March 27, 2025 (CLEVELAND) – Holden Forests & Gardens will recognize reaching its 5-year goal of planting and caring for 15,000 new trees in Northeast Ohio with a special People for Trees Celebration Week! Holden Forests & Gardens celebrates the planting and care of trees every day of the year, but especially during April when spring is in the air. During Arbor Day week (April 21 – 26), HF&G is sharing how we are making an impact through guided tours with our experts, free admission days, talks with our People for Trees volunteers, and more. Join us in a celebration of all things trees. 

ARBOR DAY PHOTOS – COURTESY OF HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS 

“This year’s Arbor Day celebration will be especially meaningful for us as we mark the successful conclusion of our People for Trees campaign,” said Ed Moydell, President and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens. “Reaching our goal is an incredible milestone toward our mission to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, and to inspire action for healthy communities. To celebrate, we invite everyone to join us during People for Trees Celebration Week for a variety of activities, expert-led tours, and hands-on experiences at both campuses. Let’s come together to celebrate trees, nature, and the impact we can make when we work as a community.” 

ABOUT PEOPLE FOR TREES  

Holden Forests & Gardens is proud to announce that the People for Trees campaign has successfully reached its goal of planting 15,000 trees across Northeast Ohio. Launched in 2021 as a movement to empower private landowners to contribute to the reforestation of urban and suburban areas, the campaign garnered widespread support, reinforcing the importance of trees in enhancing air quality, mitigating climate change, and improving overall community well-being. Thousands of individuals joined the campaign by pledging and planting trees, strengthening Northeast Ohio’s urban and suburban forests. Holden Forests & Gardens is grateful for the many partners, donors, and volunteers who have contributed to this initiative. P4T website link. 

TREE TOURS WITH OUR EXPERTS 

Learn more about Holden Forests & Garden’s research, conservation and community forestry work through free guided tours with our experts. It is the perfect way to experience our natural areas in a whole new light. Space is limited, registration required. Tree Tour Registration. 

• Long Science Center Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Dr. Danny Dlugos, Monday, April 21, 10 – 11 a.m., Long Center for Plant and Environmental Science  

The scientists at the Ellen Corning Long and T. Dixon Long Center for Plant and Environmental Science take pride in pioneering the science of plants and trees. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the labs and workspaces where our scientists are pioneering breakthroughs in plant and environmental science and discover HF&G’s work around forest health. Registrants will meet at the Long Center for Plant and Environmental Science. 

• How Global Changes Threaten Biodiversity with Dr. Katie Stuble, Tuesday, April 22, 10 a.m. – noon, Bole Woods  

Hike with Dr. Katie Stuble and learn how HF&G scientists’ study of biodiversity threats – agricultural land use history, invasive species, and deer herbivory – have contributed to the study of global change phenomena. Guests will learn about research conducted in the Arboretum’s Bole Woods, a mature old-growth forest. Registrants will meet at the Long Center for Plant and Environmental Science. 

• Working Woods Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Rebecah Troutman, Wednesday, April 23, 10 – 11 a.m. and Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Working Woods Learning Forest  

The Working Woods Learning Forest is a 67-acre, nationally recognized, publicly accessible demonstration site at the Holden Arboretum. This forest integrates research and outreach to increase understanding of and promote best practices in forest management. Working Woods seeks to empower people to manage, protect, and create resilient forests in Ohio. Registrants will meet at Working Woods parking loop. 

• Spring Phenology with Dr. Katie Stuble, Saturday, April 26, 1 – 2 p.m., Holden Arboretum Wildflower Garden  

Plant phenology is very responsive to environmental cues like temperature, weather, and light availability. Watching the ephemerals and forest canopy can clue us in to important ecosystem changes due to climate change. Learn more about the important data that Dr. Katie Stuble and her team of volunteers have been collecting by monitoring spring leaf out in the forest canopy in relation to the emergence and flowering of spring ephemeral wildflowers in the forest understory. Registrants will meet at the HF&G Welcome Tent in Greensward Lawn. 

• Rhododendron Tour with Connor Ryan, Saturday April 26, 3 – 4 p.m., Holden Arboretum Layer Garden 

Explore one of HF&G’s largest and most beautiful plant collections with Rhododendron Collections Manager Connor Ryan. While strolling through the garden, Connor will share the history of the collection as well as scientific and conservation activities the rhododendron collection supports. He will also talk about the care and use of rhododendrons and related plants in the home garden. Registrants will meet at the HF&G Welcome Tent in Greensward Lawn. 

CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN COMMUNITY DAY – FRIDAY APRIL 25  

Join us for a day of environmental awareness, community engagement, and fun activities in celebration of Arbor Day on Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.! Enjoy FREE admission, giveaways, music, free seedlings for the first 300 households, and more. Join HF&G President & CEO, Ed Moydell and the City of Cleveland for an Arbor Day ceremonial tree planting. Remarks will begin at 1 p.m. in Woodland Hall, followed by the ceremonial planting off East Boulevard. HF&G will also hold a community resource fair from 1 – 8 p.m. with tabling from organizations including Cleveland Playhouse, City Fresh CSA, Environmental Health Watch, Ohio Guidestone and more. Other programming, including Power of Plants and crafts will take place at select times throughout the day. Visit holdenfg.org for a full schedule of events. 

HOLDEN ARBORETUM OPEN HOUSE – SATURDAY APRIL 26  

Immerse yourself in a day of nature exploration, entertainment, and community fun at the Arboretum Open House, with activities running from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.! Join us for FREE admission, a seedling giveaway for the first 500 households, crafts, guided tours (registration required), and talk with our staff experts. Gardeners, we’ll also be hosting a seed swap so bring your seeds to share! This celebration will see the seasonal return of fresh snacks and lunches in our SPICE Catering Grab + Go Café Cooler, and Tram Tours will run throughout the day (tickets can be purchased at Corning Visitor Center). Guests can also enjoy stilt walkers and food trucks while exploring the beauty of the Arboretum. 

FREE ADMISSION – Holden Forests & Gardens is offering free admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden on Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and free admission to the Holden Arboretum on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Bring family, friends, or just yourself to enjoy a day immersed in nature at either campus. Advance tickets are not required. 

SEEDLING GIVEAWAY – Silky Dogwood, Cornus amomum, is an adaptable shrub native to Ohio. Its flowers attract diverse and beneficial pollinators, and its fruit is highly favored by songbirds — it is the perfect plant to add to your home landscape. The seedling giveaway at Cleveland Botanical Garden will take place from 2 – 8 p.m. on Friday, April 25, while supplies last. The Holden Arboretum seedling giveaway is available from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, while supplies last. 

ARBOR DAY OF GIVING – Help us reach this year’s goal of $100,000! Holden Forests & Gardens has made Arbor Day our annual Day of Giving to encourage people to donate in support of educating the next generation of tree stewards and conducting crucial research to slow the rate of biodiversity loss. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, your gift this Arbor Day will go twice as far and have double the impact! Every donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $35,500. Give online today, and it will count towards Holden Forests & Gardens Arbor Day of Giving campaign running through Saturday, April 26. Arbor Day of Giving Information 

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS – Holden Forests & Gardens President & CEO, Ed Moydell is set to take the mound for an exciting ceremonial first pitch at the upcoming Guardians baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at 7:10 p.m. on Arbor Day, April 25. Be sure to tune in and watch as Ed closes our Arbor Day celebration.  

About Holden Forests & Gardens 
Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions — the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden — whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. One of the largest public gardens in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has over 20,000 member households and an annual attendance of over 300,000 for whom we strive to provide inspirational and educational visitor experiences. Holden’s science, conservation and urban forestry work is widely acclaimed and helping to save native trees in the Great Lakes region and beyond. For more information, visit holdenfg.org.