Garden train show coming back to the Domes

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Railroad to Wonderland, a garden train show at the Domes, opens January 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show runs daily through March 18.

“What makes producing the garden train show so much fun is seeing its cross-generational appeal,” said Sandy Folaron, Director of The Domes. “Our visitors range from the toddlers thrilled with Thomas the Tank Engine to folks with years of experience creating their own train layouts in the basement or garden.”

Fifteen scenes will highlight chapters from the books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Just like Alice, the plants vary in size, from miniature to larger-than-life. Included in the brilliantly colored landscape will be red and white miniature tree-form azaleas, multicolored ‘Total Madness’ Petunias, purple and white ‘Whiskers’ Pansies, and bright orange ‘Dynamite’ Cyphea. At the opposite end of the scale will be two giant-sized topiaries shaped as flamingoes, with plumage represented by ‘Pink Splash’ Hypoestes. Favorite scenes are sure to be the miniature castle, complete with the Queen’s Croquet-Ground, and the life-sized tea party.

In 2017, nearly 78,000 people attended the garden train show, making it the most popular show of the year.

Volunteers from three state-wide train clubs, WI Garden Railroad, Kenosha Railroad and Wisconsin Illinois Train Club, will run their collectible trains daily.

There will be extended hours on Thursdays until 9 p.m.