Our recent rain and sunshine has helped gardens grow all over western Wisconsin, and one Marathon County couple is gearing up to have thousands of people come to see what's growing in theirs.

In this Wandering Wisconsin, we go just north of Marshfield, where their gorgeous garden is tucked back in the woods.

Sarah: The creators of Foxfire Botanical Gardens put thought into every stone, every tree and every plant and they hope when you visit you find inspiration in every step.

"They say that if you build your garden correctly, that it will lead you around," Steve Schulte and his wife Linda have been building this garden for 24 years. It's a path he never imagined their retirement would take.

"They should have enough mystery that it beckons you to see what's beyond the curve."

The beauty of the botany beckoned this former large animal vet to begin his new adventure, one plant, tree and even lake at a time.

"Eventually it developed into 15 acres of pretty intensely landscaped gardens here."

Now his backyard is a big attraction, with 10 to 15,000 visitors every year.

Schulte adds, "we would do this if no one came. They call that divine madness."

"Our gardens are our passion and everyone has that type of thing. If you can bring that to light and have that released in people we'd have a much better world," he adds.

And in his world, hostas are a hot topic.

Pretty soon you won't see the ground as they get growing.

"We have 1,200 varieties now."

Steve has 25 of his own Foxfire hostas on record, and another 20 varieties he may record. He's even exploring patents for some of his hybrids.

"Turned into a nice magnet a lot of 'hostaphiles' come here."

Hostas are just part of the puzzle in this picturesque place.

"The gardens we describe them as natural, somewhat akin to Japanese or Oriental gardens but not strictly so."

"You don't have geometric beds with annuals. It's about more subdued, browns and greens and beiges, more subtle beauty, you have to search for, we've had some people walk in and ask where the flowers were and be disappointed."

But he says it doesn't take bright colors to have a spiritual experience out here.

He says oftentimes people looking for peace or hope visit from the nearby Marshfield Hospital.

"There are certain places in this garden where you can relax and tune into what we have lost in the concrete canyons where we live."

"I just encourage people to reach inside and when you find that spark of divine madness, go for it, let it out, that is what makes life worth living. Seeing it evolve and seeing the appreciation and validation has been inspirational to me."

Foxfire Botanical Gardens opens to the public May 1, but Steve and Linda Schulte say in about a month, things will really be greened up and in full bloom.

The Schulte's decided long ago not to charge anyone to come to the garden. It's open every single day from May 1 until October 1 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It's one of only 5 National Botanical Gardens in Wisconsin, and is a National Display Garden for the Hosta Society.

Schulte says the name of the garden came from the foxfire gases that occur over the marsh next to the garden.

To get directions and more information, click here.