09 September 2025 – Tuesday
We toured Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee before meeting a wonderful couple who gave us a tour of their dairy farm, complete with robotic milking machines.
0804 74,362 51°F Gary, Indiana
Leave “Awesome Acres” Harvest Host
It was a peaceful night and a convenient stop. We would definitely stay again if in the area.
1200 74,51 70°F Milwaukee, Wisconsin
One of the first things we noticed was this flower kaleidoscope. Click on the 10 second video above to see through the viewfinder. Did the subject surprise you?
There are peaceful spots for relaxing throughout the gardens.
Clematis Heracleifolia or ‘New Love’ Tube Clematis was one of Beth’s favorite plants here.
Here are a few other blooms she enjoyed.
A children’s garden has colorful sculptures and whimsical structures to keep kids engaged.
Preparations were underway for “China Lights Wisconsin.” We enjoyed seeing the sculptures, but they would be amazing after dark. Here are a few with quotes from the signage along the way.
The mysterious and enchanting Nine-Tail Fox is a legendary creature from Chinese mythology, known for its deception and magical powers. They can be mischievous mythical beings by shapeshifting themselves into a man or woman to deceive people!
The emerald Azure Dragon is one of the revered Dragon Gods that symbolizes growth and renewal. Each Dragon God is on the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. The Azure Dragon represents the director of East and the season of Spring. Its shimmering green scales have blue hues to portray water.
Here are more of the China Lights displays.
My favorite garden planting was this steam engine themed display.
Our last stop was at the trial gardens where new plants are tested to see how they hold up in Wisconsin weather.
1420 Leave Milwaukee
1522 74,557 74°F St. Laurence, Wisconsin
Stone House Dairy – Harvest Host
A wonderful couple gave us a tour of their family farm and let us stay for the night. Here the cows can walk into a robotic machine, on their own, whenever they want to be milked.
The tour started outside where we met some calves. They are fed pasteurized milk from the dairy.
Cows here are artificially inseminated, virtually guaranteeing females. Dairy farms don’t have much use for bulls.
The barn, housing about 200 cows, is as long as a football field including the end zones.
Two of the young men in the family are mechanical engineers.
One of their creative adaptations is this attachment that moves food back within reach of the cows.
First stop on the inside tour was the pasteurization, pumping, and refrigeration area. Milk is tested, cooled, and monitored to insure freshness.
Next up was the control room. Here cows and robots are monitored with cameras and computers. There is also a view into the barn through expansive windows.
Cows wear RFID collars that track their movement and interface with the robotic milking systems. Farmers get a text if a cow isn’t moving normally, is overdue for milking, or if there is a problem with one of the milking robots.
Cows walk up to one of four stalls like this one whenever they want to get milked. The gate opens when the robot is ready to service another customer.
Each robot has space for two cows. Viewed here from the back, we could see the mechanism wash and sterilize the teats before attaching milking hoses. Cows get a food treat when they are done.
These robotic systems were cutting edge when installed nine years ago, but will soon be replaced by new models. It would be fun to return next year to learn about the latest features.
Bedding material is sand instead of hay. Sand is more supportive and cleaner than hay.
Outside we learned that they grow corn, wheat, and soy beans to feed their 500 head of cattle. Crops are planted without plowing up the earth to minimize erosion and soil loss. Once harvested, the grain is “deposited” in a local silo and can be withdrawn when needed. Farmers that only grow crops to sell (vs for feeding their own livestock) are seeing very low prices since China has stopped buying.
We were happy to hear that this dairy has been operated by the Gehring family since 1856. Embracing modern technology and sustainable farming will, hopefully, keep this special farm in the family for many generations to come.
Thank you to the owners (and animals) for taking time to share their amazing farm with us.
We made dinner from fresh eggs and enjoyed mouthwatering plums, pears and apples for several days.
Curious cows kept an eye on us next to our overnight spot.
Good night from Stone House Dairy in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Today’s Route from Indiana to Wisconsin
Leave a Reply