Shop from more than 200 varieties of daffodils, tulips, alliums and other specialty bulbs, learn from Garden horticulturists and staff demonstrations on bulb selection and planting, and sip cider, wine and beer while listening to live music and shopping among local vendors. Plus, a straw bale maze and a gourd display.

The new Railway Garden, a G-gauge model railway running through a 2.5 acre site, opens April 30. Visitors enter through a 1920s-era railway depot to see trains running through a garden of miniature plants, water features and a variety of landscapes. May 1 through October.

Throughout October, visitors enjoy spooky sights and sounds, plus special events during Twilight Witching Hours (4-7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday October 6-29). Spooky trees, raving ravens and creepy crawlies will take up residence in the garden, joining the thousands of miniature plants, dozens of handmade bridges, and of course, an assemblage G-gauge steam trains.

Drop in anytime between 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the conservatory's Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden to plant an imaginary garden, build a tropical habitat, help water the plants, or read a book under the tropical canopy. Runs through entire 2012.

Features a petting zoo, wagon and pony rides, crafts, face painting, and live entertainment. Play old-fashioned games and guess the weight of a giant pumpkin, paint a pumpkin or gourd and help construct a scarecrow, explore hands-on exhibits, including an activity maze, weather station and oversized farm animal cut-outs.

Enjoy the quiet, steady pace of the horses as they pull the hay wagon around the back 80 acre trail. Look for pheasant, deer, and coyote as you travel through the wooded areas and open fields past the pioneer log cabin. No hayrides Oct. 13 and 14.

Visitors can walk inside the two-story silo and turn the crank of a silage machine, watching "corn plants" delivered to the top of the silo. Plus, learn about the history of silos and silage, build miniature silos with building blocks simulating wood, brick and metal and much more.

Explore the woods and search for a pumpkin. Decorate our pumpkins, play games, and have a snack. Registration required by Oct. 5.

Learn about the zoo's cats, from big cats like African lions, Amur leopards, Amur tigers, and snow leopards to small ones, including fishing cats and domestic house cats. Plus, special Zoo Chats and cat-themed crafts and activities for cat lovers of all ages.

Join a keeper-led tour of the Children's Zoo, then head to the barn to help keepers with morning chores like feeding the cows, delivering hay to the goats or brushing the animals.