Tokyo Roses

Give props to the Cleveland Botanical Garden for making winter go away with today's opening of the new flower-and-photo exhibit Zensai: The Horticulture of Japan. On display through the end of June, the show features the center's Japanese Garden, with its sculpted evergreens, funky rock formations, and easy-on-the-eyes color scheme Experts will also be on hand to teach the Japanese art of flower arranging, ikebana. And bonsai demonstrations will give the 411 on growing miniature trees and plants through shaping and pruning. The exhibit also spotlights photos of Japanese gardens by Haruzo Ohashi, whose collection is now making the rounds cross-country from its home base at the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach, Florida. The Verne Gallery in Little Italy has also loaned the center a series of prints by Keisuke Serizawa, whose work has been exhibited in the world's most venerable museums, including the Louvre in Paris. And as long as the display is in the house, there will be Japanese-influenced programs, from drum lessons to authentic tea ceremonies. Zensai: The Horticulture of Japan is on exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, through Sunday, June 29, at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Boulevard. Admission is $7.50 ($3 for kids). Call 216-721-1600 or visit www.cbgarden.org.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 12-5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Starts: April 5. Continues through June 29, 2008