"Wisconsin-Happy Festival State", by Eve Phillips. My husband and I love to travel in the state of Wisconsin where we live and get great pictures on the way. My name is Laurie Kutil and photography has become a great passion of mine since 2010. One thing I have learned in researching each town before visiting it is that, "Every town has it's story". When I do uncover those stories by connecting with local residents, our experience becomes so much richer. In turn, sharing the stories with you brings me joy :)
The snow is melting and thoughts are turning toward spring at Olbrich Botanical Gardens! The theme for the show is different every year, this year it was a kitchen theme. Many commented it was their best spring flower show ever!
The display window looked festive with a menu of treats.
A major contributor to the displays at this show was Deconstruction, Inc. A great use of reclaimed materials!
And now the main room where the show is. During your visit they have a card showing all the flowers featured in the show. Quite a variety!
The whole room view.
Now let’s see each display individually, all are creative! In the last couple of years Al has caught the photography bug too and his work is also featured here also.
Tableaux
Making Cookies
To the left of the table…
Vintage Oven
Wine Apertif
Window to the Garden
Relax by the Fire
The “flame” inside the fire display is made up of neon flickering flame bulbs. Good effect, take a look!
Dinner is Served!
The table is made of wood cross sections instead of long boards. The chandelier is made of sticks and has a “vintage” light bulb inside.
Watery Table
Another table setting inside a pond, good for a hot summer day.
Cabinet
Relax at the Spring Flower show, soon it will look like this outdoors too!
It may be winter outside but inside it’s spring at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The turnout was high at this popular event. There even was musical accompaniment by the Collage saxophone Quartet. You can hire them to play at your venue!
The Conservatory was inviting with 80ºF temps inside.
Let’s go into the exhibition room, so beautiful!
Large display, so many varieties!
After enjoying these orchids, there was another room with vendors selling them too.
Not only orchids were for sale, also orchid themed mementos. Pictures by Charlotte Fung Miller, Chinese Brush Art.
Now that spring was here, it was time to view Janesville Rotary Botanical Gardens in Spring. We last saw it during their Holiday Light Show in December 2015. View that below.
Spring is just as pretty here, the redbud trees were in bloom and the smell of all the flowers was wonderful! Tulips were also looking pretty, they grow many varieties.
Another view in this garden.
Tulips in front of the main building.
Also bleeding hearts across the pond on the other side.
Our stay was cut short by approaching rain.
Get your ducks in a row and visit Rotary Botanical Gardens any time of the year!
There are other small garden plots within the park. The crops of Wisconsin are represented here.
The path leading to the large sunflower field.
We were not here long since a storm was coming. The sunflowers were beautiful!
The sunflower season is short so be sure to stop in when they are blooming! The last week of July is their Sunflower Days event. They love visitors any time of the year though and donations gratefully accepted!