Olbrich Rhapsody in Bloom event to feature Thai Pavilion

This year’s Rhapsody in Bloom event at Olbrich Botanical Gardens will feature the Thai Pavilion and Garden, which was a gift to UW–Madison from the Thai government and the Thai chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

There is a long history of Thai students at the university, with approximately 700 graduates and one of the largest Thai student populations of any U.S. college or university. Olbrich was chosen as the site for the pavilion because of its garden setting near water.

The pavilion, known as a “sala” in Thailand, was crafted in Thailand by Thai artisans and then shipped to Madison and reassembled by the artisans. The pavilion is 40 feet long, 22 feet wide and 30 feet high. A reflecting pool in front of the sala provides a spectacular traditional entrance that accents the pavilion’s lacquer finish and intricate gold etchings.

Olbrich’s horticulture staff have designed a garden to replicate gardens in Thailand, with plants that mimic the form and texture of sub-tropical plants that also grow well in a Wisconsin climate.

There will be food and entertainment, and attendees also can bid on plants in a silent auction. The event will be co-chaired by Chancellor John Wiley and his wife, Georgia. Tickets for the general public go on sale on Tuesday, April 1; tickets for members of the Olbrich Botanical Society became available March 3.

For more information, contact Beth Swanson at 246-5616 or bswanson@cityofmadison.com. Proceeds benefit the Olbrich Botanical Gardens.