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Boerner Botanical Gardens is one of the most peaceful outdoor escapes in the Milwaukee area — and one of our favorite places to take the kids each summer. Nestled inside Whitnall Park in Hales Corners, the gardens offer winding paths, colorful blooms, and so many little corners for kids to explore.
🌸 Before planning your visit, you may also want to browse our guide to the Best Gardens & Flower Farms Around Milwaukee for more family-friendly outdoor adventures.
Quick Guide to Boerner Botanical Gardens
Location: 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners, WI
Admission: $5–$8 depending on age and residency
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (May 1–October 31)
Free Days: Last Thursday of the month, May–October
Highlights for Kids: Margie’s Children’s Garden, fountains, Rock Garden, bog walk
Parking: Free
Visitor Center: Open year-round; maps, restrooms, and exhibits available
Why We Love Visiting With Kids
Every summer, our family spends a full morning wandering through Boerner. It’s always one of the calmest days of our season — the kind of outing where the kids slow down, explore nature at their own pace, and usually end up barefoot in the grass.
Get in Free
Milwaukee County Parks and Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens (FBBG) offer free admission on the last Thursday of each month from May–October.
Where to Start
Begin at the Visitor Center, where you can pick up a map and find out what’s currently in bloom. Kids often run straight to the large fountain near the entrance. The Garden House, built in 1939 and featuring original artisan woodwork, sits just beyond the entry and sets a historic tone for the gardens.
Explore the Gardens
Annual Garden
The entrance to the Formal Gardens, featuring more than 10,000 annual flowers, ornamental trees, limestone statuary, native stone walls, and a classic gazebo that’s perfect for a snack break.
Perennial Garden
Home to over 900 perennial varieties, this garden lines a long grassy walkway with irises, phlox, hostas, daylilies, and peonies.
Rose Garden
Roses bloom all summer beginning in June. This garden looks much the way it did in the 1930s, with some original roses provided by Eugene Boerner, a nationally known rose breeder and the brother of the gardens’ namesake.
Rock Garden
A favorite for families. This lush area was built from an old gravel pit and transformed with more than 1,000 tons of weathered limestone. CCC worker William Ragio once said the construction felt “like building the pyramids.” Kids love the stepping stones, waterfalls, quiet pools, and birch trees.
Bog Walk
A shaded, peaceful pathway filled with birdsong that connects the Rock Garden to the Herb Garden.
Herb Garden
First planted in 1955, this tucked-away space features more than 300 varieties of medicinal and culinary herbs, enclosed by a tall hedge.
Peony Garden
A spring highlight featuring more than 175 peony varieties. Blooms typically peak from mid-May through late June. At its center stands a beautiful Katsura tree, transplanted in 1957 when it was already 38 years old.
Margie’s Children’s Garden
Designed especially for kids, this whimsical garden includes an Alphabet Garden, Numbers Garden, sound makers, slides, playhouses, a giant caterpillar and bird’s nest climber, a “Flower Shop” with complimentary postcards, and a small stage with seating.
🌸Read more about Margie’s Children’s Garden >>
Trial Garden
Located near the parking lot, this area tests more than 500 new plant varieties each year to see how they perform in Wisconsin’s climate.
Programs & Events
Concerts in the Garden
Held every Thursday in summer from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free to attend, and guests may walk the gardens after 6:00 p.m. at no additional cost.
Family-Friendly Programs
Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens offers family yoga, Winterfest, nature-based crafts and workshops, and “Enchanted Evenings in the Gardens.”
China Lights
Boerner hosts this popular annual lantern festival each fall.
Read more about China Lights >>
Winter Wonders
A festive holiday lights drive-through experience in Whitnall Park.
Hours & Admission
Gardens (May–October): 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. daily
Visitor Center (year-round): 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Admission: $5–$8 depending on age and residency
Parking: Free
Best Time to Visit
Spring
Peonies, irises, tulips, quieter mornings.
Summer
Roses, perennials, lush greenery, and a lively Margie’s Garden.
Fall
Late blooms, beautiful foliage, calmer paths.
💡For even more outdoor exploring, Wehr Nature Center is located right next door in Whitnall Park and offers family-friendly trails, boardwalks, and hands-on nature exhibits.
Is Boerner Botanical Gardens Stroller Friendly?
Yes. Most paths are smooth and stroller-friendly. The stepping stones in the Rock Garden may require closer supervision.
💡If you’re looking for more smooth, easy paths to explore with little ones, check out our guide to Stroller-Friendly Hikes Around Milwaukee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boerner Botanical Gardens
Free days run the last Thursday of each month, May–October.
Most visitors purchase tickets on-site.
Yes. Margie’s Children’s Garden, fountains, and the Rock Garden make it especially fun for families.
Typically mid-May through late June.
Yes.
Pro Tips for Families
- Go early for a quieter visit.
- Bring snacks — there are plenty of spots to sit and relax.
- Explore Margie’s Children’s Garden first if you have toddlers.
- Save the Rock Garden for last — kids usually want extra time there.
If you notice anything missing, feel free to reach out at hello@mkewithkids.com.
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.
