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40th Anniversary Speaker Series
BOTANIC GARDENS: SEIZING THE MOMENT WHILE IMAGINING THE FUTURE

This year marks four decades of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and we’re celebrating for the whole year with favorite events as well as exciting new ones. Through our 40th Anniversary theme, “Flourish”, our goal is tohonor the work that has come before, celebrate where we are now, and look forward to the transformational changes kicking off in 2024.Our anniversary programming includes a special Speaker Series highlighting the Garden’s past, present, and future.  

Explore the role of public gardens and the importance of making green space and gardens accessible to the community with Oak Spring Garden Foundation President, Sir Peter Crane. Discussion will center on the opportunities that public gardens must seize to remain relevant while doing more to address important societal concerns, especially around the environment. A Q&A will follow his presentation, as will the chance to explore the 40th anniversary Flourish displays and meet our talented horticulture staff. Bloemendaal House will be open with light refreshments and volunteer Garden Guides available to highlight the history of the house and property

Event Schedule:

2-3 pm: Lecture and Q&A in the Auditorium 

3-4 pm: Explore the Garden to experience each of the Flourish displays, where Horticulture staff will be available to highlight their design work and answer questions. Bloemendaal House will be the final destination, where we will have light refreshments and an opportunity to learn more about this historic part of our property. 

Fees: Member $15, Non-Member $35

All programs are subject to change. Pre-registration through our website is required.

Register Member $15

Register Non-Member $35

Date:
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Time:
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Event Details

About the Speaker

Sir Peter Crane

Peter Crane is President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Virginia (osgf.org), an estate of Rachel Lambert Mellon that includes an exquisite garden as well as an exceptional library focused on the history of plant science, plant exploration, and the development of gardens and landscape design. He is known internationally for his work on the diversity of plant life – its origin, fossil history, current status, conservation and use.  

Peter Crane was elected to the Royal Society – the UK academy of sciences in 1998 and was knighted in the UK for services to horticulture and conservation in 2004.  He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences, a Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and a Member of the German Academy Leopoldina.  He is the recipient of several honorary degrees from universities in the UK and US, including honorary doctorates of science from the University of Connecticut and Sewanee: The University of the South, in the US, and Cambridge University in the UK. He received the International Prize for Biology in December 2014 and the Garden Club of America Medal of Honor in 2024.