The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Holden continues to grow
More activities on tap at Kirtland arboretum
Holden Arboretum is hot off of a record-breaking year and things don’t appear to be slowing down in 2017.
It was the first full year that the wildly popular Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower were open to the public, and attendance topped 178,450.
“To put that in perspective, the record for attendance had been 122,882 in 2007, when we held the Holden Express Garden Railroad exhibit,” spokesman Dave Lowery said.
Attendance in 2015 was 96,620. Nearly that many visitors climbed the 120-foot-tall tower in 2016. The walkway — a 500-footlong path suspended 65 feet above the forest floor — was used by about 105,000.
There also is evidence that the structures, which were part of Holden’s $8.9 million New Leaf capital campaign, are introducing newcomers to the 3,600acre “outdoor living museum” in Kirtland.
So where does Holden go from here?
“With the new lakeside terrace at Corning Lake complete, giving us a place with a ‘wow’ factor for our summer concert series, our next project will be the creation of Holden Grove on the southwest side of Corning Lake, near the Paine Rhododendron Discovery Garden,” interim CEO Paul Abbey said.
“The area will feature rolling topography, planted with three groves of trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns and spring bulbs. The trees will frame the view of Corning Lake, and seating areas will provide guests with a place to enjoy a stunning view of the lake. The plan is to have that completed this fall.
“After that, we have a list of new improvements, including new gardens, under consideration by the board.”
A number of other new offerings are planned for guests this year. They include:
• The annual Arbor Day celebration will transition from a weekend-long event of free admission to a oneday celebration April 28. Gate admission will be free for nonmembers that day.
Tickets still must be purchased for the tower and walkway: $4 for adults, $2 for children. Kayri Havens, of the Chicago Botanical Gardens, will lecture in the evening on “Cultivating Plant Conservation for the Future.”
• Habitat Hut — Starting May 6, the new children’s activity center near prairie garden for children ages 2 to 8 will be hold “open huts” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Education staff and volunteers will be on hand to provide a guided experience exploring different habitats.
• Celebration of Trees — Aug. 12-13. Includes children’s crafts and tree climbing, the Great Lakes Timber Show, chainsaw-carving demos, guided tours and music
• Chefs for Hire food service — May 6 through Oct. 29, Chefs for Hire will be offering a variety of hot sandwiches, chips and desserts for sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekend.
Along with the summer concert series — kicking off June 20 — returning events include the Plant Sale, May 19-21; Bouquets Wine Tasting, June 3; the Woodland 5K on June 18; and the Woodland Twilight Benefit July 15.
This year, Holden Forest & Gardens also launched a joint membership program with individual memberships available for $65, dual memberships for $75, family memberships for $85, and friends and family memberships at $150.
“These give members full access to both the Arboretum and the Botanical Garden, free admission to the Canopy Walk and Tower, and member rates on classes at both locations as well as all the other benefits of members,” Lowery said.
Memberships are discounted $10 for seniors age 60 and above.
“It’s a small increase in price, but members are able to lock in their current rate when they renew for another year.”