Hot and sticky weather arrived this week!  This week I teamed with Angelica Vasilatos, Ferry Foundation curation intern at the Botanical Garden, to detail what’s poppin’ in Kirtland and Cleveland. 

Holden Arboretum

Lots of things are happening right now and I suggest you walk to several different areas this week to maximum your flower viewing.  While the mountain laurel is still blooming in the June Room, it’s slightly past peak. The bubble-gum pink blooms of hardy orchid, Blettia striata, which forms large colonies as it ages, is showing proudly in front of the Corning visitor center and in the display garden.

Walk down the allée and you’ll see martagon lilies, Lilium ‘Claude Shride’, on both sides. 

As you cross the bridge into the Logsdon Pond area, look across the water and you’ll see a brilliant pink Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) sold under the trade name Scarlet Fire.

Finally, as you round back to the parking area, be sure to stop near the picnic shelter to see the deep burgundy blooms of Carolina allspice, Calycanthus floridus.  

-Tom Arbour

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Everyone always says, “April showers bring May flowers,” but June flowers deserve their own recognition! The recent combination of rain and sun has cast a rainbow of flowers at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. As summer officially approaches, let’s take a look at some of our warm-weather favorites. 

Red begonias pepper our Art Garden with their shockingly bright petals and intricate, asymmetrical leaves. Each begonia variety in this garden has something that makes it unique, whether that’s differences in leaves, flowers, or overall form! 

Purple blue flag and Japanese irises finish out the rainbow in the Woodland and Japanese Gardens. Irises are an important plant in Japanese culture, symbolizing strength and resilience.  

Yellow daylilies are starting to pop! Like bright shooting stars, they can’t help but attract your attention. Each open bloom only lasts one day, but this plant has an overall blooming period from weeks to months, so be sure to come see these beauties this summer. 

Orange roses bring variety to the pink and red hues in the Rose Garden. Roses of different colors have different meanings, and orange ones traditionally symbolize enthusiasm, pride, and gratitude. 

Rain or shine, come celebrate the summer solstice with Holden Forests & Gardens.  

-Angelica Vasilatos