Our First Time: Olbrich Botanical Gardens
This too can be yours, even in winter.
We may act like know-it-alls, but sometimes even The A.V. Club has holes in its Madison knowledge. So periodically we’ll grab our fanny pack and camera to check out some of the city’s more famous attractions and events, and then report back on what you may or may not be missing.
The view of the Madison skyline from Monona Drive is one of the city’s best money shots: a near-perfect visual capsule of everything the isthmus has to offer. But if you can tear yourself away, the other side of the street features one of the city’s best offerings, Olbrich Botanical Gardens (3330 Atwood Ave., 608-246-4550). Olbrich is a haven for leafy green things, and it’s existed in some form or another for more than 50 years. Determined to stop with the drive-bys, The A.V. Club popped in last week for a visit.
What to expect: We realize that by visiting Olbrich in January, we’re missing half the fun: the sprawling outdoor gardens, and the many Asian and prairie-style gazebos. Still, that was kind of the point—it’s cold outside, and even though visitors are free to wander the snowy grounds, we chose against it. Staying indoors and interacting with some real live fauna can do wonders for a case of seasonal-affective disorder. Inside, we found a gift shop, meeting rooms, temporary art exhibits, and even a tiny library. But the big draw is the Bolz Conservatory. Before we entered, the woman working the info desk said, “Better take off your jacket. It’s a rainforest, dontcha know.” Actually, we didn’t.
The air in the conservatory feels like a typical late-August Wisconsin day, where taking a breath is similar to holding a wet handkerchief over your face. Once acclimated, it’s worth it: The 50-foot-tall glass pyramid houses more than 650 plants, and the walking paths cross streams and pass waterfalls. The tour is self-guided, but signs with explanations and facts give it all a field-trip vibe. And beyond the learning aspects, the experience is surprisingly relaxing.
Orchids are pretty.
What to watch for: Birds! Live, winged creatures reside in the conservatory, and the chirping provides soothing background noise. (They’re brought in to eat the bugs.) As far as exhibits go, be sure to head up to the second-floor catwalk to check out the orchids. They’re stunning, and seeing them up close is helpful in understanding the “orchid fever” explored in Adaptation and The Orchid Thief. Another thing: It’s wet and drippy in the conservatory, so the footbridges are a bit slick. This makes it easy to wipe out in front of groups of small children. (On the plus side, they’ll think it’s funny, even if you don’t.)
Impress your friends: If visitors want to take the time to read everything, they can leave with heads full of botanical info. We’re now armed to spend hours amazing others with our newfound wisdom, but we’ll only dole out a little taste: When flowers grow directly from the trunk of a tree, it’s called a “cauliflory.”
Highlight: Beyond the orchids, highlights include the temporary exhibit “Chocolate: The Bitter And The Sweet” (through March 21). Info signs dotting the conservatory provide chocolate fun facts and other minutiae, and a full-sized cocoa tree harvested from South America is a good photo op. For those looking to delve deeper into the world of everyone’s favorite confection, a screening of the documentary Chocolate Country will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
When to go: From November to March, Bolz Conservatory is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (5 on Sundays), and the grounds from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. By happenstance, we found out the conservatory is free on Wednesday and Saturday mornings (10 a.m. to noon), so we saved ourselves the $1 entry fee.
