By Layla Bellows
Fall might seem like the time of year when botanical gardens would wind down — budding blooms are the hallmark of spring’s warming temperatures. But cooler nights and milder days bring forth spectacular colors and treats all their own, making it the perfect time to amble through the all-natural exhibits at botanical gardens.
Chrysanthemums steal the show this time of year, and you can see why at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Mich., during its
Colorfall annual exhibition opening Sept. 17. The gardens have thousands of chrysanthemums, but undoubtedly the most exciting spot is the Seasonal Display Greenhouse, where 30 spheres of the fall flower are suspended from the ceiling. For a Far-East take on chrysanthemums, visit the
Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Neb., where the brightly colored petals are set against a Japanese theme that includes bamboo, water features and a sand garden. The exhibit opens Oct. 2.
It’s also harvest time, and as edible gardens continue to, well, grow in popularity, many botanical gardens have led the charge to celebrate the picking season and the localvore movement. The Cleveland Botanical Garden hosts
Ripe! Food and Garden Festival Sept. 24-26, during which attendees can attend everything from a mozzarella cheese-making demonstration to a composting class. There are also special programs for kids ranging from nutrition classes to ice cream making. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is celebrating the bounty of its edible garden through art.
Blown Organics: The Glass of Cohn-Stone Studios features hand-blown glass apples, pears and peaches as well as a cornucopia bursting with brightly colored pumpkins and gourds set amongst its edible flora.
Brilliant fall colors aren’t exclusive to the garden, either. Monarchs are in the midst of their annual migration, and
Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden is a great place to see them up close during its live Monarch exhibit Sept. 25-Nov. 14. It’s complete with educational information about the butterflies’ life cycle and migration patterns, and tagging demonstrations occur ever Thursday afternoon.