It has been an unforgettable week for northeast Ohio! Whether you were downtown or in the suburbs on Monday afternoon, at 3:13pm we were all gazing skyward to witness the total solar eclipse. Let’s cap off this week’s celebration of the marvels of the natural world by taking a moment to appreciate some botanical wonders at each of our campuses.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Three native wildflowers are shining at the gardens this week: trout-lily (Erythronium americanum), great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), and Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica). All three can be found in the Woodland Garden, and there is a particularly spectacular patch of Virginia bluebells at the top of the Butterfly Garden as well. While trillium and bluebells have not yet opened at the arboretum, you can find trout-lilies blooming in the Wildflower Garden and along wooded trails as well.

While you’re at the gardens, don’t miss the chance to visit the Restorative Garden (although it’s hard to miss right now!). It is currently bursting with the pink and white blooms of several flowering shrubs and trees, including magnolias, a weeping redbud, and fragrant Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii).

Finally, the much-anticipated annual tulip displays are coming into their prime. Tulips of every color can be found throughout the gardens, but you’ll be greeted with some of the most stunning masses of color in the Campsey-Stauffer Gateway Garden and in the allée near the Rose Garden. This year’s display in the allée is a whimsical wave of orange swirling through a sea of deep purple tulips… you’ll have to visit to see for yourself!

Holden Arboretum

While there’s something to see almost anywhere you look at the arboretum right now, the Wildflower Garden cannot be missed in mid- to late April! This week, start at the north side to catch the large patch of purple cress (Cardamine douglassii) in full bloom.

Scattered throughout the Wildflower Garden and along the Woodland Trail is the lovely spring ephemeral bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). With some of the most uniquely-shaped leaves of all wildflowers and delicate petals that fall within a day or two of blooming, bloodroot is a treasure to behold each spring.

While the flowers are stealing your attention, make sure to keep an eye out for the unfurling fronds of royal fern (Osmunda regalis) as they wiggle out of their fuzzy jackets to greet the warmer weather. They can be found on the southwest side of the garden near the stream where you can also find marsh marigold and spreading globeflower in full bloom.

Despite the seemingly incessant rain we’ve had for the past couple of weeks, those few sunny warm days last weekend really got things kickstarted. Stay tuned next week to catch the highlights and plan your next botanical adventure!