Orchid Mania Lasts One More Week

I am feeling the need to get the toddler out of the house this week if the weather is so warm, and I love taking kids to the Cleveland Botanical Garden, and I absolutely love orchids, so I am hoping to make it to this:

ORCHID MANIA: This Side of Paradise – FINAL WEEK

February 11 – March 25

Tuesdays – Saturdays: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sundays: Noon – 5:00 pm • Closed Mondays

Adult: $9.50; Child (3-12): $3
Members, Children 3 and under: FREE

Sophisticated ladies. Speakeasies. Busby Berkeley musicals. The 1920s was a time when America’s preoccupation with opulence, luxury and sensuality matched its limitless spirit of optimism and individual expression.

Sound like a certain exuberant flower you know?

Orchid Mania: This Side of Paradise celebrates those independent spirits of the floral world, orchids, in a setting befitting of Jay Gatsby himself.

Hundreds of bold, fragrant, blooming orchids will be on display throughout the Garden and in the naturalistic setting of the Garden’s Costa Rica Glasshouse.

It’s an occasion for flappers, Phalaenopsis and every other kind of orchid you can imagine.

http://www.cbgarden.org/OrchidMania2012.html

Cleveland Botanical Gardens Storytimes

More fun for the little ones during the week:

Story Time in the Eleanor Squire Library
All children between ages 3-6 with an accompanying adult are welcome to visit the Eleanor Squire Library and listen to tales of secret gardens, runaway bunnies, and firefly magic. Stories will be followed by a related activity.

Free with Garden Admission. No registration required.

Date: Thursdays, December 4, 11 & 18, 2008: 11:00am-12:00pm

Location: Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio 44106

For a list of more programs taking place at the Botanical Garden, visit http://www.cbgarden.org/Programs/Classes.html

Cleveland Botanical Gardens WinterShow

Another place I think I’d like to take the toddler this year:

Do you remember what it used to be like to go downtown with the family during the holiday season? What with shopping malls and online shopping, today’s children don’t know the awe and excitement of gazing at the magical displays in the store windows of yesterday. What if you and your family could experience that awe and excitement once again?

If you love the holidays as they were meant to be, the 2008 Cleveland Botanical Garden WinterShow is for you! Twinkling lights, magical decorations and displays, and other nostalgic surprises await. You and your family will experience the nostalgic feeling of peering into downtown window displays while out with the family for a holiday stroll. There is even a rumor that you might see a life-size snow dome!

As in years past, dozens of fanciful gingerbread creations by skilled local bakers will be exhibited throughout the building. All of these fantasy creations will carry out the charming “City Sidewalks” theme. The Garden’s gingerbread competition is the area’s biggest and best display of gingerbread houses in our area. You’ll be amazed by the clever, “edible” interpretations of buildings and other holiday scenes.

Great Place for Toddler Playdate in Cleveland

Cleveland Botanical Garden Fish Pond

While the in-laws were in town last week the hubby and I took a couple of days off from work.   I’d been to the Hershey Children’s Garden at the Cleveland Botanical Garden before, but I guess being an adult without children at the time, I hadn’t realized how very suited to toddlers it is.   I could easily take our son there on a summer day and spend 2-3 hours keeping him entertained.   A quick summary of what there is for a two-year old to do to keep busy:

• A fountain to run around in
• Sandbox
• Flowers to water
• Watering cans that you fill with red hand pumps
• Places to run around
• A tree house
• “Caves” beneath the treehouse
• A fish pond

This doesn’t include the indoor glasshouse with butterflies and other plants and animals, ten acres of  gardens, or the following warm weather drop-in activities for kids:

• Mud Pie Mondays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Discovery Cart Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Story Time Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Discovery Cart Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Crafty Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Discovery Cart Saturdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Planter Sundays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This is one of those times I kind of wish I was a stay-at-home mom, because I’d probably get a membership and meet up with some friends there for playdates once a week!

Until next time,

Lorelei

Children and Nature Deficit Disorder

Yesterday morning I was sitting in an Arts and Cultural Tourism Directors meeting and heard someone discussing the idea of nature deficit disorder, particularly in relation to an event taking place at their attraction. In looking up the term, I came across this book on Amazon, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit-Disorder. I feel as though it is pretty sad that someone needed to write a book about this. I have no idea if the book is any good, but I am grateful that my toddler loves to go outside any chance he gets, and if watching Elmo on TV will choose to go outside or go play games with mommy and daddy if he is asked.

This summer, as he is now much more active, and I try to find different places to take him each weekend, I may try to visit some of the places I’ve heard about through work. My top five places to consider exploring this summer are going to be:

1. Hershey Children’s Garden at the Cleveland Botanical Garden
2. Holden Arboretum’s Wild Child Wonders Exhibit
3. The Great Garden Adventure at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
4. TOUCH Amazing Rays and Sharks at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
5. Edgewater Park, to watch boats and kites and run around on the beach…that and it’s five minutes from our house!

Plus, I forgot about Lake Farmpark and Stearns Homestead, I’m sure the little one would love to see mommy milk a cow!

Hopefully it’s warm enough and sunny enough this weekend to spend some time outside…especially since I’ll be helping out with a wedding shower at Edgewater Park this weekend!

Until tomorrow,

Lorelei