More Tulips, New Music Blooming this Spring at the Zoo

Posted February 28, 2011

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will blossom into a magnificent explosion of vibrant color when Zoo Blooms kicks off this April! More than 90,000 tulips in full bloom, free evening concerts by some of Cincinnati’s finest musicians and an Easter celebration for kids will be highlighted during Zoo Blooms.

As one of only two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio and one of the most visited public gardens in the United States, the Cincinnati Zoo offers one of the largest vibrant tulip displays in the Midwest.

“Planting 92,000 tulips is not an easy task,” said Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo. “It takes four to six weeks to get them all in the ground. Many of the tulips are planted by the Zoo’s garden volunteers. Our volunteers have big green thumbs and loads of dedication to the garden – we couldn’t accomplish what we do without the help of our Garden Volunteers, that’s for sure.”

And there is more than just tulips to see! In early April look for bright yellow and white daffodils blooming throughout the park. Many varieties of tulips are the first to bloom followed by the main bloom in mid-April. Complementing the blooming bulbs are thousands of blooming trees, shrubs, more than one million daffodils, hyacinths and more!

The Cincinnati Zoo will also feature FREE concerts to rock the garden every Thursday evening during Zoo Blooms from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Admission is free after 5 p.m. Parking not included. The Tunes & Blooms concert series is a compilation of Cincinnati’s finest and most-respected music veterans playing together in the Zoo’s beautiful gardens. This year’s concert series kicks off on April 7 with performances by Magnolia Mountain and Rubber Knife Gang, followed by No No Knots and Walk the Moon (April 14), The Tillers and The Seedy Seeds (April 21) and Jake Speed and the Freddies and The Turkeys (April 28).

On Saturday, April 23 from 10 am – 2 pm, hop on over to the Zoo for the Easter Celebration. This egg-citing event will feature treat stations, children’s activities, popular animal egg hunts and visits by the Easter Bunny. Back by popular demand, “The Hunt for Golden Eggs”, four Special golden eggs will be hidden around the Zoo for you to discover! Find one and you could win amazing prizes provide by the Cincinnati Zoo.

On April 9 & 10, the Southwest Ohio Daffodil Society will present the annual Daffodil Show, “Daffodils in the Treetops.” This spring show will showcase hundreds of daffodils in various shades and colors, varieties, shapes and sizes. On April 14, you can dine amongst the tulips at our “Tip-Toe through the Tulips Luncheon”. This event features guided tours through the garden, lunch, dessert, and a presentation by the Zoo’s Director of Horticulture, Steve Foltz. Proceeds will benefit our botanical collection and educational efforts. Tickets for the Tulip Luncheon are $75 a person. Those who would like to attend or would like more information contact Allison Gibbs at (513) 487-3327 or at [email protected].

Zoo Blooms is FREE with general Zoo admission. Admission prices are $14/adults, $10/children (2-12), children under two are free and parking is additional. The Zoo opens daily at 9 a.m. Admission to the Tunes & Blooms concert series is FREE after 5 p.m. Parking is not included. For more information, call (513) 281-4700 or, visit www.cincinnatizoo.org.