Highfield Discovery Garden

Visiting Highfield Discovery Garden is like a breath of fresh air. This is an enchanting garden oasis nestled in Glenwood Gardens (a beautiful gem in the Hamilton County Park system). If you haven't visited, please make the effort - your children will be delighted and you will be pleasantly surprised. You enter Highfield Discovery Garden through the Cotswold Visitor Center, where you will find Nature's Niche gift shop that is filled with adorable garden gifts, books and toys. They also have interactive garden computer games and a book nook with puppets to play with. After your kids get their nature stamp, you can head into the Discovery Garden.

We visited last week and the gardens were in bloom. It was beautiful. There were lush greens, gorgeous flowers, vegetables growing and you could hear bullfrogs croaking contentedly in the pond. At the center of the park is the Discovery Tree which is all about fun. The kids can run through the tunnels under the tree and head to the top through its center where they can safely view the grounds minus any hovering parents (yes, I can be one of those too). There are interactive nature activities surrounding the tree to spark their interest. Mailboxes are placed throughout and if you open them, you may find a scavenger hunt that directs your kids to different areas of the park - it's fun to have them get involved in the picture search.

After they get some of their energy out exploring the tree, they can head to one of the seven adorable garden areas. Next to the tree house is Frog & Toad's pond. You'll see some fish as well as some toads and frogs (you may hear them croak first). Bring those cameras and take their picture with a life-sized Frog & Toad. Next, let them enjoy watering the surrounding flowers, grasses and plants at the working water pump - it's amazing how long they will be entertained filling up buckets of water (bring some extra clothes since getting wet is guaranteed).

If your little one enjoys tea parties, then head to Grandma's Scent Garden and enter a house that is just their size. You can pass the time on the wooden swings and enjoy the sites while they are busy with their tea party. If tea isn't their thing, then they may want to head to the Trolley Garden where they will see miniature trains making their journey through the garden. They can even play train conductor as they enter the mini train depot where they can make the trains stop and go.

If you need to cool off during your visit, head inside the nature center where they have puzzles, books, games, nature exhibits, and some small animals on display. This is completely kid-friendly with small tables and chairs. There usually is a free nature program that you can see if you time it right. The staff and volunteers are so helpful since they really have a genuine love of nature and gardening. They have weekly themes such as "Planting Time" (June 2-7), "Buggy Things" (June 9-14), "Music in the Garden" (June 23-28) and "Victory Gardens" (June 30-July 5).

You'll want to head down the path and over the bridge to the new Fairy Garden. It is adorable and so detailed. Have your kids play "I spy" and point out all the fun things the fairies are up to. My daughter saw a fairy in a tire swing, but she wondered why the fairy would be in a tire swing since she can actually fly.

Since you're not allowed to bring food into the Discovery Garden, pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at the shaded tree area located outside of the gardens. It has big stone rocks where you can sit and have lunch (also perfect for an impromptu theatrical performance). One of the best things about Highfield Discovery Garden is that it's affordable. A season pass for a family of four is only $30 and you're allowed to add on additional members for only $4 (this can include grandparents). Daily rates are only $4 per adult and $3 for ages 2-12 years.

If you need other suggestions on family-friendly activities then please visit MasonMetu - Greater Cincinnati's one-stop site for family fun!

www.discoverygarden.org

10397 Springfield Pike

Cincinnati, Ohio 45215

513-771-TREE