The Place To Have A Tropical Vacation Without Leaving Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s weather can be described in a word: extreme. Scorching hot summers eventually give way to cooler weather that then becomes downright arctic. But there’s a place where the weather’s always perfect, a tropical paradise that can be reached without a long, expensive plane ride. All you need to do is head to Madison’s Olbrich Botanical Gardens and step inside the Bolz Conservatory. Here’s what’s waiting for you when you arrive.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a 16-acre botanical garden located near the shore of Lake Monona in Madison. It was founded in 1952 by Michael Olbrich. It includes gorgeous outdoor gardens but it's also a destination to explore when the snow flies and everything is frozen.

The garden is home to the Bolz Conservatory, a 10,000-square-foot greenhouse that’s open all year long. It’s filled with an amazing assortment of tropical plants.

The conservatory has been a fixture in Madison since its completion in 1991. It’s a place where people can relax and enjoy warm weather year-round while learning a little bit about the rainforest and how essential this habitat is to the planet.

The giant glass pyramid contains and protects nearly 700 plant specimens from around the world. It’s considered to be one of the top nature-based attractions in the entire Midwest.

Madison can get very cold in the winter, with temperatures well below zero. But the conservatory is always warm and toasty. The temperature stays between 65 and 80 degrees, with humidity above 70 percent.

You may realize you have some company in the conservatory, even on quiet days. It’s home to a variety of birds, including canaries, waxbills, finches, and doves. You might hear the birds before you see them – the foliage is very full! There’s also a koi pond, with goldfish, koi, frogs, toads, and geckos.

While there’s no charge to visit Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a small entry fee is required to enter the conservatory. Learn more about the conservatory here. If you love botanical gardens, here’s another beautiful Wisconsin garden that’s a sight to be seen.

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Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704, USA

The Only Place Where You Can Have A Tropical Vacation Without Ever Leaving Wisconsin

Ben Jones

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