Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens

11/04/2026

Every plant you buy in our gift shop supports Boerner Botanical Gardens. 🌱 Come see the new plants Monday–Friday, 10am - 3:30pm.

10/30/2026

Brewers are World Series champs, and Boerner Botanical Gardens is celebrating! 🎉 $5 admission today and Saturday, 9am–4pm. Starting Monday, winter hours are weekdays 10am–4pm, and admission is free all season. ⚾🌿

10/30/2026

❄️ Winter hours begin November 1 Boerner Botanical Gardens! ❄️

🌲 The Gardens: Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm, with FREE admission all winter
🛍️ The Gift Shop: Monday–Friday, 10am–3:30pm

Both are closed on weekends, including this Sunday, Nov. 1, while we switch to the winter schedule.

Winter is one of the quietest, prettiest times to visit. Come for a snowy weekday walk, then stop in the Gift Shop for a gift for someone on your list. 🎁

10/29/2026

Everything’s coming up roses in Milwaukee! 🌹 Congratulations to the Brewers on bringing home the city’s first World Series title. Our whole garden is cheering! 💙💛

10/29/2026

Only four nights left to see China Lights at Boerner! 🏮 Tonight through Sunday, Nov. 1, the Gardens glow with handcrafted lanterns that blow bubbles, puff smoke and even talk back to you.

🎟️ Tickets at chinalights.org

Friends members: your China Lights discount is waiting in your inbox. Not a member yet? Join the Friends and enjoy the Gardens all year long. 🌿

10/26/2026

🏆 Congratulations to Kate Grundle! 🌸

Kate’s Trial Garden at Boerner just earned 3rd place nationally in the All-America Selections 2026 Landscape Design Challenge — competing against the largest public gardens in the country.

Her design brought together pollinator-friendly plants, handcrafted art and upcycled materials to show how a garden can support wildlife and delight visitors of all ages. If you walked past the topiary rabbit and butterflies this summer, you saw it in person!

💬 Did you visit the Trial Garden this year? Tell us your favorite part in the comments!

Congratulations to Kate Grundle, our horticulturist for the Trial Garden at Boerner Botanical Gardens, for earning 3rd place in the All-America Selections (AAS) 2026 Landscape Design Challenge, a national competition among public gardens! 🎉
Boerner competed in Category 3, the division for the largest public gardens (over 100,000 annual visitors).
This year’s theme was “The Goodness of Gardening…Using AAS Winners.” Kate’s design showed how thoughtful garden design can support wildlife and pollinators, and it was built to engage visitors of all ages.
Award-winning AAS varieties, including the fragrant Evening Scentsation petunia, drew guests through the space. The judges recognized how the display combined handcrafted art, upcycled materials, and pollinator-friendly plantings to teach the community about ecological gardening while giving visitors a fun, memorable experience.

10/23/2026

10/22/2026

🧵 Meet the Artist this Saturday! Join us in the FBBG Gift Shop to meet Lucinda Sommers of Creative Stitches.

Lucinda has been creating machine embroidery for 25 years — designing each piece on the computer and stitching it to life. She brings embroidered reading pillows, hand and kitchen towels, reusable goods, and everything from wall art to apparel.

🗓️ Saturday, October 24
🕥 10:30am–1:30pm
📍 FBBG Gift Shop

Stop by, say hello, and take home something handmade — every purchase helps support the Gardens! 💚

10/21/2026

👻 What should Bonnie the goose be for Halloween?! Drop your guesses in the comments, and be sure to follow the Boerner Botanical Gardens page to see her costume reveal and all her seasonal looks!

Bonnie loves her spot in the Visitor Center Garden and her outfit will be changing soon!

Any guesses to what Bonnie will be dressed as for Halloween?

10/21/2026

🎒 Teachers & parents — school field trips at Boerner are back in session! 🌱

FBBG brings plant science to life with hands-on, interactive programs for students of all ages. The Gardens are a wonderful place for learning and discovery.

Contact us today to schedule a field trip and watch your students' passion for science bloom! 💚 📧 [email protected]