If you’re a Green Bay Botanical Garden member, your membership status grants you reciprocal admission to nearly four hundred other botanical gardens across the country and North America, thanks to the American Horticultural Society. 

The reciprocal admission program is a great way to explore new gardens across the state, add a few botanical stops to your next vacation itinerary, or enjoy the outdoors if you’re a “snow bird” travelling south during Wisconsin’s cold months. Below, we have a few highlights for the winter season: 

Keep in mind: reciprocal admission or discounts may not apply to special events at other gardens. 

Winter in Wisconsin 

While most Wisconsin-based gardens aren’t in their summertime prime right now, several of them still offer winter events and activities that are fun for the whole family! 

The Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee is a conservatory made up of three glass domes filled with beautiful vegetation. The Domes have permanent “desert” and “tropical” domes, as well as a third dome with a rotating theme! 

You can also shelter from the snow in Olbrich Botanical Gardens’ Bolz Conservatory, located in Madison! The outdoor gardens are open through the winter as well, but there might not be much plant life to see during this time of year. 

Cold-Weather Destinations

If you’re traveling to a chilly destination outside of Wisconsin, you might want to check if you’ll be close to any of these gardens, all offering warm indoor escapes! 

The Chicago Botanic Gardens in Illinois include three greenhouse environments — tropical, semitropical, and arid — that are open and blooming year-round. Another Midwest destination is the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio which has a conservatory that’s open to the public.

Moving slightly further south, Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis hosts two indoor areas — the Arid House and a rainforest-themed Climatron, both showcasing a variety of warm-weather plants.

On the East Coast, the New York Botanical Garden is home to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, full of “​​aquatic plants and vines, lush tropical rain forests, cactus-filled deserts, and many other natural habitats.”

Warm-Weather Destinations

For our members who are looking for a warm vacation, here are a few gardens with year-round outdoor gardens and exhibits! 

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Desert Botanical Garden is open year-round, and features dozens of desert plant species from around the world. This garden is also hosting an immersive installation exhibit called Framerate: Desert Pulse, which is open through May. 

California also has a few year-round botanical gardens to check out — a few highlights are Descanso Gardens (located right outside Los Angeles), San Francisco Botanical Garden, and San Diego Botanic Garden. All three locations have beautiful outdoor gardens that are open through the winter months! 

If you’re travelling to Florida this winter, you’ll also have a variety of gardens to visit! In addition to a wide selection of tropical and exotic plants, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami also has a variety of winter activities. Additionally, Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota both offer beautiful garden experiences. 

Last but not least, the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Georgia is a can’t-miss stop if you’re traveling down South! 

With that, Green Bay Botanical Garden wishes you safe travels if you’re visiting any of our reciprocal admission gardens!