Olbrich Botanical Garden's breaks ground on $12 million expansion

Olbrich Botanical Gardens broke ground on Thursday on a $12 million facilities expansion.

According to Olbrich Botanical Gardens, construction will begin on Monday, September 10 on a new 8,500 square foot Learning Center, the first dedicated educational space in Olbrich's history.

The classroom space will bring educational programs, summer camps, adult classes and workshops.

"We hope that every single school kid in the city of Madison is able to come and visit and learn about how things are growing," says Bill White, President of the Olbrich Botanical Society.

A new production greenhouse will also be major part of the project. It will replace Olbrich's 25-year-old greenhouses. The new space will increase the number of plants able to be grown from seed by approximately 30 percent.

The Olbrich Botanical Society and it's donors and the City of Madison more than $10 million were raised.