As we begin our new exhibit, Zensai: The Horticulture of Japan, I am especially excited that we are showcasing some incredibly beautiful bonsai trees.  Some of them are courtesy of the Cleveland Bonsai Club.

The art of bonsai began in China more than 2,000 years ago and is now practiced throughout the world. Essentially, it is the miniaturization of trees and shrubs through specialized pruning and shaping methods.

Last summer, I was fortunate to visit the US National Arboretum’s collection of bonsai, which is one of the best in the world. Some specimens there are more than 200 years old and are passed down through many generations of the same family!

There is a great deal of symbolism behind the creation of bonsai trees and there are often fascinating stories that the trees themselves tell. The picture below shows a juniper shaped in the windswept style of bonsai - just one of the many styles that exist in this art form. Be sure to visit the Garden before June 29 to see several different styles and species of bonsai. Maybe they’ll inspire you to create your own living, miniature work of art.

Posted by Cynthia Druckenbrod

I thought I would take a break from our little mini-series on the eight principles employed in the design and activities of Hershey Children’s Garden to shamelessly plug Cleveland Botanical Garden’s new program series, BotaniCool School.

Through BotaniCool School programs, we want the world of the Garden to come alive as children discover the many wonders found in nature. Each program weaves stories, hands on experiences and make-and-take activities into a first-rate event for youth and family.

Starting this Saturday, March 29, parents and their Little Buds (ages 3-5) learn their letters and numbers through their encounters with various garden spaces. Families can sign up for a single class or the entire three class series. Then, this summer, look for a Barnyard Bash for Little Buds, and three separate programs for Big Sprouts (ages 6 and up). Big Sprouts can look forward to a really fun list of programs, including:

• A Plant Safari 
• Apples, Bananas and Carrots oh my!
• The Journey of Your Dinner

Stay tuned for further details coming soon!!!

Posted by Josh Steffen 

All this week, we are busy preparing for our fifth annual orchid show - Orchid Mania: The Seductive Orchid. We have a different theme every year, and this year I took my inspiration from a book titled Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale and Love, Lust, and Lunacy by Eric Hansen. It’s a fabulous book that details how the world of orchid fanciers is a strange, wonderful and sometimes sinister place. We will have some of the orchids that Hansen mentions here at the Garden from Saturday, Feb. 9 - Sunday, March 9. This is not your typical orchid show. You’ll see orchids that you’ve never seen before, like the 12-inch long petals of Paphiopedilums (slipper orchids) and the glittering leaves of Jewel orchids. We will be showcasing orchids that have different fragrances. Some of my personal favorites are the Zygopetalums (see picture). They have a very unique, spicy scent that is just intoxicating!

Posted by Cynthia Druckenbrod