Please use this as a supplement to information provided on any Metroparks maps.

Messages for InterpretationTimeless layers of formal garden design blend with natural and cultural history to make Toledo Botanical Garden unique.• Eachvisitoffersanewexperienceasbeautyunfoldsthroughseasonallandscapes.

• Nativerestorationinitiativescomplimentthegardenandenhancebiodiversity.

• IdeasforhomeandyardcanbediscoveredatthisMetropark.

• TBG’sshistoryandvolunteerismresonatewith communityinvolvement.

What’s In A Name?Since 1989, this site has been Toledo Botanical Garden, reflectiveofitsgrowingsizeandmission.Itformerlyhadbeen both Crosby Gardens, and George P. Crosby Park, whichhonoredthemanwhodonatedtheoriginalprop-erty.HeisstillrecognizedtodaythroughCrosbyLakeaswellasCrosbyFestivaloftheArts--apopularannualeventwhoseproceedsgotosupportcommunitygardensthroughtheevent’ssponsor,ToledoGROWS.

Natural and Human HistoryTBGisamuseumofplants,offeringvisitorsdisplaygar-dens,plantandtreecollections,andnativeandrestoredareas.SometimesatTBG,nativeandcultivatedspeciesgrowsidebyside,whichmakesanexcellentlearningcomparison.Thegreatvarietyherealsocreatesastore-houseofideasforhomelandscaping.

ThesandandunderlyingclaycharacterizeTBGaspartoftheOakOpeningsRegion.OnepartofthisMetroparkfeaturingnativeplantsandwildlifeistherestoredHillStreamcorridoralongCrosbyLake.Indecadespast,twodamshadbeenbuiltonHillStreamtoformCrosbyLake.Recentrestorationremovedthedamsandaddedriffles,ledges, and rock structures to redirect the stream, reduce erosionandenhancefishhabitat.Nativeplantingsatthewater’sedgesalsoincreasehabitatforbirds,butterfliesand other wildlife.

TBG history begins in 1964, when George Crosby donated 20 acres of his former horse farm and stable totheCityofToledo.Crosbyhadplantedtheareawithover350individualtreesandhundredsofshrubsofmanyvarieties.Openingtothepublicin1968,theearlyyearsbroughtaninitiativeforenvironmentaleducation,andToledoPublicSchoolsbeganpurchasinglandnextdoorforavocationalandagriculturaleducationcenter.ThiswasthebeginningofwhattodayisTBG’sneighborandpartner,TheNaturalScienceandTechnologyCenter.

Toledo Botanical Garden Highlights

AsTBGbecameahubforartisticdesign,sculptureswereaddedtoenhancethebeauty.Oneoftheearliestis“OldWomanandBirds,”purchasedin1973withthehelpofTheArtsCommissionofGreaterToledowhocontinuetomaintainitthroughtheArtinPublicPlacesprogram.Sincethen,overadozenmoresculptureshavebeenincorporated.

Alsointheearly1970’s,asmallhousingsub-divisionwaspurchasedandbecametheoriginoftoday’sArtist’sVil-lage, where working art studios and galleries accommo-datepotters,glassblowers,photographersandpainters.Today one of these houses is also the headquarters for TheOhioStateUniversityCooperativeExtensionService,LucasCounty,whoadministersthepopularMasterGar-denerandOhioCertifiedVolunteerNaturalistprograms.

Old Woman with Birds statue

Virginia opossum (young)

Song sparrow

Daylily Walk

Hill ditch stream site

Baltimore oriole

ThePeterNavarreMemorialCabin,visibleneartheCon-ferenceCenterParkingLot,wasmovedtoTBGin1975.Itis not clear whether this cabin was built by Peter, his son, orevenafterNavarre’sdeath.BeforearrivingatTBG,ithadbeenmovedseveraltimesfromitsoriginallocationeast of Toledo.

TheMetroparkspartnershipwiththeToledoBotani-calGardenBoard,Inc.beganin2006,andin2017,TBGbecameaMetropark.Theincredibleworkofvolunteers,gardeninggroupsandstaffisreflectedininspireddesignsthatofferbeautyandpeacefulnesstothosevisitingthisuniquejewelnowpartofMetroparksToledo.

Pleasestayontrailsandinlawnareas,leaveyourpetsathome and your bicycles at the rack located in the front of theElmerDriveentrance.

Plant Life (* = State-listed as rare)Trees/shrubs include:Larch DouglasfirNorwayspruce DawnredwoodBaldcyprus YellowwoodCatalpa WeepingwillowAmericanhornbeam Paw-PawSumac RedbudAmericanhazelnut WitchhazelElderberry DogwoodAmericanelm SassafrasBlack walnut Green ash

SycamoreandLindenalleesinvitevisitorstostrollthroughtheshadeoftheiroverarchingbranches.

Plants include:Spottedjewelweed TallJoePyeweedDenseblazingstar ButterflymilkweedCommonmilkweed SwampmilkweedBracken fern Cinnamon fernSensitivefern RoyalfernBoneset IrisGoldenrodsp Astersp.Peony PopcorncassiaSedum Coral Bells (Heuchera)False corn hellebore Butterbur

Azalea,Rhododendron,RoseandDahliacollectionsbrighten their seasons with color.

TBG houses a nationally accredited Hosta Collection-- a ‘livingrepository’withmorethan500taxaondisplay,recognizedbythePlantCollectionsNetworkoftheAmericanPublicGardenAssociation.

Theaward-winning‘DaylilyWalk,’isacollectionofmorethan400cultivars,recognizedasaDisplayGardenoftheAmericanHemerocallisSocietyaswellasaHistoricDaylilyDisplayGardenofAHS.

Eastern screech owl Dense blazing star

American elm Tiger swallowtail

Wildlife (* = State-listed as rare)Mammals include:Easterncotton-tail EasternfoxsquirrelRedsquirrel GroundhogWhite-taileddeer MuskratRedfox StripedskunkVirginiaopossum Silver-hairedbat

Birds include:Cooper’shawk Red-tailedhawkEasternscreechowl Great-hornedowlBeltedkingfisher GreenheronGreat blue heron Canada gooseMallardduck SongsparrowAmericangoldfinch OrchardorioleBaltimoreoriole YellowwarblerAmericanrobin GraycatbirdCarolina wren Blue jay

Insectsinclude:Ebonyjewel-wing EasternamberwingWidowskimmer FireflyCommon bumblebee Honeybee Monarch Black swallowtail Tiger swallowtail Pearl crescentSilver-spottedskipper Peck’sskipper

Reptilesandamphibiansinclude:Americantoad AmericanbullfrogGreenfrog Easterngartersnake Northernbrownsnake (andmelanisticform)Easternhognosesnake SnappingturtleMidlandpaintedturtle