Cleveland Botanical Garden

THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN IS LOCATED ON 10 ACRES IN THE UNIVERSITY CIRCLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CLEVELAND. THE GARDEN COMPRISES TWO INDOOR GLASSHOUSES AND OUTDOOR GARDENS INCLUDING THE HERSHEY CHILDREN'S GARDEN, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM. THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN IS INTEGRATED WITH THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM AS HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS ("HF&G"). THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM IS LOCATED 25 MILES FROM THE GARDEN, IN KIRTLAND, OH. TOGETHER, THE INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AND REPRESENT ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC GARDENS IN THE COUNTRY. THE MISSION OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN FULFILS THIS MISSION THROUGH CORE PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON HORTICULTURE, EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 (FY21), HF&G BEGAN TO REBOUND FROM THE PRIOR YEAR'S LIMITATIONS CREATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. DELIVERY OF KEY PROGRAMS CONTINUED AMIDST REQUIRED CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS, WHILE NEW PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED DURING THE PANDEMIC GAINED POPULARITY. HF&G ALSO COMMENCED A COMPREHENSIVE SITE PLANNING PROCESS FOR BOTH CAMPUSES WITH THE GOALS OF CREATING WELCOMING, YEAR-ROUND DESTINATIONS FOR ALL GUESTS THAT MODEL AND CATALYZE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS: THE HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS STAFF MAINTAINS, CULTIVATES, AND CARES FOR 4,062 PLANTS IN THE LIVING COLLECTION AT THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN, ALONG WITH FIVE CLASSES OF LIVE ANIMALS INCLUDING 100 BIRDS, REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, AND MAMMALS, AND THOUSANDS MORE INSECTS, THAT MAKE THEIR HOMES IN THE MADAGASCAR AND COSTA RICA GLASSHOUSES. THE TEAM MAINTAINS THE 10 ACRES OF DEVELOPED AND CULTIVATED GARDENS, ENSURING THAT GUESTS ENJOY A SENSE OF WONDER AND BEAUTY EVERY TIME THEY VISIT. ADDITIONAL WORK IN FY21 INCLUDES REDESIGN AND RENOVATION OF THE ROSE AND TOPIARY GARDENS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN. THE HORTICULTURE TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE EXHIBITS & EXPERIENCES AND GUEST SERVICES STAFFS TO DEVELOP INTERPRETATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT INFORMAL EDUCATION AS WELL AS COLLABORATE ON SPECIAL EVENTS. THE TEAM ALSO SUPPORTS SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, INCLUDING ANNUAL FAVORITES ORCHIDS FOREVER IN THE SPRING AND GARDEN HOLIDAY IN THE WINTER, AND ALL SEASONAL HORTICULTURAL CONTENT. EDUCATION: THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN PROVIDES A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DIGGING EVEN DEEPER, FROM YOUTH AND CLASSROOM-BASED PROGRAMS TO ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. IN FY21, THE EDUCATION TEAM CONTINUES THE SUCCESSFUL SUITE OF ONLINE PROGRAMMING DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, EDUCATING 2,210 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH 106 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS. ADAPTING TO ONGOING PANDEMIC CONDITIONS, THE EDUCATION STAFF OFFERS GARDEN-BASED CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS CLE4SCI, VIRTUALLY. NATURE-BASED SCHOOL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LIMITED ON-SITE AND OFFSITE PROGRAMMING, ADULT CLASSES, AND ONLINE LEARNING, SERVE 17,898 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS. THE WORK OF THE EDUCATION TEAM IS GUIDED BY A THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN COMPLETED IN FY21. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: HF&G POSITIONS ITSELF AS A COMMUNITY LEADER IN URBAN GREENING AND FORESTRY, LAUNCHING THE PEOPLE FOR TREES CAMPAIGN TO PLANT 15,000 TREES IN NORTHEAST OHIO BY 2025. ENTHUSIASTIC COMMUNITY RESPONSE IN YEAR 1 INCLUDES 4,000+ TREES PLANTED AND 7,000+ TREES COMMITTED BY INDIVIDUAL PLEDGERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND HF&G INITIATIVES. THE PEOPLE FOR TREES CAMPAIGN IS HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS' CONTRIBUTION TO THE CLEVELAND TREE COALITION, THE GROUP CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE 2015 CLEVELAND TREE PLAN TO RESTORE THE DECREASING TREE CANOPY IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY. STAFF ALSO LEADS A REIMAGINED GREEN CORPS, THE GARDEN'S SIGNATURE YOUTH PROGRAM, WITH GREATER EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND STRONGER, BROADER INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CONSERVATION TEAM BASED AT THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM, STAFF PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY TREE INVENTORIES AND PLANNING PROJECTS AND PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND VISITORS ALIKE. HF&G'S CEO SERVES ON THE CLEAN OHIO NATURAL RESOURCES ASSISTANCE COUNCIL; CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRESS PLACEMAKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE; HOLDEN PARKS TRUST BOARD; AND UNIVERSITY CIRCLE INC. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. GUEST EXPERIENCE: IN FY21, THE GARDEN SERVED 109,271 TOTAL VISITORS, ENGAGING THEM IN THE WONDER AND BEAUTY OF PLANTS AND SHARING THEIR GREAT VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW (NOVEMBER 21, 2020 - JANUARY 3, 2021) AND ORCHIDS FOREVER (FEBRUARY 13 - APRIL 11, 2021). IN SUMMER 2021, THE GARDEN AND ARBORETUM HOSTED THE FIRST EXHIBIT ACROSS BOTH CAMPUSES, FAIRY DOORS: MAGICAL GARDEN GATEWAYS (JULY 9 - AUGUST 29). SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND OTHER EVENTS INCREASE PAID VISITATION, HELPING TO SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION'S OPERATING BUDGET, WHILE ALSO DRAWING IN VISITORS, PIQUING INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND THE OUTDOOR WORLD.