The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

Some native plants get tall...really tall! What do we do when our garden plants grow taller than our house? Do you have a signature staking technique? Have you heard of the Chelsea Chop? Let’s get our native gardens under control!

SPEAKERS: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist)

COST: Included with CGC membership

Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.

COST: Free!

The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Join us for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and discover the history of the park and the plants growing within it.

COST: Free!

We’ll be sprucing up the Food Forest by clearing weeds and cleaning up the edges of the beds.

We need your help this spring to grow 80 different species of native plants for our ReRooted program. This week, volunteers will work with CGC staff to pot up native plant seedlings.

The power of plants connects us and helps us maintain healthy, thriving lives. Join the Civic Garden Center to explore new worlds of plants while you relate to the familiarity of the sights and sounds of a beautiful historic garden. Each session will include a slideshow of local plants, a short lecture on international plant habitats and cultural agricultural practices, followed by an interactive hands-on horticultural activity.

Free and welcoming to all.

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

COST: Free!

We’ll be sprucing up the Open Oak Landing by clearing weeds and cleaning up the edges of the beds.

We need your help this spring to grow 80 different species of native plants for our ReRooted program. This week, volunteers will work with CGC staff to pot up native plant seedlings.

The Earth is pulsing with energy this month from not one, but two full moons! Join the circle as we sip, share, and craft herbal teas that will nourish us for the seasons ahead. We'll identify some of the medicinal properties of local herbs and how to identify them as you forage.

You're welcome to bring a favorite herbal tea blend to share and/or explore the offerings from our herb garden.

PRESENTER: Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)

COST: Included with CGC membership

Calling all nature lovers going into second through fifth grades...we want YOU to be part of our Summer Sprouts Camp!

The Civic Garden Center is excited to welcome ten incoming 2nd to incoming 5th graders to Hauck Botanic Garden for a week-long immersive day camp experience! Led by our experienced Youth Education Team, campers will work together to garden, cook, explore nature, play outdoor games, make eco-friendly crafts and more.

COST: $250

Did you know that the CGC is host to seven different types of composting systems? Take a walk with us to learn about the different methods of composting we have and how you can incorporate composting into your life! You’ll see Earth Cubes, vermicompost, bokashi, Johnson-Su bioreactors, a three-bin system, a tumbler and a top-loading composter.

COST: Free!

We’ll be doing the native plant version of the Chelsea Chop around the park as well as keeping up with those pesky weeds.

We need your help this spring to grow 80 different species of native plants for our ReRooted program. This week, volunteers will work with CGC staff to pot up native plant seedlings.

We’re thrilled to invite you to a brand-new CGC experience that’s been brewing behind the scenes: Coffee in the Garden!

Spend a beautiful spring morning surrounded by blooms, community and the rich aromas of expertly crafted coffee. Four of Cincinnati’s finest roasters—Deeper Roots Coffee, Mom 'n 'Em Coffee & Wine, Proud Hound Coffee and La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie—will each showcase tastings from a distinct coffee-growing region of the world. It’s a global coffee journey without ever leaving the garden.

COST: $40

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

COST: Free!

You’ve heard you should compost…now it’s time to learn how! This beginner-friendly class will cover the basics of outdoor composting, vermicompost, and bokashi. You'll learn what a healthy compost pile requires to be productive, how to troubleshoot common issues, and more.

INSTRUCTOR: Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)

COST: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

Are you a fan of playing cards or board games with new and old friends in one of the most beautiful gardens in the city?

Then come to Game Night at the CGC! Whether it’s Catan, Euchre, Happy Salmon, or something else, you're bound to find a game that piques your curiosity. The rules are simple: Bring Your Own Game (BYOG) and Bring Your Own Snacks (BYOS; no alcoholic beverages, please).

This event is held outdoors, weather permitting.

COST: Included with CGC membership

We’ll be doing the native plant version of the Chelsea Chop around the park as well as keeping up with those pesky weeds.

We need your help this spring to grow 80 different species of native plants for our ReRooted program. This week, volunteers will work with CGC staff to pot up native plant seedlings.

The power of plants connects us and helps us maintain healthy, thriving lives. Join the Civic Garden Center to explore new worlds of plants while you relate to the familiarity of the sights and sounds of a beautiful historic garden. Each session will include a slideshow of local plants, a short lecture on international plant habitats and cultural agricultural practices, followed by an interactive hands-on horticultural activity.

Free and welcoming to all.

Want to build your horticulture skills and knowledge in a relaxed, playful setting? Join us for Horticulture Summer Camp!

This seven-week educational experience led by CGC Horticulturist Julie brings adults out into the garden to rediscover the magic of summer while learning the fundamentals of horticulture. We'll explore topics related to soil health, plant biology, backyard ecology and garden maintenance. No matter your age or skill level, we’ll help you find the joy in gardening!

INSTRUCTOR: Julie Dennewitz, CGC Horticulturist

COST: $200

One of the best reasons to garden is to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. These fascinating little creatures are the foundation of the entire ecosystem—and they depend on native plants! What pollinators have you noticed in your garden this year?

SPEAKER: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist)

COST: Included with CGC membership

Naturally boost garden health, repel pests, and maximize space...by pairing plants!

In this beginner-friendly class, you'll learn how to transform your garden into a self-sustaining ecosystem by pairing plants that naturally support one another. We'll explore the science and tradition behind "plant partners" to help you boost yields, deter pests, and improve soil health without harsh chemicals.

INSTRUCTOR: Kymisha Montgomery (CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator)

COST: $20 / %15 for active CGC volunteers

Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.

COST: Free!

The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Join us for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and discover the history of the park and the plants growing within it.

COST: Free!

The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

Handwashing reduces the spread of foodborne illnesses—and it begins right in the garden! It's also a Good Agricultural Practice and essential for the safety of any garden space, whether that's a production business or a community, school, or backyard garden.

Join Nicole Gunderman from Hamilton County Conservation District at our CUF Restoration Site, where she'll share step-by-step instructions for making a DIY handwashing station using inexpensive materials. You'll learn what supplies are needed to stock your station and how to site it at your garden, farm, market booth, or roadside stand.

INSTRUCTOR: Nicole Gunderman (Hamilton County Conservation District Agricultural Specialist)

COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

COST: Free!

Ever wanted to create your own little terrarium world? Here's your chance! At this workshop, you'll learn how to assemble your very own terrarium—then get hands-on and bring to life a creation of your own to take home! No experience necessary. We'll also provide post-care tips to keep your terrarium thriving.

INSTRUCTOR: Luis Aguilar-Dwyer (CGC Enviromental Education Specialist)

COST: $50 / $45 for active CGC volunteers

We’ll be sprucing up the Open Oak Landing by clearing weeds and cleaning up the edges of the beds.

The power of plants connects us and helps us maintain healthy, thriving lives. Join the Civic Garden Center to explore new worlds of plants while you relate to the familiarity of the sights and sounds of a beautiful historic garden. Each session will include a slideshow of local plants, a short lecture on international plant habitats and cultural agricultural practices, followed by an interactive hands-on horticultural activity.

Free and welcoming to all.

Plants make great food, but they’re not just for eating! We humans have plants to thank for everything from building materials to containers, art supplies, and—of course—medicine. Join us as we explore and (re)discover unique uses of garden plants.

This class will be held at the Melrose Medicinal Garden: 2647 Melrose Ave, 45206.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

Are you curious about backyard beekeeping? Join Nicole Gunderman from Hamilton County Conservation District at our CUF Restoration Site for a basic introduction to what's involved in raising honeybees. You'll leave with enough information to make an educated decision about whether you'll go for it and learn more or it isn’t the right time or project for you.

Either way, you’ll learn a lot about honeybees, their fascinating life cycle, the important role they play as pollinators, and the next steps you can take in your beekeeping journey! You'll get to explore an empty beehive (no live bees) and handle the “tools of the trade,” including a protective bee suit, smoker, and hive tool.

Note this class will be held offsite at 2774 W. McMicken Ave.!

INSTRUCTOR: Nicole Gunderman (Hamilton County Conservation District Agricultural Specialist)

COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Did you know that the CGC is host to seven different types of composting systems? Take a walk with us to learn about the different methods of composting we have and how you can incorporate composting into your life! You’ll see Earth Cubes, vermicompost, bokashi, Johnson-Su bioreactors, a three-bin system, a tumbler and a top-loading composter.

COST: Free!

The power of plants connects us and helps us maintain healthy, thriving lives. Join the Civic Garden Center to explore new worlds of plants while you relate to the familiarity of the sights and sounds of a beautiful historic garden. Each session will include a slideshow of local plants, a short lecture on international plant habitats and cultural agricultural practices, followed by an interactive hands-on horticultural activity.

Free and welcoming to all.

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

COST: Free!

Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.

COST: Free!

The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Join us for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and discover the history of the park and the plants growing within it.

COST: Free!

The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

Join us in the garden for a Healthy Harvest experience! We'll start with a tour of the garden with time to explore and learn, then enjoy a cooking demonstration (with samples, of course!) using freshly picked produce. We’ll cover topics like seasonality, unique and rare crops, and new ways to use old standbys.

This class will be held at the Loveland Presbyterian Church Community Garden: 6796 Loveland-Miamiville Rd, 45140.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

Join us in the garden for a Healthy Harvest experience! We'll start with a tour of the garden with time to explore and learn, then enjoy a cooking demonstration (with samples, of course!) using freshly picked produce. We’ll cover topics like seasonality, unique and rare crops, and new ways to use old standbys.

This class will be held at the Mt. Airy Commons Community Garden: 5536 Colerain Ave, 45239.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

COST: Free!

When life gives you a bunch of old bricks, build a patio! That’s just one of many resourceful projects on show at the Camp Washington Community Garden, where years of problem-solving and creative solutions prove that sometimes you already have what you need to get the job done.

This class will be held at the Camp Washington Community Garden: 1252 Bates Ave, 45225.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

Calling all nature lovers going into second through fifth grades...we want YOU to be part of our Summer Sprouts Camp!

The Civic Garden Center is excited to welcome ten incoming 2nd to incoming 5th graders to Hauck Botanic Garden for a week-long immersive day camp experience! Led by our experienced Youth Education Team, campers will work together to garden, cook, explore nature, play outdoor games, make eco-friendly crafts and more.

COST: $250

Join us in the garden for a Healthy Harvest experience! We'll start with a tour of the garden with time to explore and learn, then enjoy a cooking demonstration (with samples, of course!) using freshly picked produce. We’ll cover topics like seasonality, unique and rare crops, and new ways to use old standbys.

This class will be held at the Northgate Community Garden: 9151 Zoellner Rd, 45251.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

We’ll be weeding flower beds, turning compost, and spreading mulch.

The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

Join us in the garden for a Healthy Harvest experience! We'll start with a tour of the garden with time to explore and learn, then enjoy a cooking demonstration (with samples, of course!) using freshly picked produce. We’ll cover topics like seasonality, unique and rare crops, and new ways to use old standbys.

This class will be held at the West End Community Garden: 941 Poplar St, 45214.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

The CGC and Sidestreams welcome you to the newly renovated Daryl Gordon Garden in Madisonville! Take a tour of this storied space, which includes row cropping, aquaponics, and live chickens. You'll learn how this garden was reactivated and once again turned into a part of Madisonville’s vibrant community.

This class will be held at the Daryl Gordon Community Garden: 6001 Chandler St, 45227.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

Are you a native plant novice? Expert? Somewhere in between? Join us for the Fall Native Plant Festival! Whether you don’t know what a native plant is or have been growing them for years, this free, multi-vendor celebration of all things native plants is for you. We’ll have the “who’s who” of Cincinnati-area native plant growers as well as vendors, educational sessions, food trucks, a beer garden, live music, kids’ activities and more.

The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

Don't miss out on months when you could still be growing! This class will cover strategies to make your harvest last beyond the traditional growing season. You'll learn how South Cumminsville gardeners take advantage of every opportunity to grow, including crop covers and perennial crops (like fruit trees)!

This class will be held at the South Cumminsville Community Garden: 3618 Roll Ave, 45223.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

The twelfth-century composer, herbalist and mystic Hildegard von Bingen, while better known to modern audiences for her music, was a careful and scientific observer of the natural world, cataloguing and detailing the uses of herbs for both physical and mental wellbeing and finding solace and health in nature. In her expansive work Physica, we see a curious mind placing scientific inquiry within a theological framework of the goodness of creation.

Join us as we experience Hildegard’s soaring music while participating in simple activities that help us see the world through her eyes. After a brief introduction to Hildegard, we’ll break into three groups and make our way out into Hauck Botanic Garden to explore three stations, each with a performer offering a sampling of Hildegard’s music and an accompanying activity: herbs for health and herbal tea in the Herb Garden, an overview of botanical salve-making (sample included!) in the Food Forest, and creating a small piece of meditative personal art in the Tranquility Garden. Each group will have the opportunity to experience all three stations.

Please note that this event will be held outdoors. In the event of bad weather on September 27, the performance will be moved to October 4 at 3pm. We will be standing and walking a considerable amount during this event, occasionally over uneven or unpaved terrain. The Herb Garden and Tranquility Garden are accessible by mulched or paved path, but the Food Forest is more difficult to reach.

PRICING:

• Through December 15, all four concerts in the series can be purchased together for a discounted series price of $125 (a $35 savings)! (Please note that ticket exchanges and partial refunds are not available on series tickets.)

• Starting December 16, any remaining tickets to individual concerts will be available for purchase; see pricing information for individual concerts below.

The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

For our final performance in the 2026 Hauck Concert Series, we’ll gather together in the CGC’s auditorium to hear beautiful string quartet music. Throughout the afternoon, we’ll share spiced wine and mulled cider, light bites, guided conversation and good company. At the end of the event, we’ll raffle off the one-of-a-kind centerpieces–all made by CGC Horticulturist Julie from garden findings–for lucky audience members to take home. Each ticket includes one (1) drink ticket and light bites.

PRICING:

• Through December 15, all four concerts in the series can be purchased together for a discounted series price of $125 (a $35 savings)! (Please note that ticket exchanges and partial refunds are not available on series tickets.)

• Starting December 16, any remaining tickets to individual concerts will be available for purchase; see pricing information for individual concerts below.