👋 Hey neighbor—

Some things grow fast. Others take time. This week, we’re slowing down just enough to notice what’s blooming—at the Arboretum, in our gardens, and maybe even in ourselves. Whether you’re planting something new or just planting your feet outside for 20 minutes, we’re rooting for you!

Here’s what’s in store

• One Place to Play — Arboretum!

• 3 Events to Check Out — Plant Swap, Helping Hands, and Lil’ Sprouts!

• One Place to Eat — The Blind Squirrel!

• One at Home Activity — Dirt Pudding!

• One thoughtful moment — Growing in his own time!

🌳 One Place to Play: Boone County Arboretum
📍 9190 Camp Ernst Road, Union, KY
💡 A walk in the park—with a side of “Wow, what is that plant?”
💸 Free admission!

If you're craving a fresh-air adventure that blends nature, learning, and just enough space for wild kid energy to burn off, Boone County Arboretum is a must-visit. Locals sometimes call it Central Park, and with over 120 acres of green space, it really does feel like the heart of Boone County.

✨ Here’s what families love:

🌱 Nature + Play = Win-Win
With 25+ plant collection areas and over 3,600 trees and shrubs (yes, really), this is a great place to get your kids curious about nature without needing a single flashcard. There’s a Children’s Garden, butterfly zone, and a native grassland area with wildlife viewing that feels a little like stepping into a storybook.

🚶‍♀️ Two Miles of Trails
Stroller-friendly and perfect for scooter rides, scavenger hunts, or just a peaceful walk while your toddler yells “TREE!” 37 times. You’ll find paved loops that wind past gardens, sports fields, and shaded rest spots.

🌸 Always Something New to See
Even if you’ve been before, this Level IV-accredited arboretum (that’s the top tier, by the way) offers a rotating display of seasonal beauty. Spring blooms, fall foliage, and plenty of “Hey, let’s stop and smell this weird-looking flower” moments year-round.

🐶 Dog-Friendly Trails
Leashed pups are welcome on the walking paths—just bring a baggie or two and skip the garden beds.

🧺 Pack a Lunch
There are two reservable shelters, clean restrooms, and plenty of grassy areas that practically beg for picnic blankets. Want to host a birthday or playdate here? Call 859-334-2117 for shelter details.

🎓 Learning Without Trying Too Hard
Between the info kiosks, plant labels, and hands-on garden areas, your little explorers might come home talking about rain gardens and utility line plantings. Or they might just fall asleep on the ride home. Either way—success.

🧡 Parent Tip:
Grab a paper map from one of the four kiosks, or check out the online interactive version before you go. It’s a big space, and having a general route in mind can help keep things low-stress if you're working around nap time or snack windows.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet weekday walk, a new backdrop for your family photos, or a way to trick your kids into loving plants, Boone County Arboretum is the kind of place that grows on you—in the best way.

🔥Events to Check Out:

🌱 Plant Swap Drop-In
📅 Saturday, August 16, 2025
🕐 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Erlanger Branch Library
💸 Free | All ages welcome | No green thumb required

Got a plant that’s outgrown your windowsill? A pot collecting dust in the garage? Or maybe just a leafy itch to grow something, but no idea where to start?

Swing by this relaxed, come-and-go plant swap where neighbors gather to trade houseplants, garden cuttings, seeds, pots, tools, and plant-y wisdom. It’s like a community garden... without the digging.

🌿 Bring What You Can, Take What You Need:
– Indoor and outdoor plants
– Extra pots, soil, tools, or seeds
– Or just yourself and a curious spirit!

👩‍🌾 Brand-new to gardening? No problem.
You don’t need to bring anything to join in—this is a great place to start your plant parent era with zero pressure and plenty of cheer. Someone else’s extra could be your first philodendron.

🧡 Parent Tip:
This makes a sweet little Saturday outing—especially with curious kiddos who like to touch leaves and ask, “Can we plant this at home?” Bonus: it's low-key and indoors, so you’re weatherproofed.

🌿 Helping Hands at the Arboretum
📅 Thursday, August 14, 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Boone County Arboretum, 9190 Camp Ernst Rd, Union, KY
💸 Free | All ages welcome (even tiny helpers with big energy)

Need a reason to get outside and do something that feels good? This easygoing volunteer morning lets you and your crew lend a hand at one of NKY’s most beautiful green spaces. Think: weeding, tidying, planting, or trail sprucing—whatever helps the Arboretum stay vibrant and welcoming for everyone who visits.

👩‍🌾 Why it’s a win-win:

• You get some sunshine, fresh air, and the good kind of dirt under your nails

• Your kids see community care in action

• The trails, gardens, and butterflies say “thank you” in their own quiet way

🧡 Parent Tip:
Little hands can help too—just pack water bottles, closed-toe shoes, and maybe a change of clothes if your helper tends to “accidentally” sit in mulch. Even an hour of effort makes a difference, and no prior experience is needed.

Want to stretch it into a full morning? Bring a picnic and explore the children’s garden or nature trails after the work’s done. It’s the kind of feel-good family outing that leaves more than footprints behind.

🌱 Lil’ Sprouts: Garden Play for Little Explorers
📍 Civic Garden Center | 2715 Reading Rd, Cincinnati
🗓 2nd & 4th Mondays | 9:00–10:30 AM
👧 Ages 3–8 (younger siblings welcome with full grown-up backup)
💸 Totally free—no registration needed!

We know… crossing the river can feel like packing for a full expedition. But every now and then, an event comes along that makes it worth the bridge toll (and the snack bag). Lil’ Sprouts is one of those gems.

This free, drop-in garden series is built just for young kiddos and their caregivers—no RSVPs, no pressure, and no Pinterest-perfect expectations. Just dirt, discovery, and fresh air with a side of joy.

🌼 What You’ll Find:
– Nature-based activities designed for preschool to early elementary kiddos
– Hands-on fun tied to the seasons (think: soil, seeds, bugs, and blooms)
– A relaxed indoor/outdoor space where mess is welcome and curiosity leads
– No gardening experience needed—just bring your crew and come as you are

🧡 Why We Love It:
On tough parenting days (and the regular ones, too), a little green space goes a long way. Lil’ Sprouts offers the chance to slow down, reconnect, and see the world through your child’s wide eyes—mud puddles and all.

🧃 Parent Tip:
Bring water, maybe a snack, and don’t dress fancy. You might also want to pair it with a coffee detour—because if you’re making the drive, you deserve the treat.

🚗 Still not sold on the drive? Here’s your sign: give it one try and see how your kids bloom when they get their hands in the dirt.

🌦️ Check the calendar for dates or weather updates.

 🥜 Where Squirrels Go Nuts (for Nachos): The Blind Squirrel
📍 Florence, KY
💸 $10–25 per person | 👧 Kids Menu Available | 🪑 Family-Friendly

Tucked away like a hidden acorn, The Blind Squirrel is a place where grownups can catch a game, kids can fill up on mac & cheese, and nobody will judge you for ordering nachos the size of a small tree.

Whether you’re chasing a night out with the kids or just chasing your toddler around the firepit patio, this casual spot has something for everyone—from wings and burgers to volleyball courts and live music.

🌳 Why Families Like It Here:
– A menu that branches out: Burgers (truffle! mac & cheese!), pizza, wings, fish & chips, chicken sandwiches, salads, and more
– Kid-friendly picks: Chicken tenders, mini burgers, and classic mac for your pickiest eater
– Room to roam: The Florence location has outdoor space, fire pits, lawn games, and a big ol’ patio
– Grown-up bonuses: TVs everywhere, live music, good beer list, and a sports-bar-meets-backyard-bash kind of vibe

🧡 Parent Tip:
Weekends can get lively—think louder music and longer waits—so consider arriving early if you’ve got hangry littles in tow. But if your crew can roll with a bit of bustle, this spot delivers big on fun and fries.

🎤 Fun to Know:
Check their site or socials for themed game nights like Singo (music bingo), and keep an eye out for seasonal events that turn this place into more than just a meal.

🐿️ Final Nibble:
At The Blind Squirrel, it’s totally fine to squirrel away an order of wings for later—because odds are, you’ll be back. It’s one of those places where the kids stay busy, the menu keeps everyone happy, and even your wiggliest eater finds something to love.

🌱 Plant One On Me: Dirt Pudding with a Sweet Surprise
(A dessert craft that’s part garden party, part worm wrangling, and 100% edible fun.)

If your kids like snacks that look like science experiments—or if you just want an excuse to say “don’t eat the plants…except this one!”—then this edible garden cup is your next go-to activity.

🍫 What You’ll Need:

• 1 package chocolate sandwich cookies (Oreos work great)

• 1 package instant chocolate pudding (about 4 oz)

• 2 cups cold milk

• 1 tub whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed

• Gummy worms

• Fresh mint sprigs (aka your edible plant!)
  (No mint? Try using green apple licorice cut into “sprouts,” or even a piece of spinach for the bold.)

👩‍🍳 How to Make It:

1. Smash the cookies into “dirt” in a zip-top bag (kids love this part).

2. Whisk the pudding with cold milk until thick, about 5 minutes.

3. Fold in whipped topping gently to make it fluffy and smooth.

4. Layer like a gardener:

   • Crushed cookie “soil”

   • Chocolate pudding “mud”

   • More cookie soil on top

5. Add your greenery!

   • Stick a sprig of mint upright into the top to look like a baby plant.

   • Nestle a few gummy worms peeking out of the dirt.

6. Chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes while you clean up the “mud” trail left behind.

🌿 Why We Love It:
This simple snack adds a little plant science, a lot of imagination, and a whole bunch of chocolatey cheer to your day. And hey, when else can you tell your toddler they get to eat worms and leaves for dessert?

Growing in His Own Time
A Dad’s Take on Parenthood (and Plants)

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how raising a toddler is a lot like growing a garden. Not the Pinterest-perfect kind—but the real, slow, unpredictable kind where you dig, wait, and hope something beautiful takes root.

Before my son was born, we went through a long, painful stretch of infertility. Years of appointments, treatments, and quiet heartbreak. It reminded me of trying to grow a Kentucky Coffee tree from a seed. You have to scar it, chill it for months, create just the right conditions… and then wait. No promises. Just hope.

When that seed finally sprouts—when you see the first bit of green—it all feels worth it. That’s how it felt holding my son for the first time. Tiny. Warm. Real. After so many seasons of waiting.

Now, as I watch him grow, I think about what plants need: steady care, but space too. Encouragement, not pressure. Shade when things are too much. Sunlight when they’re ready to stretch.

Some days, he needs me close—teething, tired, needing comfort. Other days, he pushes me away so he can do it himself. I’m learning to read his rhythms. To know when to step in and when to let go.

I still worry I’m not getting it right. There were weeks where it seemed like nothing was changing, and then suddenly he'd roll over, or sit up, or take his first wobbly steps. Growth happens in its own time, in its own way. But then I’ll hear a new word, a big laugh, or watch him help without being asked—and I see how far we’ve come.

Growth doesn’t happen on a schedule. Sometimes the most important things take time, patience, and seasons we wouldn’t choose. But they still bloom.

And like that Kentucky Coffee tree, I hope my son grows strong, grounded, and wildly himself—rooted in love, reaching for the light.

~ Otto

Until Next Week…
Whether you end up with a leafy new plant, dirt pudding under your fingernails, or just a little more fresh air in your lungs—this week’s picks are here to help you grow, giggle, and get outside.

Pass this along to a fellow plant parent or playground pro—and we’ll be back next Friday with more of the good stuff.

With chocolate on my nose,
Otto Neff
Creator of Hopscotch Highlights and Keeper of the snack bag