Your Guide to Local Public Gardens

Visiting public gardens can be a beautiful and peaceful way to spend a morning or afternoon. Greenfield Patch put together of list of five of the closest public gardens to the city, and there are some spectacular ones on this list.

Boerner Botanical Gardens
9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners
Phone: 414-525-5601 - front desk; (414) 525-5600 - information line
Garden Hours: April 25 - Oct. 4: daily 8 a.m. to sunset; October, late November and early April (weather permitting): call ahead; late November to early April: closed
Education & Visitor Center Hours: April 25 - Oct. 4: Daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Oct. 5 – April 24: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. 4 p.m.; Saturday, closed (open as needed for classes and special events); Sunday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Accessibility: The Education & Visitor Center and most of the grounds are ADA-compliant. Handicapped parking spaces are available in the parking lot. Wheelchairs are available.
Admission: Adults (ages 18 and up) - $5; Milwaukee County Seniors (ages 60 and up) - $4; Disability (any age) - $4; Student (with ID) - $4; Junior (ages 6-17) - $3

The Boerner Botanical Gardens, owned by Milwaukee County, were developed as a public garden intended to be a place of beauty, an outdoor classroom and a living museum for all to enjoy. The gardens were named for the landscape architect who designed the original five formal gardens, Alfred L. Boerner. The gardens include more than 40acres of formal gardens, professionally labeled and evaluated plant collections, one of the largest crab apple collections in Wisconsin, rain water harvesting and recycling project, extravagant display of over 500 varieties of roses, among other great features.

Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes)
524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee
Phone: 414-257-5611
Hours (through October): Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission Rates: Age 18 & up: $6.50; Milwaukee County Senior Age 60+: $5 with proof of residency; Student: $5 with student photo ID; Age 6–17: $5; Person with disability: $5
Accessibility: A few wheelchairs are available free of charge for use on a first-come, first-served basis

The Mitchell Park Conservatory has been part of Milwaukee since 1898. The original conservatory was demolished and a design competition, won by a local architect, produced the plans for a new one. The winning entry called for three beehive-shaped glass domes. Each dome has a distinct climate and exhibits plants in a naturalistic setting. These are the hot, dry desert, the jungle-like tropical, and the themed floral show. 

Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
2220 N. Terrace Avenue, Milwaukee
Phone: 414-271-3656
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
Admission: $5 adults; $3 seniors (62+), military and students;  free for Members and children 12 and under

Overlooking Lake Michigan, the Renaissance Garden at Villa Terrace recreates the classic elements of a 16th century Tuscan landscape. Grassy spaces and benches are bordered with culinary and medicinal herbs, potted citrus trees, unusual plantings, dwarf fruit trees and statuary.

Lynden Sculpture Garden
2145 West Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee
Phone: 414-446-8794
Summer hours: May 30 - Sept. 8: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, closed; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Fall hours: Sept. 8 to Oct. 31: Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Winter hours: Nov. 3 – March 13: Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
Spring hours: March 16 – May 15: Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: Adults - $9; seniors - $7; students - $7; children 6-17 - $7; children under 6 admitted free with an adult.

The Lynden Sculpture Garden offers more than 50 monumental sculptures sited across 40 acres of park, lake and woodland. The former home of Harry and Peg Bradley opened to the public in May 2010. The lake and rustic bridge spanning the water were designed to match Harry Bradley’s memories of the municipal grounds in Kansas City where he swam as a boy.

Warren Taylor Memorial Flower Gardens
Lincoln Park, 7010 22nd Ave., Kenosha
Phone: 262-653-4080
The Warren J. Taylor sunken flower garden has more than 50 varieties of flowers planted annually and laid out in rows, contrasting with manicured grass paths. It is one of the state’s few formal gardens devoted solely to annuals, and is open when the park is open.