zoos & parks

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
May 10: Mother’s Day breakfast at 8:30 ($, reservations req’d); Mother’s Day at the Zoo with free admission for moms. May 16 at 6:30:AAZK Bowling for Rhinos. May 17 at 10: Plant Conservation Day. June 13 at 10: Meet Your Best Friend at The Zoo pet adoption day (free). June 21: Father’s Day at the Zoo with free admission for dads. June 26: Senior Safari senior citizen’s day with free admission for all visitors 55 and older. Memorial Day thru Labor Day: DINOSAURS!;Professor Wylde’s Animal Show; FLUTTER!
Daily 10-5; $; 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleve; 216-661-6500; clemetzoo.com.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
May 9 at 1:Summer Camps 2009. Learn more about summer camp opportunities. May 10: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: Mothers’ Day Special (Rockside Station, 10 & 1:30; Akron Northside Station: 11:35; Peninsula Depot, 12:10). May 13 at 7: Early Evening Hiking Series (Ira Trailhead). May 16 at 7am: Bird Watching: Annual Spring Bird Census (NPS Headquarters). May 23-25 at 2:30: Lock 38 demonstrations (Canal Visitor Center). Jun 6 at 8am: Adopt-A-Trail Workshop on National Trails Day (Octagon Shelter).
Mostly free; 216-524-1497; 800-445- 9667; nps.gov/cuva.

Forest Hill Historic Preservation Society
June 27 at noon: Forest Hill Home & Garden Tour 2009.
$; Brewster Rd, Cleveland Hts; 216- 371-6655; fhhps.org.

Hale Farm & Village
May 8: A Tisket, A Tasket, program about baskets, includes how-tos. May 15: Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, how the Hale Farm garden grows.May 22:Rub-dub-dub, how to do laundry in a tub.
2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath; 800- 589-9703; wrhs.org.

Lake Metroparks
May 16 & 17 at 9: Annual African Violet Show & Sale (Penitentiary Glen Reservation). May 16 & 17 at 9: HorseFest 2009 (Farmpark). Jun 6-Aug: 23rd Annual Amateur Photography Contest Show (Penitentiary Glen). Jun 13 & 14:Working Dog Weekend (Farmpark). Jun 20 & 21: Dairy Days (Farmpark). June 27 & 28: Woolfest (Farmpark).
Mostly free; Kirtland; 440-256-2122; lakemetroparks.com.

Metro Parks, Serving Summit County
May 9 at 2: Bees for Kids (Oaks). May 16 at 2: Furnace Run Celebration. (Furnace Run Metro Park, Brushwood Area). May 28 at 10:30: Meet Me In the Garden: Heirloom Tomatoes. (Sand Run Metro Park). Jun 9 at 5: Music by the Lake, lake swimming & onehour concert (Munroe Falls Metro Park). Jun 11 at 8:30: Pops ‘n’ More, an hour of live music by the Akron Pops Orchestra (Coventry Oaks). Jun 19: Metro Parks Ensemble, acoustic performance on the lawn at Mingo Pavilion (Sand Run Metro Park). Jun 21 at 7: Solstice Celebration (Goodyear Heights Metro Park, main entrance).
Mostly free; call for directions and other specifics;330-867- 5511; summitmetroparks.org.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Ongoing: Once Upon a Pond, two-year exhibit on display at the Corbin Conservatory. Barkitecture, 20 one-of-a-kind doghouses designed by local artists and architects.
$; 714 N Portage Path,Akron; 330- 836-5533; stanhywet.org.