Flourish: 40th Anniversary Celebration Classes, Tours & Lectures

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 to honor 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 special classes, tours, and a Speaker Series highlighting the Garden’s past, present, and future.

Classes

Garden to Glass: Exotic Cocktails of the Spice Trade | August 27, 6 – 7:30 pm

Join local mixologist Beth Dixon as she showcases her cocktail creativity by demonstrating how to make three delicious craft cocktails inspired by aspects the Garden’s summer exhibit, Flourish: 40 Years and Growing. Beth’s creations evoke an exotic paradise similar to the one suggested by the displays in the Central Garden and showcase spices from tropical locales around the globe where plant explorers of the past sourced the types of palms, ferns and tropicals on display in the Grace Arents Garden. She’ll highlight cinnamon, gin, lemon and basil in the “Spice Trade,” cardamom syrup with Tequila and lime in “Word to Your Cardamom,” and turmeric with pineapple, mango and Rum in the “Bright Side.” During the demo, sip samples of each cocktail as you enjoy expertly paired small plates. Fee includes demonstration, cocktail samples and food pairings.

Themed Friday Drop-In Tours

Join a Garden Guide for a 30-minute mini-tour featuring a variety of unique topics! No pre-registration required. Free to members or with paid admission. Meet in the Atrium of the Robins Visitors Center. Each tour will start at 1 pm and be limited to 15 participants.

40th Anniversary Horticultural Displays | Friday, September 20

Join Garden Guide Julia Cothron to learn how the towers and a turtle were constructed, the plants used to create vibrant designs and the care required. Similar techniques can be used for vertical growth in small spaces.

Themed Public Tours

Tropical Vibes in the Central Garden: Become Inspired! Tour | September 17 

Although days are cooling, the vibrant hues of tropical leaves and blooms still abound. Join Garden Guide Julia Cothron as we analyze how colors and textures are used in beds, pots and the Flourish horticultural displays. Observe how traditional annuals are mixed with houseplants, such as succulents and bromeliads, to create a unique vibe that can work in interior or exterior spaces. Pre-registration required.  

40th Anniversary Speaker Series

Designing the Future | October 11

Join us for a presentation by two nationally renowned landscape designers featured in the Garden’s THRIVE expansion, which began this April. Wambui Ippolito of Wambui Design and Thomas Rainer of Phyto Studio will share the inspiration, vision and goals for their designs. The Mary Morton Parsons Courtyard  will be a formal but flexible garden space designed to support various events and exhibitions at the Garden. Ann Lee’s Meadow will flow from the Conservatory’s Sunset Terrace to the edges of Wick Lake with winding plantings and pathways that invite visitors to explore.

 

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Check back soon for additional opportunities as part of our 40th Anniversary celebration!