Boerner Botanical Gardens

Suzie joined me on this escape to the Boerner Botanical Gardens located in Whitnal Park in Hales Corners.  Now it's pretty obvious if you are going to visit a garden in the fall, you don't go expecting to see flowers blooming but rather plants going dormant. I was more curious to see how the area has changed since I have not been there since Heather was born.  The weather was fantastic so come along with us as we explore the Gardens.

First, let me give you a little background on these Botanical Gardens.  In the 1920's Alfred Boerner and Charles Whitnall purchased some farm land, over 600 acres, and between 1932 and 1941 the majority of the land was developed into a park system and was named after Charles as Whitnall Park.  During this time the original Formal Gardens (Annual, Perennial, Rock, Rose and Peony Garden areas) were developed and named after Alfred as Boerner Botanical Gardens.  Additions were made over the years including a Herb garden, the Bog Walk, Rose collection and the Visitor Center.  I remember when I was young my dad took a clipping from one of our trees to the Garden House (still used as a research building) at the Botanical Gardens to find out what kind of bug had burrowed into the bark.  Turned out it was the Elm borer, and the Dutch Elm Disease hit many Elm trees that year.

We entered the visitor center as the Admission gate must not be used in the off season, then after paying the fee* we left the building, went past some sculptures and through the Annual Gardens, which had very little left in bloom.  We turned by the Shrub Mall (yeah no flowering shrubs at this time) and found the Rain Water Havesting and Recycling Project.  Here is where Suzie accused me the first time of trying to "kill her" as I asked her to walk out onto a log.

                                       "Its not flat you know" remarks Suzie.

This is a very pretty area, and the walkway leads to the botton of the Rock Garden where there is a waterfall

                                                                   Further along the path we encounter the Bog Garden Walk

Between the waterfall and the Bog there is the daylilly path but none were in bloom now.

We did see some colors                          pinks

                                                                       orange

                                                              Suzie teasing the Koi
                                       
                                                          Reds and Yellows

                                    

There are a lot of trees, unfortunately most of the trees were still a faded green color.  The Herb garden was still growing chives, rosemary, oregano and lavender.  The Herb garden lead into the Rose garden and a few bushes were still in bloom.  The Perennial Garden also had a few mums that were in full bloom.  Time for some fun:

                                     First we found the perfect climbing tree

                                             




                                                And Suzie climbed onto a Moth Sculpture.

Then we saw a whole lot of color straight ahead and went into the Trial Garden.  This deer proof area is the test sight for All American Flowers, Vegetables, and Roses.  Plants grown in this area are carefully maintained and then judged by color, height, and appearance and the outcome determines which plant seeds will be labeled as All Americans.  This judging is recorded nationally.  

 

Lots of color, lots of blooms.  There were also desert plants and a pumpkin patch!


The Boerner Botanical Gardens are most popular during the spring and summer months as everything is in full bloom. The Garden area is open Late April through October, other times as weather permits.
During the fall it is definitely quiet and very peaceful.  This particular day we were among only a handful of other visitors.  This was fine by us, the weather was great, a perfect day to walk along path after path and it was fun to check out an area I had not been to in over 25 years.

  *The admission is $5.00 for adults (18+) , Seniors and Students $4.00 and Juniors (6-17) $3.00.