Gardening & Horticulture

May 15th, 2024

How the Rose Garden Grew

Louise Cochrane loved roses. She grew roses in her home garden at Walnut Hill. She captured the essence of roses in many of her paintings. And for many years, she […]

Mar 20th, 2024

The Daffodil Connection at Lewis Ginter

As the bright spring daffodils signal the arrival of spring and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden gears up for the 2024 Virginia Daffodil Society Show, I wanted to highlight a unique […]

Feb 14th, 2024

Owning an orchid is an exercise in obedience. Both delicate and demanding, these exotic beauties with their elusive blooms are very particular about light, temperature, humidity, growing medium and even […]

Dec 26th, 2023

10 Ways to Reuse or Recycle Christmas Trees

The presents are all opened, and the holidays will soon draw to a close. But the evergreen in your living room still has a lot to give. Here are some […]

Nov 30th, 2023

The Legends and Lore Behind Holiday Greenery

The holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and pine we decorate with this time of year have their own backstories that tell of mythical beginnings and magical powers. We have been bringing evergreens […]

Oct 20th, 2023

The Best Places for Fall Leaf Peeping in the Garden

Watching the leaves turn in autumn is something I have looked forward to every year since I was a child. Growing up in Richmond, I loved seeing the city transform […]

Oct 11th, 2023

The Mighty Oak Tree

At the apex of every arch, a keystone is laid. Large, wedge-shaped, usually proud and often embellished, its role might seem ornamental; in truth it is monumental. A keystone locks […]

Oct 3rd, 2023

8 Tips to Help Native Butterflies Thrive

When it comes to supporting native butterflies in your area, what you choose to plant in your garden can go a long way! As the coordinator for M&T Bank Butterflies […]

Aug 29th, 2023

All About Pawpaws

Nestled on the edge of the Children’s Garden, just across from the sand box, stands a tree with broad green leaves and clusters of oblong fruit growing from its branches: […]

Jun 26th, 2023

2023 June Pride Blooms

June is an exhilarating month at the Garden as the summer blooms begin to blossom and we celebrate Pride Month! June is an incredible time to visit the Garden. Everywhere […]

Apr 14th, 2023

Tips for a Virginia Butterfly Garden

A native Virginia butterfly garden is a great way to help pollinators. How can you support native butterflies? Plant native plants! Tips for Planting a Native Butterfly Garden Start by […]

Aug 15th, 2022

Horticulturist — Day in the Life

When strolling through the Garden, visitors admire the gorgeous blooms and the vibrant foliage, but have you ever wondered how the Garden always looks so well-maintained? Some people may not […]

Jul 8th, 2022

Heirloom Tomatoes of the World on Display

Mikey Partusch is an artist. He studied film and printmaking, then he discovered his love of growing things. If you can make art from vegetables, that is what he does […]

Jun 17th, 2022

The Versatility of Snake Plants

Snake plants, sometimes called “mother-law’s-tongue,” are fascinating plants that thrive easily both indoors and out. Also, they make quite an impression! This summer, Senior Horticulturist Dean Dietrich planted a cultivar […]

Mar 3rd, 2022

Houseplants

Becoming a plant parent is trendy, fun and has numerous health advantages to boot. Caring for houseplants has been shown to reduce stress levels and have a soothing effect. They […]

Feb 20th, 2022

Orchid Love: Phalaenopsis & More

LeAnne Wingo works a full-time job, is a wife and is a mother to a busy 11-year-old boy. Still, she somehow also finds time to cultivate and grow orchids in […]

Feb 17th, 2022

All About Orchids & The Orchid Show

This year, we are thrilled to welcome the Orchid Show and Sale to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for the first time. If you are in love with orchids or any […]

Jan 19th, 2022

Bonsai: The Art of Doing

It was a cold, January morning, and I was on the way to visit Gardens Unlimited, a bonsai tree nursery in Ladysmith, VA. The purpose of this trip was to […]

Oct 6th, 2021

Saving the Glen Stream

A few years ago some generous donors gave Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden seed funding to save a stream. This unassuming stream, the Glen, cuts its way across Parking Lots B […]

Sep 13th, 2021

Plant Seeds: A Seed Library

Right before the pandemic, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden started a Seed Library. It’s a place where you can “check out” and “borrow” seeds just like you would a book at […]

Sep 1st, 2021

Volunteers Making a Difference Gardening

“The Garden would be a jungle without them,” says Senior Horticulturist Elizabeth Fogel, the gratitude in her voice infused with respect and relief. “Or overrun with weeds, for sure. They’re […]

Aug 23rd, 2021

Pollinator DNA with Biologists from Randolph Macon

In a crime with no witnesses, investigators rely on forensics and DNA to figure out what happened. Turns out, pollinator science is not much different. For Randolph-Macon College Professors Drs. […]

Aug 16th, 2021

Renovating the Kroger Community Kitchen Garden

The Kroger Community Kitchen Garden (KCKG) at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is one of many of our direct connections to the community. Since its inception in 2009, the KCKG has […]

Jul 30th, 2021

Plants Safe for Cats

I’ve spent endless time standing in the plant aisles at my local hardware store searching for plants safe for cats. When owning a cat, finding plants that are non-toxic to […]

Jul 9th, 2021

Pollinating Figs: the Inside Story — Fig Wasps

A fig is a flower turned inside out. That soft pod of sticky summer sweetness is not a fruit at all. “It’s actually an inflorescence – an inverted cluster of […]