Chris McKeown
| Special to Cincinnati Enquirer
We have many great attractions throughout our area for entertainment. When various lists are created for locals as well as tourists to do in the Cincinnati area, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is near the top of almost every list.
Going to the zoo, you get two great attractions with one admission. You see the animals living in recreated natural habitats. Along the walkways you follow to see all of these great displays, you will also see thousands of plants that could fit into your landscapes and gardens. You will see many native varieties to this area. You will also see many beneficial cultivars.
To most of the people going to the zoo for the animals, the plants are simply beautiful decorations. For the people going to the botanical garden, these plants are a showcase of all the benefits plants bring to our world.
Many people visiting the zoo are unaware that the Botanical Garden is also serving as a bit of a horticultural laboratory. Many of the plants that you see were brought to the zoo to be part of the plant trials conducted at the zoo each year.
Seed companies and other businesses that develop new plants and improve established varieties need to know if these plants can be used and marketed in different climates and soils. To determine this, they have to be grown in conditions similar to the home landscape.
The Botanical Garden within the Cincinnati Zoo is the ideal place to do this. The growing conditions related to weather in the Ohio Valley can be very challenging. Many plants are not suited for this combination.
The Cincinnati Zoo is also a great place for the plant trial because they have one of the greatest teams of horticultural experts in the country. They do a great job bringing awareness to sustainability. They have also done a tremendous amount of work with their Plant for Pollinators program.
The horticultural team is very proud of the work they do. They have a great sense of obligation to share the knowledge they gain. Three times a year, they hold symposiums at the zoo to share this knowledge. They were originally intended for horticultural professionals. Now, they are open to the public. The next one is the Plant Trials Symposium being held on Aug. 28. On Nov. 22, they have the final symposium of the season. This is the annual Native Plant Symposium.
Here are the Cincinnati Zoo’s descriptions of the events:
“Our 2025 Plant Trials Day will once again feature the same wonderful combination of speakers that has made this symposium one of the most successful one-day programs in the country. Focused on great plants and garden ideas, Plant Trials Day is a fun, informative and inspirational day for everyone from gardeners to green industry professionals. The price of admission includes Zoo admission, parking, morning pastries and coffee, lunch, snacks and drinks. Registration ends 11:59 p.m., August 22.
“The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Native Plant Symposium is a favorite event for native plant lovers and gardeners from all over the region. Many of the country’s best speakers have presented on a wide range of topics, from the best native plants for your garden to in-depth looks at the flora from native ecosystems.”
You can find more information related to these events on the Cincinnati Zoo’s website. You can find a list of the topics and the speakers. The speakers are from prestigious horticultural institutions throughout the country.
This year, the Cincinnati Zoo is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Participating in these events is a great way to help celebrate. The registration fees are all used to fund future horticultural projects and research.