Get Growing Blog
Connecting people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants.
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August 4, 2026
Meet Our Summer Interns
Each summer, Holden Forests & Gardens welcomes talented interns who bring curiosity, passion, and fresh perspectives to our work. From conservation and forestry to horticulture and soil science, these students... more
July 30, 2026
Meet Carlo Moreno, Holden’s Newest Scientist
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
In Akron, Ohio, a community garden called Akron Cooperative Farms sits on land that was once used as baseball fields. Many of the gardeners there are immigrants and refugees from... more
July 20, 2026
Award-Winning Research Reveals How Wildflowers May Struggle Under Climate Change
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
In Ohio, we think of fall as the end of the growing season. But for many California wildflowers, fall is a beginning. From the deserts of Southern California to the... more
July 9, 2026
Hundreds of Community-Created Textile Sculptures Transform Holden Arboretum This Summer
KIRTLAND, Ohio (July 9, 2026) Holden Forests & Gardens will debut Woven Landscapes, at The Holden Arboretum on July 18, showcasing a large-scale outdoor art installation created through a unique... more
June 11, 2026
It’s Poppin: June 11
By Alexandra Faidiga, Plant Collections Manager
It’s hot out there, but that won’t stop our plants from poppin’! The hot, dry weather we’ve had for the past couple of weeks means we are doing supplemental watering... more
June 4, 2026
Cleveland Botanical Garden Rings in Summer with a Series of Engaging Events & Exhibits
(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... more
June 4, 2026
Outdoor Adventures Make Summer Shine at the Holden Arboretum
(KIRTLAND) June 4, 2026 – The Holden Arboretum welcomes summer with breathtaking natural beauty, a captivating new outdoor exhibit, and endless opportunities for exploration. Wander through vibrant landscapes, discover miles of scenic trails,... more
June 3, 2026
New Study Tracks Long-Term Results of Forest Fungi Restoration Experiment
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
Few places are as intensively landscaped as golf courses. They’re mowed and manicured, they’re fertilized and kept chemically weed-free, and they’re tromped on half the year by golfers, carts, and... more
May 29, 2026
It’s Poppin’: May 29
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
We’ve almost made it to June, and there is a lot going on in the gardens this time of year. At the arboretum, rhododendrons are still blooming throughout the Helen... more
May 15, 2026
It’s Poppin’: May 15
This cool weather has really kept things poppin’ in the gardens. Although we lament it by this time of year, cool springs make for longer blooming seasons. We have a suite... more
May 12, 2026
Holden Forests & Gardens Announces $1 Million Gift from Connie and Paul Abbey
CLEVELAND, Ohio — (May 12, 2026) — Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) today announced a $1 million gift from longtime supporters Constance “Connie” Norweb Abbey and Paul R. Abbey toward a multiyear transformation of the visitor experience at The Holden Arboretum. The... more
May 11, 2026
What Rhododendrons Know About Their Environment
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
As our world begins to warm, scientists are looking for early detection systems that will tell us what’s already being affected and help us predict what’s to come. Plants have... more
May 4, 2026
How Much Sun Is Too Much Sun?
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
Have you ever noticed a plant whose leaves were turning red or purple, especially in a particularly sunny spot? The plant may be making the red pigment you see to... more
May 1, 2026
It’s Poppin’: May 1
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
It’s May, and it’s definitely Poppin’! The exceptionally warm March we experienced this year has resulted in earlier bloom times than usual for many plants in our collections, including rhododendrons.... more
April 23, 2026
It’s Poppin’: April 23
It’s Poppin’ out there! The warm weather we have been having the past couple of weeks (minus the two nights where we hovered around freezing) have caused the gardens to... more
April 20, 2026
Ways to Love a Forest: Stories of Woodland Stewardship in Northeast Ohio
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
A logger had been coming by Joe and Christel Diliberto’s Portage County home for years, offering his services. So when they wanted a few trees removed — and he said... more
April 10, 2026
It’s Poppin’ April 10
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
Welcome to It’s Poppin’ 2026! Check in every week to discover the seasonal highlights in our living collections selected by curatorial staff at the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden. We’ll... more
March 26, 2026
Celebrate Arbor Day with Holden Forests & Gardens
Enjoy programming all week long, guided hikes, free admission days, ceremonial tree plantings and more! March 26, 2026 (CLEVELAND) – Celebrate all things trees in honor of Arbor Day at Holden Forests & Gardens. The Cleveland Botanical Garden... more
March 10, 2026
Spring Has Arrived at Cleveland Botanical Garden with New Seasonal Programs and Events
(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... more
March 10, 2026
After a Long Winter, Holden Arboretum Welcomes Visitors Back into Nature This Spring
(KIRTLAND) March 10, 2026 – Get ready to experience spring in all its beauty at the Holden Arboretum. Immerse yourself in the emerging tree canopy on the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Family Emergent Tower beginning... more
March 6, 2026
How To Hand-Pollinate Vanilla
By Sadie Smith, Senior Horticulturist
One of my favorite plants is the vanilla orchid and I am lucky to have a mature vanilla orchid in the Madagascar biome that flowers fairly regularly. When the vanilla... more
March 2, 2026
HF&G Builds on Rare Oak Conservation Work Through Collection, Propagation, and Collaboration
By Alexandra Faidiga, Assistant Curator
In the last week of January, I returned from a plant collecting trip through coastal Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina in search of bluff oak (Quercus austrina), an uncommon oak with a... more
February 11, 2026
Celebrating Women Scientists at Holden Forests & Gardens
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re taking a moment to appreciate the talented researchers advancing our understanding of forests, plants, and the ecosystems they support. From... more
January 16, 2026
Native Seed Libraries Now Open to the Public
By Anna Funk, PhD, Science Communications Specialist
The Holden Seed Bank is excited to share that a regional Native Seed Library program will officially open to the public on Monday, January 19, in 10 different locations across... more
January 15, 2026
Orchid Show Rides Back into Cleveland with a Fresh Western Theme at the Botanical Garden
The Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Orchid Rodeo opens on Saturday, February 14 (CLEVELAND) January 15, 2026 – Grab your cowboy hats and boots, the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual orchid show, is back in town!... more
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