Rockefeller Park Greenhouse in Cleveland

The Rockefeller Greenhouse is a hidden gem in the heart of the city (see the map). The greenhouse was part of John D. Rockefeller's estate, and it is now owned by the city of Cleveland and is free to the public. Cleveland Cultural Gardens are just down the road from the greenhouse. Rockefeller's final resting place is in the nearby Garfield cemetery.

The Greenhouse can rival a true botanical garden and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy plants and flowers all year round. Indoor gardens include Water Garden with tropical plants, fruits and seasonal flowers, Cactus House, Fern Room and several more. Outdoor gardens include Japanese and Peach gardens, and the Talking Garden for the Blind.

Tropical Showhouse


The entrance to Rockefeller Park Greenhouse


Tropical Showhouse is a a water garden with tropical fruit. You can see banana trees with green fruit and a purple bloom.


A ponderosa (bearded) lemon with a long white beard. Keep on walking and you will see a bearded cactus too.


Papaya; Shell ginger


Sago palm and a Grapefruit tree

Blue Water Basin


Flowers in the water basin room


A vase plant -- it looks like a real vase with water inside.


A plant growing through its shell

Red and Yellow Flowers in the Theme Showhouse


Flowers room


Orchid and other flowers. Read more in Reigning Trowel in a Kingdom of Orchids. NYTimes, 02/2008.

Cacti Showhouse


Cactus garden


"Old man cactus" with a long white beard; Turk's cap; Pin cushion; Cactus flower


Barrel cactus

White Flowers in the Water Garden


White flowers room

Fern Showhouse


Fern Garden with baby tears fern in the center; Plume asparagus

Outdoor Gardens


Outdoor Gardens in the winter. Check out how different they look in the photos taken during the Annual Spring Bulb Show below.


The Peace Garden on the left of the parking lot


Tulips


Tulips and more flowers


The English garden on the right of the parking lot


Talking Garden for the Blind


Lolly the Trolley (Cleveland sightseeing tours) stops at the Rockefeller Greenhouse.


Rockefeller Greenhouse. Click here for larger photos.


Video of indoor gardens

References:
Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, 750 E. 88th Street, Cleveland, OH 44108, Phone: 216-664-3103, Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Free, Official website of the Rockefeller Greenhouse.

Further reading:
City of Cleveland Enlarges and Improves Rockefeller Park Greenhouse - Properties Mag.com
Rockefeller Park Greenhouse - Ohio Traveler.com
Rockefeller Park - Canal Way Ohio.com
Rockefeller Park Greenhouse - 10 best.com
Cleveland Cultural Gardens. More information on ClevelandMemory.org
Cleveland rocks - USA Today
Family Fun within Easy Reach - Cuyahoga County Public Library

Created: 04/05/2005
Updated: 02/07/2008