Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a City of Madison owned and operated facility within the City's Parks Division. The Gardens benefit from the support of an active friends group, the nonprofit Olbrich Botanical Society. The City and Society work in partnership to provide area residents and visitors with the beautiful botanical garden you see today. Olbrich Botanical Gardens features 16 acres of outdoor display gardens, all featuring Midwest prairie style architecture. Original sculptures further enhance the landscaping. Specialty gardens include the Sunken Garden, Eunice Fisher Hosta Garden, Meadow Garden, Rock Garden, Wildflower Garden, Herb Garden, Perennial Garden, Rose Garden, Atrium Shade Garden, Serenity Garden, and Thai Garden. The Bolz Conservatory--a sunny 50-foot high, 10,000 square foot glass pyramid--houses a diverse tropical collection of ferns, palms, and flowering plants growing in a natural setting. A rushing waterfall, bamboo arbors, and free-flying birds give a realistic feel. The Conservatory's Orchid Aerie exhibit features an ever-changing display of blooming orchids from Olbrich's collection. Olbrich's Schumacher Horticultural Library is a reference center for botanical information. The library collection includes: gardening books, seed catalogs, horticultural magazines, reference collection, and children's book corner. All visitors are welcome to use the library; members of the Olbrich Botanical Society may check out books. Olbrich staff and volunteers plan numerous special events to attract new visitors to the Garden, engage and educate members and visitors about plants and their environment, and to raise money to support the Garden. The regular special events are:Spring Flower Show, Spring Plant Sale, Rhapsody in Bloom, Blooming Butterflies, Home Garden Tour, GLEAM: Art in a New Light, Holiday Flower and Train Show Olbrich Botanical Gardens relies heavily on the support of volunteers in all operational areas including gift shop sales, front desk services, garden maintenance, education/interpretation, and special events. A full-time VolunteerServices Managerorganizes more than 600 volunteers each year, which contribute more than 26,000 hours annually, the equivalent to 13 full-time staff. This volunteer support is vital to keeping the Gardens affordable to the public.

Olbrich's Vision Olbrich Botanical Gardens will be a locally treasured and globally renowned source of beauty and education celebrating the importance of plants in a sustainable world. Olbrich's Mission Olbrich Botanical Gardens enriches life by nourishing and sharing the beauty of gardens, the joy of gardening, the knowledge of plants, and the diversity of our world. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is dedicated to the creation, conservation, and interpretation of gardens and plant collections hardy to the American Midwest or native to the world's tropical forests for study, enjoyment, and public benefit.