Holden Arboretum is one of the best places to enjoy Northeast Ohio’s brief but beautiful spring. Delicate seasonal ephemeral flowers are emerging, trees are budding and native perennials are popping up along trails and flower beds.
From onsite experiences to classes and events, spring comes to life at Holden Arboretum. The Arboretum hours are Tuesday- Sunday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Here are the spring highlights:
MURCH CANOPY WALK & KALBERER EMERGENT TOWER: One of the top outdoor attractions in Northeast Ohio is back. The Emergent Tower is 120 feet or approximately 12 stories tall and provides a breathtaking view of the surrounding area all the way to Lake Erie. The Murch Canopy Walk invites guests on a 500-foot-long elevated walkway that is built 65 feet above the forest floor. This immersive experience takes guests in and out of the forest canopy to experience everything from the middle of a mature forest to a raised view of streams and the forest floor.
FREE ADMISSION DAY Friday, April 28 – ARBOR DAY 2023: Celebrate trees with one of the best-living museums in the country on Arbor Day. Enjoy free admission to the arboretum (and the Cleveland Botanical Garden) and a free tree seedling giveaway while supplies last.
OPENING Saturday, May 27 – Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO® Bricks: Nature Connects will feature more than a dozen towering creations that will pop out of garden and trail landscapes creating a magical new world at the arboretum. Nature Connects opens Saturday, May 27 through September 4. Tickets will be available for purchase in advance beginning in May at holdenfg.org.
Spring Blossoms Tour at the Best Unknown Garden in The Land (Leach Research Station) On Sunday, May 14 and Saturday, May 27, 10-11:30 a.m. Join Connor Ryan, Rhododendron Collections Manager for an exclusive look at one of the best Rhododendron collections in the world. Much of our plant breeding work takes place at the David G Leach Research Station, a 30-acre facility in Madison, Ohio that is only open to the public a few times a year. Cost: $20 per member, $35 per nonmember.
Rhododendron Walking Tours. Wednesday, May 24 from 3:30-5 p.m. Experience Rhododendrons in the best way possible at the Holden Arboretum with a walking tour. Cost: $10 per member, $25 per nonmember.
TRAM TOURS: Starting in May, 45- minute Tram Tours will give guests an overview of the campus and gardens, with a focus on seasonal highlights. You may also learn a little history and information about the scientific work that happens behind the scenes.
GET GROWING WITH SPRING CLASSES
UPCYCLING FOR THE EARTH! On Saturday, April 8, 9-11 a.m. Celebrate Earth Day early by starting seeds sustainably. Children and their guardians will experience the fun of upcycling in the garden with creative containers that are usually thrown away. Participants will leave with five different seed starts, fertilizer, and an at-home germination experiment. You are welcome to bring your own plastic or carton containers to upcycle, as long as they are at least 2-3” deep and thoroughly cleaned (no metal cans). Cost: $25 per member, $40 per nonmember ($15 per additional child). Registration Link Here
ARBORETUM BOOK CLUB: Wednesday, April 19, 3-4 p.m. Discuss books that open a window to the great outdoors. It’s free with admission and open to anyone who read the book, but please register in advance for the session you will be attending. Please leave small children at home, but older ones with an interest in the topic may attend, especially if they’ve read the book with you. Didn’t quite finish the book? As long as you don’t mind spoilers, come anyways and discuss the bits you got to. Cost: included with admission. Registration Link Here
HOME-SCALE COMPOST: FROM NO YARD TO HUGE YARD
Thursday, April 20 1-4 p.m. Learn how you can make a difference through composting. Intentionally composting accelerates the natural process of the breakdown of organic matter. Composting reduces landfill waste, saves you from using chemical fertilizers, and introduces beneficial organisms to your soil. Cost: $35 per member, $50 per nonmember.
LETTUCE PLANT A GARDEN
Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 10-11 a.m. Growing a garden is a great way to celebrate the Earth. Enjoy a morning of seed starting with your family. We’ll share a story, paint a pot, and sow some lettuce seeds to take home. All materials provided. Cost: $20 per member, $35 per non-member
(Price includes 1 child & 1 adult, $15 per additional child)
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO PLANTING TREES
Thursday, April 27 from 1-3 p.m. Register for a class to learn how to plant and care for a tree of your own, Planting a tree is one of the most important things we can do to combat the effects of climate change in Northeast Ohio. Cost: $25 per member, $40 per non-member
About the Holden Arboretum and Holden Forests & Gardens
The Holden Arboretum, located east of Cleveland in Kirtland, Ohio, sprawls over an enchanting expanse of land in Lake and Geauga Counties and offers gardens, trails, lakes, and meadows. The Holden Arboretum is part of Holden Forests & Gardens along with the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland’s University Circle cultural district. Holden Forests & Gardens is making a positive impact through urban greening and forestry initiatives, environmental research, educational programs, and world-class visitor experiences at its two campuses. For more information, visit holdenfg.org.
