Allen Centennial Garden
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Allen Centennial Garden offers a peaceful, well-maintained botanical retreat on the University of Wisconsin campus, ideal for a calm family walk amidst diverse plant collections. It provides an opportunity to experience nature within the city, featuring educational explanations about plants and unique garden sections, all free to explore.
Key Highlights
- ✓Very well-maintained garden with a calm, quiet, and relaxing atmosphere.
- ✓Features a wide array of plants, shrubs, and trees, including unique sections like a water garden, rock garden, cacti, herbs, and impressive squash.
- ✓Offers educational explanations on what, why, and how things were planted.
- ✓Includes intertwining paths, small streams, and benches for sitting and contemplating.
- ✓The flowers are reported to be stunning in spring, summer, and fall.
Standout Features
- ⭐Free entrance to explore the grounds.
- ⭐Abundant benches throughout the garden provide ample opportunities for rest and relaxation.
- ⭐Varied plant collections, including specific zones like a water garden, rock garden, and cacti display, offer diverse visual interest.
- ⭐Educational explanations accompanying plants add a learning element to the visit.
- ⭐Intertwining paths and small streams create an engaging walking experience.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Expect to spend about an hour here for a relaxing family walk and plant viewing.
- →Consider it for a calm, quiet outing rather than an activity requiring high energy or extensive play.
- →If driving, look for nearby street parking which can be free, or be prepared for paid parking options.
Things to Consider
- ⚠One reviewer felt it might not warrant repeated visits (more than 2-3 times) due to its size or focus, suggesting limited novelty for frequent attendees.
Price & Value
High value, as entrance to the garden is completely free. Donations are accepted to help maintain the landscape. Parking can be free on the street or available for a fee, which is the only potential cost.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews. The garden features 'different terrains' and intertwining paths, which may or may not be fully accessible for all mobility needs.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews. As it's a garden, bringing outside snacks for a short visit is likely permissible, but no on-site food or beverage sales are implied.
🚗Parking Info
- •Street parking is available nearby, which can be free. Paid parking options are also available in the vicinity.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Described as having a 'quiet atmosphere' and being a 'calm oasis', suggesting it is generally not overly crowded and provides a tranquil experience.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features beyond general garden maintenance were mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your children require playgrounds, interactive exhibits, or high-energy activities to stay entertained.
- • If you are looking for an all-day attraction with diverse activities for children.
- • If your toddlers or preschoolers need ample space to run freely and burn significant energy, as the atmosphere is primarily quiet and contemplative.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
General Tour (Guided Group Tour)
Varies by group sizeDuration: 45 minutes–1 hour
General Garden tour, given by a student intern or garden staff. Includes garden history, stories, and plant highlights. Weekend tours require an additional $25 fee per guide.
Includes:
- •Guided tour by student intern or garden staff
- •Garden history
- •Stories about plants
- •Plant highlights
Director Tour (Guided Group Tour)
Varies by group sizeDuration: 1–1.5 hours
Personalized Garden tour with the Garden’s Executive Director. Maximum of 25 people.
Includes:
- •Guided tour by the Executive Director
Private Programs (Group Activities)
Vary from $5-$55 per personDuration: Varies
Customized programs for groups. Options include flower pounding, flower crowns, creating with dried flowers, dyeing with plants, and more. Highly recommended for children under 12 over a traditional tour.
Includes:
- •Customized plant-based activities
Student Visits: People and Plants: Art and Science in the Garden
$10 per studentDuration: 60 minutes
A program designed for K-12 audiences to learn about the relationships between people and plants through art and science. Visits are flexible and include rotating stations. Activities may include identifying and eating weeds, harvesting flowers and smashing them into art, and collecting viable seeds. All visits include a seasonal art project to take home.
Includes:
- •Learning about plant-people relationships
- •Examining connections between art and science
- •Optional activities: identifying/eating weeds, harvesting/smashing flowers for art, locating/collecting seeds
- •Rotating activity stations
- •Seasonal art project to take home
Drop-in Public Tours
$5 per person (donation)Duration: 45-60 minutes
Explore Allen Centennial Garden’s diverse spaces and learn the gardener's perspective behind each. Friends of Allen Centennial Garden members receive a complimentary tour.
Includes:
- •Guided tour of garden spaces
Build your own bouquet (Drop-in)
$10+Duration: Varies (9:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturdays, or 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm before Sunday concerts)
Select and arrange seasonal flowers grown by interns. Supports interns learning how to grow, harvest, and work with plants.
Includes:
- •Seasonal flowers
- •Rubber bands
- •Clippers
Drop-in Project: Watercolors
$20Duration: Until 12:00 pm (arrive 10:00 am - 11:30 am)
A hands-on activity to explore watercolor plants, grind flowers, follow a project, or simply paint on watercolor paper. Great for testing early season watercolor plants or unwinding.
Includes:
- •Watercolor plants
- •Mortar and pestle
- •Watercolor paper
- •Painting supplies
Drop-in Project: Floral Greeting Cards (Pressed Flower Buffet)
$10 for three cards; $5 per 3 additional cardsDuration: Until 12:00 pm (arrive 10:00 am - 11:30 am); 15-30 minutes to create 3 cards
A drop-in pressed flower buffet with all supplies to create thoughtful stationery. Samples are provided, and demonstrations on how to press flowers or make a simple DIY press are available. New presses are opened every 30 minutes.
Includes:
- •Pressed flowers
- •Card-making supplies
- •Demonstrations on flower pressing
Drop-in Project: Dyers Pot (Plant-based Dyes)
$10 (for UW Office of Sustainability tote bag or 25” x 25” bandana); starts at $10+ (for upcycled apparel by weight); $5 less (if you bring your own apparel)Duration: Until 12:00 pm (arrive 10:00 am - 11:30 am); 30-45 minute dyeing process
A 'fun-sized' introduction to plant-based dyes. Create patterns with rubber bands, immerse fabric in dye, and take a garden walk. Completed project can be taken home immediately or picked up later for a deeper color.
Includes:
- •Plant dyes
- •Rubber bands
- •Fabric item (tote bag, bandana, or thrifted apparel options)
Drop-in Project: Flower Pounding
$15Duration: Until 12:00 pm (arrive 10:00 am - 11:30 am)
Create floral patterns in fabric using flowers, fruits, and leaves by pounding them. Easy to make remarkable patterns. Participants can meet, harvest, or simply smash flowers on a cotton bandana or small tote bag. Kid friendly!
Includes:
- •Flowers, fruits, and leaves
- •Cotton bandana or small tote bag
- •Tools for pounding
Drop-in Project: Indigo Massage Dying
$10 (for UW Office of Sustainability tote bag or 25” x 25” bandana); starts at $10+ (for upcycled apparel by weight); $5 less (if you bring your own apparel)Duration: Until 12:00 pm (arrive 10:00 am - 11:30 am)
Work with blue-producing plants like Japanese Indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) and Woad (Isatis tinctoria). The dyeing process happens in a giant salad bowl, working color into fabric using salt, indigo, woad, and 'elbow grease'.
Includes:
- •Indigo and Woad dyes
- •Salt
- •Fabric item (tote bag, bandana, or thrifted apparel options)
Drop-in Project: Dried Flower Creations
$20 (for a wreath or similar-sized project); $10 to double the size of the wreathDuration: Until 12:00 pm (arrive 10:00 am - 11:30 am); elaborate projects can take up to 90 minutes
A drop-in dried flower buffet providing all supplies for creation, samples for inspiration, and a guide. Includes various dried flowers (strawflower, winged everlasting, wheat) and crafting materials (heavy duty wire, floral tape, floral wire, hot glue guns).
Includes:
- •Dried flowers (strawflower, winged everlasting, wheat, and more)
- •Heavy duty wire
- •Floral tape
- •Floral wire
- •Hot glue guns
Workshop: Flower Pounding (In-depth Class)
$25Duration: 120 minutes (10:00 am to 12:00 pm)
An in-depth class to harvest, arrange, and hammer flowers, stems, and leaves from the Garden to create patterns on fabric. Learn ways to test new plants and various techniques for smashing flowers. Includes instruction on how to fix colors.
Includes:
- •45” x 25” piece of cotton fabric
- •Flowers, stems, and leaves for pounding
- •Instruction on color fixing techniques
Workshop: Watercolors (In-depth Class)
$25Duration: 120 minutes (10:00 am to 12:00 pm)
Learn the basics for extracting color from plants, share colors, and paint. Harvest flowers and leaves, grind them, add water, squeeze through muslin, and transfer to a watercolor palette. Includes a brief tour of colorful plants in the garden and a demonstration of resistance techniques used with watercolors. Offers a relaxing time painting in a beautiful space.
Includes:
- •Flowers and leaves for pigment extraction
- •Mortar and pestle
- •Muslin
- •Watercolor palette
- •Watercolor paper
- •Brief garden tour highlighting colorful plants
- •Demonstration of watercolor resistance techniques
Workshop: Plant Based Dyes: Intro (In-depth Class)
$55Duration: 120 minutes (10:00 am to 12:00 pm)
An introductory course to the experimental process of working with natural plant-based dyes, including learning about plants like Madder (known for red dye) and how to grow/forage them. Discussion covers the history of dyeing, differences between plant and animal fibers, and the chemical process for permanent dyes. Covers various techniques for dye extraction and fabric preparation.
Includes:
- •6 fat quarters of cotton (22” x 18”)
- •Handout with all steps and techniques
- •Natural plant dyes (e.g., Madder)
- •Discussion on dyeing history, fibers, and chemistry
Workshop: Embroider with Garden Colors (In-depth Class)
$35Duration: 120 minutes (10:00 am to 12:00 pm)
An introductory embroidery course using plants from the Allen Centennial Garden. Learn simple stitches to create floral designs and craft your own project. Also covers plant-based dyes used to color thread.
Includes:
- •Selection of plant-dyed thread
- •Embroidery hoop
- •Instruction on basic embroidery stitches
- •Information on plant-based dyes for thread
Workshop: Plant Based Sauces (In-depth Class)
$45Duration: 120 minutes (10:00 am to 12:00 pm)
An in-depth sauce making demonstration using common garden ingredients like tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillo. Focuses on making family-sized batches of condiments and simplifying the process. Techniques, tricks, and tips are adaptable to various recipes. Includes sampling of four sauces inspired by American BBQ, Japanese, Latine, and Indian cuisine.
Includes:
- •Garden-sauce makers’ flowchart with recipes
- •Demonstration of sauce making techniques
- •Tasting of four culturally-inspired sauces
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
2025 Harvest Folk Festival
October 4, 2025 (12:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
Free
Celebrate an abundant and diverse harvest with live music, dancing, and storytelling. Learn about harvest traditions from Dejope (Madison) and around the world, focusing on Chinese, Indigenous, and Latine cultures, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Features creating with plants, a seed swap, student research, and various performances. Schedule highlights: Noon – Seed Swap Begins; 12:30 pm – Seed Swap Opens to Public; 12:45 pm – Beni Daiko (Japanese Taiko); 1:30 pm – Wayne Valliere (Ojibwe canoe maker); 2:00 pm – Norden Haus students (Scandinavian song/dance); 2:30 pm – Jewop (a capella); 3:00 pm – Cait Vitale-Sullivan (folk music); 3:30 pm – Atimevu (Ghanaian music); 4:00 pm – Paul Tseng (East Asian cooking demo); 5:00 pm – Son Fiorella (traditional music from Veracruz, Mexico). Drop-in activities: Noon-4:00 pm flax processing demo; 1:00-5:00 pm student fair; 2:00-5:00 pm folk craft activities (quilting, seed tour); 3:00-5:00 pm cordage from native plants demo.
Shakespeare in the Garden 2025
2025 (specific dates not listed)
Not specified
A fresh production featuring scenes from multiple Shakespeare plays, performed in areas throughout Allen Centennial Garden. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair.
Workshop: Dried Flower Wreath (Offsite)
October 25 (1:30 PM)
$20+
A drop-in dried flower buffet with all supplies to create wreaths or similar projects. Held at Working Draft, 1129 East Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703. Price is $20 for a standard wreath, $10 to double the size. Elaborate projects can take up to 90 minutes.
Summer Concerts 2025
Sundays: June 8, July 6, July 13, July 20, August 3, August 17 (5:00 PM - 6:15 PM)
Concerts are free. Pre-concert activities: Build your own bouquet ($10, 3:30-5:00 pm), Garden Tour ($5, 4:00 pm on Aug 3rd).
Concerts feature jazz and world music performers. Rain cancellations announced via social media between 3:30 and 4:00 pm. Performers: June 8 – YORVANIS DURAN QUARTET (Afro-Cuban); July 6 – JOHANNES WALLMANN GROUP (original compositions); July 13 – THE JAZZ GUYS QUINTET (modern jazz, standards); July 20 – GERRI DIMAGGIO PROJECT (Brazilian/jazz standards); August 3 – RYAN MEISEL QUARTET with Susan Hofer (modern/original jazz); August 17 – LES CORDES EN BLEU (Django Reinhardt inspired).
🍎Food Policy
- • For the Harvest Festival, Babcock Dairy Store (1605 Linden Dr) will be open on Saturday, October 4 from 11am until 4pm, offering coffee, sandwiches, ice cream, and more. No general food policy for the Garden itself specified.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Dogs must remain on leash and on the path at all times within the Garden.
📅Booking Policy
- • Guided tours require a reservation.
- • Self-guided tours do not require a reservation, but it is strongly recommended to call ahead to ensure no conflict with other Garden activities.
- • Full payment and headcount for group tours/programs must be received at least 1 week prior to the event.
- • Any additional attendees added after final payment for group tours/programs must be paid for at the time of the tour.
- • All posed, professional, and commercial photo shoots require a permit (includes homecoming or prom photos, one permit for group).
🚗Parking Information
- • Two-hour timed parking stalls (mobile pay 'meters' that do not accept coins) on Babcock Drive.
- • Parking ramp (Lot 36) on Observatory Drive.
- • For weekends (e.g., Harvest Festival): Free parking available on campus at Lots 34, 36, and 40, all located near the Garden.
- • Public transportation is highly recommended, with numerous bus routes stopping within a few blocks.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Rob Lilieholm
8 months agoBeautiful, very well maintained corner garden on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. Wide array of plants, shrubs and trees. Water garden, rock garden, even cacti! A calm oasis.
Laura Palmgren
7 months agoA relaxing garden scape in the university side of Madison. There are different terrains along with explanations on what/why/how things were planted. Definitely a gem and a must go place.
J. Garty
2 years agoBeautiful, little, well-taken-care of garden within the city. Various plants, benches, small streams, and paths that intertwine and weave through the lush vegetation. Spent about an hour here as a family walking the grounds and viewing the plants. The garden is free to explore, and there is parking nearby on the street or for a fee. Beautiful garden to sit for a while, while trying to experience nature within the city.
Topia B
2 years agoThis garden has a quiet atmosphere, it's more of a herb vegetable garden with some shade. It doesn't strikes me as somewhere to go more than 2 or 3 times. Some pretty impressive squash and the colours from the flowers are pleasing to the eyes.
Heather Teske
5 years agoThis is a hidden gem on the UW campus. It’s a beautiful place to take a walk, sit on a bench, and relax. The flowers are stunning in spring, summer and fall. Entrance is free, but donations help maintain the beautiful landscape. I would definitely recommend for a cute date spot!