Gardens Through the Seasons

Sep 17th, 2024

Before the Fall

Nature has kept one of her most colorful secrets hidden for months now. Since early spring, she has dressed her deciduous trees in regulation green. Then, through some sartorial sleight […]

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 12th, 2024

Flourish: 40 Years and Growing

2024 is the Garden’s 40th Anniversary, and we’re celebrating all year! Flourish is the theme and includes familiar favorite events and exciting new ones. To ensure you don’t miss anything, we’ve […]

Mar 6th, 2024

The Top 40 Things to Do at the Garden

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. To celebrate, we asked our staff and volunteers for their favorite things to do at the Garden throughout the […]

Jan 26th, 2024

Nature tosses a spray of scarlet orbs into the lackluster landscape this time of year, decorating the bare branches of Winterberry holly with much needed nourishment for local wildlife. Winterberry […]

Jan 16th, 2024

Ways to Enjoy the Garden this Winter

One of the most underrated times to visit Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is during the winter months. While the tulips get ready underground, there are many blooms and happenings aboveground. […]

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 […]

Feb 10th, 2021

Instagram GardenFest Contest

The GardenFest Instagram contest has become one of our favorite holiday traditions. It’s a wonderful way for us to reflect on a season of festivities, joy and see how our […]

Nov 2nd, 2020

Native Flowers: The Perfect Addition to your Garden

There are so many stunningly beautiful Virginia native flowers, but some plants can do so much more than just add beauty to the landscape. Here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, […]

Oct 28th, 2020

Native Grass & Sedges

Grasses and sedges are often overlooked in garden planning but they make a wonderful addition to any garden because aesthetically, they provide great texture, color, and height to gardens in […]

Oct 8th, 2020

Beautyberry

One of the most frequent questions we get this time of year is about the magnificent beautyberry shrub. It seems that many of our visitors are enamored with this striking […]

Oct 2nd, 2020

Osmanthus: Planting for Fragrance

Some gardeners may call it devilwood, but the fragrance of the osmanthus shrub is nothing less than heavenly. Its tiny, creamy white flowers form clusters that emit a powerfully fragrant […]

Feb 28th, 2020

What Are Natives?

What are natives? What nature intended: Natives are the plants that grow naturally in a region — as in, they generally occurred here before European settlement. They also are the […]

Jan 31st, 2020

Enjoy Simplicity with Winter Tree ID

Minimalism. One of its appeals is in stripping away the superfluous and admiring the beauty of simplicity. The same can be said of the garden in winter, especially trees. Enjoy […]

May 9th, 2019

Early Spring Migration

We’re in the early stage of spring avian migration, a time when birders’ pulses quicken in anticipation of finding colorful songbirds, shorebirds and raptors. Some migrants will stay and breed in […]

Apr 26th, 2019

Native Bloom: MAYAPPLE

Awake! This woodland rambler is an early riser from winter’s slumber. Consider mayapple a welcome harbinger of spring. State of popularity: Virginia is for Lovers … of mayapples! The native perennial […]

Mar 2nd, 2018

Quiet Greetings from the Hellebores

It was maybe two weeks ago when a couple of visitors stopped by the Admissions desk on their way out of the Garden to show us all pictures they had […]

Feb 15th, 2018

The Art of a Nature Journal

Q & A with Botanical Illustrator Lara Call Gastinger Lara Call Gastinger is a botanical artist and illustrator from Charlottesville, VA. Gastinger is the lead illustrator for the Flora of […]

Feb 12th, 2018

Gardens Grow Community and More

10 steps for making your own urban garden in Richmond A vacant lot, neighborhood square and school courtyard have something in common. All have potential to be transformed into vibrant […]

Dec 12th, 2017

Celebrate National Poinsettia Day

December 12 is National Poinsettia Day, honoring Euphorbia pulcherrima: the country’s most popular holiday plant, according to retail sales. Purchase one locally, and chances are it originated in Ethiopia or Costa […]

Nov 24th, 2017

So Berry Beautiful!

Berries boast a full range of hues this time of year, proving Nature’s color obsession isn’t limited to spring blooms, summer sunsets and autumn leaves. During winter, she brightens landscapes […]

Jun 3rd, 2016

A Bed is Born

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Garden Design Give a gardener a new bed, full of fresh soil and unlimited possibility, and stand back. Twice a year at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, in […]

Apr 7th, 2016

Cracking the Code to Nature’s Calendar

Predicting the future can be tricky business. It’s the stuff of tea leaves and tarot cards, Magic 8 Balls and Ouija boards. And yet, for farmers, horticulturists and even home […]

Apr 6th, 2016

Azaleas Abloom in Spring

Walking around Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on this early day of spring is like getting lost in a fantasy world where everything is fair and lovely. One would easily be […]

Mar 30th, 2016

Virginia Bluebells: Spring’s Gift

If ever there was a plant with a fandom in Virginia, it would be the Virginia bluebell. Mertensia virginica makes fast friends with anyone new she meets. A native wildflower, you are just […]