The spring season is full of changes and growth. At The Dawes Arboretum, we track and monitor the latest blooms of plants, migration of birds, appearance of mushrooms and where exactly you can find these exciting natural phenomena on our grounds. Our pop-up exhibits are included with your admission into The Arboretum and allow you to learn all about the beauty of nature when spring returns!
For each pop-up exhibit you will hear from Hannah Dillemuth, Learning & Engagement Educator & Camp Coordinator. Hannah will be able to speak on all things nature and provide deep insight as to the “why” behind. Each exhibit will also offer a series of interactive displays that help explore some of the most interesting topics in nature. With a different topic every week, you are able to experience the fascinating natural world rather than just reading about it. You will be guided through the best locations on our grounds to view the phenomena first-hand and also check out exhibit materials. Regardless of your own personal knowledge, these pop-up exhibits can help you engage with nature on a deeper level.
While the content mentioned above may seem best suited for an adult audience, there will also be smaller activities available such as crafts, scavenger hunts or color pages available for younger children. Below are the upcoming pop-up exhibits and their topics:
Saturday, March 16 & Sunday, March 17
Pop-Up Exhibit: Amphibians Among Us | 1 to 4pm
What is cold-blooded, can breathe through its skin, and undergoes a complete metamorphosis? Amphibians of course! Learn about the frogs and salamanders of Ohio and where you might see them at the Arboretum.
Saturday, March 23 & Sunday, March 24
Pop-Up Exhibit: Spring is in the Air | 1 to 4pm
What are some of the surefire signs that spring is just around the corner? Learn about some of the earliest blooming wildflowers, the first birds and frogs to call, and the natural clock that drives these changes.
Saturday, March 30 & Sunday, March 31
Pop-Up Exhibit: Up in the Clouds | 1 to 4pm
Maybe you’ve spent an afternoon watching the clouds go by and seeing if they resemble anything, but did you know there is a lot you can learn just by keeping an eye on the sky? Come learn all about clouds and other interesting weather phenomena and what they can tell us!
Saturday, April 6 & Sunday, April 7
Pop-Up Exhibit: Wonderful Wetlands | 1 to 4pm
Wetlands host an amazing diversity of plants and animals but did you know they provide vital services to us too? Dive into the importance of wetlands and the wildlife that call them home.
Saturday, April 13 & Sunday, April 14
Pop-Up Exhibit: Spring Ephemerals | 1 to 4pm
Many of Ohio’s most treasured wildflowers are spring ephemerals: they appear in the spring for a short window before setting seed then fully dying back as if it were never there. Discover the rich history and ecology of these fleeting wildflowers.
Saturday, April 20 & Sunday, April 21
Pop-Up Exhibit: Trees Abloom | 1 to 4pm
Dogwoods, redbuds, cherries, and magnolias - flowering trees are one of the many joys of spring. Uncover some history about these blossoms and learn about the wildlife that rely on them.
Sunday, April 28
Pop-Up Exhibit: Morel Mushrooms & More | 1 to 4pm
Get tips on where to find and how to identify one of the most sought after wild mushrooms in the world - the morel mushroom. Get a glimpse of their ecology and history and learn about some other spring fruiting fungi.
Saturday, May 4 & Sunday, May 5
Pop-Up Exhibit: The Great Spring SongBird Migration | 1 to 4pm
Every spring billions of birds make the journey from their winter roosts to their nesting grounds - some even traveling up to 16,000 miles! Find out who is passing through The Arboretum now and who is here to stay for the summer before making the long journey back in the fall.
Saturday, May 11 & Sunday, May 12
Pop-Up Exhibit: Eggs Abound | 1 to 4pm
Eggs are a marvel of nature! Discover what adaptations make eggs so special, who all lays them in the animal kingdom, and get an introduction to egg identification.
Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19
Pop-Up Exhibit: Baby Blues and Other Birdhouse Nesters | 1 to 4pm
The Arboretum has over 100 monitored bird boxes - who can you find nesting inside? Identify different species’ nests and eggs and learn about parenting behavior and nestling development.
Saturday, May 25 & Sunday, May 26
Pop-Up Exhibit: Nature's Great Inventions | 1 to 4pm
Biomimicry is learning from nature’s forms, processes, and ecosystems to build better designs. An example you may have heard about is the invention of Velcro, a design based on burs from plants. Come discover even more examples of nature’s best ideas!