Chris McKeown
| Special to Cincinnati Enquirer

My wife and I will soon be venturing out to purchase some new furniture for our living room. The only knowledge required is for us to know the dimensions of the room and our space, because we want to make sure what we buy fits into the room.

I’ve often made the comparison between buying plants and buying furniture because I have encountered customers who are merely looking for visual appeal in the plants they want to buy. They are naïve to – or are willingly overlooking – the needs of the plants to thrive.

A couch never gets any bigger nor does it need water, but before you select and buy a plant, you need to know how big it will grow. You also need to know how much light it needs, and how much maintenance is required.

This is why I frequently encourage you to shop from the many great independent garden centers in the area. They have knowledgeable employees who can help you select the best plants. Greater Cincinnati also has a lot of great professional landscape companies who can create a design for you and install it. This would be a great time to connect with one of them to start the process.

If you are looking to learn more about landscape design for your own personal use, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden offers a great series of classes known as the Landscaping for the Homeowner series. It’s a 5-week virtual series of lectures regarding all aspects of landscaping for the homeowner by one of the region’s top horticulturists and the zoo’s Director of Horticulture, Steve Foltz.

A different aspect of landscaping is covered each week, such as perennial design and tree care. If you are planning on garden renovation or a new installation in your landscape, these classes provide great insight on design, preparation, and plant selection with emphasis on plants that do best in the Tri-state area.

Classes offered by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Here’s a rundown of what the series offers:

February 8: Design for Your Landscape

This class provides concepts for proper plant selection and siting within landscapes and gardens. It will introduce how various types of plants serve different aesthetic and functional roles. It will also guide the homeowner on how to prioritize projects and plantings for long-term beauty.

February 15: The Best Trees and Shrubs for your Landscape

Trees and shrubs are the anchors of your landscape and long-term investments for both beauty and function. Choosing them wisely is paramount to your enjoyment of your garden. Steve will share his long experience of growing hundreds of species and selections, which will quickly usher you to the other side of the learning curve.

February 22: Bringing in Color, Annuals, and Perennials

Everyone wants to add color to the garden. This class will give you the knowledge and tools to do it well. Guidance on plant selection, siting, planting, care, and much, much more will have you filled with ideas and energy for spring.

March 1: Now that I Have It, How Do I Take Care of It?

So much internet, so much bad information. Bad gardening advice is everywhere. This class cuts through all that and provides good, practical knowledge based on science and many, many years of experience.

March 8: Putting It All Together

A review, a wrap-up, a confidence session, a chance to ask your remaining questions, and much more, this session closes the series with a flourish and will have you feeling excited about implementing all your new ideas.

You can find more information and register for the classes at cincinnatizoo.org/horticulture.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — It’s breakfast time for Amahle, Musi, and Nolwazi at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

The elephants can be found feeding in the African Adventure area, but what they’re munching on is plant life that’s much closer to home than you might think.

“Seven species that are commonly found throughout Fresno, whether you’re trimming it in your backyard or you have a landscaper come in and help you care for your yard, all of these species are readily available and often, this material ends up going to the dump,” says general curator Lyn Myers.

Myers says the zoo is hoping to partner with the public, asking that you repurpose those branches and shrubs and turn them into a treat for the animals.

Typically, the herbivores eat hays, grasses and pellets filled with all of the nutrients they need, but the homegrown bits of certain shurbs and trees known as “browse” has mental and physical benefits.

“Not only is it sometimes a delicacy, something they don’t get very often, it’s really important for them to rip, shred and use those behaviors they would naturally use out in the wild,” Myers said.

Whether they’re eating it or making beds out of it, roughly 20-30 species of animals living in the zoo would benefit from the Browse Program.

Of the seven types, the most identifiable and often used for shade are bamboo, chinese elm, pistache and mulberry.

Orundo grass is invasive and can be found as background landscape or in wetter areas.

Xylasma is commonly used for screening in back yards…

A fan favorite at the zoo — carub tree.

“The new growth sometimes has the really red, kind of maroon stem and sometimes, the leaves are a different color and more glossy than the adult leaves,” Myers said.

You or your landscaper can drop off your contributions, free of charge, on the east side of the zoo. Just take the road inside the park toward Golden State Boulevard.

The area is marked off by a sign that reads “approved browse area,” where trained staff will sort through all donations.

“They could eat as much as you bring,” Myers said. “If we got a large pickup truck a day, we would be in heaven.”

Dropping off at the zoo is the preferred method but if you call ahead, they can work with you to try to pick up your Browse donation.

For more information, visit the zoo’s website.

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