I love to visit gardens when I travel. I am either thrilled or disappointed, depending on many factors, including time of year, size of the park, and facility maintenance.
When I arrived at Cleveland Botanical Garden, I had high hopes not only because this is a big city and the gardens are alongside other famous and iconic University Circle attractions, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland History Center, and Cleveland Museum of Natural History (currently being transformed; to be completed in 2024).
Although its roots date back to the early 20th century, it was in 2014 that the Holden Arboretum integrated with Cleveland Botanical Garden to create what you find today. It is the 12th largest public garden in the nation. And I can tell you that I was not disappointed!
I started my exploration inside the Madagascar Glasshouse. I entered a tropical paradise with butterflies everywhere—blue, orange, black, and yellow flowers of the air fluttered from blossom to blossom. I took an elevator to the main floor and followed the winding pathways through overgrown jungle foliage and flowers. The experience was truly immersive.
The next glasshouse featured Costa Rica and supported a desert landscape with Radiated Tortoises moving through the undergrowth along sandy paths of their making. Lovely desert cacti were flowering in brilliant pinks.
Outdoors was another wonderland of tulips, daffodils, flowering trees and shrubs, and other colorful flowers. Well-maintained pathways led to a rose garden, a topiary garden, a children’s garden, a kitchen garden, and others set in wooden solitude. My favorite area was the Woodland Garden, where a beautiful waterfall accented-almost framed-by flowering pink and white dogwoods and azaleas.
The Japanese Garden and the Sunken Garden were at the end of a wooded trail. There was so much to see.
I spent an hour wandering through all the outdoor gardens, although I could have stayed much longer. There was so much to see. It is easy to recommend this oasis in a busy city. Go, enjoy, learn, wander, and relax among the rainbow of blossoms.
For more information about the garden, click here. For more information about all the attractions in Cleveland, click here.
Terrific photos, Marilyn! I was unaware of this place. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you! I was very impressed with the gardens.
Enjoyed this story and photos. I, too am a big fan of Botanical Gardens. Saw many in Europe when I was stationed there. Always a relaxing treat.