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Spring Brochure

Spring At The Conservatory

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Visitor Experience

Health & Safety Procedures We are working with state and local entities to comply with all the guidelines and requirements related to COVID-19. We are monitoring the evolving situation and adapting our policies to
protect the health and safety of our community. It is with your support and cooperation that the Conservatory can remain open. Thank you for keeping the Conservatory a safe place to visit!

 Know Before You Go
Visiting If you are experiencing symptoms, please visit at a later date.

 Plan A Visit
Ticketing All guests, including members, are encouraged to reserve their tickets online before their visit.

 Reserve Tickets
Face Coverings Visitors must wear face masks for all indoor and outdoor areas. Exceptions will be made for children under the age of 6.

Guests must wear masks unless seated in a designated dining area and actively eating.

 Masks available for $1 at front entrance.
Memberships yellow-butterfly-on-purple-flowers Please make all membership purchases or renewals online before your visit.

 Join Or Renew
Vulnerable Population Hours columbus-blooms-2020 Every Thursday, the Conservatory will open at 9am for guests with high-risk considerations, such as seniors or individuals with compromised immune systems.

 Reserve Tickets

Exhibitions

February 20 to May 31 Blooms & Butterflies Enjoy hundreds of exotic butterflies flying freely through the Pacific Island Water Garden, a warm tropical haven filled with bright nectar blooms.

 Included With General Admission & Special Engagements Blooms & Butterflies Exhibition
April 1 to April 30 Columbus Blooms More than 125,000 tulips, narcissus and other stars of the season bloom throughout gardens and container displays in this dazzling celebration of spring.

 Included With General Admission & Special Engagements Columbus Blooms Exhibition
April 2, 2021 to January 9, 2022 Paul Busse Garden Railway Featuring nine G-scale model trains that travel through four enchanting botanical landscapes themed after the Wild West, fairytales, European villages, and animal habitats.

 Included With General Admission & Special Engagements Paul Busse Garden Railway Exhibition
January 23 to May 31 Bringing Reverence to Nature: An Exploration of Botanicals in Paper paper-botanicals The paper artwork created by Columbus artist Lea Gray is still in bloom in the Cardinal Health Gallery.

 Included With General Admission & Special Engagements Bringing Reverence to Nature Exhibition
On Permanent Display Chihuly Collection persian-ceiling-by-chihuly-studio The Conservatory’s permanent collection of Chihuly glass artwork remains on view daily. Chihuly Nights are select evenings when the Conservatory will be open 7–10pm.

 Included With General Admission & Special Engagements Chihuly Collection

Coming This Summer

Resilience In Nature: We Are The Roses That Grew From Concrete
In collaboration with All People Arts, Creative Women of Color, Maroon Arts Group and Transit Arts

We believe nature is essential to the human experience, and we recognize that, historically, Black artists have been left out of the narrative. This juried exhibition in the Cardinal Health Gallery strives to connect people with nature while helping build a stronger community and amplifying the voices of Black artists.

The Conservatory is currently seeking submissions from Black artists in central Ohio. Submissions are due April 11.

Call For Entries
In The Gardens: Color to Discover

Experience lush, colorful, summer blooms and whimsical topiaries throughout the gardens and biomes.
Bash at the Conservatory
June 25

Enjoy a fresh, socially-distanced take on the Conservatory’s annual Bash at the Barn fundraiser! This year’s Bash expands from the Wells Barn to the entire Conservatory. Guests can explore ten acres of lush outdoor gardens and engaging exhibitions indoors and out.

Bash ticket purchases and sponsorships help support the Conservatory’s horticulture, education and community outreach programs. Space is limited!

Learn More
Inspiration Pocket Garden
Pollinator Palooza
June 19

Learn about pollinators and all they do for our ecosystems! The event is located in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Garden Campus and is free to the public.

Learn More

Take A Class With The Conservatory

March 16, 6-7pm Garden Pest Management little-garden-club-of-columbus This class will explore the concept of Integrated Pest Management and how it can help you tame pest problems in your vegetable garden and home landscape.

 Virtual Sign Up
March 17, 6–7:30pm The Sustainable Kitchen: St. Patrick's Day Dinner hands-making-dough-on-counter Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a culinary journey. You’ll cook a rustic Irish dinner of lemon parsley baked cod and colcannon—a traditional side dish of mashed potato with sautéed leeks and cabbage. Then toast the end of your journey with a Guinness float and homemade chocolate sauce.

 Virtual Sign Up
March 18, 7–8pm Cookie Decorating with Plenty O’Cookies: St. Paddy’s Day Edition st-pattys-day-cookies Bake up your own batch of sugar cookies before the class and tune in to enjoy an entertaining evening dedicated to the art of cookie decorating!

 Virtual Sign Up
March 19, 6–8pm Paint & Sip: Butterfly Wing Grab a beverage and learn to paint a butterfly wing inspired by the Blooms & Butterflies exhibition. All painting experience levels can participate thanks to Sarah’s step by step instructions.

 Virtual Sign Up
March 20, 10–11:30am The Sustainable Kitchen: Brunch hands-making-dough-on-counter It’s the weekend and you know what that means, time for brunch! Join us to learn how to make the greatest meal of the day (in our opinion!). You’ll cook a leek and prosciutto frittata topped with an arugula salad and moist blueberry muffins accompanied by a refreshing orange mojito. Virtual Sign Up
March 23, 6–7:30pm Herb Gardening collection-of-herbs Learn how easy herbs are to grow. We will discuss the basics of garden design to create a visually pleasing and functional herb garden for your use. Also, we will cover some historical uses of these plants including as. medicine, seasoning, fragrance and display.

 Virtual Sign Up
March 24, 6–7:30pm The Sustainable Kitchen: Date Night hands-making-dough-on-counter Learn to cook a date night dinner that’s elegant but so easy to make. It will impress your significant other so much that they won’t be able to wait until you cook again. You’ll be making pecan-crusted chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and dill, broccolini and citrus vinaigrette and a delicious cocktail.

 Virtual Sign Up
March 30, 6–7:30pm Seed Starting Learn everything you need to know about seed starting for your own garden.

 In-person or Virtual Sign Up
April 8, 6–7:30pm Incorporating Native Perennials native-perennials Learn a step-by-step process to transform urban lawns into native perennial, plant-pollinator beds. Identify which native perennials are best suited to the local environment and about keystone plants that support the survival of pollinators and birds.

 Virtual Sign Up
April 13, 6–7:30pm Composting 101 Whether you live in an apartment, house or on a farm, composting is a convenient and responsible way of getting rid of your vegetable scraps and food waste while creating nutrient-rich topsoil for your garden and potted plants. In this class, we will explore what composting is, how anyone can get started and how to maintain a successful compost bin.

 Virtual Sign Up
April 15, 6–7:30pm Vegetable Gardening Learn everything your need to know to have a successful vegetable garden.

 Virtual Sign Up
April 20, 27, 18 & May 4, 11 6–8pm Soil Health 101 (4 week course) seedlings-growing-from-soil Learn about soil from an expert! The first course is an introduction to soil, the second is on soil health and function, the third is about cover crops, and the final course is on soil and water quality.

 Virtual Sign Up
May 18, 6–7:30pm Worm Bin Workshop Worm bin composting, also known as vermicomposting, offers a unique and responsible solution for disposing of food waste utilizing the power of worms! In this hands-on workshop, we will cover the science behind composting with worms, build a worm bin and discuss best practices to keep worms working for you. Virtual Sign up
Host Your Event At The Conservatory Love is always in bloom at the Conservatory! The botanical gardens are a gorgeous location for your special day. Our outdoor venues are perfect for a romantic ceremony and our indoor venues allow for a destination-style wedding experience.

Now booking weddings and receptions in 2021 and 2022.

Learn More

More To Do At The Conservatory

On View Now Through Late October Bonsai Collection pine-bonsai-in-bonsai-courtyard A rotating selection of trees from the Conservatory’s Bonsai Collection will be on display in the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse and the Bonsai Courtyard.

 Included in general admission and special engagements Plan A Visit
January 20, 8am Members Only Retired Orchid Sale maroon-orchid-blossoms Members can shop a limited selection of orchids that have retired from the Orchids exhibition. In order to prioritize safety, reservations must be made to shop between 8am and 12pm.

 Learn More
April 2, 2021 to January 9, 2022 Hot Shop The Hot Shop, the Conservatory’s Glass Blowing Studio returns to offer daily glass-blowing demonstrations, classes, and personal sessions.

 Included in General Admission Hot Shop Page
April 2, 11am-2pm Train Sand Art train-in-european-travels Celebrate the return of the Paul Busse Garden Railway exhibition by creating a train-themed sand art necklace. Supplies are limited.

 $3 per craft, supplies are limited Plan A Visit
April 30 While Supplies Last Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Guests visiting on Arbor Day may select a tree sapling to take home. Available while supplies last.

This event is generously supported by Green Columbus.

 Free While Supplies Last Plan A Visit
May 8, 11am-2pm Mother's Day Flower Craft spring-hyacinth-and-tulips Decorate a flower pot and plant a flower for the special person in your life.

$3 per craft, supplies are limited Plan A Visit

Botanica Gift Shop & Greenhouse

April 22 Earth Day Sale 20% off early spring outdoor garden plants--includes perennials and annuals and bulbs--and select garden tools and accessories.

 Learn More
April 25 Jewelry Sale 20% to 50% off select jewelry, perfect for a Mother’s Day gift.

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May 8 & 9 Mother's Day Patio Sale 20% off a great selection of plants and seeds. Receive a free seed packet with every $25+ purchase.

 Learn More

Support The Conservatory

Donate family-in-front-of-childrens-garden Studies show that spending time in nature has physical and mental health benefits. Through our natural displays, community outreach and access programs, the Conservatory is uniquely positioned to address the added stress felt by so many recently.

 Make A Gift
Volunteer Be a part of an organization you love! Opportunities are available all year throughout the organization: visitor experience, horticulture, education and exhibitions.

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Follow the Conservatory sunset-from-terrace Our social media accounts can be found using the tag @FPconservatory.

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Subscribe to the Newsletter The weekly newsletter shares the latest on upcoming exhibitions, events, and classes.

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Thank you for helping make the Conservatory great!

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