Boerner Botanical Gardens is a 40-acre cultivated garden in Hales Corners, carved out of the much larger Whitnall Park and run with Milwaukee County Parks. The county bought the land in 1929 and 1930 under the influence of Charles B. Whitnall, a champion of the county park system, and the gardens were named for Alfred L. Boerner, the landscape architect who shaped the vision, in 1957. A nonprofit group, the Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens, has supported the garden since 1984. The signature spaces include a Rose Garden with varieties bred by William Radler, the creator of the Knock Out rose, and Trial Gardens that are one of 31 such display gardens nationwide, where new plant varieties are tested before reaching nurseries. There is also an Annual Garden and Perennial Mall, a Rock Garden that has been restored since 2020, and a Rain Harvest area that recycles rainwater for irrigation. A Visitor Center opened in 2003, and evening lighting for events was added in 2018. Visitors who enjoy plants and quiet paths will find the half-day trip from downtown worthwhile, especially in early summer.
Season
The formal gardens are open from May through October, which is when the roses, annuals and perennials are at their best. Visitors are welcome year-round according to the garden's site, but the experience is very different in winter, when the beds are dormant and the appeal lies in structure and quiet. Plan a visit for early summer for roses, or for late summer and early autumn for color from the perennials and annuals. Check the gardens' site for current hours and admission before you travel.
Getting there
The gardens are at 9400 Boerner Drive in Hales Corners, southwest of downtown Milwaukee, and a car or ride-share is the easiest way to reach them, as they sit within Whitnall Park rather than on the streetcar line. The drive is a short half-hour from downtown, which makes it an easy half-day outing alongside other attractions on the south and west sides. Whitnall Park itself has paths and open space if you want a longer walk.
Tips
Wear walking shoes and bring water in warm weather, because the garden is extensive and the paths are mostly open to the sun. Photographers and garden enthusiasts should visit on a calm morning for good light and fewer crowds. The garden suits couples, families with children who enjoy outdoor spaces, and gardeners looking for ideas; it is less suited to visitors who want a packed itinerary, because it rewards a slow pace. Events, including evening lighting, change by season, so look at the calendar if you want to see the gardens after dark.
Is it worth it? For gardeners and slow travelers, yes. The roses and trial beds reward careful looking, and the setting inside Whitnall Park gives the visit an unhurried feel. The drawbacks are that the gardens are outside downtown, so you need a car or ride, and that the formal season runs only from May through October, so winter visitors will see a quieter place.
Treat it as a half-day outing and check events for evening lighting if you want a different view of the beds after dark. Because the gardens are large, a picnic or snack and a bottle of water make the visit easier, and a calm weekday morning gives the best light and the fewest people on the paths.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced stroll through formal gardens, with roses, trial beds and a rock garden.
Best time
A calm morning from May through October; early summer for roses.
How long
One to two hours.
Tips
Drive or ride-share, wear walking shoes and check hours and admission first.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Gardeners and anyone who enjoys a slow outdoor visit.
- Families
- Open lawns and paths give children room to move.
- Couples
- A peaceful, romantic stroll in summer.
- Pair with
- The Milwaukee County Zoo on a combined west-side day.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
When are the formal gardens open?+
The formal gardens are open from May through October, although visitors are welcome year-round.
Where are the gardens?+
They are at 9400 Boerner Drive in Hales Corners, within Whitnall Park, southwest of downtown Milwaukee.
How big are they?+
The gardens cover about 40 acres.
What is the Rose Garden known for?+
It is a signature space featuring roses, including varieties from William Radler, the creator of the Knock Out rose.
Do I need a car?+
A car or ride-share is the easiest way to get there, as the gardens are in a suburban park rather than downtown.
