Botanical gin is in, and we're here to help you make your own!

Want to add your own twist on a classic? In this class, we'll cover the basics of harvesting garden treasures to use in your very own concoctions. We'll taste some of the CGC staff’s creations, then take time to enjoy our fall garden and all the delights we have at our fingertips as we walk and sip and craft together.

You'll leave with a bottle of vodka from local distillery Five Stories Spirits, your own botanical collection and instructions for infusing. Make your next dinner party pop when you serve your own unique botanical gin!

This event is 21+.

Instructors: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist) and Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
Cost: $50

​Fall is here and the garden is bursting with edible treasures! Let’s find the roots, nuts and berries that can add local flavor and nourishment to our winter feasts. During this foraging tour, you'll learn to identify edible plants in the landscape, their uses and benefits, and the history of their relationships to humans.

Come prepared to sample! You may also bring a bag or basket to gather a few of your favorite edible plants to take home. You'll leave with a new perspective on the common plants around you as well as insight on native plants and our relationship with them.

You do not have to have your own yard to benefit from this class, as responsible urban foraging can be done anywhere . Even people with some foraging experience may learn something new in this class. To get the most out of it, you must be interested in native plants and their history. Children who are old enough to walk around for an hour are welcome.

Dress for the weather; class is rain or shine. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, and if you're a note taker, bring a pocket notebook!

Instructor: Howard Zuefle, nursery manager of Growing Value Nursery (Cincinnati Permaculture Institute’s edible plant nursery at the Enright EcoVillage)
Cost: $20

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 Ecology Education Manager. These free tours are held biweekly on Tuesdays from 11am to noon, no registration required. See our calendar for additional dates.

Questions? Call (513) 221-0981 or email Mary Dudley: mdudley@civicgardencenter.org.

Come de-stress, laugh, smile, and enjoy the pure silliness and fun of Goat Yoga! In honor of Halloween, the goats will even be dressed up in their finest costumes.

The cutest and friendliest farm babies in town are ready to play and snuggle with you. In this gentle, beginner-friendly session, you'll learn the basics of stress reduction through yogic breathing and postures while small baby or Nigerian Dwarf goats run about, climb on you, snuggle and bring laughter spontaneously in the moment as only goats can do! We'll spend 45 minutes doing Goat Yoga, then you'll spend 15 minutes petting the goats and taking photos with them.

This event is suitable for ages 10 and up. A standard Liability Waiver is required to participate and must be signed by a parent for minors.

Farmer Rob has been teaching yoga for over 20 years. The goats are from Good Green Earth Farm, an educational farm that brings farm animals to schools and daycare centers all around the Cincinnati and Dayton regions.

Cost: $25

Did you miss our Fall Native Plant Festival? Did you forget a plant or decide you wanted more?

You’re in luck! On 10/4, 10/11 and 10/18, we’re having “micro sales” where you can pick up the same CGC-grown native plants we sold at the Fall Native Plant Festival. Sam, our Conservation Program manager, will be on hand to answer any questions you might have. Just come into our lobby and let us know you’re here to shop for native plants.

DATES: Fridays, October 4, 11 and 18, 9am to 5pm

PLANTS: Plants are $8 each with a 10% discount on purchases of five or more plants. As of Tuesday, October 1, we have the following species available. (Please note that we cannot guarantee availability; this list is NOT updated in real time.)

Bee balm
Black-eyed Susan
Blue false indigo
Blue flag iris 
Blue mistflower
Clustered mountain mint
Columbine
Compass plant 
Culver's root
Cutleaf coneflower
Foxglove beardtongue
Golden Alexander
Great blue lobelia
Grey-headed coneflower
Illinois bundleflower
Little bluestem
New England aster
Obedient plant
Paw paw
Purple coneflower
Purple prairie clover
Rattlesnake master
Sky blue aster
Slender-leaf mountain mint
Smooth aster
Smooth oxeye
Spicebush
Stiff goldenrod
Swamp milkweed
Swamp rose mallow
Switchgrass
Turtlehead
Virginia mountain mint
Wild senna

Nurturing the Mind programs are comfortable, dementia-friendly gatherings that allow people living with dementia and their care partners to socialize and engage in activities in a safe, welcoming environment.

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 plants found around the planet, followed by an interactive hands-on horticultural activity.

Free and welcoming to all. Presented in partnership with the Episcopal Retirement Services Center for Memory Support and Inclusion. See our calendar for additional dates.

Reserve your spots by contacting Shannon Braun: sbraun@erslife.org or (513) 979-2302.

This fall, we’re partnering with Alms Park Allies to remove invasive plants in Alms Park…and we need your help! Join us in removing invasive honeysuckle and non-native vines that are damaging the native ecosystem. CGC staff and members of Alms Park Allies will teach volunteers how to identify and safely remove these invasive plants so beneficial native plants can take their place.

We’ll meet at Alms Park Pavilion, 4H6C+P6 Cincinnati, OH 45226 and go from there!

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 offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

Growing your own native plants is cost effective and incredibly satisfying! Come learn how to grow native plants from seed to seedling. We'll discuss seed collection, stratification, germination and transplanting as well as different seed starting methods using common household items. You'll even get to sow your own seeds to take home!

Instructor: Sam Settlemyre, CGC Conservation Program Manager
Cost: $35

Did you miss our Fall Native Plant Festival? Did you forget a plant or decide you wanted more?

You’re in luck! On 10/4, 10/11 and 10/18, we’re having “micro sales” where you can pick up the same CGC-grown native plants we sold at the Fall Native Plant Festival. Sam, our Conservation Program manager, will be on hand to answer any questions you might have. Just come into our lobby and let us know you’re here to shop for native plants.

DATES: Fridays, October 4, 11 and 18, 9am to 5pm

PLANTS: Plants are $8 each with a 10% discount on purchases of five or more plants. As of Tuesday, October 1, we have the following species available. (Please note that we cannot guarantee availability; this list is NOT updated in real time.)

Bee balm
Black-eyed Susan
Blue false indigo
Blue flag iris 
Blue mistflower
Clustered mountain mint
Columbine
Compass plant 
Culver's root
Cutleaf coneflower
Foxglove beardtongue
Golden Alexander
Great blue lobelia
Grey-headed coneflower
Illinois bundleflower
Little bluestem
New England aster
Obedient plant
Paw paw
Purple coneflower
Purple prairie clover
Rattlesnake master
Sky blue aster
Slender-leaf mountain mint
Smooth aster
Smooth oxeye
Spicebush
Stiff goldenrod
Swamp milkweed
Swamp rose mallow
Switchgrass
Turtlehead
Virginia mountain mint
Wild senna

Come join us as we install CGC-grown native plants into our butterfly garden to enhance the space and showcase a wide variety of native species. We need your help to clear out weeds, a few small trees and several non-native species, such as hostas. Then we'll plant dozens of plugs that have been grown here in our hoop house across the garden!

The plants we've grown represent a wide variety of regionally sourced and ethically harvested native plants. Although we sell them at the Fall Native Plant Festival, many of them are not yet found anywhere in Hauck Botanic Garden. By planting these species on our grounds, we'll be able to showcase their beauty and value while creating new habitat for pollinators.

This workday is for anyone interested in learning more about native plants, conservation and ecologically-minded gardening. You'll gain hands-on experience in preparing and installing a new pollinator garden. And remember, no prior training is necessary to attend our workdays!

Detailed information will be sent to registered participants, so keep an eye out for your confirmation email!

Have questions? Feel free to reach out to us at volunteer@civicgardencenter.org

With the passage of Issue 2 in November of 2023, home gardeners can now try their hand at growing Cannabis sp. Since this crop can require a significant investment on the part of the grower, it's important to learn best practices before starting out.

This course will cover the botany of Cannabis sp., the process of how to successfully grow it either indoors or outside and tips from our expert instructors. You'll walk away with a list of supplies, an understanding of next steps to take should you choose to embark on a new adventure and grow Cannabis sp. at home, and the tools to tackle the final tasks of production as your crop reaches maturity. The class will include time for questions.

Please note:

• Some of the legalities of growing this crop have not been finalized and it is the responsibility of each participant to research and follow all regulations according to the law.

• The Civic Garden Center and its staff does not provide any legal advice, and all inquiries will be directed to local and state legislatures.

• Participants in this class must be at least 21 years old. We will check IDs during class check-in as needed.

Instructors: Stephanie Fransen & Mary Dudley
Cost: $20 / $10 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 Ecology Education Manager. These free tours are held biweekly on Tuesdays from 11am to noon, no registration required. See our calendar for additional dates.

Questions? Call (513) 221-0981 or email Mary Dudley: mdudley@civicgardencenter.org.

Did you know it's the year of the camelid?

It's true that in our part of the world, we don't have many camelid animals in our own gardens. But we can learn about those that do fit well into our region: goats and sheep! Ready to learn more about these amazing ruminants? Join us this fall and be ready for spring.

All ability levels are welcome to attend this three-part series (Wednesdays, 10/23, 10/30 and 11/6). We'll dive into the basics of establishing a healthy habitat for goats and/or sheep, paying close attention to their life cycle stages and nutritional needs. Nurturing native plants and natural cycles are inherent in this process and will also be discussed.

Meet Your Instructor: Sustainability in action lies just a few steps away from Doug Crouch’s back door. At his Kentucky farm, Treasure Lake, Doug practices permaculture, ruminant husbandry and all-around positive productivity. He's also the founder of TreeYo Permaculture and holds a degree in Fish and Wildlife Management. Learn more about Doug here.

Cost: $50 for the three-part series

Nurturing the Mind programs are comfortable, dementia-friendly gatherings that allow people living with dementia and their care partners to socialize and engage in activities in a safe, welcoming environment.

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 plants found around the planet, followed by an interactive hands-on horticultural activity.

Free and welcoming to all. Presented in partnership with the Episcopal Retirement Services Center for Memory Support and Inclusion. See our calendar for additional dates.

Reserve your spots by contacting Shannon Braun: sbraun@erslife.org or (513) 979-2302.

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 offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

This fall, we’re partnering with Alms Park Allies to remove invasive plants in Alms Park…and we need your help! Join us in removing invasive honeysuckle and non-native vines that are damaging the native ecosystem. CGC staff and members of Alms Park Allies will teach volunteers how to identify and safely remove these invasive plants so beneficial native plants can take their place.

We’ll meet at Alms Park Pavilion, 4H6C+P6 Cincinnati, OH 45226 and go from there!

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 Ecology Education Manager. These free tours are held biweekly on Tuesdays from 11am to noon, no registration required. See our calendar for additional dates.

Questions? Call (513) 221-0981 or email Mary Dudley: mdudley@civicgardencenter.org.

You’ve heard that you should compost…now it’s time to learn how!

Composting is a simple task that each of us can complete responsibly as we strive to reduce the negative effects of environmental degradation and soil loss. Just as essential to our lives as recycling and waste removal, composting has the potential to build healthy soils and reduce landfill area. Whether you're eager to green your lifestyle or increase soil health, there are several options for small-scale composting that can be done at home, in an apartment or in the garden.

This beginner-friendly workshop will cover the basics of outdoor composting, vermicompost and bokashi. Participants will also learn what a healthy compost pile requires to be productive and ways to troubleshoot common issues. Weather permitting, we will walk around the CGC's compost area and discuss the pros and cons of several types of compost systems.

Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Director of Education
Cost: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

Nurturing the Mind programs are comfortable, dementia-friendly gatherings that allow people living with dementia and their care partners to socialize and engage in activities in a safe, welcoming environment.

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 plants found around the planet, followed by an interactive hands-on horticultural activity.

Free and welcoming to all. Presented in partnership with the Episcopal Retirement Services Center for Memory Support and Inclusion. See our calendar for additional dates.

Reserve your spots by contacting Shannon Braun: sbraun@erslife.org or (513) 979-2302.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year here in Ohio. So, let’s get outside and enjoy it!

On this interpretive tour, we'll explore Hauck Botanic Garden at the peak of its autumn splendor. We will encounter a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs and learn their history as well as how they can be used to brighten the home landscape.

This class is for those looking for a leisurely and informative walk through one of Cincinnati’s heritage gardens, guided by Julie, our CGC Horticulturist. All ages and skill levels are welcome! We’ll be outside the entire time so please dress appropriately and, if you’d like, bring a water bottle or a pocket notebook.

Instructor: Julie Dennewitz, CGC Horticulturist
Cost: $20 / $10 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 offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

Humans and oak trees have had an intimate relationship for thousands of years, literally shaping each other’s development. Oaks are the keystone of our ecosystem and provide us with oxygen, wood, heat, charcoal, hunting grounds, tannins, and best of all… FOOD!

In this hands-on workshop, permaculturist Howard Zuefle connects us with the ways of our ancestors and the sacred oak. We'll learn how to gather acorns, then process them and prepare bread or muffins.

Instructor: Howard Zuefle, nursery manager of Growing Value Nursery (Cincinnati Permaculture Institute’s edible plant nursery at the Enright EcoVillage)

Cost: $35 / $25 for active CGC volunteers

This fall, we’re partnering with Alms Park Allies to remove invasive plants in Alms Park…and we need your help! Join us in removing invasive honeysuckle and non-native vines that are damaging the native ecosystem. CGC staff and members of Alms Park Allies will teach volunteers how to identify and safely remove these invasive plants so beneficial native plants can take their place.

We’ll meet at Alms Park Pavilion, 4H6C+P6 Cincinnati, OH 45226 and go from there!

With the passage of Issue 2 in November of 2023, home gardeners can now try their hand at growing Cannabis sp. Since this crop can require a significant investment on the part of the grower, it's important to learn best practices before starting out.

This course will cover the botany of Cannabis sp., the process of how to successfully grow it either indoors or outside and tips from our expert instructors. You'll walk away with a list of supplies, an understanding of next steps to take should you choose to embark on a new adventure and grow Cannabis sp. at home, and the tools to tackle the final tasks of production as your crop reaches maturity. The class will include time for questions.

Please note:

• Some of the legalities of growing this crop have not been finalized and it is the responsibility of each participant to research and follow all regulations according to the law.

• The Civic Garden Center and its staff does not provide any legal advice, and all inquiries will be directed to local and state legislatures.

• Participants in this class must be at least 21 years old. We will check IDs during class check-in as needed.

Instructors: Stephanie Fransen & Mary Dudley
Cost: $20 / $10 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 Ecology Education Manager. These free tours are held biweekly on Tuesdays from 11am to noon, no registration required. See our calendar for additional dates.

Questions? Call (513) 221-0981 or email Mary Dudley: mdudley@civicgardencenter.org.

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 offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

This fall, we’re partnering with Alms Park Allies to remove invasive plants in Alms Park…and we need your help! Join us in removing invasive honeysuckle and non-native vines that are damaging the native ecosystem. CGC staff and members of Alms Park Allies will teach volunteers how to identify and safely remove these invasive plants so beneficial native plants can take their place.

We’ll meet at Alms Park Pavilion, 4H6C+P6 Cincinnati, OH 45226 and go from there!

Achieving a beautiful garden in July is pretty simple. Flowers are blooming and everything looks green and lush. But keeping that same garden beautiful in December takes a little more thought.

In this class, we’ll look at which native plants provide “winter interest” such as elegant bark, bright berries or unique seedheads. Then we’ll talk about how you can use these plants in the landscape to create a garden that looks great and supports wildlife all year long.

This class is for both beginner gardeners and those looking to take their native plant knowledge to the next level. We’ll start with an informative presentation then take a tour of Hauck Botanic Garden to see some examples of winter interest (weather permitting). You’ll leave with a list of recommended plants and plenty of inspiration for your own four-season garden. Your ticket includes admittance to our Native Plants for Homeowners Q&A on Saturday, December 14 as well.

Instructor: Julie Dennewitz, CGC Horticulturist
Cost: $25 / $20 for active CGC volunteers

The 2024 gardening season is over and we know you’re already planning next year’s garden. But you may still have plant questions that have gone unanswered. If you’re wondering what to plant when and how, bring your questions to our Native Plants for Homeowners Q&A and let our panel of industry experts share their knowledge with you!

Panel will include Brian Heinz (Director of Horticulture at Spring Grove Arboretum), Jennifer Smith (Horticulturist and Garden Designer at Wimberg Landscaping), Sarah Geiger-Behm (Garden Designer at Wimberg Landscaping), Scott Beuerlein (Horticulturist at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden) and others. These local professionals will share their experiences working with native plants in the landscape and dive deep into any gardening topic you want to discuss! No question is too basic or too complicated, so come prepared for a lively discussion and be ready to leave with new knowledge and ideas for 2025.

Note: If you're signed up for Native Plants for Four Seasons, your ticket to that class includes admission to the Q&A. No need to purchase a separate ticket!

Cost: $10

The CGC is closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We’ll see you on Tuesday!

The CGC is closed in observance of Memorial Day. We’ll see you on Tuesday!

The CGC is closed in observance of Juneteenth. We’ll see you on Friday!

The CGC is closed in observance of the Fourth of July. We’ll see you next week!

The CGC is closed in observance of Labor Day. We’ll see you next week!