Outdoor Gardens,
Lobby + Gift Shop
April - September
10 am – 6 pm daily
October - March
10 am – 4 pm daily
Bolz Conservatory
Closed March 11 - June 14 for Planned Maintenance
Schumacher Library
Permanently Closed
Permanently Closed
After a thorough analysis and program review in 2023 & 2024, Olbrich decided to retire the Schumacher Library in March 2024.
Much like a garden, Olbrich is always growing and evolving. An important part of this process is evaluating our annual programs, spaces, exhibitions, and visitor services. This ensures that we are staying true to our mission and values, while also allowing space for innovation and change. While this process can be difficult it is essential for growth, and we value your feedback.
We kindly request your patience as we work through the process of transitioning the Schumacher Library into a new Guest Resource Center. We are doing our best to be mindful of the past as we look toward the future and how to meet the evolving needs of our guests. If you'd like to learn more, we have included below a letter from our Director of Education that offers context for the change, along with a restructuring plan presentation that provides more details on the planned services for the new Guest Resource Center.
Plant/Garden Resources
The best ways to get your questions answered!
Need help with plant identification? Use iNaturalist or Pl@ntNet to identify plants at home or those you have seen in the garden.
For answers to your gardening questions, use these online resources:
• Contact the Dane County Extension Horticulture Helpline, staffed by Master Gardeners, by phone or email regarding home garden questions.
• Use the UW Horticulture Ask a Question Form to ask general gardening questions or upload photos for plant identification.
• The University of Wisconsin-Extension Learning Store provides information about trees, shrubs, vegetables, flowers, landscaping, insects, and plant diseases. All publications are free to view, download, and print for personal use.
• Check out our Gardening Resources page for an ever growing repository of Olbrich's gardening know-how.
Have a plant sample to show someone? Walk-in services are available at the Wisconsin State Herbarium. The UW Department of Botany also assists with identification of unknown plant specimens via email or in-person. You can drop off plant specimens for identification weekdays from 7:45 am - 4:30 pm. Appointments are not required but are encouraged.
Have a question about plant diseases or pest infestations? Explore the online resources of the University of Wisconsin Extension Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic, or contact the clinic directly at (608) 262-2863 or [email protected].
For help with identification of insects, insect-damaged materials, spiders, and other arthropods found in Wisconsin, contact the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab, or email the Wisconsin Bug Guy, UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab Director PJ Liesch at [email protected].
For testing of soil, forage, manure, lime, and plants, send samples to the UW Soil and Forage Analysis Lab or contact them at (608) 262-4364 or [email protected].
To get assistance with turf health issues, including lawn disease and dead grass, contact the UW Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab (TDL) at (608) 845-2535 or [email protected].
Wed, May 15, 2024 6:30 PM
Garden & Nature Community Reading Group
Join other garden and wildlife enthusiasts to discuss books and ideas about gardening, plants, nature, and the environment in the Garden & Nature Community Reading Group. This group is a partnership between Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Steenbock Library, and the UW Arboretum.
The theme for our 2024 winter series is No Place Like Home. We will be reading and discussing three books that encourage us to consider how our words and actions create hope for the environment we call home. All discussions are free and open to the public, and participants are encouraged to read the selected book prior to participating in the discussion. Books are not supplied but are available at Schumacher Library, partner libraries, and the Madison Public Library system.
Discussions are free but registration is required.
Wed, May 15, 2024 6:30 PM
The Simplicity of Cider
Time to get into summer beach read mode with the charming novel, The Simplicity of Cider. This story features a prickly cider-maker whose routine is disrupted by the arrival of a handsome farm hand and his young son at her family’s orchard. Set in Door County, this book will have you ready to celebrate being home in Wisconsin.