Botanical Events & Plant Sales

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

Upcoming Events

Landscaping for the Homeowner

Join us for our 5-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!

Non-Member Registration Member Registration

MORE DETAILS

Dates: Wednesdays, February 2- March 2, 2022
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: virtual via Zoom
Cost: $75 non-members/$60 members
Note: All classes will be recorded and available to all registered participants through April 30, 2022.

Class Topics

February 2: Design for Your Landscape
- This class provides concepts for proper plant selection and siting within landscapes and gardens. It will introduce how various types of plants serve different aesthetic and functional roles. It will also guide the homeowner on how to prioritize projects and plantings for long-term beauty.
February 9: The Best Trees and Shrubs for your Landscape
- Trees and shrubs are the anchors of your landscape and long-term investments for both beauty and function. Choosing them wisely is paramount to your enjoyment of your garden. Steve will share his long experience of growing hundreds of species and selections, which will quickly usher you to the other side of the learning curve!
February 16: Bringing in Color, Annuals, and Perennials
- Everyone wants to add color to the garden! This class will give you the knowledge and tools to do it well. Guidance on plant selection, siting, planting, care, and much, much more will have you filled with ideas and energy for spring.
February 23: Now that I Have It, How Do I Take Care of It?
- So much internet, so much bad information. Bad gardening advice is everywhere. This class cuts through all that and provides good, practical knowledge based on science and many, many years of experience.
March 2: Putting It All Together.
- A review, a wrap up, a confidence session, a chance to ask your remaining questions, and much, much more, this session closes the series with a flourish and will have you feeling excited about implementing all your new ideas.

Zootanical

April 13, 2022
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Planning is underway for Zootanical—With a Hint of Tulips which will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, from 5:30–9:00 pm at the world-famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Event co-chairs Alexa & Jack Oliver and Meredith & John Borchers invite you to join a unique evening with friends, fellow gardeners and lovers of landscape.

Event Details & Tickets

For sponsorship information, please contact David Plogmann at [email protected] or 513.487.3324. Sponsorship Packet

Native Plant Sale at Bowyer Farm 2022

9am – 1pm | Bowyer Farm: 2210 N Mason Montgomery Rd

The 2022 Native Plant Sale dates are here! 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.

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

MORE DETAILS

Dates: Saturdays, April 23, May 14, May 28, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, September 24, October 8, 2022
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Location: Bowyer Farm, 2210 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040
Accepted Payment: credit cards preferred

Annual Events

Garden Tours, Speaker Events

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.

February - Landscaping for the Homeowner Series

A late winter 5-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! Perfect for the beginning and advanced gardener.

March - Sustainable Urban Landscapes

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.

April - Tunes and 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! Free with admission to the Zoo.

August - 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].

November - 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.