Botanical Garden Events

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio. Don’t miss events from our leading experts in horticulture!

Watch now: The Pollinator Report: A Shared Journey with Plants, Pollinators, and Beyond; Observations by a Horticulturist and Entomologist

Native Plant Sale at Bowyer Farm 2021

9am – 1pm

Bowyer Farm: 2210 N Mason Montgomery Rd

Reserve Your Spot

We have expanded the schedule for our 2021 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s popular Native Plant Sales! Sponsored by the Klosterman Baking Company and located at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm (2210 Mason Montgomery Road, Lebanon, OH), these sales offer a wide selection of reasonably priced, well-grown, hard to find, and ecologically important native plants.

Important! Slots are set to promote social distancing. Assistance by staff will be limited. There are no public restrooms at the farm. To ensure your safety and ours, please wear a mask and maintain safe distance from others. Payment will be by credit card only. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation until pandemic conditions allow for less stringent measures.

Native plants, including ones found throughout the Bowyer Farm ecosystem, will be for sale. The preferred payment for all sales is credit card.

2021 Plant Sale Dates

April 24
May 8 – New: Pollinator Plants Kits will be available for purchase
May 22
June 12
June 26
July 10
August 14
September 11
September 25
October 9

General Events

Zoo Blooms

The saturated colors and sun-catching glow of masses and masses of tulips in bloom is a truly spectacular experience. Zoo Blooms delivers not only the region’s largest tulip display, but also hundreds of trees and shrubs in full regalia. Magnolias, cherries, crabapples, serviceberries, viburnums, other bulbs, loads of perennials, and more all in their spring glory! Generally the best tulip display is around the middle of April, but the peak varies somewhat according to the weather. Each week all through spring the landscape continuously changes as the many plants of our extensive collection come into bloom. You need to visit several times to experience the fullness of the season!

Garden Tours/Need a Speaker

Garden Tours

Schedule your own garden event at the zoo! Industry groups, Master Gardener groups, garden clubs, plant societies, private companies, families, and others frequently schedule their own garden tours and/or parties. You can too! Email us at [email protected] to schedule a tour.

Need a Speaker?

Need a speaker for your academic, Master Gardener, garden club, or other event? Contact us at [email protected] for one of the zoo’s expert horticulturists to speak.

Native Plant Symposium

The annual all day symposium about native plants. Great outside speakers along with the zoo’s Native Plant Program Manager, Brian Jorg. CEUs available. Affordably priced. Includes lunch.

Plant Trials Day

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden horticultural staff and volunteers, in conjunction with several other organizations, conducts plant trials on annuals, grasses, and perennials in accordance with regimented protocols. Such trials enable us to develop useful data for gardeners, other public gardens, plant producers, and others in the green community. For more information regarding our Plant Trials programs, please contact us at [email protected].

Sustainable Landscapes Day

The concepts of “going green” have come down on the green and building industries in a big way in recent years and a lot of argument over the meaning of sustainability and the means of achieving it has ensued. This program is designed to sort out fact from fiction regarding such issues as soils, irrigation, and the very best low input plants for landscape applications. CEUs available. Affordably priced. Includes lunch.

Home Landscapes Lecture Series

A late winter ten week series of lectures regarding all aspects of landscaping for the homeowner by one of the region’s top horticulturists and the zoo’s Director of Horticulture, Steve Foltz. If you are planning on garden renovation or a new installation in your landscape these classes provide great insight on design, preparation and plant selection with emphasis on plants that do best in the Tri-state area. A different aspect of landscaping is covered each week such as perennial design and tree care, but one way or another everything is covered! Sign up for individual classes, or for the entire series and save! Very affordably priced.