Boerner Botanical Gardens is a stunning natural oasis nestled in the heart of Whitnall Park in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, just a 15 minute drive from downtown Milwaukee.
Our family visits every year and it’s always one of our most peaceful and memorable days of the summer.
With the addition of Margie’s Children’s Garden, there’s never been a better time to visit with kids.
The gardens were established in 1929 by Alfred Boerner, a landscape architect and Charles Whitnall, Secretary of the Milwaukee County Park Commission.
For its sprawling 12 acres of diverse gardens, it’s easily one of our 24 Favorite Gardens and Flower Farms.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks for visiting Boerner Botanical Gardens with young kids to help you make the most of your family outing.
Get in Free
Milwaukee County Parks, in partnership with Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens, Inc. (FBBG), present free admission to Boerner on the last Thursday of the month.
This special offer will run from May – October 2024. Attendees will also receive free admission to Boerner on Sunday, May 19th for an informal event celebrating FBBG’s 40th year of dedication to Boerner.
Where to Start
Walking through the gardens and appreciating their beauty is an enchanting experience to share with your kids.
Start your journey at the Visitor Center, where you can pick up a map of the garden and get any additional information you need. Entry to the Visitor Center is free. You can also enjoy lunch with a view in Nell’s Cafe.
Upon entering the garden, your kids will likely want to explore the fountain near the entrance.
The Garden House to your right was built in 1939 and featured original wood work created by artisans from the 1930’s.
Annual Garden
The Annual Garden serves as the main entrance to the Formal Gardens.
There are ornamental flowering trees and artists limestone statuary among 10,000 colorful annual flowers. A low decorative wall is made from native glacial stone.
Off to the left is a traditional gazebo that is a perfect place for a snack or picnic.
Perennial Garden
In this garden, over 900 perennial flowers that last at least three growing seasons line either side of a grassy lawn.
Plants here include irises, phlox, hostas, daylilies and peonies.
Rose Garden
The Rose Garden grows among arbor pillars, ornamental fountains and colorful Koi fish, and they bloom all summer long starting in June.
The Rose Garden that today’s visitor sees at Boerner is very much the same garden seen by guests in the 1930s.
Many of the roses originally planted in this Garden were provided by Eugene Boerner, the brother of former Gardens Director and Gardens namesake, Alfred Boerner.
One of our favorite spots is the rock garden located towards the back of the property. There’s a peaceful waterfall and stepping stones for your kids to traverse.
Rock Garden
One of our favorite spaces to visit at Boerner is the Rock Garden, filled with trickling streams, white birth trees, quiet pools, waterfalls and dynamic rockwork.
Alfred Boerner developed this lush space from an old gravel pit, moving over 1000 tons of weathered limestone.
William Ragio, a CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) worker, remembered his involvement with the building of the Rock Garden: “It was like building the pyramids. Stone slabs, many weighing several thousand pounds were put in place on rollers and there were lots of damaged toes.”
Bog
Listen to the birds chirping and watch the sun dance through the shadows on the enchanting Bog Walk.
The bog provides passage from the Rock Garden to the Herb Garden.
Herb Garden
First planted in 1955, Boehner’s herb garden is tucked away in a picturesque corner of the Formal Gardens, surrounded by a tall hedge.
Over 300 herb varieties are featured including medicinal and culinary herbs.
Peony Garden
No tour of the Botanical Gardens in spring would be complete without a visit to the Peony Garden. They showcase over 175 of the best new and vintage herbaceous varieties.
Bloom time is weather dependent, but typically begins in mid-May and ends the later half of June.
At the center of the Peony Garden stands a truly picturesque old Katsura tree. It was donated to the Gardens by Jack Puelicher in 1957, and was 38 years of age when transplanted.
Margie’s Children’s Garden
The new children’s garden is an enchanted village for kids, featuring an Alphabet Garden, a Numbers Garden, sound makers, playhouses, slides, a giant caterpillar and birds nest to play on, a “Flower Shop” with complimentary postcards, a small stage and seating area, and more.
It’s a must-visit stop if you’re at Boerner with your kids.
Read more about Margie’s Children’s Garden >>
Trial Garden
Don’t miss the Trial Garden near the parking lot, where they test over 500 new varieties of plants for their suitability in our region.
Programs & Events
Concerts in the Garden happen every Thursday throughout the summer beginning at 6:30 p.m. and ending at approximately 8:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Admission to attend is free, and attendees are welcome to walk through the gardens after 6:00 p.m. at no additional cost.
The Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens offer family-friendly programming throughout the year including family yoga, a Winterfest, nature-inspired crafts and workshops, and “Enchanted Evenings in the Gardens.”
They also host China Lights each year, a colorful and impressive Chinese lantern festival.
Don’t miss the annual holiday lights display, Winter Wonders, with dramatic light displays and festive decor.
Hours & Admission
From May 1 – October 31, the gardens are open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The education and visitors center are open year-round from 9:00 – 4:00.
Admission is between $5.00 and $8.00 and depends on age and residency.
Pro Tips
Get in free: Admission to attend the summer concerts is free. Attendees are welcome to walk through the gardens after 6:00 p.m. at no additional cost.
Guided Tours: To make the most of your visit to the Garden, consider a one-hour guided tour, available through the website.
Did we miss anything? Email hello@mkewithkids.com.
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
