If you live here, or have plans to visit Ohio, here are destinations of interest for you to add to your plans.
Top Ten Gardeners Destinations:
1. Inniswood Gardens (Franklin County)This is the top of my list of favorites, for a short or long visit there is so much of garden interest.
2. Franklin Park Conservatory ( Franklin County) Art lovers take note, it isn’t too far from the Art Museum and has its own Chihuly Glass Exhibition in a permanent collection
3. Dawes Arboretum (Licking County) Expect to stay the entire day and wear good walking shoes. Besides the many types of gardens there is a historical home and the downstairs part of the Welcome center is one of the best kid spaces for this type of facility!
4. The Columbus Zoo (Franklin County) You are probably familiar with Jack Hanna. This man is famous for a reason- he is the man behind the Columbus zoo transforming into a must see destination- not just for the animals. This place is also a gardened, botanical treat, with a lot of attention paid to creating a pleasant and life enhancing habitat for people and creatures.
5. Whetstone Park of Roses (Franklin County) During the growing season this is a place for rose enthusiasts to see many hybrid roses in situ, and a separate section for heritage varieties. There are also concerts in the summertime schedule.
6. Hocking Hills State Park (Hocking County) These are the favorite hiking trials I wrote of previously. Go with plenty of time for daylight hours, good hiking/walking shoes, etc. Old Man’s Cave has an interesting lodge/welcoming center with restrooms, but once on the trail you are on your own concerning water, etc. – but the beauty and well maintained trails are wonderful. Spring has the flowering dogwoods and myriad wildflowers, Autumn holds the famous fall color of the Appalachian hills.
7. Central Ohio Home & Garden Show, for wintertime only, but this is an extravaganza- an explosion of landscape blooms and blooming ideas, that is held in Columbus each year. This year it is held during Feb. 24 – Mar. 4.
Ohio Expo Center(Ohio State Fairgrounds)
717 E. 17th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio
8. Amish Country (Holmes County)Visit any number of small towns and drive slowly over the hills and among the farms. Catering to your desire for simple pleasures of good food, country crafts, and plain old fashioned living. Many of the farms have flower gardens.
9. Slate Run Historical Farm ( Pickaway County)More of a history feature than a garden one, but it is interesting to see a living historical farm in action. Trails and events all year round. Farm flower and vegetable gardens.
10. Neighborhoods worth looking at:
Bexley, old part of town with fine homes, quiet streets, and beautiful landscaping (just east on Broad Street from Franklin Conservatory – which is not in the best part of town)
Clintonville, especially west of High Street. Older established neighborhood of modest means, but with excellent landscape examples and nice streets to stroll.
Grandview, like Clintonville, but near to the vivacious strip of shops and really good restaurants of Grandview Avenue. This is a thriving and busy neighborhood- in line skaters, strollers, shoppers, joggers. Enjoyable atmosphere without being frenetic.
Shopping:
Oakland Nursery in Delaware and northeast Columbus, Andersons Stores ( Sawmill, and also at Brice) and their garden centers.
Stuck in the downtown area? Try The North Market, for a farmers market in the city. My mom used to take me here when it was a giant open air market under this huge black tar covered roof, a bit rundown and seedy. But times have changed and the area became a bustling and trendy part of town. This is where lots of fresh and gourmet food and restaurants make their home (the Short North and the Brewery District), and they have a farmers market right inside the city. If you are the citified type that loves to Gallery hop- Short North is your destination.
