Last week’s sunshine and warm temperatures have really started getting plants growing. There is an abundance of blooms and many of the hardy plants are showing off new leaves.
If you’re hoping to see “peak blooms” come sooner rather than later!
New this week:
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- Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum) has white, bell-shaped flowers hanging on the underside of the leaves
Locations: The Reading Garden in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus.
- Spotted Cranesbill (Geranium) features lovely and hardy pale pink geranium flowers of pale pink
Location: Between the Learning Pavillion and Sandstone Creek in the Children’s Garden
- Pawpaws (Asimina) are Ohio natives famous for their fruit but currently feature red bell-like flowers
Locations: In the Children’s Garden and Community Garden Campus
- American Bladdernut (Staphylea) is an Ohio native understory shrub with clusters of drooping, creamy white, tube flowers.
Location: Between the Sandstone Creek and Whisper Bench in the Children’s Garden
- Sassafras (Sassafras) sport small, yellow to green-yellow flowers.
Location: By the Fairy Garden in the Children’s Garden
- Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) are small purple cuties
Location: Near the musical instruments of BeeBop Corner in the Children’s Garden
- American Pink (Silene) is a North American grassland native with bright, raspberry-colored flowers.
Location: Garden bed with the stone wall by the Crane Ornamental Grass and Conifer Collection
- Snowdrop Anemone (Anemone) is a lovely shade perennial with 1-2 inch white flowers white.
Location: Across from the Pollinator Garden in the Community Garden Campus
- Dogwoods (Cornus) are understory trees with four bracts (modified leaves) surrounding the actual flowers. Spot bracts in shades of white, cream and pink
Locations: Throughout the botanical gardens and Children’s Garden
- Fothergilla (Fothergilla) are native shrubs and are covered in small, white bottlebrush flower spikes
Locations: In the Children’s Garden and by the Wells Barn
- Crabapples (Malus) trees with colorful flowers of pink, rose or white
Locations: Throughout the botanical gardens
- Oaks (Quercus) trees are blooming with loads of pendulous, lime-green flowers.
Locations: Throughout the botanical gardens and out in Franklin Park
Still flowering from past weeks:
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- Tulips (Tulipa) are still quite lovely. Visit to see these sooner rather than later!
Locations: Most of the gardens. The Grand Mallway and the North Courtyard are highlights
- Dog Tooth Violet (Erythronium) Creamy yellow flowers that look a bit like fairy umbrellas
Locations: Conifer Collection- second bed from building
- Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum) This shrub has fragrant clusters of pinky-white flowers. The perfumy fragrance fills the air and can be noticed even when walking from the parking lot
Locations: Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio and North Courtyard
- Redbuds (Cercis) continue to show their colors. See both red (really a pinkish purple) and white in blooms
Locations: Throughout the botanical gardens
- Flowering Quince ‘Cameo’ (Chaenomeles) is a deciduous shrub with coral pink flowers along the stems
Locations: In the WaterSmart garden, along the stonewall between the Conifer Collection and the Production Greenhouse
- River Birch (Betula) with 2-3 inch long pendant flowers.
Locations: The island along the Botanical Garden Pathway and between the parking lot and the front doors.
- Late-season daffodils (Narcissus) are hanging on. There are some beautiful, double-petaled ones
Locations: The Children’s Garden and the Conifer Collection.
- Summer Snowflakes (Leucojum) sport daffodil-like foliage with white bell flowers
Locations: Behind the Wells Barn and elsewhere in Community Garden Campus
- Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia) is a native with blue, trumpet-like flowers.
Locations: In the Children’s Garden by the Fairy Garden and under the big tulip tree next to the Headwaters
- Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda) are white, petite, multi-petaled flowers
Location: Near the Pollinators Garden in Community Garden Campus
- Lenton Rose (Helleborus) are still blooming
Locations: Botanical Garden Welcome Patio, Community Garden Campus and the Tour Entrance by the Ohio Hybridizers Historic Daylily Garden.
- Grape Hyacinths (Muscari) are also still blooming
Locations: Throughout the Children’s Garden, Community Garden Campus and Conifer Collection
- Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) is an Ohio native with cheerful yellow flowers
Locations: West of the Sunshine Celebration Arch in the Children’s Garden
- False Lupine (Thermopsis) known for spikes of yellow flowers
Location: The Cutting Garden and International Cuisine Garden in the Community Garden Campus
- Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) is a perennial with heart-shaped leaves and clusters of dainty blue flowers
Locations: In the North Courtyard and Community Garden Campus
- Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia) is a native groundcover with lovely, five-petaled, bright yellow flowers.
Location: In front of the Wells Barn
- Pansies (Viola) these cold hardy annuals are a great splash of color
Locations: In beds and containers throughout the Conservatory and throughout Franklin Park
- Alyssum (Lobularia) with sweetly fragrant, tiny, white flowers
Locations: In the North Courtyard and containers around the botanical gardens
- Snapdragon Snapshot Mix (Antirrhinum) is a short 6-10 inch tall bedding variety of snapdragon
Locations: Beds and containers throughout the Conservatory
Use your senses to see, touch and smell that spring is here! A walk through the botanical gardens is really a must. The warm temperatures shorten the bloom time on many of the spring plants, this includes tulips.
- Tulips (Tulipa) are really showing off and cover most of the gardens.
Locations: The Grand Mallway and North Courtyard
- Dog Tooth Violet (Erythronium) Creamy yellow flowers that look a bit like fairy umbrellas.
Locations: Conifer Collection- second bed from building
- Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum) This shrub has FRAGRANT clusters of pinky-white flowers. The perfumy fragrance fills the air.
Locations: BG Welcome Patio and North Courtyard
- Redbuds (Cercis) are starting to show their colors. See both red (really a pinkish purple) and white blooming throughout the Botanical Gardens. Locations: Celebration Garden and the ribbon in front of the Children’s Garden
- Early crabapples (Malus) are blooming in the Community Garden Campus by the berry yard.
- Flowering Quince ‘Cameo’ (Chaenomeles) is a decidous shrub with coral pink flowers along the stems. Spot these In the Watersmart garden, along the stonewall between the conifer collection and the greenhouse.
- Magnolia hybrids (Magnolia) a tree with a shrub-like shape. These have large flowers of pinks and yellow. See them in the Park (by the parking lot, the Broad Street Island and over by the playground)
- Red Elderberry (Sambucus) large wild looking native shrub. Clusters of creamy white flowers cover this shrub. Find it in the Children’s Garden on the north side of the waterfall.
- River Birch (Betula) 2-3 inch long pendant flowers hang from this tree. Locations: River Birch island (by Celebration Garden) and between the parking lot and the front doors.
- Pansies (Viola) these cold hardy annuals are a great splash of color – throughout the park in beds and containers. Look for the big splash of color in the entry gardens off Broad St.
- Alyssum (Lobularia) sweetly fragrant tiny white flowers. Find them in the North Courtyard and containers around the gardens.
- Snapdragon Snapshot Mix (Antirrhinum) is a short 6-10 inch tall bedding variety of snap. Find them in beds and containers around the gardens.
These plants from past reports are still blooming:
- Daffodils (Narcissus) are still flowering strong.
Locations: Daffodils are easy to spot through the Conservatory facility and outside in Franklin Park. A few highlights include the Botanical Garden Pathway, the Grand Mallway, the Crane Ornamental Grass and Conifer Collection and the Franklin Park Japanese Garden
- Crown Imperial (Fritillaria) Located in the BG Welcome Patio.
- Summer Snowflakes (Leucojum) daffodil-like foliage with white bell flowers Location: Wells Barn Barn backyard, and Community Garden Campus
- Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) Ohio native, cheerful yellow flowers. Location: Children’s Garden- in the bed to the west of the rainbow arch
- False Lupine (Thermopsis) Spikes of yellow flowers. Location: Community Garden Campus (cut garden and in the international cuisine gardens)
- Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) Perennial with heart-shaped leaves. Clusters of dainty blue flowers. Location: Community Garden Campus and North courtyard by the bridge to the north Conservatory.
- Lenton rose (Helleborus) are popular, long-bloomers Locations: Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio, Community Garden Campus, between the Tour Entrance and the Ohio Hybridizers Historic Daylily Garden
- Squill (Scilla) are little blue flower clusters Locations: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion and in the North Courtyard
- Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia) Native groundcover with lovely 5 petaled bright yellow flowers. Location: Wells Barn
- Yoshino Cherry trees (Prunus) pale pink flowering trees, in Franklin Park near the lower lake. The weather (wind) might knock off some petals, still a lovely sight.
- Grape hyacinth helena (Muscari) features a lovely gradient with bottoms of dark blue/purple and fading to pale sky blue, almost white
Locations: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion and Wetland Explore pathway. Completely purple grape hyacinths can be seen in the Community Garden Campus and Conifer Collection
- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia) This native has blue trumpet-like flowers.
Locations: Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden in the Faery Garden and under the tulip tree next to the Headwaters
- Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Tiny golden yellow flowers that hug the stem. This native shrub gains its common name from the spicy scent when the leaves and branches are crushed. Location: Children’s Garden – near the willow arch.
- Hyacinths (Hyacinth) are still flowering strong. Locations: Children’s Garden surrounding the Sunshine Celebration Arch and Sensory Garden
- Some star magnolias (Magnolia) weren’t hit as hard by the cold and are now covered in creamy white flowers. Locations: North of the Conservatory on the Botanical Garden Pathway and outside the facility Franklin Park
- Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda) are cuties. The white flowers are petite and multi-petaled.
Location: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus near the Pollinators Garden
And just like that, there are so many new blooms to find! There are still more on the way and blooms from past weeks, too.
- Yoshino cherry trees (Prunus) with their famous pale pink flowers. The wind may knock off some petals but they’re still lovely.
Locations in the park near the lower lake. The weather (wind) might knock off some petals, still a lovely sight
- A few more tulips are starting to show color. Stay tuned for more!
Location: North Courtyard
- Cold hardy pansies (Viola) offer great splashes of color
Locations: Broad Street Entry Gardens, botanical garden beds and containers, throughout Franklin Park
- Crown imperial (Fritillaria) are distinctive beauties said to protect tulips from hungry squirrels
Locations: Botanical Garden Welcome Patio
- Tiny golden flowers hug the stem of the northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Locations: Near the Kids Only Entrance willow tunnels in the Children’s Garden
- An Ohio native is the celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum). It has cheerful yellow flowers
Location: West of the Sunshine Celebration Arch in the Children’s Garden
- Striped squill (Puschkinia) are small clusters of white flowers with distinctive blue stripes.
Locations: The hill between the Whisper Bench and Reading Garden in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden
- Alyssum (Lobularia) are sweetly fragrant tiny white flowers
Locations: Dotting the North Courtyard and botanical garden beds and containers
- You’ll also find snapdragon snapshot mix (Antirrhinum), a short 6-10 inch tall bedding variety of snap
Locations: Also in botanical garden beds and containers
- Siberian bugloss (Brunnera) is a perennial with heart-shaped leaves and clusters of dainty blue flowers
Locations: North Courtyard and Community Garden Campus
- Barren strawberry (Waldsteinia) is a native groundcover with lovely, 5 petaled yellow flowers
Location: In front of the Wells Barn
- Looks for daffodil-like foliage with white, bell-shaped flowers to find summer snowflakes (Leucojum)
Locations: Behind the Wells Barn and in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Company Community Garden Campus
- False lupine (Thermopsis) showcases spikes of yellow flowers
Locations: The Cutting Garden and Internation Cuisines Garden in the Community Garden Campus
These plants from past reports are still blooming:
- The early-season and mid-season daffodils (Narcissus) are overflowing with blooms and fragrance
Locations: Daffodils are easy to spot through the Conservatory facility and outside in Franklin Park. A few highlights include the Botanical Garden Pathway, the Grand Mallway, the Crane Ornamental Grass and Conifer Collection and the Franklin Park Japanese Garden
- Lenton rose (Helleborus) are popular, long-bloomers
Locations: Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio, Community Garden Campus, between the Tour Entrance and the Ohio Hybridizers Historic Daylily Garden
- Squill (Scilla) are little blue flower clusters
Locations: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion and in the North Courtyard
- Grape hyacinth helena (Muscari) features a lovely gradient with bottoms of dark blue/purple and fading to pale sky blue, almost white
Locations: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion and Wetland Explore pathway. Completely purple grape hyacinths can be seen in the Community Garden Campus and Conifer Collection
- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia) is an Ohio native with blue, trumpet-like flowers that are just starting to bloom
Locations: Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden in the Faery Garden and under the tulip tree next to the Headwaters
- Hyacinths (Hyacinth) are starting to put on a nice show and the fragrance is nearly visible
Locations: Children’s Garden surrounding the Sunshine Celebration Arch and Sensory Garden
- Some star magnolias (Magnolia) weren’t hit as hard by the cold and are now covered in creamy white flowers
Locations: North of the Conservatory on the Botanical Garden Pathway and outside the facility Franklin Park
- Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda) are cuties. The white flowers are petite and multi-petaled
Location: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus near the Pollinators Garden
We are starting to see more leaf buds and flowers. Remember, it’s soil temperatures that plants react to in the spring, though sunshine is always welcome.
Note: You may spot one or two tulips blooming in warm, sunny micro-climates around the gardens but plenty more are on their way. Here’s what to look for in full glory:
- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia) is an Ohio native with blue, trumpet-like flowers that are just starting to bloom
Locations: Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden in the Faery Garden and under the tulip tree next to the Headwaters
- Hyacinths (Hyacinth) are starting to put on a nice show and the fragrance is nearly visible
Locations: Children’s Garden surrounding the Sunshine Celebration Arch and Sensory Garden
- Some star magnolias (Magnolia) weren’t hit as hard by the cold and are now covered in creamy white flowers
Locations: North of the Conservatory on the Botanical Garden Pathway and outside the facility Franklin Park
- Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda) are cuties. The white flowers are petite and multi-petaled
Location: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus near the Pollinators Garden
- The early-season and mid-season daffodils (Narcissus) are starting to show their color
Locations: Daffodils are easy to spot through the Conservatory facility and outside in Franklin Park. A few highlights include the Botanical Garden Pathway, the Grand Mallway, the Crane Ornamental Grass and Conifer Collection and the Franklin Park Japanese Garden
These plants from past reports are still blooming:
- Lenton rose (Helleborus) are popular, long-bloomers
Locations: Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio, Community Garden Campus, between the Tour Entrance and the Ohio Hybridizers Historic Daylily Garden
- Squill (Scilla) are little blue flower clusters
Locations: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion and in the North Courtyard
- Grape hyacinth helena (Muscari) features a lovely gradient with bottoms of dark blue/purple and fading to pale sky blue, almost white
Locations: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion and Wetland Explore pathway. Completely purple grape hyacinths can be seen in the Community Garden Campus and Conifer Collection
With the first day of spring just barely in the rearview mirror, it’s still early in the season. We are starting to see some buds swell, which hints at the beauty in store over the coming months. Popular blooms like tulips, cherries, and many magnolias have not yet bloomed!
Find these early bloomers out in the gardens:
- The early daffodils (Narcissus) are still flowering strong and new blooms appear every day
Locations: Main Entrance Gardens, Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio, Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden, Grand Mallway, Crane Ornamental Grass and Conifer Collection
- Lenten Rose (Helleborus) are popular, long-bloomers
Locations: Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio, Community Garden Campus, between the Tour Entrance and the Ohio Hybridizers Historic Daylily Garden
- Winter Aconite (Eranthis) are petite, bright yellow cups. Only 2-3 inches tall.
Locations: Children’s Garden in the beds between the Learning Pavilion and the Sandstone Creek
- Squill (Scilla) are little blue flower clusters
Location: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion
- Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) is a shrub-like tree covered in tiny golden yellow flowers. The flowers will be followed by tiny, red cherry-like fruit.
Location: Grand Mallway behind the Pergola
- Grape Hyacinth Helena (Muscari) are just starting. The flowers have a lovely gradient with bottoms of dark blue/purple and fading to pale sky blue, almost white
Locations: Children’s Garden near the Learning Pavillion and Wetland Explore pathway
- Hyacinths (Hyacinths) are also starting to show color
Locations: Children’s Garden by the Sunshine Celebration Arch and in the Sensory Garden
- Quince (Chaenomeles) has orange flower buds that will give way to bright reddish-orange flowers
Location: Grand Mallway by the Pergola
The first day of spring is next week but a few brave blooms have already signaled the changing of the seasons.
You might wonder how recent “crazy” weather impacts plants. Plants grow on soil temperatures. Sunshine and warm air temperatures, as we had in February, speed up plants, they will send up shoots and flowers will open. Cool temperatures slow the plants down and snow slows plants down even more. Remember that plant leaves are hardier than we think. Petals aren’t as hardy but many early spring flower petals are capable of withstanding some cold and snow.
Ultimately, we can’t control the weather. Plants are prepared to handle variations and we have to learn to enjoy them. Here’s what to look for right now:
- Plenty of early daffodils (Narcissus)
- Locations: Main Entrance Gardens, Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio, Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden, Grand Mallway, Crane Ornamental Grass and Conifer Collection
- Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) are cute little blue and white flowers.
- Location: Children’s Garden in the Pollin Makers and Movers Garden
- There’s an ever-changing bulb display in the Community Garden Campus that currently has purple irises (Iris cristata) and white squill (Scilla mischtschenkoana).
- Location: Under the Vine Arbor in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus
- Lenten Rose (Helleborus) are popular, long-bloomers
- Locations: Botanical Gardens Welcome Patio, Community Garden Campus, between the Tour Entrance and the Ohio Hybridizers Historic Daylily Garden
- Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) are starting to flower
- Locations: North Courtyard, Botanical Garden Pathway
- Red Maples (Acer rubrum) may not be the blooms you expect, but they have clusters of hanging red flowers.
- Locations: Children’s Garden, Botanical Gardens, Franklin Park
- Forsythia’s (Forsythia) bright yellow flowers are an early sign of spring that supposedly indicate three more snowfalls after blooming.
- Locations: Children’s Garden, Franklin Park Japanese Garden.
