Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is located in Madison, Wisconsin. 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. The gardens were officially established in 1952.

Noteworthy additions to the gardens were the Bolz Conservatory in 1991 and a Thai pavilion or sala, a gift to the University of Wisconsin–Madison from the Thai Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the government of Thailand through its king, Bhumibol Adulyadej. Opened in 2002, it is one of only four sala outside of Thailand and one of two in the United States (the other is located in Hawaii).

Gardens and grounds

The only Thai pavilion in the contiguous United States

The gardens are made up of several separate garden areas. The Sunken Garden is in the form of a traditional English garden. Surrounded by limestone terraces and hedges, it contains an 80-foot (24 m) long reflecting pool – designed to connect the garden thematically with nearby Lake Monona.

The Thai Garden contains the sala and is joined to the gardens proper by a 155-foot (47 m) arched footbridge crossing Starkweather Creek. This garden has a shallow reflecting pool near the pavilion and is littered with small examples of Thai sculpture. The plants in this garden were carefully selected to give a tropical appearance to the garden in the summer, while choosing plants capable of surviving Wisconsin winters.

A Rock Garden is constructed of a rocky hill, designed to simulate a mountain slope. Plants here are mostly conifers or alpine and two streams flow through it, forming a waterfall and small pond. Here again, a wooden footbridge crosses the stream.

A Meadow Garden combines perennial grasses, wildflowers, and plants grown from bulbs. The grass in the meadow garden is mowed only once or twice a year. The small Wildflower Garden contains wildflowers, ferns, berries, and native trees and shrubs. An Herb Garden is a collection of smaller gardens of herbs separated by use; they include medicinal, dye, and kitchen (spice) herbs, as well as 'touch' and 'smell' gardens. A perennial garden displays perennials and three ponds, with a waterfall. Aquatic plants are displayed in the ponds.

The Rose Garden is an ongoing project featuring more than 700 varieties and 125 rose cultivars, including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, and hardy shrub roses.

The Starkweather Creek and Atrium Shade Gardens features a semicircular atrium and plants such as astilbes, hostas, lungwort, bishops' caps, and ferns. The Eunice Fisher Hosta Garden features hostas hybridized by Wisconsin-native, Eunice Fisher.

Bolz Conservatory

The Bolz Conservatory

The Bolz Conservatory is a greenhouse housing over 750 plants representing over 70 families and over 550 different species and cultivars. The plants are native to tropical and sub-tropical regions. The structure itself is a glass pyramid measuring 100 by 100 ft (30 by 30 m) and rising to 50 ft (12 m) at the apex. The temperature is maintained between 65 and 80 degrees fahrenheit (between 18 and 26 °C), although the sun may warm it to 95 °F (35 °C) in the summer. The relative humidity is maintained at 60% or above.

In addition to the tropical plants, the conservatory is home to species of birds including canaries, waxbills, and coturnix. There is also a koi pond, featuring koi and goldfish. Frogs, toads, and geckos are also present.

While admission to Olbrich Botanical Gardens is free, a small fee is charged for entry into the conservatory.

Gallery

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  A view of a path in the Rose Garden from the tower

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  Rock Garden waterfall

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  The Sunken Garden with the top of the Rose Tower visible in the distance

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  Inside the Bolz Conservatory

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  In the Meadow Garden

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  The Thai pavilion with a bronze elephant scupture

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  Close-up of the bronze elephant

See also

• List of botanical gardens in the United States

External links

• Olbrich Botanical Gardens Website
• Portal Wisconsin Entry

Coordinates: 43°5′33″N 89°20′6″W / 43.0925°N 89.335°W / 43.0925; -89.335