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Olbrich Botanical Gardens

United States Wisconsin MadisonOlbrich Botanical Gardens

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Olbrich Botanical Gardens is my favorite garden in Madison. I'm originally from Modesto, CA, and there was nothing like this there. The thai garden is my personal favorite, with a beautiful genuine gold plated structure amongst manmade bodies of water, filled with stones. It's the most peaceful area, there, in my opinion. There's a touch garden, a mint garden, a color garden (plants that can be used for dye), etc. The place is a true wonder. Then, too, during the winter, you can escape to a humid climate in the pyramid greenhouse, where there are tropical plants, sometimes butterflies, birds, etc. It's really nice to escape there and it's not very expensive to visit ($2-5), a few times during the winter. It's well worth the $, trust me, if you can't afford to be a snow bird/travel somewhere warmer. The weekends tend to be packed, so if you don't want a large crowd, I suggest going during a week day. Update: 3.1.21 My experience was an odd one, in that I said hi to a woman as I put my coat on the hanger before entering the Bolz Conservatory, and I said hello to a zombie, apparently. There was zero response, even when I made eye contact with her. Then, before entering the conservatory I saw that Olbrich was having an orchid sale. I jokingly told the woman I've ended up killing every single orchid I've owned. She said it's like an art form and then I asked her if they had classes on how to care for them. She rudely told me to look it up online because she didn't know. Okay, what happened to customer service? You know, looking something up for someone? I thanked her, sort of, then said I didn't think I'd renew my membership because they sure are rude there. My previous experience, she didn't know anything about online classes and luckily the super nice and helpful librarian was there to talk to me - and she acted like she liked engaging with people. Today, as I was looking through the books for sale, a couple came up to the young woman and she rudely stated that they should hang up their coats before entering the Bolz Conservatory because it's warm inside. They seemed surprised and the older man asked for permission to keep his coat on. Wow. I couldn't believe this young woman's behavior. Then, I asked where to go to buy 2 books and I was directed to the gift shop where I asked the woman working if I got a discount on the books for being a member. She told me this, "we are practically giving them away." I couldn't believe her negative, poor attitude. I told her it didn't hurt for me to ask! Jeez! What's with the staff? Honestly, I couldn't believe the impoliteness. It seems to me as though the employees need some grounding before their shifts. Perhaps, it'd be helpful to have a meeting to walk through the outdoor/indoor gardens before their shift. It is so relaxing and you become connected to the earth. That Monday was intense and I found that the plants helped ground me. Meditation is nice, too. It's a difficult time for everyone - especially the people serving the public (especially during a pandemic). I hope the employees are receiving ample support. That's so important.

Reannah JonesReannah Jones

Amorphophallus titanum or Corpse Flower is blooming as of ~3 pm May 4, 2022, Wed. Few interesting & fun facts: 68" tall, last flowered 2010 at 6', from UW-Madison Dept of Hort. compliments of John Mather in 2006 (manager DC Smith Greenhouse). Putrid stench akin to rotten flesh, "herd of dead elephants", sickeningly fishy & sweet. By breaking triple bonded Carbon to Nitrogen covalently bound atoms in cyanide linkages in Depot storage tissues in Spadix(see pix), 98 degree temp reached in florophore emitting structure of inflorescence, the heated odorant molecules wafting a mile through the tropical forest floor at base of Western facing foothills of Sumatran mountainsides. Attracting phalanxes of flesh flies & carrion beetles which hopefully carry pollen on their integument (chitinous exoskeleton), the female (pistillate) flowers bloom first & need that pollen from the male (staminate) flowers at the base of the Spadix of a different Amorphophallus titanum plant for successful CROSS-pollination and thus yield fertile offspring (seeds). Putrid scent of rotten flesh and dark red color of raw exposed meat or carrion (offal or dead animals), is the mimicry employed by the corpse flower to attract flesh flies & carrion beetles that feed on such decomposing material ( or rather the grubby larvae from the eggs they lay on rotting animals). According to Chicago Botanic Garden, chemical analyses of odorant molecules released from Spadix include: (CH3)2C2(SH)3(limburger cheese scent), (CH3)2-C(SH)2 & (CH3)3-CNH2 (rotting fish), isovaleric acid (sweaty socks), benzyl alcohol (sweet floral scent), phenol (like Chloraseptic), & indole (like mothballs). Flower is world's largest un-branched inflorescence. Botanists believe less than 1,000 plants in wild, hence endangered species status on Red List of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

John HerbstJohn Herbst

This is one of those places where you could come here once a week and never be bored! This should be at the top of your list when visiting Madison! The outside garden is so beautiful, it will take your breath away. Every possible plant, flower, native to Wisconsin and then some, is in this garden. They also have an herb garden during the summer months, a zen garden, stone paths, a ton of cool fountains, benches to sit on all over, a cool bridge over a small lake, and so many more exciting and awesome things! There is usually something going on there too like Lilly sales, plant sales, fund raisers, you can even rent the garden to get married in! Every plant is labeled with the name and origin as well. This is a place you just have to experience to get the full extent of what I'm trying to describe! Inside the building, there is a tropical garden with a wide array of tropical plants, koi fish and some birds and butterflies. It's a small paradise to experience and relax in. They have a website with their hours and list of events happening on any given day, week or weekend. They even have things for the kids to do! There is a small gift shop inside too. This is a perfect place for a family or anyone wanting to just enjoy a relaxing atmosphere. They even have a temple that was graciously given to us from the amazing people in Thailand. It's one of kind and the ONLY one in the US.

Michelle L.Michelle L.

A scheduled stop on a road trip with my son back in 2022. First, this place was a lot bigger than I had expected! We visited in early June and unfortunately, it was too early for the flowers. There were some but not many in bloom yet. That was a bummer. However, the weather was beautiful and we wanted to see the Thai Pavilion and Conservatory. Well, we got handed our second strike and the Conservatory was booked for a wedding and closed to the public. On a positive note, it saved us the cost of entry because the grounds were free to enter. So, we walked the park grounds and took pics of the few flowers we did see and made our way to the Thai Pavilion. Wow! The pavilion is spectacular! It shines in the sun like a palace! We got some great photos of it. We walked through some of the trails in the park but came to the realization that the flowers just aren't going to bloom for us and decided to go. The park is beautiful and I'm sure the Conservatory is great. I bet July & August are the best times to visit. All the flowers would be in bloom by then. I highly recommend this place!

D-Rock TD-Rock T

Olbrich Gardens nearby is one of those hidden gems that unless you've heard about, you may never go, but once you've been there, you'll keep going back again and again. The gorgeous outdoor gardens are a sensory experience in themselves, and it's a Pokémon Go player's dream - plenty of beautiful plants, benches, restrooms, and a gift shop, as well as a dozen or more pokestops & gyms, and all the spawns you need on community day. this is well-known to the Pokémon community and many players come here on community days so it does get quite busy. In addition to the Pokemon Go friendliness, Holbrook Gardens runs many of their own events, including butterfly exhibit, gleam at night during the fall, various plant, sales, and fundraisers. if you enjoy going here, I highly recommend becoming a member to continue to support the endeavors of the garden. The Bolz conservatory is open year-round, and has a wide array of tropical jungle plants. Parts of the park are handicap accessible, and they do allow photography passes as well as have wedding packages available.

Drea ChapmanDrea Chapman

The information desk representative was an exceptional gentleman and very informative/helpful. Great place for family’s and tourists to see a beautiful garden. I was able to get a lot of amazing photos of the plants and they put a lot of love and effort into their establishment. I would say be warned as one of the younger female staff looked tired/bored and seemed to have a tiny bit of an attitude when I asked her a question. Beyond that, some people I had the displeasure of crossing paths with seemed to be bothered with people taking photos, when the website actually encourages you to bring your camera for memorable photos. It seems like some of the visitors here think they are above other people and incredibly snobby. No fault of the staff but would just recommend to watch out for the rude pretentious people that visit this establishment. If you can ignore people acting a little weird/rude, this place is an absolute gem. Outside garden are free, the conservatory was $6/person. Great value and great memories!

Amanda (Venom)Amanda (Venom)

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Address

3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704

Map

Phone

(608) 246-4550

Call

Website

olbrich.org

Visit

Overview

4.8

(1.9K reviews)

outdoor

relaxation

family friendly

accessibility

Description

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a 16 acre outdoor botanical garden and 10,000-square-foot conservatory in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1952 and named for its founder, Michael Olbrich, the gardens are owned and operated jointly by the City of Madison Parks and the non-profit Olbrich Botanical Society.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is my favorite garden in Madison. I'm originally from Modesto, CA, and there was nothing like this there. The thai garden is my personal favorite, with a beautiful genuine gold plated structure amongst manmade bodies of water, filled with stones. It's the most peaceful area, there, in my opinion. There's a touch garden, a mint garden, a color garden (plants that can be used for dye), etc. The place is a true wonder. Then, too, during the winter, you can escape to a humid climate in the pyramid greenhouse, where there are tropical plants, sometimes butterflies, birds, etc. It's really nice to escape there and it's not very expensive to visit ($2-5), a few times during the winter. It's well worth the $, trust me, if you can't afford to be a snow bird/travel somewhere warmer. The weekends tend to be packed, so if you don't want a large crowd, I suggest going during a week day. Update: 3.1.21 My experience was an odd one, in that I said hi to a woman as I put my coat on the hanger before entering the Bolz Conservatory, and I said hello to a zombie, apparently. There was zero response, even when I made eye contact with her. Then, before entering the conservatory I saw that Olbrich was having an orchid sale. I jokingly told the woman I've ended up killing every single orchid I've owned. She said it's like an art form and then I asked her if they had classes on how to care for them. She rudely told me to look it up online because she didn't know. Okay, what happened to customer service? You know, looking something up for someone? I thanked her, sort of, then said I didn't think I'd renew my membership because they sure are rude there. My previous experience, she didn't know anything about online classes and luckily the super nice and helpful librarian was there to talk to me - and she acted like she liked engaging with people. Today, as I was looking through the books for sale, a couple came up to the young woman and she rudely stated that they should hang up their coats before entering the Bolz Conservatory because it's warm inside. They seemed surprised and the older man asked for permission to keep his coat on. Wow. I couldn't believe this young woman's behavior. Then, I asked where to go to buy 2 books and I was directed to the gift shop where I asked the woman working if I got a discount on the books for being a member. She told me this, "we are practically giving them away." I couldn't believe her negative, poor attitude. I told her it didn't hurt for me to ask! Jeez! What's with the staff? Honestly, I couldn't believe the impoliteness. It seems to me as though the employees need some grounding before their shifts. Perhaps, it'd be helpful to have a meeting to walk through the outdoor/indoor gardens before their shift. It is so relaxing and you become connected to the earth. That Monday was intense and I found that the plants helped ground me. Meditation is nice, too. It's a difficult time for everyone - especially the people serving the public (especially during a pandemic). I hope the employees are receiving ample support. That's so important.

Reannah JonesReannah Jones

Amorphophallus titanum or Corpse Flower is blooming as of ~3 pm May 4, 2022, Wed. Few interesting & fun facts: 68" tall, last flowered 2010 at 6', from UW-Madison Dept of Hort. compliments of John Mather in 2006 (manager DC Smith Greenhouse). Putrid stench akin to rotten flesh, "herd of dead elephants", sickeningly fishy & sweet. By breaking triple bonded Carbon to Nitrogen covalently bound atoms in cyanide linkages in Depot storage tissues in Spadix(see pix), 98 degree temp reached in florophore emitting structure of inflorescence, the heated odorant molecules wafting a mile through the tropical forest floor at base of Western facing foothills of Sumatran mountainsides. Attracting phalanxes of flesh flies & carrion beetles which hopefully carry pollen on their integument (chitinous exoskeleton), the female (pistillate) flowers bloom first & need that pollen from the male (staminate) flowers at the base of the Spadix of a different Amorphophallus titanum plant for successful CROSS-pollination and thus yield fertile offspring (seeds). Putrid scent of rotten flesh and dark red color of raw exposed meat or carrion (offal or dead animals), is the mimicry employed by the corpse flower to attract flesh flies & carrion beetles that feed on such decomposing material ( or rather the grubby larvae from the eggs they lay on rotting animals). According to Chicago Botanic Garden, chemical analyses of odorant molecules released from Spadix include: (CH3)2C2(SH)3(limburger cheese scent), (CH3)2-C(SH)2 & (CH3)3-CNH2 (rotting fish), isovaleric acid (sweaty socks), benzyl alcohol (sweet floral scent), phenol (like Chloraseptic), & indole (like mothballs). Flower is world's largest un-branched inflorescence. Botanists believe less than 1,000 plants in wild, hence endangered species status on Red List of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

John HerbstJohn Herbst

This is one of those places where you could come here once a week and never be bored! This should be at the top of your list when visiting Madison! The outside garden is so beautiful, it will take your breath away. Every possible plant, flower, native to Wisconsin and then some, is in this garden. They also have an herb garden during the summer months, a zen garden, stone paths, a ton of cool fountains, benches to sit on all over, a cool bridge over a small lake, and so many more exciting and awesome things! There is usually something going on there too like Lilly sales, plant sales, fund raisers, you can even rent the garden to get married in! Every plant is labeled with the name and origin as well. This is a place you just have to experience to get the full extent of what I'm trying to describe! Inside the building, there is a tropical garden with a wide array of tropical plants, koi fish and some birds and butterflies. It's a small paradise to experience and relax in. They have a website with their hours and list of events happening on any given day, week or weekend. They even have things for the kids to do! There is a small gift shop inside too. This is a perfect place for a family or anyone wanting to just enjoy a relaxing atmosphere. They even have a temple that was graciously given to us from the amazing people in Thailand. It's one of kind and the ONLY one in the US.

Michelle L.Michelle L.

A scheduled stop on a road trip with my son back in 2022. First, this place was a lot bigger than I had expected! We visited in early June and unfortunately, it was too early for the flowers. There were some but not many in bloom yet. That was a bummer. However, the weather was beautiful and we wanted to see the Thai Pavilion and Conservatory. Well, we got handed our second strike and the Conservatory was booked for a wedding and closed to the public. On a positive note, it saved us the cost of entry because the grounds were free to enter. So, we walked the park grounds and took pics of the few flowers we did see and made our way to the Thai Pavilion. Wow! The pavilion is spectacular! It shines in the sun like a palace! We got some great photos of it. We walked through some of the trails in the park but came to the realization that the flowers just aren't going to bloom for us and decided to go. The park is beautiful and I'm sure the Conservatory is great. I bet July & August are the best times to visit. All the flowers would be in bloom by then. I highly recommend this place!

D-Rock TD-Rock T

Olbrich Gardens nearby is one of those hidden gems that unless you've heard about, you may never go, but once you've been there, you'll keep going back again and again. The gorgeous outdoor gardens are a sensory experience in themselves, and it's a Pokémon Go player's dream - plenty of beautiful plants, benches, restrooms, and a gift shop, as well as a dozen or more pokestops & gyms, and all the spawns you need on community day. this is well-known to the Pokémon community and many players come here on community days so it does get quite busy. In addition to the Pokemon Go friendliness, Holbrook Gardens runs many of their own events, including butterfly exhibit, gleam at night during the fall, various plant, sales, and fundraisers. if you enjoy going here, I highly recommend becoming a member to continue to support the endeavors of the garden. The Bolz conservatory is open year-round, and has a wide array of tropical jungle plants. Parts of the park are handicap accessible, and they do allow photography passes as well as have wedding packages available.

Drea ChapmanDrea Chapman

The information desk representative was an exceptional gentleman and very informative/helpful. Great place for family’s and tourists to see a beautiful garden. I was able to get a lot of amazing photos of the plants and they put a lot of love and effort into their establishment. I would say be warned as one of the younger female staff looked tired/bored and seemed to have a tiny bit of an attitude when I asked her a question. Beyond that, some people I had the displeasure of crossing paths with seemed to be bothered with people taking photos, when the website actually encourages you to bring your camera for memorable photos. It seems like some of the visitors here think they are above other people and incredibly snobby. No fault of the staff but would just recommend to watch out for the rude pretentious people that visit this establishment. If you can ignore people acting a little weird/rude, this place is an absolute gem. Outside garden are free, the conservatory was $6/person. Great value and great memories!

Amanda (Venom)Amanda (Venom)

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

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Glass Nickel Pizza Co. - Madison East

Ian’s Pizza Madison | Garver Feed Mill

The Biergarten at Olbrich Park

Stalzy's Deli

Garver Feed Mill

Fair Oaks Diner

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