From the time I was very young, I remember how my mother refreshed the living room with a bouquet display — a quirky arrangement of flowers from the garden, or potted plants. Among one of my favorite displays was when my mother came home with more than a few pots of orchids she found on sale, […]
Read MoreIf 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 as likely to find her at Pony Pasture in the James River Park System as you are to find her here at Lewis Ginter Botanical […]
Read MoreIt’s that time again! It’s time to come out of winter hibernation and get the garden ready for spring planting! If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting for the warmer weather and are itching to get outside again. The winter months give us the opportunity to rest a bit and plan for the next year, but […]
Read MoreA herd of deer in the distance looks innocent and peaceful, but don’t be fooled: they can wreak havoc in residential landscapes. Gardens and ornamental plantings are no more than all-deer-care-to-eat salad bars. They relish munching prized tulips, azaleas and roses, as well as treasured perennials — only the best for them! And when the […]
Read MoreSpring is here, and just in time! If you haven’t heard, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is in the running for USA Today’s contest for the country’s Best Botanical Garden. You may remember that in 2014, with your help, we were voted the 2nd Best Public Garden in North America in a similar USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice […]
Read MoreOne of the wonderful things about Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s Cherry Tree Walk is that we designed it for an extended bloom time. That means that while our Japanese flowering apricot trees (Prunus mume) may have bloomed , and our Prunus sargentii ‘Columnaris’ and Prunus incam ‘Okame’ trees are blooming now, the biggest flush of blooms is […]
Read MoreIf you are from Richmond, than you probably know the Robins name. Lora M. Robins was matriarch of a Richmond family who generously dedicated their personal time and hundreds of millions of dollars in support of many Virginia organizations. One of her favorite projects was Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, where the Robins’ legacy includes the Robins […]
Read MoreSuddenly it’s spring! Nature is celebrating in all her splendor as the Garden bursts into bloom. And you’ll find just as much to love inside the Garden Shop as out. We’ve curated a collection of and gifts and goods to help you throw your own seasonal celebration.
Read MoreWe may be thankful for many things in a garden, but not everything. Under the “thankful for” heading: the blazing color of spring bloom, the annual return of flirty butterflies and the shift of seasons from gentle spring to sultry summer. “Not thankful for”: boxwood blight and periodic drought. Benedictine monk and author David Steindl-Rast […]
Read MoreGardening is more than hobbies and harvests. It is therapeutic horticulture and more. After hours staring at a computer screen or glued to a TV, Dr. Jean Larson recommends heading outdoors to garden or immerse oneself in a natural setting. “Nature is something we all need, a part of who we are,” said Larson, manager of […]
Read MoreImagine you’re an inner city high school student offered a job working in your neighborhood, learning new skills that you’ll be able to turn into a career. That’s exactly what the Groundwork RVA Green Workforce team is all about — that and more. The objectives are multifaceted: urban youth holding a real job, walking to work […]
Read MoreIn gardening as in life, the solution to one problem can be the cause of another. It happens when we burn fossil fuels for energy and the byproducts contribute to global warming. It happens with some broad spectrum pesticides, which don’t discriminate between beneficial insects and harmful pests. And so it is with salt. Homeowners, […]
Read MoreIs your garden in the grip of aggressive invasives? Are you enslaved to fussy dahlias? Do your hydrangea bloom begrudgingly? If you, gentle gardener, have ever thought to yourself, “There’s got to be a better way,” take heart. There is. Just ask Troy Marden. Marden’s new book “Plant This Instead: The Best Plant Choices for […]
Read MoreLewis Ginter Botanical Garden welcomed more than 386,000 visitors last year — plus many more who never left home. Virtual visitation continues to grow in remarkable ways, and along with it grows horticulture education and gardening interest. So rather than trying to keep nature separated from technology, we embrace the fusion. Last summer we ramped up technology another […]
Read MoreGardenFest, Rose Fest and now PlantFest! We know you like a festive atmosphere, and we love creating one. This year we’ve renamed what has traditionally been known as the Spring Plant Sale, PlantFest, to reflect newly added activities and events. We’re creating a fun day that will encourage you to come select your garden finds from the best […]
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