Best Mascot

With flowers that boldly blossom in arid August conditions and dramatic water arcs that leap over walkways, Kauffman Gardens boasts many enchanting attractions. However, visitors don't get much of an interactive experience while admiring the petals and fountains. For hands-on warm fuzzies, the Plaza-area paradise offers a one-animal petting zoo in the form of a personable, plump gray cat. Showing its botanical roots, the nameless feline (its tag reads "Hello, my name is Kauffman Memorial Gardens") spurns its cushy bed to take dirt naps in the greenhouse pots, sprawling out next to impressive indoor fauna.