Olbrich Botanical Gardens occupies 16 acres along the eastern shore of Lake Monona and is one of those reliably good free things Madison does well. The outdoor gardens are open year-round and free; the indoor tropical conservatory charges a small admission fee. The collection includes a formal rose garden, a rock garden, a wildflower area, and several themed plantings that change with the seasons.
The garden's most unusual feature is a genuine Thai pavilion — the Bolz Conservatory overlooks a Thai sala and surrounding plants donated by the people of Thailand, and it gives the gardens an unexpected international flavour. The adjacent conservatory houses a permanent collection of orchids, palms, and tropical plants, particularly enjoyable during Wisconsin winters.
Olbrich is on Atwood Avenue, about two miles east of the Capitol on the isthmus's south shore. The neighbourhood around Atwood Avenue has a good cluster of independent coffee shops and bars that make a pleasant extension to a visit.