Get Your Garden On At These 4 Midwest Venues

By Claire Hannum | Photo: ©Botanica

There’s nothing quite as special as a Midwestern summer day with cotton-ball clouds, a bright blue sky and colorful blooms as far as the eye can see. So why not celebrate what makes our region unique by choosing a garden setting for your next event?

With gorgeous outdoor spaces to enjoy on clear days, and beautiful pavilions and indoor spaces to outlast any rain, botanical gardens are often brilliantly equipped for meetings. As spaces that regularly handle weddings and personal gatherings, gardens teams are more than capable of offering the professionalism and organization that planners need to get events done in a spectacular fashion.

The benefits of these spaces go beyond blossoms: Most large gardens in the Midwest come with a rich history. They can be former estates filled with historic treasures, mission-driven projects designed with meticulous care or passion projects of city planners who transformed that part of their city into a tranquil retreat. Many gardens staff historians, scientists and botany experts who can offer enlightening tours customized to attendees’ interests as well.

Many gardens have established catering partners, and the ability to transform the outdoors into a cocktail mixer or breakout session space with ease. Of course, the major variable for planners to watch out for is weather, so you’ll want to ensure that the property has robust rain plans in advance.

Some gardens’ indoor facilities may be smaller and less equipped than typical large event spaces.

Because some of their spaces — both indoor and outdoor — tend to be smaller, and because some gardens may need to limit foot traffic in certain areas to protect plant life, planners may come up against limitations with larger groups. Dependable WiFi and other tech infrastructure may not always be a given, so it’s important to check into this beforehand, too.

Whether you choose to meet indoors or outdoors, great ideas are always in bloom in the garden.

CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN IN GLENCOE, ILLINOIS

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a beloved local fixture and yet a renowned national institution in the world of plants. With 385 acres and 15 different spaces for groups of up to 400, the garden offers planners plenty of options to choose from. While some botanic gardens lack abundant indoor space, this isn’t one of them — the facility includes several meeting rooms, an auditorium and other weather-proof gathering spaces, in addition to its beautiful outdoor pavilions, gardens and courtyard spaces.

“We’ve noticed a common trend — clients often seek a blend of indoor and outdoor spaces,” says Adrian Garibay, the associate vice president of visitor experience at Chicago Botanic Garden. “The garden provides a unique opportunity to conduct productive meetings in a professional setting while also allowing attendees to be inspired by nature. Many organizers incorporate outdoor elements, such as team walks, breakout sessions or alfresco lunches, to create a balanced and refreshing experience.”

The garden also boasts an in-house event management team and executive chef serving up delectable local and sustainable cuisine. “The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a stunning and one-of-a-kind backdrop that enhances focus, creativity and engagement,” Garibay continues. “The scenic beauty helps make meetings more inspirational, productive and enjoyable.”

The garden’s relaxed atmosphere can also help encourage stronger networking connections and more beneficial, candid conversations.

For downtime or team-building events, the garden offers group programming options like guided garden walks, therapeutic horticulture workshops and mindfulness sessions. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers event spaces year-round, and in November and December, the garden features Lightscape, an illuminated trail with art and music features to enjoy.

BOTANICA IN WICHITA, KANSAS

This gem in Wichita’s Riverside neighborhood is a true oasis with 4,000 species of plants to browse. Botanica’s event spaces include an outdoor pavilion, a terrace, a beautifully designed indoor hall and more.

“Conferencegoers can gather in multiple indoor facilities, such as the elegant Lotus Hall or the Terrace Room, which opens out onto a large private patio, or the intimate Weidenbach Room with its own wraparound patio space, in addition to outdoor classrooms nestled across 20 acres of native plants, vibrant trees, calming streams, ponds and stunning ornamental display gardens showcasing seasonal color,” according to Dr. Lynette Zimmerman, the executive director at Botanica.

Botanica is an open catering space, so organizers should plan to work with an outside caterer, but the facilities feature WiFi and audiovisual support. For downtime activities, the garden offers after-hours receptions and custom team-building experiences, which range from garden yoga classes to scavenger hunts and more.

“A garden setting brings natural inspiration to any gathering,” Dr. Zimmerman explains.

“Surrounded by vibrant blooms and the calming sounds of nature, attendees tend to feel more relaxed, focused and creative. Unlike traditional venues, Botanica offers opportunities to reflect and relax between sessions with strolls through blooming pathways. It’s an environment that encourages connection, clarity and collaboration.”

OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS IN MADISON, WISCONSIN

Founded in 1952, Olbrich Botanical Gardens features a thrilling 10,000-square-foot conservatory and 16 acres, all conveniently tucked into the center of the city. It’s a delightful option for smaller groups looking to blend the great outdoors with productive gatherings. Some of the garden’s beautiful highlights include the sunken garden, the herb garden, and the Royal Thai Pavilion and Garden, the only one of its kind in the continental United States.

Olbrich features three scenic indoor meeting spaces inside the botanical center. Indoor meeting spaces include a commons room with a capacity for 200 guests and a glass wall facing the gardens, a bright glass-ceiling atrium with space for up to 120 guests and a meeting room with space for up to 65 guests. The garden also offers guided tours rain or shine for groups eager to explore the garden, as well as the option for self-guided group visits.

INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN IN DUNSEITH, NORTH DAKOTA

Unlike any other garden of its kind, the International Peace Garden straddles both sides of the United States-Canada border. “The garden was incorporated in 1929, they broke ground in 1932 and, over the years, the garden has served citizens of both countries, but also visitors from all over the world,” says Tim Chapman, CEO of the garden.

Built as a symbol of friendship and peace, the garden invites visitors from both sides of the border to enjoy the beauty of nature together and to marvel over its centerpiece, a spectacular sunken garden. It also incorporates a collection of cacti and succulents believed to be the largest indoor collection of its kind in the world. Dunseith was specifically chosen for the garden’s site because it is close to the geographic center of the entire continent.

With a performing arts center, auditorium, pavilion, lodge, expansive formal garden, intimate conference rooms and more, the garden has spaces for groups and events of all sizes. For team building, the garden offers walking trails, kayaking and plenty of natural beauty to explore.

Planners should be advised that, because the garden is located on a border, guests are required to go through customs when they leave. If guests are entering and exiting through the border of the country they are a citizen of, they will need to present photo identification.

Gardens are a refreshing choice for the Midwest’s summer season.