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April 17, 2025
It’s Poppin’: April 17
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
Tulips, Magnolias, & Wildflowers Shine Blue Skies returned to northeast Ohio this week and many new blooms, lying in wait for the last several weeks, have popped. Wildflowers are now... more
April 10, 2025
It’s Poppin’: April 10
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
We had some very cold temperatures this week, and while those put a damper on some of our early blooming trees, including our earliest blooming magnolias, there are still many... more
April 3, 2025
It’s Poppin’: April 3
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
Things are poppin’! Here’s a quick roundup of the highlights this week! At the garden, magnolias, cherries and daffodils are all at peak. Look for the following: At the Arboretum,... more
March 27, 2025
It’s Poppin’: March 27
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
While it’s been cold, things are still poppin’ at the Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Things have slowed down this week after very warm temperatures last week. That’s... more
March 21, 2025
It’s Poppin’: March 21
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
Welcome to spring! The equinox is here, spring has officially arrived. With the warm temperatures this past week, things have been happening fast. Daffodils are blooming, the dwarf Irises are... more
March 13, 2025
It’s Poppin’: Spring 2025 has Arrived
Welcome to It’s Poppin’, 2025. This is the third year for this series- we hope you follow along as we explore our beautiful gardens over the next months. We’ll write... more
March 12, 2025
Lawn Alternatives for Shady Sites
By MaryAnn Thesing, Horticulturist
Beech Knoll is an untapped area of the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden. It is a quiet retreat which lends itself to meditation. Soon after my arrival at HF&G, my... more
February 24, 2025
The Power of Plant Records: How Tracking Plants Helps Save Species
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
If a plant has ever died in your care, you’re in good company. It turns out that even in the world’s botanical gardens, managed by full-time professionals, plants don’t live... more
January 30, 2025
Witch Hazel: The Unexpected Beauty of Winter
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
When you hear “witch hazel” (sometimes spelled witch-hazel), you might think of the ingredient that is commonly used as an astringent in cosmetics and an antiseptic in topical ointments. But... more
January 8, 2025
Holden’s Wildflower Garden Is a Living Laboratory for Climate Change Research—Here’s What Our Researchers Have Learned
Public gardens like the Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Botanical Garden are great places to visit. But patrons exploring the latest Frost event might miss that behind the scenes, these... more
August 30, 2024
Fall Color Arrives in Northeast Ohio
By Ethan Johnson, Plant Records Curator
A significant number of trees and shrubs have been sporting fall foliage in recent weeks in the fields and gardens of the Holden Arboretum. Tupelo, red maple, Manchurian ash, silky... more
August 2, 2024
It’s Poppin’: August 2nd
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
Don’t let the August heat keep you from enjoying summer— cool off in the shady, forested gardens at the arboretum, or bring a little one to splash in the Hershey... more
July 31, 2024
The Strange and Astonishing Strangler Fig
By Sadie Smith, Horticulturist
If you’ve ever walked through the Costa Rica biome, you’ve probably noticed the enormous tree in the center of the room. While not a living tree, this structure is a... more
July 19, 2024
It’s Poppin’: July 19th
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
It’s mid-July and the summer wildflowers are putting on the type of show you dream about in the dead of winter. Treat yourself this weekend and come get inspired by... more
July 12, 2024
It’s Poppin’: July 12th
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
The prairies are poppin’ at the Arboretum and the Roses are still blooming in the Garden – Here’s a sampling of what I observed this week as I visited our... more
July 5, 2024
It’s Poppin’: July 5th
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
Our plants aren’t big fireworks fans, but thankfully they aren’t scared of them either. The warm summer days and a bit of rain were enjoyed thoroughly this week. There’s an... more
June 28, 2024
It’s Poppin’: June 28th
By Ethan Johnson, Plant Records Curator
Awaking in the cool of the morning to the sound of birds chirping it is time to get to Holden Forests and Gardens. Flowers are poppin’ and monarch butterflies have... more
June 21, 2024
It’s Poppin’: June 21st
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
Is it June in Ohio, or August in Florida? It’s been incredibly hot and humid lately, but don’t let that stop you from coming out to see what’s poppin’—we have... more
June 14, 2024
It’s Poppin’: June 14th
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
It’s about to get very hot in Cleveland! This will be a great weekend to join both campuses before the heat of summer strikes us next week. Cleveland Botanical Garden... more
June 7, 2024
It’s Poppin’: June 7th
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
June sometimes feels like a lull between the spring wildflowers that we eagerly anticipate in April and May and the bold, colorful blooms of mid-summer. This week, let’s take a... more
May 24, 2024
It’s Poppin’: May 24th
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
The unseasonably high temperatures this week have been a clear reminder that summer is right around the corner. Between grilling, chilling, swimming, or any other Memorial Day weekend activities you... more
May 17, 2024
It’s Poppin’: May 17th
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
Holden Arboretum While the rhododendrons and azaleas as still the show, I’ll start this week by showing you several of our late spring bloomers that are opening now in the... more
May 10, 2024
It’s Poppin’: May 10th
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
Calling all azalea admirers! This is the weekend to visit the Holden Arboretum or the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Our azaleas are in their prime and boasting an excellent display this... more
May 9, 2024
It’s Poppin’: Leach Research Station
By Kara Grady, Conservation Horticulture Assistant, NOWCorps
It’s spring, which means that plants are popping at the David G. Leach Research Station! Home to Holden’s premiere rhododendron and azalea collection, our site near the shore of Lake... more
May 3, 2024
It’s Poppin’: May 3rd
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
Does it feel like summer yet? We sure have had a run of warm weather, and this has jump started our blooms. At the botanical garden, the trees are looking... more
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