Holden Arboretum unveils events, classes for the summer

May 22—The Holden Arboretum is welcoming the summer season with the new railroad exhibit "Pollinator Express," a calendar of outdoor events and experiences, and grounds for exploring.

The arboretum recently unveiled its summer plans.

Pollinator Express

Pollinator Express, opening May 25, features G-scale model trains chugging through a garden bed of pollinator favorites, according to a news release. Ten larger-than-life garden sculptures depict unique plants from around the globe paired with the insects and animals they depend on for pollination.

The whole display is built with unique and creative botanical materials.

Summer Nights

Each Wednesday from June 5 to Aug. 28, the arboretum will stay open late, until 8 p.m. Attendees can enjoy golden hour on the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower, gardens and trails, and special evening events.

New this year, the Holden will offer discounted admission after 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. Cost is $10 per adult and $7 per child ages 3 to 12. Admission is free for children 2 and under. Admission also is free for Holden Forests & Gardens members.

Tickets can be purchased in person or at holdenfg.org. Also visit the website to get tickets for special events or to register for classes.

Concerts in the Forest will take place June 5, July 10 and Aug. 7 with visitors being able to enjoy live music from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Off the GRIDdle food truck will be onsite, the Spice Grab and Go Café Cooler will be stocked, and libations will be available for purchase beginning at 5:30 p.m. Concerts in the Forest are included with Arboretum admission. Concerts in the Forest Registration.

This year's concert series lineup is brought by Roots of American Music, which provides arts-integrated programs to diverse communities while promoting and preserving traditional American music — old-time country, folk, gospel, blues, and early rock — to enhance educational outcomes and enrich people's lives, the release stated. Their performances will be:

—June 5 — Roots of American Music featuring Liz Bullock

—July 10 — Roots of American Music featuring Lake Erie Roots Collective

—Aug. 7 — Roots of American Music featuring Apostle Jones.

Then, Apollo's Fire Countryside Concerts will be held from July 17 to 21, Jeannette Sorrell and violinist Alan Choo present Vivaldi's the Four Seasons as the revolutionary acts of musical storytelling that Vivaldi intended, the release stated. Alongside Vivaldi, soprano Andréa Walker presents 17th-century songs about nature by Henry Purcell and Thomas Morley.

"Tails & Trails" will be held June 12, July 24 and Aug, 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., with the first 100 dogs through the gate receiving a Holden Forests & Gardens logo bandana. Visitors can enjoy water stations, dog treats and an opportunity to meet up with other dogs and their owners. Event is included in general admission.

"Blooms & Brews" will take place June 26, from 6 to 7 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a summer sampler event featuring a selection of summertime brews. During this tasting class, learn about the flavor profile of beers as each attendee will taste six different summer brews and go home with a mixed six-pack. Purchase tickets at holdenfg.org.

"Yoga with Bottoms Up!" offers visitors the chance to enjoy yoga outside in the gardens June 19, July 31 and Aug. 28, from 6 to 7 p.m., featuring instructors from Bottoms up Yoga.

In "Notes of Nature Wine Tasting," visitors can spend time in one of the Arboretum's most beautiful gardens during golden hour, Aug. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy wine tasting and food stations while taking in the scenery.

What's in bloom?

Visitors can immerse themselves in the Rhododendron Discovery Garden to see rhododendrons and azaleas that are now in bloom into June. People also can see over 400 native plants in the Wildflower Garden which is filled with blooms all summer long.

Visitors also can see the fragrant lilacs in one of the The Display Garden. There also is the Holden Butterfly Garden is a haven for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Two placid ponds are surrounded by a garden, filled with summer blooming plants that attract vital pollinators. Visit Holden's Get Growing Blog to see what's blooming each week.

Summer favorites

Kalberer Emergent Tower and Murch Canopy Walk are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and included in general admission. The Emergent Tower is 12 stories tall and provides a view of the surrounding area all the way to Lake Erie. The Murch Canopy Walk invites guests to enjoy an elevated walk 65 feet above the forest floor.

Buckeye Bud's Adventure Woods is a whimsical playground where kids can hop, jump, and limbo their way through the balance logs, put on a performance at the Nature Theater, or play a game or two of tic tac to, the release stated. Search for frogs and turtles in nearby Buttonbush Bog from new heights atop the observation tower.

Holden Arboretum will be offering tram tours. These 45-minute tours will give guests an overview of the grounds and gardens with a focus on seasonal highlights. People will also learn a little history and get a sneak peek into some of the scientific work that happens behind the scenes.

Summer classes

"Working Woods Field Day" will take place June 1, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Participants will see what good forest management practices look like in "real time." The annual field day opens the demonstration forest to the public for guided tours, updates on ongoing research, and conversation with professionals from the ODNR Division of Forestry and regional natural resource agencies.

Tours will include forest farming: mushroom log cultivation, high value botanicals and food-producing shrubs, Research/updates on forest pests and pathogens, and more. The event is free with cost of admission or membership, but registration is required.

"The Benefits of Nature for All Ages" will take place June 8, from 1 to 2 p.m.

Professor Donald Rakow will lead a discussion on how connecting to the natural world can reduce stress, promote mental health, and lead to positive health outcomes for all ages. This talk will explore some of the major stressors in the modern world as well as recent scientific evidence that confirms that spending time in nature can improve human health, the release stated.

Participants can expect to leave with a new understanding of the power of nature and motivation for adding nature engagement into their regular routine. Cost is $20 per member, $30 per nonmember.

"Meet our Scientists" will be held June 8 and June 15, from 11 a.m. to noon, and June 29 and July 13, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Nature-lovers of all ages can learn about our ground-breaking research and conservation efforts while discovering the labs and natural areas where this work is being done. This series is free and open to the public, and registration is highly encouraged.

"Firefly Foray" takes place June 22, from 8 to 11 p.m.

Join Cleveland Metroparks Naturalist and firefly enthusiast Carly Martin as she takes in the wonder of firefly diversity in a search for several different species. The group will start off indoors with fun facts and identification techniques, then hit the trails and the Canopy Walk to explore different habitats in the increasing darkness, the release stated.

Cost is $30 per member and $40 per nonmember. Class is for adults and teens 13 and older with an adult as the length of this hike and its educational content are not designed for children.

"Flower Power: Buds & Blossoms in Folklore & Folk Medicine" takes place July 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join herbalist Leah Wolfe of the Trillium Center on a guided walk through the gardens at Holden Arboretum while listening to stories of bewitching love charms, old medicinal cures and current research, and tips on how to make one's own flower power. After the walk, participants will make a flower elixir to take home.

Cost is $35 per member and $50 per nonmember.

"Family Campout" will be held Aug. 3-4. Participants can experience Holden Arboretum in a brand-new way — after hours. The event includes exclusive views from Kalberer Emergent Tower at dusk and investigating nighttime residents. Cost is $35 per member and $40 per nonmember.

Have a picnic

Colorful, crave-able, nutrient-dense meals and snacks from Chef Ben Bebenroth and the team at Spice Hospitality Group are back for the sunny season, the release stated. Stop by the Visitor Center to grab a salad or grain bowl, healthy snack, or beverage from the convenient self-serve cooler. Fresh salads and snacks from Spice Grab + Go Café Cooler are available Thursdays through Sundays during Arboretum opening hours.

Summer hours

The Holden Arboretum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission before 5 p.m. is $20 per adult and $14 per child ages 3 to 12. It is free for children 2 and under as well as for Holden Forests & Gardens members. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at holdenfg.org.

The Holden Arboretum, located at 9550 Sperry Road in Kirtland.