(CLEVELAND) June 4, 2026 – The Cleveland Botanical Garden is in full bloom this summer, offering a season packed with vibrant gardens, exciting new events, family-friendly activities, and special free-admission opportunities. From colorful seasonal displays to unique experiences that connect visitors with the beauty of the natural world, there’s something new to discover with every visit. 

PHOTOS – COURTESY OF HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS 

Summer Nights at the Cleveland Botanical Garden | Thursdays from 6 – 8 p.m. 

Each Thursday from June 11 through August 20, the garden will be open late until 8 p.m. Enjoy the café, glasshouses, your favorite outdoor gardens, and special evening events. Admission is free for Holden Forests & Gardens members. On Thursdays after 5 p.m., visitors enjoy discounted admission: $10.50 for adults and $7.50 for children ages 3 to 12. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at holdenfg.org. 

FREE Admission on select Wade Oval Wednesdays | Wednesday, June 17 & July 15 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. 

Enjoy free admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden on Wednesday, June 17 and July 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. as part of University Circle Inc.’s WOW! Wade Oval Wednesdays. Guests are invited to enter through the Kohl Gate, located off Wade Oval, and take a relaxing stroll through the lush outdoor gardens during these extended evening hours. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the beauty of the gardens in full summer splendor, free of charge, while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Wade Oval’s weekly summer celebration. 

Gourmets at the Garden | Select Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  

The 2026 Gourmets at the Garden series will highlight summertime favorites featuring local chefs in the Cleveland area. Guests are invited to enjoy sample bite-sized portions from their favorite chefs and learn how to make great dishes at home with local ingredients. 

• June 18: Spice Catering 

• July 9: Chef Bianca Beach from Llamacita Foods 

• July 30: Chef Eric Wells from Skye LaRae’s 

• August 20: Chef Ryan Boone from Shooters 

Price: $15 per member, $25 per nonmember. Ticket includes admission to the indoor and outdoor gardens. Registration is required. Gourmets at the Garden Registration. 

Tunes on the Terrace with RockAbility | Thursday, July 2 from 6 – 8 p.m. 

Join us as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday with an evening of music, food, creativity, and community. Guests can enjoy a live performance by RockAbility, whose energetic blend of classic rock favorites will provide the soundtrack for this patriotic celebration set among the beauty of the Garden. The festivities will also feature an American-inspired food station from Spice Catering and themed craft to commemorate this historic milestone. 

Gardens Alive! 

Beginning in June, a different garden area or signature flower takes center stage at its seasonal peak. Visitors can explore immersive garden moments, hands-on activities, special photo opportunities, and fresh ways to engage with the landscapes you love. 

• June – Roses: Classic, elegant and oh so fragrant. From the Western Reserve Herb Society’s historic collection to our curated Sears-Swetland Rose Garden, June is the best time to catch these iconic blooms. 

• All month-long, guests named “Rose” or with “Rose” in their first, middle, or last name will receive free admission. Limited to one time use. 

• July – Daylilies: Bright, eye-catching, and the technicolored wonder of your summer garden.  

• All month-long, guests named “Lily” or with “Lily” in their first, middle, or last name will receive free admission. Limited to one time use. 

• Join us Saturday, July 11 from noon – 4 p.m. for the Northeast Ohio Daylily Society’s Show. A variety of beautiful daylilies to be displayed in a judged show! 

• August – Hershey Children’s Garden: Explore this lush oasis of diverse plants and wildlife.  

Five Senses Garden Exhibit | Open now through September 7 

The Five Senses garden exhibit immerses visitors in sight, sound, smell, touch, taste—and even a “sixth sense.” Guests can enjoy wind and plant music at Gateway, explore human and ecological connections in the Biomes, and experience therapeutic horticulture in the Allee and Restorative Gardens. Vibrant displays in the Rose Garden and quiet reflection in Woodland Garden deepen engagement with nature. 

Ikebana International Cleveland Chapter on Display 

Witness the Ikebana art form presented by the Ikebana International Cleveland Chapter. A rotating arrangement emphasizing movement and balance will be on display every weekend beginning May 22. 

PROGRAMS & EXPERIENCES: 

Garden Highlights Tours | Select Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

Join us for a guided tour of our blooming gardens! Every garden at the Cleveland Botanical Garden is intentionally designed to move beyond beauty by connecting people to plants through conservation, education, and meaningful experiences. Each tour will highlight our history and collections while wandering through a changing tapestry of seasonal delights. Cost: $7 per member, $22 per nonmember. Includes admission to the gardens before and after the tour. Visit holdenfg.org for available dates. Registration encouraged. Garden Highlights Tours Registration. 

Essential Herb Garden Experiences | Select Tuesdays from 11 – 11:30 a.m. 

Members of the Western Reserve Herb Society have lovingly maintained the Herb Garden since 1969 and are excited to share their expertise! Join us in the garden on select Tuesdays for a 30-minute talk about herbs and flowers grown in the garden, their cultivation, and uses in food and crafts. 

• June 16: Historic Roses 

• July 7: Savory Herbs 

• August 11: Lavender 

• August 25: Sweet Herbs 

• September 8: Harvesting and Drying Herbs and Flowers 

Admission to Essential Herb Garden Experiences is included with general admission for nonmembers and complimentary for members. No registration is required.  

Artful Abstractions: Photographing the Garden Using Special Camera Techniques 

Join photographer Debbie DiCarlo on Sunday, July 12 from 8 a.m. – noon, to learn creative camera tricks to turn everyday flora and nature scenes into artistic masterpieces. After a lecture on techniques and settings, we will head into the gardens to create compelling abstract and artful photographs by focusing on the colors, shapes, and textures of the garden. 

Cost $60 per member, $100 per nonmember. Artful Abstractions Registration. 

Pressed Flower Crafts with the Western Reserve Herb Society 

For generations, gardeners and artists around the world have pressed flowers to capture their beauty, color, and structure. On Thursday, July 16 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., attendees will learn several methods for preserving flowers and plants. All participants will create three pressed flower notecards and one bookmark to take home. Cost: $12 per member, $27 per nonmember. Pressed Flower Crafts with the Western Reserve Herb Society Registration. 

think[box] x Cleveland Botanical Garden: DIY Flower Press 

Join us on Saturday, July 18 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., for a program where crafting meets nature! Participants will design and create their own wooden flower press using laser cutting technology, then learn how to preserve beautiful seasonal blooms. During this guided session, guests will assemble a custom flower press to take home. Cost: Free for members, $22 per nonmember adult, $15 per nonmember child. DIY Flower Press Registration. 

Programming in the Hershey Children’s Garden:  

Young visitors are encouraged to participate in fun and enriching programming in the Hershey Children’s Garden all summer long. Check out this summer’s Hershey Children’s Garden daily programming starting Tuesday, June 2:  

• Story Time, Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Swing by the treehouse for a Story Time adventure! Each month brings a brand-new theme. 

• Pot a Seed, Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 2:30 – 4 p.m.: In this activity, kiddos discover the secrets to happy plants, then they’ll plant their very own seeds to take home. 

• A Ponderful Life, Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 – 4 p.m. & Saturdays 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Kids will dive into the wacky world of amphibians and creepy-crawly macro-invertebrates in the Hershey Children’s Garden Pond, uncovering their life cycles like little nature detectives.  

• Art in the Garden, Wednesdays & Fridays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Kids will get to unleash their inner creativity with some fabulous garden/nature-themed crafting and artistic fun!  

• Bugs in the Garden, Wednesdays & Fridays from 2:30 – 4 p.m.: Grab your trusty spoon and jar and join our mission to discover, study, and admire the little critters that make this place their home. Just remember, it’s a catch-and-release party! 

• Turtle Time, Saturday & Sunday from 2:30 – 4 p.m.: Swing by and hang out with our buddy, the box turtle, and maybe even serve them a tasty turtle treat. 

Visit holdenfg.org for times and availability for programming in the Hersey Children’s Garden. 

Fairy Tea | Sunday, August 16 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 

Immerse yourself in the magical world of fairies on Sunday, August 16 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Fairy Tea. During this magical morning, children will have the opportunity to explore the Hershey Children’s Garden, make a nature-themed fairy wand, enjoy a light “tea”, and make a teacup planter to take home, all in the company of our garden fairies. This program is suited for any children 3+. Children under the age of 3 are free with an accompanying adult/child ticket. Visit holdenfg.org for updates. 

Fit & Florals: Ladies Night | Tuesday, July 14 from 6 – 9 p.m. 

Join us for a night of self-care, connection, and unbeatable summer energy! You’ll have the option to get your sweat on with Zumba with Island Beats or Pilates with Pilates Repertoire. Then finish the night off with an enchanting sound bath by Forest Empress Tarot and complimentary experience stations—all while shopping from our favorite local businesses! This event is in collaboration with Beauty Boost Cleveland. Cost: $35 per person. Registration for Fit & Florals Ladies Night. 

Poetry Unplugged: An Open Mic Experience | Thursday, July 23 from 6 – 9 p.m. 

Come out and get active for another excellent night of poetry and artistry. Join us on Thursday, July 23 from 6 – 9 p.m., for a night of amazing talent, awesome surprises, and beautiful performances. Bring your poems, raps, songs, monologues, and even your bits for stand up! Cost: $20 per person. Registration for Poetry Unplugged. 

Line Dancing with Linedance is My Therapy | Friday, August 14 from 6 – 9 p.m. 

Kick up your heels for a night of lively outdoor line dancing.  On Friday, August 14 from 6 – 9 p.m., experience the joy of movement with Linedance Is My Therapy, hosted on the outdoor terrace at Cleveland Botanical Garden. Before or after the dancing begins, wander through lush indoor displays and scenic outdoor gardens for a truly unforgettable evening. Cost: $20 per member, $25 per nonmember. Line Dancing with Linedance is My Therapy Registration. 

Art on Display 

Birdsong – Multiple Artists, on display through July 5 
Birdsong is a vibrant, community‑driven public art experience that brings creativity into unexpected places. More than 150 hand‑painted bird sculptures, created by local artists, were originally displayed throughout the trees of downtown Hudson, Ohio, and are now on display at Cleveland Botanical Garden. 

Brian Asquith, on display through September 20 
Inspired by a childhood fascination with nature—examining insects, stones, and tide pools— Brian Asquith’s work reflects an early, unfulfilled dream of becoming an entomologist. The watercolor paintings are often based on real specimens, with selective use of heightened or imaginative color to intensify visual impact.  

Planet Joy – Multiple Artists, on display through July 5 
Planet Joy is a collaborative art studio that encourages adults with developmental differences to explore their imagination and creativity through the arts. Planet Joy features art and expression of all kinds: painting, drawing, sewing, silk screening, art installation, etc.  

Kenneth Marunowski, on display July 11 – August 16 

Inspired by the vibrant colors, textures, and forms found in the botanical world, Kenneth Marunowski’s The Garden of Painterly Delights presents a series of large-scale abstract paintings that evoke the sensory richness of a garden in bloom.  

Glass Asylum, on display July 11 – Sept 7 

Enter a world of stunning glass botanicals. Created by Christopher Crimaldi, Bloomin’ Glass Botanicals will be featured in the Terrace Pool. Created with a combination of vibrant glass blown pieces and raw steel, Crimaldi’s work is inspired by the simplicity and delicacy of the timeless rose. 

Rebecca Cross, on display August 20 – Sept 20 

Rebecca Cross works primarily in silk and paper, exploring themes of memory through delicate, transformed materials. Her creative practice is informed by literature, poetry, music, fiber and dye processes, and experiences in the natural world. 

SUMMER HOURS  

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exceptions of Thursdays when we are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission before 5 p.m. is $21 per adult and $15 per child ages three to 12 (free for children two and under). On Thursdays after 5 p.m., enjoy half-price discounted admission: $10.50 for adults and $7.50 for children ages three to 12. Admission is free for Holden Forests & Gardens members.