#klehmarboretum
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Nature comes alive for the entire family at Klehm. There’s so much to see and do every day, and our calendar of events keeps families coming back time and again. Whether you enjoy splashing around in the Nancy Olson Children’s Garden or connecting with a living museum along our hiking paths, Klehm is the perfect way to spend the day.
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden is open year-round and presents a host of ways to enjoy nature throughout all four seasons.
Accessible
Klehm’s paved paths offer few gentle slopes and present an ideal environment for individuals of all abilities to spend quality time outdoors. Two electric mobility scooters are available for complimentary check-out at our Visitors Center on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Pet Friendly
Leashed, friendly dogs are welcome at Klehm! We ask that you pick up after your friendly pooch, and pet waste stations and garbage cans are found throughout our grounds and gardens for use.
Nancy Olson
Children’s Garden
Explore Kid’s Creek (now closed for 2025 season) for interactive stream play, climb and scramble over logs and other features in the all-new Natural Playground, and enjoy different kid-friendly gardens, an observation tower and more elements that invite children to experience nature in a playful setting. Linger over the wooden bridge to view the rushing stream as it leads to a pond of peaceful koi. Other amenities include a covered gazebo with picnic tables and an oversize portable restroom with diaper-changing amenities.
Bradley & Georgann
Gummow Family Foundation
Entry Water Feature
This peaceful pond, rushing waterfall, and landscaped patio is the perfect spot for a moment of reflection during your visit. Large, oversized benches provide an opportunity to look, listen and relax at this impressive focal point.
Fountain Garden
View surging fountains, beautiful planting beds and a diverse peony garden dedicated to the Klehm family in this spacious central garden. Concerts, wedding ceremonies and other special events take place under the gazebo stage and trellis with guests seated throughout the exquisite lawn seating area.
Harezlak Family Sundial
Explore the passage of time with this striking garden feature honoring the community contributions of Jean & Dennis Harezlak and their family. Limestone, Corten steel, decorative gravel and bright, warming sunshine create an interactive experience that tracks not only the time of day, but the month of year as the sun travels across the sky!
The Stumpery
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden’s newest garden space brings to life the English tradition of the “stumpery,” where upturned roots, logs, and natural wood forms create a dramatic stage for shade-loving plants and art. Envisioned by volunteers Phil and Patty Timm, this 500-square-foot garden, planted with hostas and complementary foliage, integrates nature-inspired artworks to spark curiosity and delight among visitors.
Dwarf Conifer Garden
Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal with our four-season dwarf conifer garden – the miniature stature of these cone-bearing trees invites closer exploration of their unique shapes, colors, and textures.
Specialty Gardens
Our specialty gardens deliver education, inspiration, and enjoyment to visitors of all ages.
Rhododendron
& Azalea Dell
A host of unique varieties of these spring show stoppers make this a must-see area in late May and early June!
Prehistoric
Garden
This themed garden space is home to only plants and trees that originated millions of years ago. Make sure to look for Flora-Fauna and Tree-Rex, Klehm’s two resident Tyrannosaurus Rex mascots.
Demonstration
Gardens
Seven different gardens provide a showcase for themed plantings of ornamental shrubs and trees as well as annual and perennial plants. The sculpture Glassinator provides a colorful kinetic focal point for visitors.
Perennial Pollinator
Garden
Located just outside the rear of the Visitors Center, take the winding path through this prairie landscape composed of native grasses and flowering plants to get up close to butterflies and other pollinators.
Vi Bates Wildflower
Garden
This wooded, peaceful garden is an early-season favorite filled with blooming understory native species.
Bioretention
Basin
This engineered feature helps manage stormwater and prevent erosion at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. By holding and slowly releasing water, it also helps sedges and other native plants thrive in a special soil mixture.
Garden Pavilion
This spacious outdoor tented venue and landscaped patio is the perfect setting for hosting wedding receptions as well as corporate and social functions. Expertly managed by Franchesco’s Ristorante.
Display Greenhouse
Peek into this jewel box of a structure to view a rotating display of display and ornamental plants being grown by Klehm’s staff!
West Loop
A stroll along this 1.4 mile paved path reveals Klehm’s unique past as a nursery originally established in the 1920’s. See if you can spot rows of trees, transplant holes and other clues that remain from this time.
Unpaved Trails
Exploring Klehm’s 3 miles of wooded trails will take the adventurous visitor through many different forested areas of mature native and ornamental trees that were originally planted when the property began as a nursery.
Gift Shop
Make sure to stop at the Visitors Center to explore this curated space stocked with unique garden and nature themed gifts, apparel, books, toys, games and souvenirs.