May: Wildflowers at Holden Arboretum
Meet Dawn, one of our expert horticulturists and caretaker of the Wildflower Garden at the Arboretum.
Dawn Gerlica
Senior Horticulturist – Holden Arboretum
“Wildflowers – how can you go wrong? The Ohio native plants have been here since before European settlement, they’ve survived the changing seasons and have evolved with the local wildlife – it’s all connected. Just find species from a habitat that most closely matches your conditions whether that is swampy, sandy, sunny, or shady – plant them and watch them grow. The ecology will thank you.”
May: Rhododendron at Cleveland Botanical Garden
Meet David, caretaker of the Woodland Garden and Sunken Garden. These two spaces are home to many of our rhododendron collections at Cleveland Botanical Garden.
David Christe
Horticulturist – Cleveland Botanical Garden
“The genus Rhododendron is large with over 1000 species found all over the world. Of the native Rhododendron, R. maximum lives up to its name with its large evergreen leaves and big, beautiful blooms in late spring. And in winter if its leaves are curled and pointed down, you know that it is time to break out the winter coat. Although most species tend to be associated with wooded slopes and acidic soils, some are found on limestone soils, including one of my favorites, R. prinophyllum, making them the perfect addition to gardens with sweeter soils.”
