s for current rates at (262) 547-9447. Group admission rates to Boerner Botanical Gardens are also available.

  • Boerner Hall features large windows to let guests enjoy the view of the Fragrance Garden. Ideal for groups of up to 300 people.
  • The Atrium features high cealings and natural light. Ideal for groups up to 150 people.
  • The Garden Room is located off the Atrium and overlooks the Silver-Blue Garden. Ideal for groups of up to 96 people.
  • Nell's Garden Cafe includes an outside terrace. Ideal for groups of up to 100 people.

Contact Zilli Hospitality

 

Whitnall Rotary Circle at Boerner Botanical Gardens

Buy Personalized Bricks

Whitnall Rotary Circle at Boerner Botanical Gardens

Purchase a personalized paver as a memorial, to honor an individual, family or organization, or to share a favorite nature quote, poem or haiku!

The pavers are part of the Rotary Circle, an accessible pathway and terrace that not only provide connections to previously wheelchair-inaccessible garden collections, but also showcase best practices in storm water management.

The permeable pavers are available in four sizes, with pricing starting at $100.

Get Details & Request Your Bricks

How to Find Us

9400 Boerner Dr, Hales Corners, WI 53130
(414) 525-5600

 

Amenities

  Parking Available

  Wheelchair Accessible

  Gift Shop

  NO DOGS - except service dogs performing tasks for a person with a disability

2023 Best of the Burbs logo

 

 

Partners

Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens - Milwaukee County's Living Museum

Margie's Smile Inc

  University of Wisconsin - Extension 

ZILLI Hospitality Group

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