Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Bringing Gardens to Bloom for the Blind: VCU School of Engineering Makes it Real

Mar 29th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by guest bloggers Ruth Intress and Nan Johnson, originally published on WCVE’s Science Matters blog

The colors, textures and landscaping at Richmond’s Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is all but hidden from people who are blind and visually impaired. But not for long. Christina Walinski, a Virginia Commonwealth University Engineering student and her professor, Dianne T.V. Pawluk, Ph.D., are creating a wireless device that could aid those with impaired vision to better experience the garden on their own.

Christina Walinski

The project began when Beth Tippett, Volunteer Garden Guide at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, approached Pawluk, an associate professor in VCU’s Biomedical Engineering Department and an expert in developing devices and software programs for assistive technology applications for people who are blind and visually impaired. Pawluk saw an opportunity for a senior design project. Walinski, one of Pawluk’s former rehabilitation engineering students, now a senior, was the ideal candidate.

“I love nature,” Walinski said. “The opportunity to share nature with others through a wireless device is a demonstration of my engineering education.” With Pawluk’s guidance, she is honing her concept of a wireless garden device that would use radio frequency identification (RFID) and its electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag to an RFID reader. This technology would allow an individual to listen to pre-programmed information about plants and flowers.

“We are looking at creating an application for a hand-held, auditory-based device that uses radio frequency identification with tags placed in key locations in the garden,” said Pawluk. “The successful design of this prototype has the potential to make a difference in the lives of blind and visually impaired people.”

Making a difference also is a goal for the garden, said Randee Humphrey, Director of Education at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. “A device that could allow us to share our garden with people who are blind and visually impaired is aligned with the garden’s education mission and our passion for connecting people and plants to improve our community,” said Humphrey. “This is one of several partnerships between the garden andVCU and we’re grateful to the university for sharing its expertise.” Currently, garden staff is working on recordings for the auditory tour portion, as well as determining which elements of the garden are the best suited for this project.

Within the next few weeks, Walinski will design an application using Java programming language with Android, an operating system designed for smartphones, for the navigational component of the auditory tour. The application will also allow Lewis Botanical Garden staff to create updates as garden scenery changes.Walinski is currently testing RFID tag placement and the effects of tag orientation in key garden locations. The goal is to have tags that can be read within a three-to-five foot range.

“I’m excited to use the concepts I’ve learned in my engineering curriculum to develop a technology that has the potential to positively impact many members of our Richmond community,” said Walinski.

“I’ll be delivering the prototype auditory tour to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden this spring,” added Walinski. “I’m thrilled to see them offer the tour to individuals who are visually impaired as well as anyone else wishing to experience more of the garden.”

Walinski’s prototype will be one of 67 projects featured at the Senior Design Expo, April 19 at the Science Museum of Virginia. The Senior Design Expo is free and open to the public.

Tags: blind, building community, flowers, gps tours, maps, vcu, vcu engineering

Posted in Adult Education, community, Education | No Comments »

Tyler Rhodes & the Evolution of Orchids

Mar 28th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Even after watching Tyler Rhodes award-winning evolution animated video featuring the drawings and voices of local school children from William Fox Elementary and Patrick Henry School or Arts & Science, I still couldn’t really wrap my mind around exactly WHAT Tyler Rhodes was doing in the Conservatory each Saturday. Something about crayons, flowers, bees, kids, drawing and evolution. So….. I came for a visit myself to see and document the process of orchid evolution — Crayola style.

Ophrys apifera, bee orchid. Photo by Robert Thompson, source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Ophrys

As participants Tyler Rhodes had us work through several stages of drawing before he told us that there actually is a flower called a bee orchid — and it really does look like a bee in order to attract bees! Ophrys apifera even sends out enticing chemical signals to lure a real bee to come and mate. Now that is an amazing adaptation!

I knew I was in for a memorable experience when Tyler told me he could really related to the archetypal mad scientist. Put on your mad scientist voice then say, “…..drawings….. more drawings….. ahhhh ha ha!” and you get the idea. But seriously, Tyler has the kind of passion for this project that you find in really driven artists and scientists who are doing really important work. He’s driven, and really enjoys his work.

Here’s the video:

The “bee tree” made from our bee orchid drawings.

And here’s the bee evolution tree from Tyler’s Evolution blog:

In case you are still a bit confused, Scientific American also took a stab at explaining Tyler’s project:

How do you make an authentic evolution animation? Quite simply: you allow it to evolve. Tyler Rhodes, a student in the animation program at Virginia Commonwealth University, wanted to create an animation that wasn’t simply linear, but instead represented the true ‘tree-like’ process of evolution. If you still don’t understand, come experience it for yourself this Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Conservatory!

Photo by Robert Thompson, source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Ophrys

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15 Minutes in the Garden with Shannon Smith

Mar 28th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

******Buxus ‘Dee Runk’ in the foreground, staff & volunteers learning about the new garden in the background.

Senior Horticulturist, Shannon Smith, explaining to staff about the plantings.

Senior Horticulturist, Shannon Smith, explaining to staff & garden volunteers about the plantings.

Today, Shannon Smith, Senior Horticulturist, met with staff and volunteers during a “15 Minutes in the Garden” session where we learned about a new section of plants for this very special garden — the George Bragdon Daffodil Garden. The Bragdon memorial garden will show a spectacular collection. We’ll have a huge variety of daffodils. But the other neat thing about this garden is that it’s designed with all-season interest — with 32 specimens of perennials and shrubs, featuring great colored foliage, berries and blooms all year long. The color palate will be yellows, salmons, white, and oranges, and feature universally accessible raised beds and wheelchair-friendly walkways and seat walls for seating access up close to the blooms.

We can’t wait for you to come see it later this spring!

Stay tuned later this spring for a follow up post with some of the featured plant selection and photos of the George Bragdon Daffodil Garden in full bloom.

Offering a nice place to sit & enjoy the blooms was a priority for this garden.

Tags: all seasons gardening, collections, daffodils, lewisginter, rva

Posted in central garden, Collections, Education, Horticulture | No Comments »

Our Big Children’s Garden Secret!!!

Mar 21st, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Heather Veneziano, Children’s Garden Horticulturist, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

The view looking down from the Children’s Garden Tree House!

The Children’s Garden volunteers and I have been keeping a secret, but we can’t keep it any more. In December my Tuesday volunteer group and I planted 500 Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ in the grassy area below the tree house.

We thought the smiley face would brighten everyone’s day!

****************************Buzz Sawyer, me (Heather Veneziano), Carolyn Gilliam, Martha Curry & Judith Towers. Photo by Barb Sawyer

****************Buzz Sawyer, me (Heather Veneziano), Carolyn Gilliam, Martha Curry & Judith Towers. Photo by volunteer Barb Sawyer, who also helped.

Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’

Tags: crocus, Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’, fun, rva, smiley

Posted in Children's Garden, Education, Knockout Blooms | No Comments »

Children Plant Potatoes & Peas to Celebrate the First Day of Spring

Mar 20th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Children from FeedMore’s Kids Cafe location at Capital Childcare planting (and EATING) peas. Photo by Jonah Holland

Today we got to celebrate the first day of spring in the best way ever. We kicked off the 2013 growing season for the Community Kitchen Garden by planting red potatoes, peas and radishes with preschoolers from Capital Childcare. But do you want to know what’s really cool about that? These children not only get to learn how their food grows but actually got to plant food that they themselves will get to eat later this spring as part of FeedMore’s Kids Cafe program. Capital Childcare, is a FeedMore Kids Cafe partner and receives meals from FeedMore’s Community Kitchen, where our produce is delivered.

Teamwork planting potatoes. Photo by Brian Vick

As you may know, we are in our 5th year of growing fresh local produce for FeedMore’s Meals on Wheels and Kids Cafe programs. In fact, last year 2012, we harvested and donated 12,454 lbs. of vegetables to FeedMore and produced an estimated 9,580 meals for Central Virginia’s hungry children and homebound seniors.

Some highlights from today:

*The look on the children’s faces as they tasted sugar snap peas, right before planting them. (See the photo!)

*The cheers that when out as the children heard the story of The Enormous Potato. They learned that the plant grows out of the potato’s “eye.” Also, one child’s comment about how her potato had an eye AND a nose!

*Little hands holding big radishes (just in case they weren’t familiar with them we had a few that were picked from the Children’s Garden this morning) and planting teeny tiny radish seeds very carefully.

Planting teeny tiny radish seeds. Photo by Jonah Holland

*The look of complete concentration as the children learned all about how to grow plants for food.

*The children exploring the Conservatory and the Children’s Garden after they planted.

Complete concentration on the children's faces as they learned how to plant peas. Photo by Brian Vick

Concentration as they learned how to plant peas. Photo by Brian Vick

Not to be outdone by the kids, some staff highlights were:

Community Kitchen Garden Coordinator Brian Vick had a great interview with WRIC channel 8 on about why we grow food for FeedMore and why it’s important to teach the kids where there food comes from. Look for the full story on the news tonight!

The super-talented Children’s Garden Manager, Kelly Riley, who made it a really fun and educational experience for the kids. Kelly taught about what plants need to grow, how a seed can turn into a plant, and a potato eye can turn into a many potatoes.

Posted in Children's Garden, Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter, Education, Horticulture | No Comments »

Why Do Collections Matter?

Mar 20th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Grace Chapman, Director of Horticulture, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Daffodils are just one of the many collections here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Photo by Tyler Darden

Did you know that botanical gardens are actually museums? The big difference is that instead of having collections of artwork or historical objects, we have living collections. All of our plants are documented, numbered, and tracked, just like other museum collections.

The Garden combines various types of plants into landscaped gardens to support its mission of educating the public and connecting them to the natural world. These gardens are designed for beauty, function, structure, or theme. The Garden serves as a place for visitors to view, enjoy and learn about the plants in a garden setting. The specimens in the Garden’s collections are some combination of new, unusual, interesting, native, exotic, or rare plants in beautiful, creative, and sustainably managed settings.

Narcissus ‘Cum Laude’ one of the many daffodils in the Garden’s collection. Photo by Tyler Darden

Plants are added or removed based on our Living Collections Policy. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden as it expands and evaluates its collections. Having a policy about the plants in our garden sets us apart from a display garden. This policy provides a protocol for plant acquisitions, deaccessioning, collecting, propagating, and disseminating plant material.

When adding plants to our collection, the plant has to fit into a category of one or more of our five core collections.
• Historic Collections include plants that were here during Grace Arents’ time.
• Stewardship Collections include plants that are well-adapted to our area, both native and non-native.
• Display Collections support our educational mission by helping us inspire visitors and interpret our natural world.
• Economic Botany Collections include plants that provide crucial nourishment, healing, or practical benefits to mankind.
• Natural Area Collections are the uncultivated grounds of the Garden that are subject to spontaneous generation of native, as well as exotic plants. These areas are maintained by natural regeneration of the present vegetation and are only controlled for invasive species.
This year, we are excited to add to our collection of living specimens, with the help of a few NEW donor-funded gardens. The Joan Van Arnam Memorial Azalea Walk will display evergreen and deciduous specimens of rhododendrons and azaleas in a rainbow of colors. The George Bragdon Daffodil Garden will show a spectacular display of spring blooming daffodils, but also provide all-season interest and sensory plants in universally accessible raised beds. The Linda Simon Hosta Collection will enhance our woodland display with new hosta varieties in all shapes and sizes. As a plant-geek, I’m thrilled to be able to try out new, cool plants. As a public garden professional, I’m excited to be adding plants to our collection that will delight and inspire our visitors and contribute to our mission by following the road map of our Living Collections Policy.

Tags: botany, collections, daffodils, grace chapman, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, living collections, living musuems, memorial gardens, museum, plants, rva

Posted in Collections, Education, Horticulture | 1 Comment »

Message from the Executive Director: A Natural Love Affair

Mar 18th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Shane Tippett, Executive Director, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Can you remember being 10 and hurtling up your favorite climbing tree? Can you still feel the rough bark under your hands and the way the sturdy anchor of the tree’s trunk gave way to smaller and smaller branches until it all swayed giddily under your weight? How long did you hold your breath the first time you watched a hummingbird hover around a bed of bee balm? Have you ever thought dancing in the air like a butterfly on the wing must be a wondrous thing? Can you picture that first fistful of dandelions, buttercups and bluets you presented proudly to your mother? Do you remember the embarrassed smile on the face of the child who held up his own brilliantly colored bouquet to you, tightly wrapped in dimpled fingers, and how you carefully arranged the flowers in a vase on the kitchen table?
Did you think writers exaggerated when they described a stand of century-old evergreens as being cathedral-like until you walked through such a grove? Have you come to recognize the buds of early spring and the brilliant green shoots erupting through March snows like the faces of old friends? When you first took your young daughter out into the garden, did you think that dirty fingernails and scraped little knees could be a source of such keen pleasure? When you and your dog leave your apartment, walk down six flights of stairs and past seven blocks of buildings to arrive at the neighborhood park, do you marvel how your heart expands as the vista does? Once you’ve memorized the name of a woody shrub in that park from the plastic label alongside it, then see its sister a dozen yards down the path and can name her without a label, do you feel that your world got just a little bit bigger? When you stop at a farmer’s market on the way home, and buy fresh honey from a Hanover County beekeeper, do you feel that your world just got a little bit better?

In naming this year’s activities at Lewis Ginter — symposia and exhibits, orchids and butterflies, galas and GardenFest, education for those thirsty for knowledge and food for the hungry — can you imagine a better phrase for the passion of our staff, volunteers, members and neighbors than “A Natural Love Affair”? Neither can we.

Tags: A Natural Love Affair, LOVE, loveva, rva, Shane Tippett

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Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)

Mar 16th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

Text & photos by Brian Vick, Community Kitchen Garden Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

When these fuzzy puppies pop it really is the beginning of a roller coaster ride into spring. These magnolia x soulangiana blooms are also called saucer magnolias or tulip magnolias. Stay tuned for photos of them in full bloom later this week.

Tags: blooming now, bloomingnow, blooms, buds, garden, Magnolia x soulangiana, rva, saucer magnolia, Spring

Posted in Horticulture, Knockout Blooms | No Comments »

Camellias, the “Winter Rose,” Offer Color & Charm

Mar 11th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Lynn Kirk, Public Relations Writer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, reprinted with permission from the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Bees seem to love camellias as much as humans do. Photo by Don Williamson.

Camellias speak the language of love. A pink bloom symbolizes longing, white suggests adoration and red embodies a flame in one’s heart. Photo by Don Williamson

If you think winter’s garden can’t sprout flowers, think again. In our Zone 7, several cold-hardy ornamentals perk up cold-weather landscapes with bursts of floral color. Winter jasmine and witch hazel are two striking examples, but perhaps the south’s most well-known, well-loved winter bloomer is the camellia, sometimes referred to as “the winter rose.”
“A great many camellias bloom in winter or when you least expect them, depending on the hybrid or species,” said Brian O’Neil, director of horticulture at Norfolk Botanical Garden. “They provide color at a time when we need it most.”
O’Neil speaks from experience, working with his staff to nurture one of the largest camellia collections in the southeastern U.S. The 75-year-old botanical garden is home to more 1,700 camellia plants and more than 1,200 different camellia types, which have earned prestigious designations as an Official North American Collection and a Garden of Excellence.
“Camellias are part of this garden’s history and the history of Norfolk,” said O’Neill. “Frederic Heutte, the [Norfolk] Botanical Garden’s first director, was one of the first to grow camellias outdoors in this area.” Staff continues expanding the collection through the addition of species camellias, dwarf and groundcover forms, as well as ancient varieties cultivated before 1900.
The ancient strains are hardier and worthy of preservation, yet today’s hybridized varieties flaunt flashier and brighter blooms with sizes varying from shrubs to trees. Each bloom is lovely, seemingly eager for a second glance, whether single or double-blossomed, peony or rose-shaped, brilliant fuchsia or cotton-candy pink. Creamy white cultivars also sport wintry appeal and intriguing names like ‘Frost Princess,’ ‘Snow Flurry’, ‘Polar Ice’ and ‘Winter’s Hope.’ Most camellia blooms boast a bright-yellow cluster of stamens that are quite striking amid the plant’s glossy evergreen leaves.

Caption – The camellia originated in Asia, represented by this ornamental stone lantern in the Asian Valley at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Photo by Don Williamson

Some camellias postpone their floral show until spring, so O’Neil suggests knowing each variety’s blooming schedule prior to planting. He also hints at expanded offerings, such as the Camellia azalea that blooms during summer and bright-yellow tropical camellias, C. nitidissima and others, that are being used in breeding to develop more cold-hardy yellow camellias.
In addition to beauty, camellias are appreciated for their tolerance to shady areas, even beneath trees. They must be well watered the first couple years following planting, but typically become more drought-tolerant once established. O’Neil said a tap root formed by seedlings is perhaps an adaptation to obtain water from deeper soil levels.
Locally at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, gardeners and homeowners can see a variety of camellias in their splendor and browse the Lora M. Robins Library for related information. Two notable online resources are the American Camellia Society and the Virginia Camellia Society.

Editor’s Note: This article first published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, on March 10, 2013

Tags: blooming now, blooms, camellia, camellias

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Enjoy a Show of Nature Journals in the Library

Mar 10th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

Text & photos by by Susie Kowalik, Instructor, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

“Redwing & Swallowtail” by Roseanna H Haaland, TN

Years ago, I came across a book by Claire Walker Leslie called Keeping a Nature Journal. It was my introduction to journaling… and the discovery of a wonderful gift, both for myself and those that I have had the privilege of teaching over the years. Leslie’s definition read thus, “Nature journaling is the regular recording of observations, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world around you.” At the time, I found that definition a little stringent… especially the use of the term “regular”. It sounded a little bit like work, but it did keep me at it until I gave myself permission to not be so “regular” in my recording, and began to find my own way. I thought: What a great thing! I don’t have to spend days creating a great work of art! I can find 15 minutes or half an hour and make a little record, a visual memory, a sketch. Do-able!

Nature journaling could easily be called, keeping a field journal, or a garden journal — a sketching journal or, for some, a travel journal. Erin O’Toole, in her book Create Your Own Artist’s Journal shares these thoughts… “The main thing I use my journals for is to practice being observant. Observing means letting go of the way I think things ought to look and really seeing them for what they are. I think of myself as a visual reporter. Journals are books of discoveries. They are a curious look at life. A place to capture thoughts. Journals are an excuse to explore new places.”

“Douthat State Park” Betty Gatewood

Some people find the writing gratifying… some the sketching… some find just the joy of being out there being in the natural world and contemplating. Words… images… thoughts..seeing things in a fresh way, and creating a page to remember it by. I often start a page with just a notation with the date, where I am and a little about the weather. Then I might do a small sketch of something that catches my eye that I want to remember … a flower, or a bird or a little of the environment I am in. And then I talk about it to myself with words. Words that help me remember. Up and down and around the page. Designing the page. I have come to love using watercolors from a little portable field box for a quick notation of the colors I am seeing.

Maryann Merritt, Untitled

Frederick Frank said, “I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen.” One the day I was studying a tulip and drawing it into my journal. As I looked at it over and over again, the light was changing… and when I looked once again, the sun had found the translucent yellow base of the flower and it glowed! A small, transcendent moment of discovery, but one I would hate to have missed!”

Susie Kowalik, “Yard Detritus”

Although I have never been the “regular recorder” that Leslie would like me to be, I think these words by Annie Dillard sum up why I do continue to keep nature journals: “You were made and set here to give voice to this, your own astonishment.” Isn’t that enough reason to create anything? Even a small page.

Come to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden during the month of March to see an exhibit of Nature Journals in the Lora Robins Library, in the Education & Library Complex. And while you are there check out the orchid show in the Conservatory.

On March 30, join artist Betty Gatewood in the Lora Robins Library from 1 – 4 p.m. as she demonstrates nature journaling and answers questions about the exhibit.

The next class in Nature Journaling will be Saturday, May 18. Registration opens April 3.