The Domes, Part 3 #Domes #MilwaukeeDomes #ANightInBloom

Thank you for reading this 3-part Thursday series featuring the Mitchell Park Conservatory, also known as the Milwaukee Domes.? In Part 1 we introduced the beloved Milwaukee Domes and shared more about this incredibly unique botanical greenhouse, situated in the heart of the city of Milwaukee.? In Part 2 we shared an insider’s view of the Domes, talking with Maddie Mueller, Fund Manager for the Domes. For those looking to learn more about the career path and experience working for a non-profit should read Part 2.

In Part 3 we wrap up our series by talking with Deb Schiel, Development and Membership Manager for the Milwaukee Domes, and we share an exciting event coming up for the Domes this month! Read on for more – links are at the end of the article.

The word that continues to come up for the Domes is beloved, and if I could add a second word, it would be community.? Deb shared that her involvement in the Domes goes years back, and that her current role is one of many roles she’s had in her time with the Domes.? Deb’s seen the support and community involved in the Domes and says, “it’s like nothing else – the people are just amazing”.? Deb has shared the success and creativity of programs the Domes has held over the years, meeting the needs of the diverse community it serves.? She’s been a part of many new programs over the years and has shared a few favorites, programs that serve kids and others in the local area.? Partnering with schools and other organizations allows kids that may not easily have access to the Domes to experience it through their school, whether that is on a field trip or participating in a program at the Domes.?

One of many such programs offered features art and creativity; children roam free in one program, stop and sketch what they are drawn to in the Domes – a specific flower, plant, rock, or larger landscape of the Domes – and (thinking of one past program) participants got to display those creations for future visits in the main lobby area of the Domes.??

Current programs include a range of activities that are truly designed to engage everyone.? One program that (depending on when you read this just concluded or is running now!) is for “older” adults, titled “Growing and Thriving” and involves learning and interacting with the plants, tapping into all senses while enjoying company of a similar age cohort.? Then the next month is yet another creative program on a fantasy quest (think fairies, dragons, wizards, and more from the magical world), aimed at having fun by completing a series of tasks – oops, I mean quests! – and encountering the magical world along the way.??

Deb shared that not only does the community come together for the beloved Domes, but those Domes members also have the added benefit of being part of an even larger network – the AHS Sister Garden Network.? Deb shared that when anyone is a member of the Domes, that membership grants access to botanical gardens and conservatories throughout the United States.? This is because the Domes is part of the American Horticultural Society (AHS) Garden Network (https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap/) .?

This is how it works: you join the Domes, and your level of Domes membership is honored as a member of over 380 other gardens in the US, across states!? You have access to gardens in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, or Michigan – all states, but many readers here are in the Midwest – and then this Domes membership allows you to visit diverse places on that membership, including many in a day’s driving distance of the Domes and my area of Chicago-land, Illinois: the Morton Tree Museum in Lisle, Illinois (also known as the Morton Arboretum – did you know it’s actually a museum of trees??), the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois (a personal next stop for me with my Domes membership), Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe, Illinois and the Garfield Conservatory in Chicago (and yes, the Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago is also on that list!).? I specify all of this because as we learn about the Domes as an organization, we also learn that as a not-for-profit the Domes serves a very local community, and also those who are visiting from OTHER sister gardens.? Nature is bringing us together, and that’s a good thing.??

Deb also wanted to share that the community for the Domes is coming together for an annual event called A Night in Bloom on February 22nd.? The evening at the Domes will feature live music, amazing food (appetizers, dessert, cocktails), and floral themed entertainment that promises to be an unforgettable NIGHT IN BLOOM!? https://milwaukeedomes.org/event/a-night-in-bloom/?

Thank you to Maddie, Deb and the entire Domes community + Linkedin community, for supporting my goal to communicate via articles (just a little more) in 2025.? I hope all of YOUR 2025 goals come true.? Check back for my next 3 part series on a new not-for-profit that we will highlight in Spring, across three yet-to-be-selected Thursdays.? Thanks for reading and see the links below for more info.? I will look for you at the Domes or another sister garden!?

?#Domes #MilwaukeeDomes #ANightInBloom?

Tickets for A Night in Bloom can be found here:

https://milwaukeedomes.org/event/a-night-in-bloom/

Information on visiting the Domes can be found here:

https://www.mitchellparkdomes.com/

AHS Sister Garden Network:

https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap/