(CLEVELAND) March 10, 2026 – Experience Spring as it is meant to be enjoyed at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Immerse yourself in blooming gardens, welcome the return of butterflies in the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, attend popular events like the annual Spring Egg Hunt and more. The Botanical Garden hours are Tuesdays – Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday noon – 5 p.m. The first official day of the spring season is Friday, March 20, 2026. 

PHOTOS – COURTESY OF HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS 

RETURN OF THE BUTTERFLIES 

Beginning Wednesday, April 1, a fan favorite returns with a burst of color: Return of the Butterflies at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Step into the Costa Rica biome and surround yourself with hundreds of newly emerged tropical butterflies. Watch as they flutter through the glasshouse, sip nectar from vibrant blooms, and bring the entire space to life with motion and color. New this year, visitors can now partake in twice daily butterfly releases at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday. Releases on Sunday will be at 2 p.m. only. Included with general admission. Registration not required. 

TULIP TIME IN THE ALLEE 

This spring, guests can step into a touch of the Netherlands as thousands of vibrant tulips transform the Allee into a Dutch-inspired landscape. Beginning April 7, the tulip display will feature charming mini windmills and thoughtfully fabricated Dutch-inspired elements woven throughout the beds, creating a colorful celebration of the season. Interpretive signage will share how tulips brave winter’s chill to become one of spring’s earliest and most beloved blooms. During Tons of Tulips (April 10–11 and 17–18), families can dive deeper into the story of these resilient flowers and even create a tulip painting to welcome the season in the Hershey Children’s Garden. 

SPRING EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES 

SHELL-ABRATION: TORTOISES TURN 50 

Two of the Botanical Garden’s beloved tortoises will celebrate a remarkable milestone, turning 50 years old! The golden birthday festivities culminate in a special party on Saturday, May 30, with family-friendly programming offered on weekends throughout May leading up to the big day. Guests can join a self-guided scavenger hunt, create tortoise- and turtle-themed crafts, and purchase limited-edition 50th anniversary merchandise. The celebration will also feature interactive Creature Feature experiences, including a special “spa day” enrichment for the tortoises and a festive birthday cake honoring five decades of these extraordinary residents inspiring conservation and curiosity. 

MIDWEST CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY SALE & SHOW on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12. Shop a wide variety of cacti and succulents from a selection of local vendors for this highly anticipated sale of the year. Please note that this event fills up fast! Included with general admission, registration is not required. Select vendors accept credit card; cash and check preferred. 

RETURN OF HERSHEY CHILDREN’S GARDEN SEASONAL PROGRAMMING 

Help your child disconnect from technology and discover the wonders of nature. The Hershey Children’s Garden features an ADA-accessible treehouse and pathway throughout the garden, as well as immersive hands-on activities like making mud pies and searching for insects and arthropods in our lush foliage. Beginning April 10, the Hershey Children’s Garden will offer a variety of hands-on activities for littles each Friday & Saturday through May from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 – 4 p.m. 

• Tons of Tulips: April 10 – 11 & 17 – 18.  Learn about tulips and how they brave the cold of winter to bring in the spring and make a beautiful tulip painting for someone special.  

• Caterpillar Craze: April 24 – 25 & May 1 – 2. Come learn about caterpillars and their journey to become butterflies, then make a caterpillar friend to take home with you.   

• Shell Stars: May 8 – 9, 15 – 16 & 22 – 23. To help prepare for the birthday shell-abration, come learn more about tortoises and what makes them so cool. Then, craft a mini tortoise to take home with you. 

SPRING EGG HUNT  

Join us on Saturday, April 4 from 9 a.m. – noon for an egg-ceptionally fun day at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Eggs will be hidden all morning long and once each hunter has received their 10 natural seed bomb eggs, they can retrieve their delicious prize at our candy station. Our seed bomb eggs are a great way to avoid plastic and encourage planting. Advance registration is required. Cost varies based on age and membership status. The Cleveland Botanical Garden will be temporarily closed to the public during this event. Public access will resume at noon. Spring Egg Hunt Registration. 

FREE ADMISSION DAY, Friday, April 24 – ARBOR DAY 2026 

Celebrate trees with us on Friday, April 24 during our Arbor Day Community Day! Enjoy free admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., a tree seedling giveaway while supplies last, and a community resource fair. More information coming soon! 

IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL CLEVELAND CHAPTER EXHIBIT, Friday, May 22 – Sunday, May 24 

From Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24, visit the Cleveland Botanical Garden to witness the Ikebana art form presented by the Ikebana International Cleveland Chapter. A variety of arrangements emphasizing movement and balance will be on display. Included with admission. 

OUR OUTDOOR GARDENS                                                                                                                   

Whether you’re a budding plant-lover or a deep-rooted botanist, our gardens offer something special for everyone. Let’s take inspiration from the natural world and celebrate the vibrant blooms of spring and summer with Gardens Alive!, a new seasonal series at Cleveland Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum! Each month, both campuses will highlight a different garden area or flower at its peak, offering special activities, learning experiences, and unique ways to enjoy our collections. Enjoy month-long celebrations starting in April designed to immerse you in the color and character of our collections, complete with special photo moments and fresh opportunities to engage with the gardens. Visit holdenfg.org for details. 

FIVE SENSES GARDEN EXHIBITION 

Opening in May, a new experience invites guests to awaken their senses and dive into our plant collections like never before. Explore immersive activities woven throughout our indoor and outdoor gardens—each designed to spark wonder through sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. More information to come, check holdenfg.org for details. 

CLASSES: 

• THE MINIATURE WORLD OF MOSSES AND LINCHENS: Join biologist and photographer Dr. Robert Klips on Saturday, April 18 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. for an afternoon exploring some of the forest’s tiniest treasures. Mosses are seedless plants that lack internal plumbing that enables other plants to grow tall. Lichens, aptly described as “fungi that invented agriculture,” are dual organisms that epitomize symbiosis. Being small, desiccation-resistant and requiring very little nutrition, both mosses and lichens are found in environments that are too stressful for most plants to grow. We will explore their different growth forms and methods of reproduction and learn how to identify the most common Ohio species. Cost: $10 per person. Miniature World of Mosses & Linchen Registration. 

• BOTANICAL PAINTING & DRAWING: Join us every Tuesday from April 14 – May 26 at 2 – 4:30 p.m. to connect with plants on a creative level. This seven-week series will be held in person at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Learn composition skills and techniques of botanicals including line, form, shading techniques, and layering using inspiration from the natural world with instructor Susan Gray Be. This class welcomes all levels of experience and mediums. All seven sessions are included in the registration fee. Participants will provide their own materials. Cost: $140 per member, $200 per nonmember. Botanical Painting & Drawing Registration. 

• CONQUER THE SOIL: LOVE STORIES OF BLACK HISTORY & HORTICULTURE WITH ABRA LEE. May 16 10:30 a.m. – noon. Black Americans have always been trailblazers, leaders, and visionaries in the world of plants. Join us for a special presentation with storyteller and author Abra Lee, who will lead us on a journey through American history as we celebrate these iconic plant people and their extraordinary achievements. Be sure to check out our very own connection to this fascinating history after the talk by visiting the Paul Laurence Dunbar tree in the Western Reserve Herb Garden. Lee is the author of the forthcoming book, “Conquer the Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers.” Her work has been featured in media including The New York Times, NPR, Fine Gardening, and Veranda Magazine. Cost: $20 per person. Conquer the Soil with Abra Lee Registration. 

ART ON DISPLAY 

Birdsong with Door2 Art Studio – Ellipse and Guren Gallery  

Birdsong is an interactive art installation featuring over 180 artists across Northeast Ohio. The work is inspired by the way birds sing their own songs for different reasons but together create an inspiring sound of unity. 

Boruca Masks with Christian Romero – Eppig Gallery and Orientation Theatre 

The Boruca, also known as the Brunca or Brunka, are the indigenous people living in Costa Rica. The tribe of around 2,600 members are known for their art and craftwork, especially their distinctive painted balsa wood masks. These masks are important elements in the Borucas’ annual Danza de los Diablitos (The Dance of the Little Devils) festival, celebrated each winter. Although at first glance they may seem frightening or sinister, the Boruca view these masks as symbols of wellbeing and protection. The beautifully crafted masks on display can be purchased in the Garden Store to help support indigenous women of Costa Rica and their communities. 

Meet the Artists Gallery Opening, May 29 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. 

Explore our art galleries after hours and meet artists of Birdsong, Brian Asquith and Planet Joy Studio whose work is on display. Cost: $21 per nonmember, free for Holden Forests & Gardens members. 

SUMMER CAMPS 

We are excited to provide day camps at the Cleveland Botanical Garden this summer for children ages 4 – 10. Each uniquely themed camp is packed with outdoor exploration, hands-on learning, and physical and creative activities that will get kids connected and excited about nature. Full List of Summer Camps Here.  

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $21 per adult and $15 per child ages three to 12 (free for children two and under). Admission is free for Holden Forests & Gardens members.