Stop to smell (not eat!) the roses: Cleveland Botanical Garden Dog Days of Summer

Before this summer, I had never been to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, much less picked up poop in them. Now, at the end of July, I can proudly say I’ve picked up poop in the Japanese Gardens, the Theme Gardens, and the Rose Garden. I’ve stopped for a drink from at least half of the dozen plus fountains in the gardens, including the showering jazz instruments and the trickling Zen fountain.

No, I haven’t been doing community service at the Gardens, and I am fully aware of the unsanitary conditions of those fountains. My Boxer-mix, Nosferatu, and I have been attending the Dog Days of Summer at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. This is the first summer that the Gardens have dared to allow dogs into their beautifully kept, temperamental gardens. So far, I haven’t seen any torn up Japanese Maples or any drastic decline of Dragonflies.

Admission is simple. The large gate to the left of the main Botanical Gardens entrance is wide open. Employees are at the entrance with poop-bags, dog biscuits, and a cash register. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $3 for children, and free for dogs and members. The employees are fully aware that when your dog enters, he will probably be quite overwhelmed, so they don’t get mad when you don’t give them your undivided attention. I’ve even seen employees chase after dogs that get loose in the paying process, and they’ve never even looked annoyed.

I’ve also found that as the summer goes on, the Gardens are filled with less and less dog-haters on Sundays. They must be learning. I’ve been delighted at the cooperation people have had. The dog breeds and sizes range from that’s-not-a-dog-that’s-a-cat to that’s-not-a-dog-that’s-a-moose.

The Dog Days of Summer continue through September 27th. For more information check out the website: http://www.cbgarden.org/dog_days.html It's a wonderful experience!