Shortly after my daughter turned one, I lost my job. It was abrupt and unsettling, but I pulled myself together and put on my rose-colored glasses. I decided, for the near-term, I would go back to freelance writing and lean into mom life.
Whenever possible, I wanted this uptick in quality mother-daughter time to be intentional and delight us both. So I let myself daydream: where would I take Poppy (within reason and budget) now that I was unencumbered with a 9 to 5? I could let her run around Windover Hall at the Milwaukee Art Museum, daytrip to Sheboygan’s Bookworm Gardens, or do a tour of local play cafes. But for proximity and pocketbook, our first “funemployed” outing was the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners. (Perhaps unsurprising for a flower lover who named her daughter “Poppy.”)
Last year, Poppy was just learning to walk with wobbly steps and a tight grip on whatever finger she could wrap her pudgy fist around. The Gardens were in the midst of set-up for China Lights (this year running Sept. 12 through Nov. 2; tickets on sale Aug. 8). Seeing the brilliant, sculptural lights by day was stunning in its own right.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Fast forward to summer 2025, and I’m still splitting my time between freelancing and parenting a tenacious toddler. Work-wise, it’s hard out there. So I try to savor everyday delights with my daughter whenever I can – focusing on joy, controlling what I can control. To squeeze the most out of Milwaukee’s clear summer days, I’m taking Poppy on more “play dates” – outings that are just enough out of our ordinary to feel special, but accessible enough to be largely stress-free.
In June, we ventured to Tosa and Elm Grove to see Mama Rosa at Firefly Grove Park, drink smoothies at Nona, and eat sandwiches at The Chocolate Factory. In July, we revisited an old faithful in the Boerner Botanical Gardens and found a new favorite in Blüm Coffee Garden.
Margie’s Garden at Boerner Botanical Gardens, Hales Corners
I told Poppy we were going to see the flowers. “Flaaa,” she cooed dreamily. She’s in this phase where her babbles are a cross between Boo from Monsters Inc. and some chirpy Jim Henson creature. I’m in a phase where I melt over her chatter, simultaneously feeling antsy to know every nuance of her meaning.
But on to the flowers. I thought the gardens opened at 9 a.m. as they do on the weekends, but live and learn: the Boerner Botanical Gardens open at 10 a.m. Monday–Friday and an hour earlier Saturday–Sunday. While I had aimed to get there promptly at 9 a.m., Poppy’s pokey-ness had other plans, which worked in our favor. We only had about 20 minutes to kill by the time we parked.
After some chasing around the parking lot, we made our way to the main entrance. The atrium doors were open even before 10 a.m., so we bided our time in the air conditioned space and bought tickets ($8 total for the two of us). Outfitted with neon plastic wristbands, Pops and I promptly took to wandering through the gardens. On this particular Monday morning, we had them all to ourselves.
We set a course for Margie’s Garden, a gated yet sprawling area designed for children and families. The garden is named for Margaret “Margie” Kezman, a local teacher who passed away in 2019. Margie’s family furnished the garden in her honor, with Milwaukee-based New Eden Landscape Architecture designing the child-friendly space.
Margie’s Garden is nothing short of enchanting – too good to be kept a secret. Sparkly gravel paths wind through a rainbow carpet of seasonal flowers, punctuated with whimsical sculptures and play structures. For sculptures, there are towering metal hydrangeas and gerbera daisies; for playing, there’s a stone and wood troll bridge, a brightly-painted playhouse and earthy play hut. Just to name a few. Margie’s Garden is a perfect mix of eye-popping fantasy and natural serenity. There are benches for resting and a shaded picnic pavilion with six tables, two of them child-sized.
Poppy got a kick out of simply scooting her jelly sandals along the gravel and popping in and out of playhouses. Slightly older children will appreciate opportunities to spot letters, numbers, and friendly bugs throughout the garden. There are musical moments – drums and chimes – and chances to climb and slide. Overall, Margie’s Garden is a place for children to safely wander and explore.
As the July sun started beating down, I herded Poppy back to the car with the promise of drinks and snacks – an easy 11-minute drive away.
Blüm Coffee Garden, Greenfield
There’s so much to love about Blüm Coffee Garden. Where do I begin? It’s located inside Bluemel’s Garden & Landscape Center, so green thumbs can get their fill of not only caffeine, but all things gardening. The building that houses the coffee shop seems plucked out of a fairytale – domed roof, stained glass, dripping with lush foliage. Calling the place a “coffee garden” packs its own charm with the notion that cups of steaming brew shoot up out of the earth.
Or – in summer – iced Sport Tea, for me. A cup of milk for Pops. And a Cowboy cookie and thick slice of pumpkin bread to round out snack time. Some of this sound familiar? Blüm serves Colectivo coffee and treats. They also serve a smattering of sandwiches, burritos, soup, and quiche – plus beer on tap, wine and cocktails, if you’re in the mood for something more robust.
With full sunlight on the patio (beautiful and inviting though it may otherwise be) we opted to cool off in the air conditioned cafe for a while, refueling before Poppy made herself at home at the on-site playground. The Blüm playground isn’t huge, but that’s part of its appeal. The bouncy turf is fenced in, and once inside, guardians can easily have eyes on everything. There are swings, free-standing spinners, and three slides of varying heights. Slides alone are a day-maker for Poppy.
After expending energy and squee-ing for almost an hour, Pops willingly walked with me back to the car. Toddler meltdown: averted. I like to think it’s because we kept our play date relatively contained. We made it home by nap time – but there was no nap to be had. Just a wide-awake Poppy. Surprising after such an active morning? Sure. But toddlers are full of surprises.
Turns out, parenting a two-year-old is a lot like life. There are no sure things. It’s a series of really good days and so-so ones. Best efforts that pay off or fall flat. You’re inspired. You’re tired. You control what you can and roll with the rest. You see silver linings if you look for them – and sometimes you make them yourself by planning another play date.
