Arbor Day Celebration, Free Day to Open Season

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — Milwaukee County Parks are celebrating Arbor Day and plan to open the Boerner Botanical Gardens with free admission April 27, starting at 10 a.m. The botanical gardens are located at 9400 Boerner Drive, in Whitnall Park.

Officials will join about 40 students from West Allis Pershing Elementary School and Parks horticultural staff in planting two varieties of flowering crabapples—Royal Raindrops and Candymint Sargent. The trees were donated by Paul Swartz Nursery of Burlington.

Free saplings will be available to 100 visitors. Varieties include red oak, bur oak and swamp white oak. After the ceremony, Dave Wanninger, Botanical Gardens Horticulturist, will lead a walk focused on the historical trees of the Botanical Gardens and the surrounding Arboretum. Some trees are on the list of Wisconsin Champion Trees.

From April 28 through Oct. 28, admission is $6.50 for adults age 18 and older; $5 for students of any age with ID, Milwaukee County seniors age 60 and up with ID, and people with disabilities; and $4.50 for youths age 6–17.

Submitted Photo