There won’t be goats, there won’t be sheep, there won’t be llamas. It’s not your typical petting zoo. Instead, you’ll find plants to pet.

More than a dozen plants will be on display for visitors to pet at the Reiman Gardens “Plant Petting Zoo and 10,000 Tulips Too” Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“So many plants have a common name with an animal connotation. We want to combine the plant name with the sensory feel of the plant,” said Linda Naeve, education coordinator for Reiman Gardens.

Among the plants will be Lamb Ears (named for their soft, fuzzy leaves) and Pig Squeaks (the leaves create a squealing noise when rubbed together). The petting zoo will be an entertaining way to educate children, said Teresa McLaughlin, director of Reiman Gardens.

“So many people don’t let kids touch plants, and plants are very touchable,” Naeve said. “We want to encourage kids to use their senses when enjoying plants and to do more than just look at them. Kids add so much perspective and notice things that adults take for granted.”

The plant petting zoo is Reiman Gardens’ Veishea event; last year, the Gardens were open, but did not have an organized event. In addition to the zoo, 10,000 tulips and 6,000 pansies will be in bloom, weather permitting. The tulips and pansies were grown from seed and planted last October.

During the weekend, visitors can also walk through 15 garden areas, including the Children’s Garden, Campanile Garden, Herb Garden, Rose Garden and Wetlands Garden.

“We try to show all different types of collections and themes. There is quite a variety,” McLaughlin said.

Admission to visit the gardens is free for ISU students, families with a membership and for children ages six and under. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children of the age of six.