BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS OFFERS CHANGING ARRAY OF VISUAL DELIGHTS

AFTER A LONG MIDWESTERN winter, the month of May’s warm breezes and bright sunshine bring a burst of blooms to the 40-acre Boerner Botanical Gardens. Nestled in Milwaukee County's Whitnall Park, the gardens offer a constantly changing array of visual delights.

With the opening of the impressive Education and Visitor Center last year, Boerner Botanical Gardens truly became a year-round attraction. The center’s glass facade recalls the elegant conservatories of the early 1900s. But from the two-story, vaulted glass atrium entrance to spacious Boerner Hall, everything about the new center is state-of-the-art.

The Center offers space for corporate events, wedding receptions, banquets and special events. The atrium provides an elegant welcome/registration area, a place to display information, or an extension for a reception. The Banquet Rooms offer views of the garden, with access to a terrace. Classrooms can be used for presentations, meetings and seminars, all of which provide access to high-speed Internet and audio-visual. A café offers garden views and cuisine by the prestigious Bartolotta Catering Company, and there is a unique gift shop.

Located just 15 minutes from downtown Milwaukee in suburban Hales Corners, the grounds include a number of different garden areas. During the course of the growing season, the carefully tended gardens evolve. No matter when you visit, there are sweeping vistas and tiny nooks to inspire, relax or invigorate.

On the grounds are a wide variety of botanical treats:

Annual Garden: A walled garden displaying long blooming annuals.

Arboretum: Native and woody plants from all over the world including the largest collection of crabapple trees in the U.S., Lilac Lane and a nut tree collection.

Bog Garden: A lush, green-blanketed fen, which as the season progresses, becomes and exotic, jungle-like escape.

Day Lily Walk: A curving path of pale yellow to rich purple flowers blooming at different times, with peak bloom in July.

Herb Garden: A secluded assemblage of over 300 varieties of herbs used for medicinal, culinary, dye and scent purposes. Plant labels provide historical insight.

Peony Garden: A profusion from mid-May through late June. Offering forms from single to full-double "bombs."

Perennial Borders: Providing a tapestry of color and texture along each side of the grassy mall.
Rock Garden: An intimate woodland grotto containing native wildflowers and the sound of trickling water.

Rose Garden: A formal European-style garden displaying All-American Rose selections among more than 500 varieties of roses. A massive stone and wood arbors to the south provides support for climbing roses.

Shrub Mall: Older shrub-like varieties of roses, "tree" peonies and other shrubs interspersed with annuals and perennials, including the intermediate bearded iris collection.

Trial Gardens: The testing ground for All-American Rose selections and flower trials. Here flowers are rated for flower quality, foliage attractiveness and durability.

The Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens supports the gardens, manages the center, and directs programming for both children and adults.

There are a number of special activities that are planned for May and open to the public. Many of these activities have charges in addition to admission. For updates, visit the Friends’ Web site at www.boernerbotanicgardens.org or phone 414-525-5653.

Boerner Botanical Gardens, located on the southwest side of Milwaukee at 9400 Boerner Dr. in Hales Corners, is south of W. Grange Ave. and north of W. College Ave. between S. 92nd St. and S. 108th St.

Special activities beginning this month include:

• Peter Rabbit Spring Fling for Families on Saturday, May 1 is recommended for children age 3 to 8. Celebrate May Day and the official opening of the Garden Season along with Peter Rabbit. Enjoy a "story walk," meet Beatrix Potter, try out some child-size garden tools and make a miniature Peter Rabbit garden. Plus, enjoy a snack and take home your very own May Day basket! Pre-registration is required.
  
  
• A Mother’s Day Celebration and Brunch is set for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, May 9. Reservations are required. Call The Bartolotta Catering Company at (414) 525-5635 to make a reservation.
  
  
• Taste & Travel is the Friends' luncheon/travelogue series, featuring national and international sites with special menus created by the Bartolotta Catering Company to reflect the varied destinations. Programs including the first of the season on May 13 begin with lunch at 11:30, followed by a slide presentation.
  
  
• Summer Surprises is a workshop series. The May 15 workshop, from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., is on container gardening.
  
  
• An open house and blood drive are scheduled Saturday, May 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event focuses on gardening, special events and programs.
  
  
• The Festival of Roses on Aug. 6-7 will provide entertainment and education for all ages. Activities include a cheese and wine tasting, Kid’s Bug Bash and Tea party, unique adult classes with a focus on roses and great food.