Meetings Bloom at These Botanical Garden Venues

By Shelby Deering | Photo © Marsha Mood Photography, Rotary Botanical Gardens

A traditional meeting room is undoubtedly a place where participants can sit, converse, and focus. But to really get those creative juices flowing, encourage teamwork and provide a feast for the eyes, look no further than a botanical garden venue. With a variety of botanical gardens to choose from across the state, many of these venues have a lot to offer besides beautiful plants, such as indoor and outdoor spaces for gatherings of all sizes.

“There’s something about stepping away from the usual office environment that makes people think differently,” says Laura Kenyon, community engagement manager at Janesville’s Rotary Botanical Gardens.

It’s a sentiment that Kaytie Ruesch, program manager at Wausau’s Monk Botanical Gardens, echoes as well: “A break in routine is stimulating for the brain and may help to provoke new ideas and creative thought.”

Rachel Mueller, PR and content coordinator at Green Bay Botanical Garden, believes in the power of the outdoors when it comes to meetings, saying, “Seeing how different parts of nature interact with each other — like a monarch’s reliance on milkweed plants — can encourage transformation for a team.”

For something completely different and unexpected for your next meeting, and to give participants a breath of fresh air, look to one of these Wisconsin botanical garden venues.

Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville

Sitting on 20 acres, this non-profit garden in Janesville (located just over an hour from Milwaukee and 45 minutes from Lake Geneva) boasts 26 different garden spaces, including a Japanese garden, an English Cottage garden and even a French Formal garden.

“But what really makes us unique is that we’re not just about plants — we’re here for the community,” Kenyon says. “Since we’re a non- profit, everything we do — whether it’s hosting wellness programs, educational workshops or just providing a peaceful escape — happens because of memberships, donations and event rentals.”

The gardens have several indoor spaces to choose from, including four tech-outfitted multipurpose rooms that each fit 40 and can be combined for a larger space that accommodates 250, a light-filled atrium that holds 50 and provides garden views, and two small classrooms geared toward breakout sessions. The outdoor spaces include the Celebration Garden, with a gazebo and lawn area, and the Sunken Garden, cozy, tucked away and surrounded by greenery.

Solo or small-group work can be done from benches throughout the gardens, offering lovely views of the lake and scenery.

And it doesn’t stop at the gorgeous, flower-filled visuals. “Groups can take a self-guided stroll through our themed spaces, join a guided tour or dive into hands-on plant education sessions,” Kenyon says. “Looking for something more interactive? We can arrange scavenger hunts, team-building activities or even a horticultural workshop tailored to your interests.”

For more of a wellness slant to add to your meeting, Kenyon explains they’ve hosted yoga sessions, and naturally, the peaceful atmosphere of the gardens serves as an ideal place to unwind. She adds, “Whether you’re here to learn, create, relax or just soak in the beauty, we’re all about making your experience as engaging, and refreshing, as possible.”

Green Bay Botanical Garden, Green Bay

Another community-supported nonprofit garden where you can hold an event is the Green Bay Botanical Garden, situated on 47 acres brimming with display gardens and natural areas. Here, you’ll spy an astounding 120,000 plants native to Wisconsin and from around the world.

“Green Bay Botanical Garden is the ideal place to hold a meeting because there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for an indoor experience, an outdoor excursion or a little bit of both,” says corporate and social events coordinator Noely Gomand.

One indoor option is the George Kress Suite of Classrooms, which can be split up into three different rooms. They can hold up to 64 guests, feature floor-to-ceiling windows and you can walk out onto the adjoining Mabel Thome Patio to experience the outdoor garden.

There’s also the indoor, recently updated Cornerstone Foundation Hall, with a capacity of up to 200, a customizable layout, views of the accompanying Schneider Family Grand Garden and an adjacent patio.

As for the outdoors, you can hold your event in the Schneider Family Grand Garden, tailored to large events, and the Raisanen Lodge Shelter, with seating for up to 40 and readied with picnic tables. In fact, the gardens can plan picnics indoors and out for large corporations “who want to provide a unique outing for their employees and their loved ones,” as Gomand says.

To round out your botanical garden experience, all meeting participants receive free admission to explore the outdoor garden. You can punctuate the itinerary with team-building scavenger hunts, hikes on the trails and paths, meditation and yoga. Participants can even volunteer to weed and plant right alongside the gardening team.

Consider also adding a guided tour, like the Botanical Wonders Tour that highlights current blooms, or Herbal Adventure, in which guests will soak up the sights and smells of culinary and medicinal herbs. “Holding meetings at a botanical garden lends itself to focusing on mental health and overall wellness,” Mueller says. “It’s a place where teams can relax, recharge and refocus with the support of nature itself.”

Monk Botanical Gardens, Wausau

In central Wisconsin, you’ll find the 29-acre Monk Botanical Gardens, a mix of themed, cultivated gardens and natural areas. Open year- round, there’s Sara’s Storybook Garden featuring a treehouse and shipwreck, a National Hosta Society Display Garden, a peaceful Meditation Garden and the new English garden, among others.

“Holding a meeting here provides for a relaxing and natural setting that increases creativity, interaction and overall participant wellbeing,” Ruesch says.

For an indoors-meets-outdoors experience, look no further than the botanical gardens’ unique yurt space. Round and tent-like with a wooden frame and fabric covering, the yurt has all the “comforts and conveniences” of an indoor meeting space, as Ruesch says, and it can accommodate 25 people. Although it feels as if it’s been pulled from another era, the yurt has its own wireless Internet access.

Then there’s the Potager, a French word that translates to “kitchen garden” and is perfect for those foodie participants attending your event.

“This is a beautiful outdoor covered space perfect for gatherings of up to 150 people,” Ruesch says. “It features a wood fire pizza oven, propane stovetop, sink and countertop. It is an ideal space for enjoying a meal or refreshments while gazing out at the vibrant produce being grown in our kitchen garden.”

The gardens are also ideal for walking meetings, with a mile of accessible walking trails. “A walking meeting serves the same purpose as a traditional meeting but incorporates movement into the workday,” Ruesch says.

In addition to these creative ways to weave the venue into your event, there are bonus activity options. For instance, you can add a tour or a workshop, such as wreath-making, to your event.

“A change of scenery and exposure to nature provides meeting attendees with an escape from typical workplace distractions,” Ruesch says, adding that you can always count on fresh air and sunlight to raise spirits.

Cities in Bloom

Blooming botanical gardens can be found across the state. Groups planning events in Milwaukee or Madison can also consider these lovely gardens.

• Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
  This Madison-based garden connects people and plants with three rooms inside the botanical center that are available for rental year-round. Each room overlooks the stunning scenery of the Outdoor Gardens. The Bolz Conservatory is also available as an add-on for evening rentals.
• Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee
  This horticultural conservatory is available for rent for special events. It can accommodate up to 30 people in the Tropical, Desert or Show Domes. For larger events of up to 500 guests, the Atrium or Greenhouse No. 7 can be used. Catering is available by Zilli Hospitality Group for a memorable experience.