Schumacher Horticultural Library

The Schumacher Horticultural Library is a gardening reference center located in Olbrich Botanical Gardens' Visitor Center adjacent to the Bolz Conservatory.  We provide reference service to staff members, the gardening public, and horticultural professionals.  Books and videos are available to Olbrich Botanical Society members to check out, but anyone may use resources within the library.  We are pleased to offer a large, current collection of seed and nursery catalogs, and gardening journals.  During the summer months, Master Gardeners provide weekly advice sessions at Garden Answer Sessions (call the library for the schedule and more details).  Learn about a variety of topics from early-summer shade gardens to choosing roses in gardening articles written by the Olbrich Horticulture staff.

Books and Journals:  The library collection consists of more than 1,000 books and more than 30 current serials in the fields of horticulture, gardening, landscape and garden design.  A pamphlet file covers botanical gardens in the United States and Canada and many subjects of interest to home gardeners  There are special collections devoted to Bonsai  and Orchids and a fine reference collection.  Olbrich horticulturists have compiled lists of some of the most helpful gardening books, all of which are available at Schumacher Horticultural Library.

The entire family is Welcome in the Library!
Children may color or choose a book from the youth collection.  Butterflies, birds, gardens, bugs and frogs are just a few of the topics on the shelves.  Rainforests are featured in both books and videos.

Staff:  The Schumacher Library is staffed by a group of dedicated volunteers - many of them Master Gardeners, and a half-time Resource Information Specialist.   Volunteers are always needed in order to keep the Library open so many hours.  Contact Marty Petillo or Lynn Jacobson to learn more about this fun opportunity.

Have a question?  Requests for information may be made by telephone, fax or email.  (ljacobson@cityofmadison.com.)  We will answer your plant care, gardening and resource questions or happily refer you to someone who can.