Boulevard Gardens in Milwaukee Wisconsin
Free Garden Planting Ideas Found on Public Streets in a Midwest City
Aug 4, 2009
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is well known for its expansive public park system and gardens. One characteristic of Milwaukee is the wide grassy boulevards that separate many main streets throughout the city extending into the neighboring suburbs. In these places gardeners will find many plant combination ideas that can be replicated in their own home gardens. These provide excellent free garden ideas.
Annual Plant Combinations
The boulevard plantings in Milwaukee are a combination of trees and shrubs with large planting beds surrounded by grassy lawns. Each boulevard is different, with a collection of annual plants and tender bulbs added in May for summer color. Here is a sample of plant combinations recently seen:
- Multi colored pink and lavender petunias with marigolds and dusty miller. The annual fountain grass at the center provided height.
- Russian sage planted in mass is dramatic and easy to maintain.
- Florescent colored petunias with wax begonias and blue flowered salvia are at the end of the Marquette University boulevard.
- A simple combination of annual vinca flowers with daylilies.
- Pink shrub roses edged with yellow marigolds and silver dusty miller.
- Ornamental grasses add movement to the garden, even where the planting is of trees and shrubs.
- The light pole on Forest Home Avenue for years covered with evergreen ivy.
Many boulevards were developed for foot traffic control, as well as for aesthetics. The iron railings that surround the tree plantings near Marquette University direct people to cross streets at the crosswalks. The trees improve the environment by shading Wisconsin Avenue from hot summer sun.
Watering Plants in Boulevard Gardens
Wherever gardens are planted, the need for water is always part of a maintenance plan. The Milwaukee County crews maintain the boulevards including lawn mowing, weeding and watering.
A watering system has existed in the boulevards for decades. As new garden beds along downtown’s Wisconsin Avenue have been added, new faucet systems have been added, as well.
Milwaukee County Greenhouses
The Milwaukee County Greenhouses are a well-known asset of the Milwaukee County Park System supplying the multitude of annual plants used throughout the county, including on the boulevards. The park and river parkway system includes approximately 15,000 acres of green spaces and 144 parks.
The Milwaukee County Greenhouses put on an annual plant sale open the last two weekends in May. It is a popular inexpensive place for gardeners to obtain plants.
Residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have traditionally placed a high value on green spaces, including their boulevard plantings found throughout this Midwest city. Designed and planted by horticultural trained professionals, the boulevards are an inspiration for gardeners to enjoy and find free garden ideas.
Those wishing to read more about Milwaukee County gardens can check out Boerner Botanical Gardens.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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