Chadwick Arboretum

The Chadwick Arboretum, in Columbus, Ohio, is a 60 acre arboretum on the campus of Ohio State University. Its mission is to provide an educational environment for students' horticultural studies as well as be a resource of learning for the general public.

The gardens began in 1888.  At that time, the Columbus Horticultural Society tended them on campus.  They were called the Horticultural Gardens.  In 1926, the gardens were opened to the public.  In 1980, the gardens were renamed as the Chadwick Arboretum, in honor of Dr. Lewis C. Chadwick, a professor at the university.

Today, the gardens contain a large selection of Ohio plants, tropical plants, wildflowers, and woody plants.  It represents one of the most varied collections of plants in the state. 

The Learning Gardens are the most visited section of the arboretum.  These are a collection of twelve gardens, which include the Easy Elegance Rose Garden, the Katherine F. Fosser Wildflower Garden, the Gazebo Garden, and the Bamboo Garden.

The gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk.  Admission is free.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Stan Hywet Hall and gardens, located in Akron, Ohio, is one of my favorite places to visit.  It was originally the vast estate of the Seiberling family, founders of the Good Year Tire Company.  The estate originally covered more than 3,000 acres.  Now it covers 70 acres.
  
The gardens were designed between 1912  and 1915 by the famous American landscape architect, Warren Manning.  The gardens are divided into ten sections:  The English Garden (Gertrude Seiberling's favorite), Birch Allee Vista, The Dell, Grape Arbor, Great Meadow, Japanese Garden, Lagoon, West Terrace, the Great Garden, and the Breakfast Room Garden.  My personal favorite is the Breakfast Room Garden.  With its blue, white, and gold color scheme and lovely fountain, it compliments the Breakfast room of the manor perfectly.



 The gardens open April 1st and remain open through December.  Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am - 6 pm.  Admission for non-members is $8.00 per person.

Toledo Botanical Gardens

Located in Toledo, Ohio, the Toledo Botanical gardens is a collection of eighteen gardens that covers over twenty acres.  Featured gardens include the azalea garden (pictured above), an herb garden, cottage garden, rose garden, perennial garden, green garden, and my favorite, the Pioneer garden.



The Pioneer garden is a small garden that is dedicated to northwest Ohio's first settlers.  It features a log cabin that belonged to Peter Navarre, a well-known frontiersman.  It has been said that Johnny Appleseed himself planted the large apple tree that stands near the cabin.  The garden contains a variety of heirloom flowers and vegetables.

  
The gardens are free and open to the public year round.

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

The Cleveland Botanical Gardens are the nation's oldest  gardens.  They were started in 1930, and cover over seven and a half acres.

The gardens include the Hershey's Children's Garden, which is the first public children's garden of Ohio.  It features a tree house, cave, dwarf forest, and herb garden.

The Japanese garden features a dry cascade with ornamental grasses, evergreens, and rock forms.

The Mary Ann Sears Swetland rose garden is especially beautiful.  It features over 50 varieties of roses.

The gardens are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5, and Sunday from 12-5.

Franklin Park Conservatory

The Franklin Park Conservatory, located in Columbus, Ohio, was built in 1895.  It houses over 400 species of plants and features a Victorian Palm house with more than forty different kinds of palms.

Throughout the year, there are many special displays.  One of the prettiest is the Victorian Garden Orchid display, held during winter months.  You can see hundreds of orchids and learn about how they were cultivated during Victorian times.

The Conservatory is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.  Admission is $11.00 per adults, and $6.00 for children.

Christmas Cactus

Some of you may have gotten a Christmas cactus over the holidays. I figure this is a good time to tell you a little about the plant, and to give some tips about how to care for it.

The Christmas cactus, or Schlumbergera, is native to the mountains of south-eastern Brazil.  It likes shade and high humidity.  It can be recognized by its leaf-like pads and pink flowers which flower only around Thanksgiving or Christmas (hence the name).

Here are some tips for caring for your Christmas cactus:

1.  Keep away from direct sunlight, drafts, heat vents, or fireplaces.

2.  Provide a source of humidity.  You can put a tray of water next to the plant, so that the water evaporates and provides humidity.

3.  Do not  overwater.  Once a week should be enough.  And if you can, don't water from the top.  It is best to put the plant in a tray of water and allow water to seep through holes in the bottom of the container.

4.  Prune your cactus one month after blooming.  

Before I go, I'd like to thank those of you who voted for my book, Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China in the cover contest. I appreciate it! There's one more day to vote in round two. If you'd like, please follow this link to vote for it:  

Krohn Conservatory

Krohn Conservatory is located in Cincinnati, Ohio.  It houses over 3,500 plant species from all over the world.  Inside, you can find a replica of a rainforest, a desert, and a conservatory with a beautiful collection of orchids. One of my kids' favorite seasonal displays is the Butterfly Show held from mid-April to June.  The Christmas display is also very nice.  Hours are from 10-5 PM. Cost of admission is $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for children.

Before I go, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I'd also like to let you know that my book, Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China is in a cover contest for the month of January. If you'd like to vote for it, here's the link.