The Cleveland Cultural gardens, located in Cleveland, Ohio in the area known as Rockefeller Park, contain over 50 acres of gardens divided into individual gardens representing the ethnic communities of the great Cleveland area.
The gardens were created by students and professors of Cleveland State University. The first garden, the British, or Shakespeare Garden, was built in 1916. In 1926, Leo Weidenthal, editor of Jewish Independent, had the idea to make the cultural gardens represent the city's different communities. He wanted people of different nationalities to work together and learn about each other's culture.
Today there are 35 gardens. These include Polish, Slovenian, Czech, Russian, Slovak, Italian, Greek, Lithuanian, German, Hungarian, and Hebrew gardens, amongst others. The newest is the Croatian garden, built in 2011.
When I lived in Cleveland, I enjoyed visiting these gardens. There are lots of fountains, decorative iron work and sculptures.
The gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.
Ault Park, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a little gem that I used to visit a lot when I lived there. It's a 224 acre park in the Hyde Park/Mount Lookout area of Cincinnati.
The gardens were designed by renowned landscape architect, Albert D. Taylor, and named after Levi and Ida Ault who played a big role in developing Cincinnati parks. They were opened to the public on May 30, 1930. The gardens have changed quite a bit through the years. Today, the main attractions are a dahlia garden, and the Hilda Rothchilde Memorial Old Fashioned Rose Garden.
There is also an Italian-style Pavilion located on the grounds, which is a popular site for weddings. The gardens are open year round from 6 AM to 10 PM. Admission is free.
Fellows Riverside Gardens is a free public garden located in Youngstown, Ohio's Mill Creek Park. It covers 12 acres, and includes an assortment of gardens. It is probably best known for its variety of roses. Three of its gardens are dedicated to roses: The Formal Rose Garden, Climbing Rose Allee, and the Rose Garden Terrace. If you wish to see these gardens in full bloom, the best time to go is in June.
Other gardens include the Blue Garden, the shade garden, and the perennial border walk.
If you visit the gardens in the spring, you'll love all the spring flowers. The grounds are planted with 40,000 spring bulbs. You'll see crocus, tulips, narcissus, and other colorful blooms.
Aullwood Park, located in Dayton, Ohio, is a 31-acre park that was donated by Marie Aull to the Five River Metroparks in 1977. It's an historic estate garden with numerous native and exotic flowers.
There are hiking trails through the park that allow you to enjoy all of the beautiful plants. Every season is different. In the spring, you'll see tulips, daffodils, lenten roses, and wildflowers. In May, the Lilac Lawn smells absolutely heavenly. You might even see clematis vines growing in the shrubs. In June, look for the gorgeous peonies. And in July and August, check out the butterfly garden, magic lilies, and begonias.
If you visit the park, take the time to find these attractions: a bur oak tree with the 1913 flood watermark, and a twin sycamore tree that was alive in 1492, when Columbus discovered America.
The gardens are open April 1 - October 31 from 8 am - 10 pm, and November 1 - March 31, from 8 am - 8 pm. Since it's part of a park, admission is free.
