Harvest Blooms

Harvest Blooms is back at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens through November 1, running daily since it opened on September 26. It's the Conservatory's annual autumn tradition, and this year it's built around the same things that make it a local favorite: thousands of pumpkins, chrysanthemums, and ornamental cabbages taking over the garden landscapes and containers. Tucked in among the blooms are two pumpkin houses that bring a bit of seasonal whimsy to the whole thing.

If you've never been, the Conservatory is more than just a greenhouse. It's a horticultural and educational institution here in Columbus that houses exotic plant collections, special exhibitions, and Dale Chihuly artworks. The space is divided into distinct biomes, with the Pacific Island Water Garden and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus as part of the grounds. Harvest Blooms is just one part of what's on display during the fall.

While you're there, you can also see the Paul Busse Garden Railway, a 9-gauge model railway with 1,122 feet of track. There's also Through The Vines: A Seasonal Journey, a site-specific installation by the artists at Applied Imagination that lets you walk through the lights, sights, and sounds of the four seasons. If you're planning a full day, it's worth remembering that these are all in the same building, so you can hit the flower show, the railway, and the installation in one go.

Admission to Harvest Blooms is included in general admission, so you don't need a separate ticket for it. Just keep in mind that Pumpkins Aglow, a separate special engagement held on select October evenings, does require its own ticket. Harvest Blooms runs daily through November 1, so you've got a few weeks left to catch it.