COMING UP
Events and things to do in central Ohio:
Dawes receives distiction
Dawes Arboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Road SE, Newark, recently was recognized as a Learning Center for Native Plants by Ohio Native Plant Month organization, and is celebrating with events calling attention the arboretum's many spring wildflowers. The arboretum will host a virtual happy hour at 6 p.m. Thursday in which guests are encouraged to sip cocktails while learning about Ohio's many native wildflowers and their historic uses. The cost is $7. For a real-life experience of those flowers, visit the Woodland Garden between noon and 2 p.m. Sundays in April to talk about native plants with arboretum staff and receive a native seed packet (while supplies last). Arboretum admission is free on Earth Day, April 22, with reservations required. For more information, call 740-323-2355 or visit dawesarb.org.
Franklin Park abloom, aflutter
Celebrate spring inside and outside at Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St. The “Blooms and Butterflies” exhibit, now celebrating its 27th year at the conservatory and running through May 31, is free with admission, with hundreds of butterflies flying around the Pacific Island Water Garden. Outside in the Grand Mallway and Children's Garden, also free with admission, are the 125,000 flowers of “Columbus Blooms,” on display through the end of April. The conservatory also offers a range of virtual gardening classes, including Composting 101 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and Vegetable Gardening at 6 p.m. Thursday (each $25, or $20 for members). For more information, call 614715-8000 or visit www.fpconservatory.org.
Gardening classes abound
Those looking to dig a little deeper into gardening can check out the Columbus Garden School, 1350 E. Cooke Road. The school offers a wide range of online classes, from “Grow Your Own Asparagus” at 9:30 a.m. Saturday for $15, to a four-session class on “Raising Meat
Chickens” beginning at 7 p.m. April 19, for $75. For more information, visit columbusgardenschool.com.
Herb classes, sale
Real-life classes will be taking place this spring at the Ohio Herb Center, 110 Mill St., Gahanna. At 7 p.m. Thursday, explore how to use garden herbs in salts and sugar, and take home some samples; and at 7 p.m. on April 29, make stone garden markers. The price for each is $25. The center will also sponsor an herb sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 1 at Veterans Memorial Park, 73 W. Johnstown Road, Gahanna. For more information, call 614642-4372 or visit ohioherbcenter.org
Spring Fest at Lowe's
Lowe's will be diving into spring with garden-related giveaways in its Spring Fest 2021. Sign up online to receive free treats such as a Mystery Garden Pinata Kit, which includes “mystery seed bombs and growfetti”; or a Butterfly Quest Kit, including wood, paint, paintbrush and seeds. Times and kits vary by location. For more information, visit lowes.com.
Plant swap afoot
If you have too many of one plant, and are looking for another, take your labeled spares to the free Plant Swap at 3 p.m. Saturday at Beechwood Trails Park and Pool, 248 Needles Drive, Pataskala. For more information, visit www.beechwoodtrails parkandpool.com.
School garden classes
Teachers and others looking to set up school gardens can sign up for a series of classes sponsored by 4-H Project Green Teacher. The classes will run via Zoom from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 7-11, with a cost of $25 for the series. For more information, visit franklin.osu.edu.
Events for Coming Up must be submitted at least 10 days in advance of publication date. Please include COMING UP in the subject line and send to Becky Kover (bkover@dispatch.com). Submissions must include times, dates, locations,costs of events and a website for more information.