The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is hoping you’ll stop in and virtually smell the flowers.
In the springtime, the zoo typically comes to life with the gorgeous tulip blooms in every color of the rainbow. As the zoo notes, the sight of the blooms usually bring in thousands of guests who then stay to say hello to all the animals as well. But, this year, due to the Coronavirus, the zoo is planning to do things a little differently.
To continue spreading “joy and warmth” into their community, and even around the nation, the zoo has officially launched digital Zoo Blooms.
“April is usually a time when garden enthusiasts flock to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden for Zoo Blooms, a month-long celebration that features more than 100,000 beautiful tulips,” the zoo explains on its website. “This year, since the Zoo is closed, it will bring the blooms to homes via virtual garden tours.”
The zoo’s horticulture director, Stephen Foltz, will also lead a live tour around the garden for a special Home Safari on April 11 at 3 p.m. on Facebook.
But, that’s not all. The zoo will also be celebrating the blooms and spreading the springtime joy by delivering stems to local hospitals and nursing homes.
“It’s so beautiful at the Zoo in April. Too beautiful not to be shared with the thousands of people who would usually be here to see and smell tulips up close,” zoo director Thane Maynard said in a statement. “We can’t bring the smells of the garden to people at home, but we will host virtual garden tours to share the beauty of the blooms with people everywhere. Our horticulture team is also cutting flowers so they can be delivered to hospital workers and nursing home residents.”
The zoo isn’t forgoing its annual Earth Day celebration either. However, rather than an in-person event, the zoo will host Party for the Planet, a “virtual resource to allow families to celebrate this important day from the comfort and safety of their own homes.” As part of the event, the zoo will partner with local conservation and sustainability-focused organizations for hands-on activities families can take part in at home.