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Conservatory Cultivators

Just as gardeners grow plants with water, soil, and light, supporters like you grow the Conservatory with your love, care, and investment. Our quarterly donor newsletter and blog is your place to learn how your support cultivates more beauty and joy for the entire community.

Through these stories, you’ll discover the happy moments, exciting achievements and everyday memories that your generosity makes possible. With your help, we’re growing a greener, happier world for us all.

Thank you!

Summer 2023 Stories

June 20, 2023 What’s All the Buzz About? Pollinators at the Conservatory! Read on for five quick tips about how you can help support critical pollinators at home, plus a fun opportunity to celebrate our hard-working animal and insect friends at Pollinator Palooza on Saturday, June 24!
June 20, 2023 Cheers from the Conservatory & Seventh Son Read on to learn more about this partnership, our collaborative beer and how the campaign succeeded thanks to supporters like you!
June 20, 2023 Teen Corps Program Grows Veggies & Community All Summer Long We sat down with head educator and master gardener, Michele Bailey, to hear all about what the summer has in store for the teens and how you can support them by visiting our weekly Wednesday Farmers Market, now through September 27!
June 20, 2023 Summertime Magic and Whimsy Await at the Paul Busse Garden Railway If you’ve ever visited the Conservatory and enjoyed watching the G scale model trains wind their way along 1,122 feet of track through a miniature landscape, you have the team of dreamers at Applied Imagination to thank.

Previous Editions

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Spring 2023 - 2/22/23
February 22, 2023 What Does a Butterfly Eat? An Inside Look at Blooms and Butterflies Read More
February 22, 2023 Orchids, Now in Bloom! Thanks to your generosity, “it’s always sunshine in the Showhouse!” Read More
February 22, 2023 Harmony, Soul & Heritage February Community Day in Honor of Black History Month Read More
February 22, 2023 The Little Garden That Could Looking Back and Looking Forward with Garry Clarke Read More
February 22, 2023 Cathy Lyttle: 2023 Ann Isaly Wolfe Award Honoree This award is presented each year at Hat Day and is the highest honor the Conservatory bestows, recognizing those who help make the Conservatory a leading cultural institution. Read More
Winter 2022 - 11/21/22
November 21, 2022 Conservatory and Head Start Collaboration Helps Young Minds Bloom Can you think of something that starts high and ends low, is a food-making machine and can be seen outside your window in every color of the rainbow throughout the autumn? Read on to learn how the Conservatory is engaging young minds. Read More
November 21, 2022 January Community Day Supports “Om” for All Science shows that deep breathing can help us relax, lower blood pressure, and improve our focus. With the support of community members like you, the Conservatory plans to bring relaxation to the whole community in 2023, promoting wellness for all. Read More
November 21, 2022 Annual Harvest Awards Connect Columbus Community Gardeners “The Harvest Award Ceremony is your moment to shine,” said Conservatory horticulturist and Growing to Green Coordinator Sean McKay to a room of hard-working community gardeners gathered for the September 7 ceremony in the Wells Barn. Read More
November 21, 2022 Franklin Park Conservatory Women’s Board: A Sisterhood for Good “I used to be surprised by the generosity of people, but I no longer am. People want to do good,” said Janet Kerekes, sponsorship co-chair for Field to Table. Janet and her co-chair Gail Lewis shared what inspires them to support the Conservatory and how the Field to Table committee helped pull together a record-breaking soirée. Read More
November 21, 2022 Beloved Annual Gingerbread Competition Returns The Conservatory’s beloved annual Gingerbread Competition display is back for its 16th year. Read More
November 21, 2022 We’ve Decked The Conservatory’s Halls We’ve decked the Conservatory’s halls, and they’re blooming with holiday spirit! Read More
Autumn 2022 - 8/30/22
August 30, 2022 Women’s Board Bus Tour Visits Garden Helping Refugees Grow a Taste of Home On a cool and refreshing August afternoon that felt just on the cusp of rain, Abbie Sigmon greeted me with a smile. Pulling up two chairs to the edge of garden beds bursting with squash, ground cherries, corn, and potatoes, we sat down to talk... Read More
August 30, 2022 It’s Never too Late to Celebrate Summer with this Blackberry Mint Mocktail Did you know that there are over 20 varieties of mint? Read on for a tasty mocktail recipe... Read More
August 30, 2022 In Celebration of the Legacy of Alexis Jacobs On June 22, friends gathered at the Conservatory for a celebration of life for Alexis Jacobs. Jacobs, the Former Columbus Fair Auto Auction owner, was a fashionista with a “sunny” disposition who had long supported the Conservatory, along with the work of the Columbus Urban League... Read More
August 30, 2022 Children’s Garden Pollywog Pond Transformation Has Our Amphibian Friends Leaping for Joy! This summer, one of our most frequently asked questions in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden has been “what HAPPENED to the pond?” Read More
August 30, 2022 Conservatory Stories Visitors have been sharing how much they love Diálogos, a new exhibition in the Cardinal Health Gallery. Read More
August 30, 2022 History of the Persimmon Tree Did you know that the Conservatory has a very special persimmon tree in our Bonsai Courtyard? Read More
Summer 2022 - 6/21/22
June 21, 2022 One Woman’s Summer Reading Challenge Supports Learning for All Amy Grace Ulman faced a challenge. “My first child was an early talker. Check. My second child was a late talker. Hmm, that was not part of the plan..." Read More
June 21, 2022 Cherry Blossoms and Community, Brought to You by Honda This year, the Conservatory partnered with the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio to plan a Hanami... Read More
June 21, 2022 A Birthday to Remember: The Legacy of Landscape Architect Fredrick Law Olmsted On April 26, a group of garden lovers gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” and eat cake in honor of a friend. The catch? The friend being celebrated was born 200 years ago, all the way back in 1822... Read More
Spring 2022
Spring 2022 A Note From Carmen Boy It’s officially spring! If you’re wondering what could be better than the advent of sunshine and time outdoors….I can tell you: you are! Read More
Spring 2022 A Conservatory Comeback Story: How donors made a difference Two years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic changed the world as we knew it. The Conservatory faced one of its most difficult periods to date, but today we have great cause to be thankful. Because of your support... Read More
Spring 2022 We’re Exploring Science with Head Start! This winter, Franklin Park Conservatory began a new partnership with Head Start thanks to two grant funders. Conservatory Educators are visiting Head Start classrooms across Columbus... Read More
Spring 2022 10 Tips To Set Your Spring Garden Up For Success How does one de-winterize their garden? How do you know if your yard or plants are where they should be? When can you expect to see flora on your walks and runs through your neighborhood... Read More
Spring 2022 We're So Grateful For Our Volunteers Altogether, volunteers gave 11,108 hours to the Conservatory in 2021. The total value of the service provided by volunteers to the Conservatory last year equaled an amazing $282,921! Read More

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