(CLEVELAND) March 19, 2021 – To celebrate the arrival of spring in a big way, Holden Forest & Gardens presents Return of the Butterflies at the Cleveland Botanical Garden – a visual treat with more than 600 newly emerged butterflies in Costa Rica biome beginning Saturday, April 3rd.
The butterflies in the Costa Rica biome will bring the Glasshouse to life—amazing, colorful, moving, exhilarating life and you’ll see them actively searching for nectar as food sources, flying around. “The sheer proliferation of butterflies is a memorable experience,” says Jillian Slane, director of exhibits and experiences. “You get to interact with them when you walk through the Glasshouse,” she relates. “It’s a strong bond and connection to nature.”
Guests will be greeted with a stunning array of nearly 10 species of butterfly including:
- Eliconius melpomene “Postman”
- Caligo eurilochus “Giant Owl”
- Dryas julia “Julia Longwing”
- Heliconius charitonius “Zebra Longwing”
- Siproeta epaphus “Rusty-Tipped Page”
- Catonephele orites “Grecian Shoemaker”
- Morpho peleides “Blue Morpho”
- Siproeta stelenes “Malachite”
The acres and acres of outdoor gardens come to life during the month of April. Fragrant blooms of snowflake Viburnums, the charming pinwheel-like blooms of Creeping Phlox and the annual tulip display will all be able to be enjoyed later this month.
Trees have their flowering season including the stunning Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry along with the ephemeral blooms of the Apple Serviceberry. In the Gateway garden be sure to enjoy the subtle and compelling blooms of the Weeping Katsura tree. Just beyond the fence of White Oak Walk you can’t miss the dramatic yellows of daffodils situated like golden curtains for an iridescent blue stage of Siberian squill.
A limited number of advanced reservations are available each day. Face masks must be worn in the interior and exterior gardens.
Learn and Grow with Us this Spring – Register for all classes at cbgarden.org
Spring Break in Costa Rica
Saturday, April 10 | 1:00- 3:00 p.m.
Instructor: Linda Kolton. Live, virtual program
$35 per member, $50 per nonmember
Eating is a way to travel the world: By exploring new cultures and food you can expand your horizons without leaving home. Join Chef Linda for a culinary journey to beautiful Costa Rica, where a wholesome, simple diet is at the heart of the culture. One region of Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula, is home to one of the original “Blue Zones”, where people enjoy the longest and healthiest lives, in part, by eating a plant-forward diet. In this class, you’ll have an opportunity to cook along with Chef Linda & learn how to make plant-based versions of some of the country’s most popular dishes; Costa Rican Casado; a hearty, flavorful midday meal & tres leches cake, which Travel publisher, National Geographic, has called the national dessert of Costa Rica! Recipes and shopping lists will be emailed one week prior to the class. Registration closes on Friday, March 26.
Strolling Stories
Tuesdays in April | 10:15-11:30am
Instructor: Kristina Arthur, Hershey Children’s Garden Coordinator
Live, in-person program
$5 per member, $20 per nonmember (includes admission)
Missed out on our Strolling Stories program last fall? Don’t fret, it’s back! Each Tuesday during the month of April we’ll have a new storybook on display throughout the garden. Registered participants will spend their morning hiking the Storytrail with our Hershey Children’s Garden Coordinator before participating in a craft or activity related to the theme of that day’s story. Due to limited capacity, please register for both your child(ren) and yourself. One adult per family required. Only those who have a purchased registration will be able to participate in the program.
April 6: If you are looking around and all you see is mud right now, do not worry you are not alone! Come and join us on our Strolling Stories where we read about one of the messiest and fun transitions to spring Mud by Mary Lyn Ray! Play in some “mud” to make seed balls of native seeds to take home.
April 13: How does a garden grow? Come on our Strolling Stories and enjoy along with Lola in Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn all the steps to make a garden grow. Participants will leave with the materials to make a small window starter garden at home.
April 20: If you look closely you will see the trees are budding and some small leaves are on their way! Have You Seen Trees? by Joanne Oppenheim delights in trees and invites you to examine and enjoy them all year long on this Strolling Story. Participants will make an art project using pressed leaves.
April 27: Spring is here and in the Hershey Children’s Garden our pond is waking up from winter. Come and enjoy seeing what small ponds have to offer throughout the year on this Strolling Story reading In the Small Small Pond by Denise Fleming. Make your own craft dragonfly to take home.
About Holden Forests & Gardens
Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions — the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden — whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. The 14th largest public garden in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has nearly 17,000 member households and an annual attendance of 350,000 for whom we strive to provide inspirational and educational visitor experiences. For more information, visit holdenarb.org. and cbgarden.org.