We spent a few hours here with our four-year-old granddaughter and thoroughly enjoyed it. Margie's garden was a little fantasyland for kids. Beautiful grounds with a ton of places to walk or sit and relax. read more

See all

We became members last year and I'm so glad we did! The gardens are beautiful and well-maintained. A perfect place to walk in spring, summer, and fall. A little bummed about only daytime hours being offered right now, since the only time I could visit is over a lunch break. May 1 will be here soon, bringing night and weekend hours for working folks and families. Parking lot is plentiful and easy to navigate. I really encourage a membership for those who visit often. It's so cool to watch the gardens grow and change throughout the seasons. Your membership also gets you into the Domes for free! read more

See all

I've made two visits here - one in the summer and one for China Lights. During the summer, it was beautiful and green and it was a popular place. People of all ages were walking the grounds, taking photos, enjoying picnic lunches, etc. and it was lovely to see the park in full bloom. I hadn't been in several years. Then I came back in the fall to see China Lights. It did not disappoint - we thoroughly enjoyed it. Plus they made China Lights almost entirely wheelchair accessible, which helped someone in my group. China Lights is a unique imagery experience, I'm not sure what else is quite like it. Plus there was a brief acrobatics show which was also fun to see. I haven't been in winter, so I can't speak to what it looks like in winter (but this is WI - so I'm not sure what you can really expect to see then). Otherwise, I recommend adding this to your list of Milwaukee areas to visit and enjoying the beauty of all that grows here, curated and in full bloom. read more

See all

I took my son to Margie's Garden and met up with a friend and her two children. We wanted something different to do for our play date and this was such a cute spot for it! Admission was $8 for me and free for my son (2 years old). The park was very clean and welcoming. There were other families walking about and all of the kids had fun playing on the slides and with the musical tubes. There were a couple different areas to play and explore which was great for wandering. We ate our packed lunches at a bench under a gazebo. The tables were clean but there was no garbage or recycling around. It was odd that they were doing lawn maintenance during this time (11:30am) instead of before open. It was quite noisy. My son absolutely loved the colored numbers and letters. This is a great spot for something different to do with your little ones! read more

See all

Even after the most of the flowers are gone the gardens are still beautiful and free right now! From China Light to empty gardens, there are still little spurts of color and wonderful things to see. If you love nature, go check it out. It is still a Wonderland! The deer are grazing as well! read more

See all

The China Light show is amazing at night in this garden. Parking on line is discounted at $10. $15 when you pay there. Bring sneakers and a jacket. It's a nice walk around the illumiated displays. There's three live shows with juggling, chair acrobats, and famous appearing mask show. There's a nice array of food including Asian food available. read more

See all

I stopped by Boerner Botanical Gardens one year during China Lights, which was made for a fun evening. Most recently I stopped by for a date night. We wandered the gardens and had a lovely time. There was a wedding happening while we were there so one section we didn't see but the majority was lovely. I'm thinking they must be in the process of setting up for this year's China Lights as there was a lot of building materials piled around. One of the water features seemed somewhat neglected and some of the pathways could use a weeding. But beyond a couple small hiccups, it was truly a beautiful space. If you have an annual pass at the Domes, it also gets you into Boerner Botanical Gardens, which was nice! You're sure to enjoy a peaceful afternoon at Boerner. Get to it! read more

See all

A beautiful peaceful place. I can understand why people chose to take formal photos on the grounds. However, there should be set times for such activities. I visited yesterday and encountered numerous groups taking photos with large groups, professional type photography making it hard to enjoy the space. I had to try and avoid their groups as to not disturb photo sessions. Large groups making access to many areas unaccessible to many visitors. read more

I've worked multiple weddings at Boerner Botanical Gardens, and it's magical! As the owner of Beauty Unveiled by Tia, a premier on-location hair and makeup company, I love this romantic, storybook venue with its lush gardens, vibrant blooms, historic charm, and breathtaking natural backdrops that make every bridal look absolutely glow. Highly recommend! read more

A lovely way to spend an afternoon. We needed to kill some time between checking out of our hotel and checking in to our Airbnb, and I love stopping to smell the roses (and all the other flowers and herbs and nature-y things) so I convinced my fella that we should pay a visit to the botanical gardens. Admission is less than $10 per person and we easily sauntered away a couple hours here in the sunshine. The gardens themselves are smaller than I expected, but they pack a lot of punch. Some of the plants have some really interesting info plates and plaques about the historical and traditional usage, that was something I haven't seen before and I really enjoyed learning about. Well kept, well presented, well worth a few hours of your time. read more

See all

Beautiful venue for our wedding at the "Garden house" on Dec 13, 2025. Boerner Botanical staff was fabulous to work with and assisted us with extra care and assistance handling all our "handicap" guest needs. Further, the cost was very reasonable. All requests for the fireplace, seating. tables, lighting, snow and ice removal were provided on time. I can't find adequate words enough to describe and thank the staff. Kudos to all. Thank you, dean6681 read more

You absolutely MUST take your kids or any kids you know to Margie's Garden inside this botanical garden OR have a wedding there. The botanical garden on its own is magnificent, but Margie's Garden located inside the botanical garden is a separate and distinct joy all its own. It's like a Willie Wonka-style garden filled with fun nooks and crannies, adventures, musical paths, a stage, a picnic pavilion, a walkbridge, numbers and alphabet paths, giant colorful sculptures - a true garden playground for children. And if you're lucky enough to attend a wedding at this venue, it's so beautiful and perfect, all other venues fall short. If it turns out to be a rainy day, the indoor setting is right there to accommodate you, with top-notch catering by Zilli Hospitality Group. We couldn't have asked for a better experience at a wedding than this one. As the sun came out, the patio doors opened onto an idyllic landscape. Simply WOW. read more

See all

What a hidden gem nestled in Milwaukee county. Most of us natives don't realize how lucky we are to have something so beautiful and enormous in our own backyards highly recommend to visit more often as I will make a point of it. read more

The Boerner Botanical Gardens are beautiful and serene. Today was the first time I had visited, and I enjoyed looking at the large variety of plants. All of the flowers were in full bloom (I went during July of 2022) and were labeled. The grounds themselves are maintained well. There are many places to sit along the paths. Most of the benches are settled under large trees, so it provides a lot of shade and a nice place to escape the sun and cool down. While we were visiting, the groundskeepers were adding new mulch around the plants. The smell was pretty rancid and in some places overpowered the scent of the flowers. It is important to note that the Boerner Botanical Gardens are not conducive to people who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, or push strollers. There are a few small ramps here and there, but much of the grounds are lined with gravel paths and stone steps. Moreover, the gardens themselves were a lot smaller than I expected and some areas were closed off. Nonetheless, this space would be amazing for engagement photos or senior photos. There are many fountains and small structures that would make for some lovely portraits. If you decide to do a photo shoot, I'd recommend going as soon as the flowers bloom. According to one of the employees, photography permits are $35 per hour plus tax and you must pay admission on top of that. Admission is a bit high for what you are actually getting. You can walk the entire grounds in about 45 minutes. I'm not sure it's worth the price. One of the highlights of the Boerner Botanical Gardens is the children's area. It was built just a few years ago, and there are so many cute statues, slides, and activities to keep your kids entertained. Also, keep in mind that pets, bikes/rollerblades/skateboards, and picnics are prohibited. read more

See all

Really nice garden to visit if you're in the area. Tulips are beautiful in the spring. Would love to see the hosta collection! read more

See all

We took an afternoon spring walk at the Botanical Gardens. Right now, until May, it is free to explore, and then an admission fee will be charged. It was a nice walk down the main road when we stumbled upon multiple beautiful trees in full boom. I thought they were cherry blossom trees, but the information sign advised "Magnolia fields." We came to visit at the right time to witness nature's true beauty. The smell is so delightful. I never knew these grew in Wisconsin. I believe they were Star Magnolias. Now, this will be a tradition of ours each year. We did walk through the trails and saw some perennials also starting to boom along with daffodils and spring flowers. Another suprise was the Children's Book garden. It was closed for the season, but we'll be back to explore everything again this summer. Hopefully, I will catch a concert or two as well. Enjoy what Milwaukee County parks have to offer & stop to smell the Magnolias! read more

See all

Food service atmosphere all at 10 out of 10 I went to a wedding there one time it was at least 400 people there it took care of them like they were in three customers there everyone was taken care of atmosphere was like I was not from Milwaukee. It was like I was in New York or California or Chicago top-notch organization! read more

The Botanical Gardens is such an enchanting place full of life giving you a breathe of fresh air. Always on my list when traveling during the day. Can't wait for the next visit! read more

See all

Absolutely loved the gardens! I'm mad at myself for not going sooner. You can tell that the staff put a lot of time and care into the maintenance of the grounds. I didn't get to walk through the whole area, but I'm happy I'm saving some of it for another visit! Be sure to stop by for an easygoing walk throughout the gardens!! read more

See all

Last week we went to Jellystone Caledonia campground and stopped at Boerner Botanical Gardens before checking in on Monday. It was lovely. They have a nice brand new kids section that looks great, but will not have shade for a couple of years. The kids section and the rock garden (which had a small waterfall) were the highlights for my 5 year old son. We would happily return. read more

If you need a peaceful place to clear your mind and walk around and relax, this is it! It's $7/pp if you're a Milwaukee county resident, if not only $1 more so $8/pp. The flowers were beautiful, I really like how they did the whole layout. You can tell they've been working hard on the gardens because there were workers there making sure everything was planted nicely and also adding more flowers. The rose garden was my favorite, and there's a pond in the middle with coy fish in it, which was cool. read more

See all

Great location. Very thoughtfully created and well maintained garden with lots of unique pieces. Kid friendly. Great weekend spot.

A very beautiful & peaceful place to visit. Very well kept & there is something for everyone of all ages to see. There is a childrens area with big lady bugs & tables for people to sit at or eat at. There is plenty of parking too. A store inside & plenty of clean bathrooms as well. I seen people coming here to take wedding pictures too. read more

We walked through the gardens without knowing we needed to pay to go in. The lady that was cutting the grass and got off of her unit to come yell at us and tell us if we had wrist bands and we said it's our first time. She said you need to pay it's not a playground it's a garden. We weren't doing anything wrong . Absolutely disgusting to kick us out in that way. And only us the other people didn't have wrist bands. Do better read more

Beautiful, peaceful gardens that are lovely for a stroll in pleasant weather. Being the kind of person I am, I prefer to come here in inclement weather. Fog, misty rain, or light snow make this place even more peaceful because it becomes starkly desolate. Spring through Fall the gardens are well maintained, thoughtfully designed, with a lot of variety. Plenty of parking, but it's also a good destination for a bicycle ride. My favorite is the pond with koi. Please don't litter. read more

So I went when it was free admission to get in. I believe they have free admission once every month but it cost 5$ to get in regularly. I am glad I didnt have to pay for anything because although there were so many gardens with all sorts of plants and trees, they were doing a lot of work and landscaping probably getting ready for the summer months. In addition, they had none of the fountains within the gardens on either. However, I did see some cool things like beautiful tulips throughout the gardens and different unique trees and plants that we use in creating flavor in our meals like thyme. They had other garden exhibits like the different rocks and the beautiful bog walk over the changing plant landscape. Overall, good experience and would come back during the Lights events in the fall. read more

See all

The gardens are wonderful! Definitely a fun stroll if you're in the area. They have koi fish in the middle that are really pretty and a few mini fairy gardens that are fun to look at. Definitely come out to support this place! Zilli's has a venue out of this place as well, in which they cater weddings and have special event Sunday brunches, but much like the other reviews I would not recommend giving them your business. Definitely visit the garden though. My friend Sara and I like to come here and look through all of the beautiful flowers and foliage in spring and summer. Not to mention, China Lights has been coming to the gardens for the last few years, which is a fun end of summer, start of fall event to go to. I try to go late in the season to avoid the crowds. This year the lights were amazing! I had such a great time going through the whole place. They seem to add new lights and set-ups every year! Which is fun if you go every year. There are shows at certain times and food and drinks are served all night. Luckily for everyone, Zilli's is no longer the only food vendor at this place. There are a lot more food options for everyone to enjoy. I will definitely continue to visit the gardens and China Lights. read more

See all

I was thinking how I do all this tourist and attractions stuff when I go out of town like museums, historical, zoos, cool old establishments etc etc but I have done next to nothing in my city so I decided to stop here on a Monday afternoon and check it out. The china lights was open to walk through during the day and looked awesome so I can only imagine how cool it is after dark. Granted I went recently I wasn't impressed at all after experiencing the Chicago and the Maddison gardens and it wasn't very colorful, I wore a jacket in Maddison so it was late in the year and it was very diverse and colorful. It was kind of small for a metro area of this size I thought and not a lot going on and kind of flat where as the Maddison one has cool structures, pond, walk ways where you don't know what you will discover next. Overall it's a one and done with no need to ever do it again and the China lights it the best part of the property. read more

See all

One of my favorite gardens. It's well-manicured, well-maintained, and very affordable. Entry is only $5, even less if you're a senior or a student. The gardens are beautiful. The rose garden is absolutely stunning -so many colors and aromas. There's even a koi pond. It's very serene. But my favorite was the herb & heirloom garden. Maybe it's because of the bunnies statues or the Peter Rabbit quotes, but I loved it. They have other specialty gardens: peony garden, bog garden, rock garden, etc. There's plenty to see. 5 stars! read more

See all

First time visiting, and being an avid lover of all things garden, flowers, nature, I was super excited. Unfortunately...there was some festival called the China Lights which was really distracting and in many ways ugly compared to what magic the gardens hold. (Maybe setting it up a bit later in the season when more flowers are died back??) However, the most disappointing part was when we got there we were told specifically to visit the "trial gardens" as everything was in "full bloom" and "beautiful" ....so we meander over just to find out that there's a pad lock on the garden and they closed the garden an HOUR early. When we asked for someone to help and to open it (which we PAID to be there, and are out of towners) we were told "tough luck." The lady working the ticket area was attempting to be helpful and grab a grounds person. The grounds person was rude and condensing. Telling us "that's only one section...this is the main section" as if that was supposed to make the fact that we came to see, and PAY to see the WHOLE garden. She proceeded to keep arguing with me and being highly rude. We will not be going back. What should have been a beautiful place and experience, was not. Margie's garden was pretty, and so was the rose garden, hence the 2 stars. read more

The Boerner Botanical Gardens is nestled away in lovely Whitnall Park, and while being somewhat difficult to find, being hidden from plain view also makes it more of a secluded treat. Throngs of crowds with brats in tow do not grace these Gardens, like they seem to at the Mitchell Park Domes. There is a small entrance fee, so enter through the main building to pay. Grabbing a map is useful, but not necessary. My son and I visited on a rainy October day, and it was just us and a couple nature lovers, braving the cold temps and intermittent rains. I like how the grounds are divided up. You just want to see roses? Go to the rose garden. (But I'm not promising you one). Interested in Gingkos? There's a whole orchard! I loved the clear signage here, with the occasional placard talking about what herbs might be used for or how immigrants brought certain varieties to Wisconsin. We liked the serenity of the rock garden, which isn't like a Zen Rock Garden, it's a peaceful area of small firs, vine mosses and plants among huge rocks and a gentle waterfall and pools. Serenity Now! This place definitely favors repeated visits across the seasons. And don't forget the classroom rental space for your next community meetings! How could the peacefulness of Boerner's not promote openness and goodwill? A visit here is well worth it. read more

See all

I haven't been here since I was a kid, so I was surprised by what I did and did not remember about this place (it was a lot). The rock garden/waterfall/hosta/fern/very lush area in the back....well, it WOULD be if it wasn't in such a sad state of disrepair. This is the only area I remember from my childhood: hopping from stone to stone, trying to avoid landing in the water, listening to the waterfall, looking for tadpoles. This area is the sole reason for 4, not 5 stars. I seriously do not remember any other part of the gardens, but what I saw, I liked. There is an area along the main drive/roadway that has a smaller waterfall with lots of natives like purple coneflower and black eyed Susans and was as pretty as it was simple. The annual gardens were pretty too, with lots of coleus and elephant ears, begonias and impatiens providing a pretty contrast to the concrete. The herb garden was very full and fragrant. It was nice to see the varieties of sage and scented geranium, as well as one of my favorites, the curry plant (NOT where actual curry comes from!). At the end of the herb garden were more favorites of mine: cacti, aloes and balloon flowers. This area was also set up to house a fairy garden. Now, normally, I don't go for that kind of "cutesy" stuff, but even I had to admit that having individual hens and chicks planted as a cabbage patch was pretty sweet. I chuckled a bit at that. The rose garden was lovely. I walked up to one rose that I happened to think was really pretty and inhaled it's scent deeply. It was wonderful! Then I looked at the name.....Paul McCartney! I'm a huge Beatles fan, so this struck me as more than coincidental....perhaps the garden fairies steered me here? Part of the rose garden has a stone arbor bordering it, creating a transition from one area to another. In the middle of the garden is a decent sized koi pond with some pretty big fish in it. One was definitely two feet long, at least! There is also a nice fountain. Near the rose garden is the perennial garden. I had hoped for a bit more variety here, but I was happy with what I saw: shasta daisies, false indigo, lillies..... Also near the roses is a shady path that takes one past a collection of hostas and into a peony garden. Unfortunately, the peonies had all bloomed a few weeks earlier, so all that was left were some really large green plants. To the side of, and behind, the main building, in what looks like rolling landscape with trees, is exactly that: the garden's collection of trees. There were a few out there that were oddly beautiful in that they produced white or pink fuzzy bits....the flowers? Across from, and slightly kitty-corner to the main building are the trial gardens, where they test bunches of new varieties of plants, herbs and vegetables. The public is allowed to go in here and you don't have to stay on the paths once you get to the back of the area. There are several bee hives tucked back by the veggies as well as laminated sheets (in a little house) that describe the different types of gardens planted there. There are shaded and somewhat secluded places to simply sit and enjoy a good book, and others to soak up some sunshine and enjoy nature. Because it is on the edge of Whitnall Park, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen, including birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and maybe even a deer or two! All in all, this is a nice place to visit and, literally, "smell the roses". 117/2015 read more

See all

One of the reasons we moved to this area is because of the Botanical Gardens. It's great for our kiddo now that there is the children's area which is great for her to play at in the warmer months. The displays they showcase are always nice to walk through with family. Love seeing the varieties of plants and flowers too. read more

Not as well maintained as it used to be. No worth the entry fee. Rude staff. I wouldn't wast my money visiting here.

Such a great place to visit. The gardens are lovely. From culinary garden to English to a bog walk, it all delights the senses. read more

See all

Haven't been here since I was a teenager but made it back twice this weekend. $5.50 to walk through the garden is a pretty decent price, it's doesn't take very long to walk through but still worth it. I came back Sunday morning for their brunch. $22.95 seems a bit high for food that wasn't bad but not great. Maybe the price is so high because what's awesome is you get bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary's! That's makes it worth the money, plus if you show your receipt you get a dollar off if you decide to walk through the garden, so we walked through again. I actually liked it better the second time around, so much so that I took 59 pictures without even realizing! Overall, I would definitely recommend the garden as is it peaceful and it's something not expensive to do for a couple of hours. read more

See all

I love visiting these gardens and feel that to really appreciate all areas to their fullest extent it helps to visit from the spring through the end of fall. It's a little piece of tranquility so close to my home and it's right in the middle of Whitnall Park - a place I frequent already. I have my favorite spots to sit and read or watch people enjoy the garden. When no one is looking I pluck Japanese beetles off the rose bushes and squash them. You aren't supposed to mess with the plants but I can't stand to see them suffer from infestations. There are many events and classes that take place at BBG throughout the summer. Some are free, some have to be paid for, and others can be enjoyed for the cost of admission. I know many people look for free events, but think about throwing a few bucks toward the garden. They use the funds to help improve and maintain the grounds. read more

Boerner Botanical Gardens - Tulips in full bloom - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Hales Corners, Wisconsin

See all

Not alot to say, but so much to see. Beautiful, peaceful, and so much wildlife. Rose gardens, edible gardens, rock gardens, and more. A lovely visit after and great breakfast. read more

See all

It literally breaks my heart to give BBG 2 stars. This garden used to be a showplace but sadly, most of it is terribly neglected. The perennial beds were scraggly, unpruned and unweeded. The promenade to the rock garden was mostly unplanted, overgrown and the beds were literally choked with weeds. The only areas that looked "decent" are the annual gardens at the entrance and the rose gardens. I think that's where most of the weddings & events take place so it makes sense. Yet, even here the paths were full of grass and weeds and most badly need regraveling. Clearly, the Parks system has taken some massive budget cuts thanks to our Dear Leader Scott Walker, and it shows in a big way here. BBG is definitely in need of more staff to get the gardens back in shape. I'd happily pay an extra dollar or two for admission if it would help. So sad, it is such a shame to see this place go to seed (gardening pun intended). read more

Not just flowers here - also the most amazing brunch I've ever had. I come here every year on Mother's Day and/or Easter... though they do serve brunch every Sunday - Reservations are a must, especially on holidays. There are two dining halls. The buffet tables are in the four corners of the room + one in the center. There is an enormous appetizer/salad/fruit table with countless fruits, cheeses, meats, shrimp, pastries, breads, etc. But don't fill up on that! Because at the other tables... Pancakes, waffles, french toast, sausage, bacon, ham, beef, lamb, salad, made to order omelets and eggs, several kinds of potatoes (see picture for the au gratin potatoes!) - basically anything you could imagine for breakfast/brunch, they have it! But again... don't fill up ;-) because the dessert table is amazing as well! Mini-cheesecakes, tons of chocolates, fruity desserts, crème brûlée, brownies, cookies, chocolate covered marshmallows, chocolate covered strawberries, and the list goes on... Interesting to note is that they serve the same food on Holidays vs. regular Sundays, yet the Holiday price is approximately $35/person, compared to $17-20 on regular Sundays. The price also comes with mimosas. If you're looking for a classy brunch, this is my absolute most favorite brunch restaurant in the WORLDDDDDDDDDD!!!! read more

See all