Nature Meditation Guide
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Slow down, look closer, and let nature inspire you with the Nature Meditation Guide—your companion for journaling, drawing, and mindful moments in the landscapes of the Holden Arboretum.
Journaling | Drawing | Creative Writing | Kids | Share Your Work
Journaling & Reflection
The Path You’re On
As you walk a trail, think about where you are in your personal journey. Write a journal entry comparing the path beneath your feet to your path in life.
Garden Gratitude
Choose a spot that makes you smile. Write down five things you’re grateful for, inspired by what you see.
Pull the Weeds
What negative thoughts or resentments are you holding onto? Pull them out, write them down, throw them away.
Leaf Letter
Pick up a fallen leaf. Write a letter to yourself (or someone you’ve lost) using the leaf as inspiration.
Seed of Intention
Find a seed, cone, or nut. Write down an intention you want to grow in your life. Place the object somewhere meaningful as a reminder.
Drawing & Sketching
Stillness Sketches
Find a quiet spot. Pause. Sketch something still in nature. Give it a fitting title.
Petal Close-Up
Choose a flower or leaf. Get really close. Draw just a small part of it—like the curl of a petal or the texture of a leaf vein. What details surprise you?
Pl(ant) Perspectives
Pick a spot in the garden and crouch down low. Sketch what the world might look like if you were only a few inches tall. What’s big? What feels hidden?
Pattern Hunting
Look for repeating shapes in the garden: spirals in flowers, lines on leaves, spots on insects. Make a page of tiny sketches showing five different patterns you find in nature. Which one do you like best?
Creative Writing & Poetry
Mirror Me
Choose a plant, flower, or tree that reflects how you’re feeling today—tired, blooming, messy, grounded, etc.
Weather Words
Let today’s weather set the tone. Is it bright and bold? Soft and gray? Write a piece of weather-inspired short story without using weather words like “rain” or “sun.” Paint the mood.
Personified Plants
Imagine sitting on a bench and having a quiet chat with a tree, flower, or even a butterfly. Write a short dialogue. What wisdom or questions might it share with you?
Tree, My Old Friend
Select a tree that calls to you. Write a short poem to it, as if it were an old friend.
Small-Beauty Haiku
Find a tiny detail that catches your eye—a dew-covered petal perhaps. Write a haiku (5–7–5 syllables) that captures this moment in just a few words.
Just for Kids
make a leaf friend
Find a fallen leaf with a fun shape. Draw a face on it and give it a name! What’s your leaf friend’s favorite thing to do in the forest?
Squirrel Detective
Look for squirrel clues like nuts, nests, or chewed-up pinecones. Draw what you think a squirrel’s home looks like. What would you put in a squirrel’s backpack?
Forest Royalty
Pick up fallen leaves, small twigs, or petals. Make a pretend nature crown. Are you the Forest King, Queen, or Explorer? What’s one rule you’d make for your forest?
Here’s more to explore at Holden Arboretum
Stebbins Gulch
Stebbins Gulch is the crown jewel of the Holden Arboretum’s extensive natural areas, and is one of the most unspoiled natural history preserves in Northeast Ohio. We host guided tours... more
Kalberer Emergent Tower
The Emergent Tower is 120 feet (or approximately 12 stories) tall, which allows for a breathtaking, 360 degree, unrivaled view of the surrounding area. Guest can see all the way... more
Grab + Go Café
Chef Ben Bebenroth of Spice Hospitality Group has created a Grab + Go café featuring delicious, convenient meals in the Holden Arboretum Visitor Center. Satisfying salads, bowls, wraps, and fresh snacks are... more
Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden
Immerse yourself amongst a beautiful plant group as you stroll through the Eliot and Linda Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden. This area hosts three separate vignettes that examine: The Eliot and... more
Birding Guide for Holden Arboretum
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just beginning to explore the world of birds, this guide will help you discover the best spots, seasons, and tips for birding success. more
Buckeye Bud’s Adventure Woods
Buckeye Bud’s Adventure Woods is a wonderfully whimsical playground where kids can hop, jump, and limbo their way through the balance logs, put on a performance at the Nature Theater,... more
Our Gardens
Spanning over 3,600 acres, the Holden Arboretum is a nature lover’s dream. With gardens, trails, lakes and meadows, there is always something new to explore. more
The Most Picturesque Hikes at Holden Arboretum
Explore over 20 miles of trails you won't find anywhere else, including a new natural-surface trail in Pierson Valley. more
Display Garden
A four-season garden planted with a mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs, this garden is home to two of the Arboretum’s most iconic attractions: the Arthur S. Holden Sr.... more
