Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Social Media in Public Gardens APGA Member Highlight: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Feb 20th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

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

Recently, the American Public Gardens Association produced a series of interviews with botanical gardens across the country. Since you, our blog readers, are some of our biggest fans and supporters, I thought that you might enjoy reading a bit about the Garden’s social media. Personally, I’ve enjoyed reading the complete series, learning something from each piece. I continue to be inspired on a daily basis by Ann Ralfalko, Director of Online Content at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), and her team, in how they approach emerging media.

APGA: How are you engaging your visitors via social media?

LGBG: When a visitor enters the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Visitors Center, he or she is welcomed with a smile by our friendly admissions staff. Visitors are given a map and suggested highlights of area gardens based on individual interests. I lead the efforts to extend that same hospitality to our online community, regardless if they are virtual visitors or engaging with us before, during or after their visit. In this way, social media is an integral part of the Garden’s overall communications strategy. The Garden supports and cross-promotes social media across multiple platforms, including the Garden’s website, e-newsletters and publications. We’ve also found by educating our staff, volunteers and instructors about social media, they can participate and promote its use. For instance, one of our instructors is encouraging her botanical illustration students to sign up for the Garden’s blog. I love seeing photos, videos and reading blog posts about our visitors’ adventures to the Garden. It gives us an opportunity to see the Garden through other eyes. I love sharing their garden stories and photos with our fans. Also, it’s a great way to get feedback about the visitor experience. In addition, I see part of our role on social media as engaging with the communities who care about the same issues we care about. For example, we are partnering with The Nature Conservancy to get kids outside in nature more often and to help raise awareness about water quality issues people can address in their own backyards. We are a Let’s Move garden and support First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to get children to learn more about growing vegetables and staying healthy by being active. I love to follow and use the #PlayOutdoors #SeedChat #TreeTuesday #PublicGardens hashtags on Twitter because those are our people. We see our role on social media as reaching out to potential visitors, not just ones who are already here. If we can bring a bit of the Garden to someone stuck in the office cubicle at work and inspire him or her to visit on the weekend or sometime down the road, then that’s a huge success. If we are able to show people from China what native Virginia flora looks like and they are able to learn something or appreciate it, then that too is a success, even if they never make it to the United States to visit. It is my goal that when anyone comments about Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on any form of social media, be it Twitter, YouTube, or even a review of the Garden on Trip Advisor, we engage that visitor and let him or her know we appreciate the feedback. This means if someone checks in at the Garden on FourSquare, we thank him or her for checking in and ask about the visit.

APGA: In addition to the initiatives you mentioned above, can you tell us a bit more about the various channels of social media that you currently employ?

LGBG: I consider the Garden an early adopter of new technology. If there is a new platform out there and it fits in with our overall strategy, we give it a try. You will find the Garden on all the primary platforms and some less common ones, too. I’ve found that different platforms have different strengths. For example, I really like the way Picassa is integrated into Google+. I love the international following and highly visual short-form format of Pinterest. Tumblr attracts a different type of social media user than say, Pinterest does. Each has its strengths. You can’t beat Instagram for easy sharing of real-time blooms. It’s easy to push Instagram photos to other platforms such as Tumblr and Twitter, so that saves time. We’d love to connect with you — here’s where you can find us!

The Garden’s blog has stories about our projects & our people.
Facebook
YouTube
Twitter
Tumblr
Pinterest
Flickr
LinkedIn
Instagram
Google+

We’ve also experimented with QR codes in our newsletter, the Garden Times, and on signage around the Garden to offer our visitors easy access to more information.

APGA: What are your strategies for success?

LGBG: The most important strategy for success in my opinion is to offer valuable and meaningful content to your fans. Lucky for us, people love looking at pictures of beautiful things! Our most most frequently asked question is “What’s in bloom?” so the beauty and ever-changing nature of a botanical garden are a perfect fit with social media. But on top of that, our fans are interested in the same issues we are — learning about the interdependence of plants and people; enriching our community; creating healthier and more enjoyable lives; finding balance and beauty while celebrating nature; and living sustainably and caring for the earth. People look to us as resource and any time we can offer valuable content relating to these important threads, it’s a win. Sharing great content of like-minded organizations is a good example of this strategy. Gardeners are “sharing people” – they love to share plants, knowledge and information — the very nature of social media seems designed for the gardening world. Social media has opened opportunities for us to share our botanical treasures with the world, regardless of location. Our mission is education, and our passion is bringing people and plants together to improve the community. On social media — it is the exact same thing, only it’s global.

APGA: What have you learned from something you tried in social media that didn’t work?

LGBG: One of the biggest challenges we’ve taken on with the Garden’s social media is making sure many voices at the Garden are represented on our social media platforms. I honestly feel the best social media content is produced by those who do hands-on work in the Garden, relating directly to our mission. That means ideally, you’d have gardeners, horticulturists, butterfly educators and Children’s Garden educators speaking first-hand about the Garden from their perspective. I feel their view is often more interesting and carries more weight than that of the public relations person. It also goes back to the audience wanting insider information, a new perspective they can’t necessarily get by visiting our website. Collaborating with such a large team of contributors has its challenges. So far, we’ve only extended this multi-voice platform to Facebook and the Garden’s blog. Some of the issues we’ve had to work through are setting standards. For example, if staff other than me is posting on Facebook, we ask the staff member to include his or her name and job title for clarity. (When I post on Facebook, I don’t typically identify myself, because I feel it detracts from the post.) Also, we have a general schedule of who posts and when, in order to avoid posting on top of each other and from having too many posts in one day. The disadvantage of a schedule is it takes away a bit from the spontaneity of our Facebook page. I think the best social media comes from simply being moved. So that’s why we maintain enough flexibility to be spontaneous when we feel inspired.
Please visit the APGA website to view the original interview.

Tags: apga, facebook, instagram, jonah holland, pinterest, public gardens, publicgardens, smcrva, social media, tumblr, twitter, youtube

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From the Director: Frank Robinson Celebrates 20 Years at the Garden

Feb 19th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Shane Tippett, Executive Director, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
On February 1, 2012, Frank Robinson celebrated his 20th anniversary as Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s leader. Such milestones in an extraordinarily successful career usually invite a series of “before and after” comparisons, but a couple years ago Frank himself edited a pictorial history of the Garden on its silver anniversary. The book documented our phenomenal growth and the expanding reach of our horticultural and educational missions. The text reflected Frank’s belief that the evolution of the Garden was the result of “the legacy, generosity, and vision of so many in the philanthropic and nonprofit communities.”

Frank Robinson helping a child plant, photo by Jonah Holland.

All true, but I also believe Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s journey would have been remarkably different, and certainly less remarkable, without Frank Robinson. Frank is hands down the most “all about tomorrow” leader I ever met. Like a sailor who navigates by the stars, he keeps his head up, always looking forward, and this visionary quality has served him and the Garden well. What makes Frank truly exceptional is that while he steers a far-sighted course, he still savors the moment, and respects and honors our mutual past and traditions. He is equal parts strategic and personal, making possible this

Frank Robinson putting pineapple on the Conservatory.

community Garden that our community treasures. Frank can dream of acres of fallow land becoming lush with gorgeous, singular plantings. He can imagine a small, undiscovered garden becoming one that serves hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. He can listen with delight to a toddler excitedly tell of her adventures in the Children’s Garden. Last December, when the Garden was honored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) with its annual National Award for community service, there were framed awards amid marbled halls, photographs with celebrities and other honorees, media attention, humbling praise. Frank accepted it all with grace, ease and humility. He handed on the awards for framing and posting, distributed photographs and praise. A week later our community representative at the IMLS award ceremony stopped by Frank’s office with a heart-felt, hand-written note. Frank held it tenderly, a pearl beyond price, and when I asked if I could frame and display it, said simply that he would be keeping this one.

For nearly two decades Frank served as the Garden’s longest tenured executive director. Now he is our first president and CEO. I cannot imagine anybody better to have in the role, as the Garden gets ready for all our tomorrows.

Tags: frank robinson, imls, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Shane Tippett, volunteers

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Lindsay Cowles: Signature Artist for Cheers to Art

Feb 18th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Lindsay Cowles, guest blogger, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Cheers to Art! Silent art auction fundraiser for Children’s Garden is Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m. Cheers to Art! is A chance to buy local art and support the Children’s Garden at the same time. Admission includes hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and live music by Emme St. James and her Jazz Gentlemen. Local artist Lindsay Cowles is this year’s Signature Artist.

Untitled 411-, by Lindsay Cowles

I am so honored to be this year’s Signature Artist for Cheers to Art. Since I am a Richmond native, it is extremely important to me to give back to my community — to foster growth, development and education in our society and our youth. Cheers to Art supports all of those elements by helping to promote hands-on education and experiences for children through their beautiful grounds and Children’s Garden programming.

I have chosen to donate Untitled 411 (36”x36” oil on canvas) for the Cheers to Art auction. The movement in this piece is fluid and organic. To me, it mimics the flow of water down river, constantly moving past rocks and trees in a seemingly haphazard path. The bright orange and purple, along with the subtle blues and yellows evoke both calming and energetic emotions. And to the lucky winner of Untitled 411 — I am also donating a $500 gift certificate towards any original piece of work in my studio!

Untitled 926- 40″x40″ oil on canvas

My art is inspired by raw texture, movement and color — many of the elements found in nature. Fundamental elements of my works are focused in the interplay of color and the layering and texturing of the paints. Each painting’s composition develops organically as the work moves through each layer and stage, until it is complete.

Untitled 928- 30″x30″ oil on canvas

I produce my work out of Plant Zero in Manchester — right over the Mayo’s Bridge.

All of my original paintings are oil on canvas. I also make prints of my original paintings, stretched on gallery-wrapped frames. In addition to originals and prints, I also produce fabrics and wallpapers through Spoonflower. I have partnered with a couple of clothing designers based in NYC on their prints— CCH Collection, by Carter Johnston (who is from Richmond); and Hunter Dixon for Anthropologie UK.

Tags: art, cheers to art, lindsay cowles, painting, plant zero, rva, rva art, rvaart

Posted in Cheers to Art, Children's Garden, Education, Events | No Comments »

Gardeners: Black is Back!

Feb 18th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

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

Savvy garden designers seeking drama and intrigue recognize the power of black. There’s a world of black beauties – more than 4,000 plants sporting dark-hued foliage, flowers or fruit – that can innovatively transform any garden from ordinary to extraordinary. Though true-black plants are a rarity in nature, dark cultivars of familiar plants are being introduced at an increasing rate. Today, the tulip, geranium, pansy, sweet potato vine, elephant’s ear and even the orchid sport popular basic-black varieties.

Black plants seem to lack color, but they actually demonstrate an overabundance of anthocyanins, which are pigment compounds found in flowers and fruits. Their blackness is actually deep blue, red or another combination that appears black in sunlight.

“Black is misunderstood and people are reluctant to use it in quantity, but black is an asset to any garden,” said Karen Platt, founder of the International Black Plant Society. Platt has experimented with black plants for more than 20 years and authored three books on the subject. “Black plants offer more depth and excellent contrast with brighter plants, rendering them brighter still,” she said. Deep-colored plants also rev up cool color palates, adding exciting depth to silvers and blues. Whether used in a foreground border or incorporated in a backdrop, deep-colored companion plants add depth to landscapes and accent light-colored fences and trellises. The darkest-of-the-dark plants serve as alluring focal points for container plantings, providing unique blends of sophistication and elegance. Their distinctiveness also prompts interesting conversation among garden admirers.
The gardener does need to be knowledgeable, however, since use of darkly colored flowers and foliage has its own set of cautions. Some designers suggest avoiding all-black gardens since the plants tend to disappear against soil and mulch, creating a black-hole effect rather than distinctive prominence. The juxtaposition of black plants with colorful plantings is the key to visual interest. For the same reason, dark cultivars should be paired with brightly hued containers and garden decoratives. And in terms of plant performance, areas with sufficient sun are important since too much shade may cause black plants’ coloring to become dull and uninteresting.
“Black has earned its place in the garden. It’s for those who dare to be different,” said Platt, who continues black plant gardening in Sheffield, England. Platt’s book and related periodicals are available at the Lora M. Robins Library at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

A list of plants with black foliage and flowers. See more resources about black plants available in the Garden’s Library.

CONSERVATORY DISPLAY

Common Name	Botanical Name	Cultivar
Elephant Ear	Colocasia esculenta	‘Black Magic’
Purple False Eranthemum	Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum
Bromeliad	Vriesea vinicolor
Bromeliad		‘Mo Peppa Please’

OTHER PLANT PLANTS
Common Name	Botanical Name	Cultivar
Ajuga	Ajuga reptans	‘Burgundy Glow’
Ajuga	Ajuga reptans	‘Catlin’s Giant’
Begonia	Begonia	‘Black Fancy’
Rex Begonia	Begonia rex-cultorum
Coleus	Solenostemon	‘Othello’
Coleus	Solenostemon	‘Black Lace’
Coleus	Solenostemon	‘Dark Star’
Coleus	Solenostemon	‘Apocalypse’
Columbine	Aquilegia vulgaris	‘William Guiness’
Columbine	Aquilegia vulgaris	‘Black Barlow’
Coralbell	Heuchera	‘Obsidian’
Coralbell	Heuchera	‘Chocolate Veil’
Cornflowers	Centaurea cyanus	‘Black Boy’
Cornflowers	Centaurea cyanus	‘Black Ball’
Cosmos	Cosmos	‘Chocolate’
Dianthus	Dianthus	‘Sooty’
Elephant Ear	Colocasia	‘Black Magic’
Geranium	Geranium maculatum	‘Espresso’
Geranium	Geranium	‘Mourning Widow’
Geranium	Geranium phaeum	‘Chocolate Chip’
Bronze Fennel	Foeniculum vulgare	‘Purpureum’
Basil	Ocimum basilicum	‘Purple Ruffles’
Hollyhock	Alcea rosea	‘Nigra’
Hollyhock	Alcea rosea var. nigra	‘The Watchman’
Millet	Pennisetum glaucum	‘Purple Majesty’
Moth Orchid	Phalaenopsis	‘Spring Prince’
Lady Slipper Orchid	Paphiopedilum	‘Black Bird’
Black Mondo Grass	Ophiopogon planiscapus	‘Nigrescens’
Purple Fountain Grass	Pennisetum setaceum	‘Rubrum’
Ornamental pepper	Capsicum annuum	‘Black Pearl’
Pansy	Viola x wittrockiana	‘Black Devil’
Pansy	Viola x wittrockiana	‘Black Moon’
Pansy	Viola	‘Bowles Black’
Pansy	Viola x wittrockiana	‘Black Prince’
Pincushion flower	Scabiosa atropurpurea	‘Ace of Spades’
Black Baccara Rose	Rosa	‘Meidebenne’
Dragon’s Blood Sedum	Sedum spurium	‘Schorbuser Blut’
Snapdragon	Antirrhinum majus	‘Black Prince’
Sunflower	Helianthus annuus	‘Moulin Rouge’
Sweet Potato	Ipomoea batatas	‘Blackie’
Tulip	Tulipa	‘Black Parrot’
Tulip	Tulipa	‘Queen of Night’

Editor’s Note: This article first published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, on Feb. 12, 2012.

Tags: black, garden, garden color, garden trends, resources

Posted in Horticulture, Trends | No Comments »

Take a Hike This Winter

Feb 16th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Lynn Kirk, Public Relations Writer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

A winter walk can help stimulate children’s imagination. With encouragement from their mother, Mary Riley, Sean, left, and Kelly McGranahan complete a Kid Quest activity at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Nature isn’t limited to three seasons – and neither are nature walks. Winter is a delightful time to explore the great outdoors as a family or with a group of youngsters. A winter hike reveals nature’s cold-weather mysteries and seasonal trends. Leafless trees bare their trunks for closer inspection, while also opening up views above and afar. Wildlife puts on entertaining shows while scampering in search of food and shelter. And only during winter can you discover the joy of icicles and the intrigue of nameless tracks left in the snow.

But before starting out on a nature hike, plan ahead and plan for fun. Random walks can seem pointless to children, whereas overly structured hikes can be overwhelming. The following tips may make your winter outings more meaningful and memorable.

Prepare. Read nature books, study bird illustrations or explore the Internet, and then talk about what you might find outdoors this time of year. Discuss the cycle of seasons, how animals survive wintry weather, differences between evergreen and deciduous trees or the purpose of nuts and berries. Light research not only readies youngsters (and you!) for learning opportunities, it builds anticipation.

Make it fun. Play games like “I Spy,” count bird sightings, conduct scavenger hunts or be the first to spot animal tracks. Encourage youngsters to use all their senses, not only seeing nature but also hearing bird calls, feeling frosty breezes, smelling the freshness of pine needles or tasting snowflakes. Climb a hill or race to the creek for added exercise. Whatever subjects you cover and whatever tactics you use, try to keep things interesting and relevant so your children develop an appreciation for nature.

Record your findings. Half the fun is talking later about what you experienced, so record your discoveries with a camera or journal entries and take a backpack to hold found objects. It’s eye-opening as to what youngsters truly treasure, including quality time with you.

Editor’s Note: This article first published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on January 8, 2012.

Tags: children, nature, walks

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Orchids Galore! is for Children & Families too!

Feb 14th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

Guess what’s going to go in the top of the crayons!? You guessed right! Orchids — in every shade of color!

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

When most people think of orchids, they don’t think of something that’s kid-friendly. We’re about to change that! We want to let Richmond Families know, it’s not just the Children’s Garden that is kid -friendly at Lewis Ginter. We’ve put a whole family-focus on Orchids Galore!, and the Children’s Garden staff will feature children’s crafts and activities every week! Which totally makes sense, ’cause when I think about who really loves to enjoy colorful blooms, my kids are right at the top of the list.

Here’s the run down:

Self-Directed Activities: Monday- Friday, *10-4 pm; Weekends, 11-3

View select Reichenbachia prints and create your own botanical illustration on easels set up in the West Wing. Learn about the science of color while exploring our brand new light table.

* (March 18-29, Self-Directed activities 1-4pm)

Orchid Quest | Daily

After picking up an Orchid Quest brochure at admissions, (or downloading one now) families use clever clues and mapping skills to find their way to a hidden treasure in the Conservatory. Along the way, children and their adults are encouraged to record the names of plants they encounter. Once the quest is completed, children receive a collectible button.

Weekend Activities: 11-3pm

Feb. 16 & 17

Explore the fruit of the Cacao plant and use a metate to grind Cacao nibs.

Make your own set of binoculars with rainbow yarn.
Feb. 23 & 24
Discover the hidden color of plants with a petal pounding activity.
Create a coffee filter flower.
March 2 & 3
Use plant material to make a sweet smelling sachet.
Make a star and moon ribbon stick.
March 9 & 10
Gather in the Conservatory for an eco-friendly, fun seed activity.

Make a rainbow plant stake.

March 16 & 17
Go green for St. Patrick’s Day with hands-on recycling crafts.

Make Leprechan’s gold.

March 23 & 24
Make your own tea bag in the Conservatory using plant material.
Create a ribbon stick.
March 30 & 31: Easter Weekend
Join us back in the Children’s Garden for family crafts in the Breezeway!

Saturdays; February 16- March 31, 11-12pm

Think Like a Plant! Animator Tyler Rhoads will engage children in an interactive drawing game based on plant evolution. Select drawings will be used in an animated video that will be showcased during our 2013 Butterflies Live! exhibit. All ages are encouraged to join. All activities are FREE with Garden admission.

Tags: Conservatory, kids activities, kids garden, Orchids, orchidsgalore, rva

Posted in Children's Garden, Education, Horticulture, No Child Left Inside: Restoring Nature to Early Childhood, Orchids, Orchids Galore | No Comments »

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Feb 14th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

Tags: BeMine, Orchids, Valentine, Valentine's, Valentine's Day

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The Greening of Urban Places & Spaces

Feb 13th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Lynn Kirk, Public Relations Writer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

“It’s not about more pretty flowers. It’s about quality of life, tourism, economy, prosperity.”

Lynden Miller, photo by Ronda M. Brands

That’s how Frank Robinson, president and CEO of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, introduced his collaboration with Lynden Miller at a recent seminar hosted by the Garden. Miller, who is an internationally renowned public garden designer, visited with Richmond leaders and organizations during the week of Jan. 14, to support the city’s growing advocacy for reviving public parks and greening urban spaces.

Miller is a crusader in the field, having spent more than 30 years resurrecting natural beauty in major urban areas, including New York City, where she tirelessly raised awareness of the need, as well as volunteer and donor support. From East Harlem to Central Park, and then Chicago to Charleston, S.C., and at numerous high-profile college campuses in between, Miller’s urban renewals continue to significantly impact millions of city residents, employees, students and tourists.

Miller thrives on transforming what she called “sad, hideous public spaces” into “inner city oases” that beckon people to come and enjoy. “I create sanctuaries for city dwellers who need a connection to nature,” she said. She encourages similar renewal in other cities, citing that reinvented and renewed greenscapes bring together people of different socio-economic backgrounds, making residents feel better about themselves and the community where they live. The unspoken message is, ‘We did this for you, and you’re worth it,’” she said. “Whatever background, whatever language they speak, people love beautiful places.” Public morale soars, and more tangible benefits tend to follow, such as reduced crime, new business, more tourism and increased real estate values.

The Process of Urban Greening
Step one is advocacy: convincing community leaders, business owners, residents and potential funders to recognize the need and support plans for strategic renewal of public parks, streetscapes and urban settings.

Selection of the urban garden designer is key, for inner city greening requires more than a knowledgeable horticulturalist. The consultant must cope with the realities of urban stresses, compacted soil from pedestrian traffic, maintenance costs and challenges — all while embracing the vision for ultimate impact. “It’s all about people and plants and putting them together to soften and humanize cities,” Miller said.

In the design stage, Miller recommends starting with strategic placement of benches, seat walls or other places to sit. The seating is an important element to the success of the public space because it infers that people are welcome. Moveable chairs especially attract visitors. “People can move them and make it their space,” she said. “That’s how they get more pleasure.”

As for the plants, Miller relies on low-maintenance varieties, such as ornamental grasses, perennials and hardy shrubs like the oakleaf hydrangea. Mixed plantings provide interest through their variety of form, foliage, texture and contrast. Equally important is four-season interest since the changing of seasons further connects people with nature.

“Plants have power to soften and civilize city life,” Miller noted. “My job is to take plants and use them to make things better for people… to make beautiful spaces that are sanctuaries for the souls.”

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

Tags: design, green, Landscape & Design, lynden miller, native plants, richmond, rva, tourism, urban greening, urban landscape

Posted in Horticulture, Landscape Design | No Comments »

A Love of Stories

Feb 12th, 2013 by Beth Monroe

By Beth Monroe, Public Relations and Marketing Director, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

I was in the local library the other day and saw the book All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps by Dave Isay. I picked it up because I’ve become a fan of StoryCorps ever since they visited Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden almost a year ago. This visit was the result of the Garden receiving the 2011 National Medal of Honor from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the White House.

When StoryCorps was at the Garden, I had the honor of lining up the interviewees. Eighteen pairs of people (36 people total) interviewed each other and related compelling stories of what the Garden has meant in their lives. This past summer, our Public Relations and Marketing summer intern Kristen Wolenberg spent a great deal of time going through all of the 40-minute interviews and accompanying photos to produce this page on the Garden’s website about StoryCorp’s visit to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. It was one of the highlights of the IMLS award and, as years and people pass, ever more treasured.

While the book does not include any of the interviews at the Garden, it is a wonderful read — especially as we approach Valentine’s Day. The well-edited stories are incredibly moving — they detail how love has brought people together, persevered in the face of prejudice, and survived even as loved ones passed.

We all have great stories to tell and I am grateful StoryCorps exists to capture them.

Tags: botancal, garden, imls, library, LOVE, museum, story, storycorps, Valentine's

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The Margaret Johanna Streb Conifer Garden is a Hidden Gem off the Beaten Path

Feb 10th, 2013 by Jonah Holland

by Elizabeth Fogel, Senior Horticulturist & Seth Roadman, Horticulturist, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden first opened to the public in 1987, fulfilling the will of Grace E. Arents to establish a botanical garden named after her uncle, Lewis Ginter. At this time, little of the Garden’s 81 acres were under cultivation, but it has changed and grown rapidly ever since. There are now over 35 acres under intense cultivation with more than a dozen themed gardens. The property includes a visitors center, two restaurants, and a classical domed Conservatory featuring changing displays and orchids. The education building houses a large library and several classrooms for the wide array of classes, workshops, and symposia offered. A 2-acre Children’s Garden offers endless hands-on activities for children and families. Whether you have 30 minutes or all day to explore there are many treasures, including countless beautiful conifers to be found.
The Margaret Johanna Streb Conifer Garden is a hidden gem off of the beaten path. Hugging the far end of our lake, it offers beautiful views of much of the garden. Built in 1995-96, this garden serves as our official conifer collection. A wide array of dwarf and slow growing conifers are inter-planted with perennials, minor spring bulbs and flowering shrubs. There are over 14 genera, 38 species and countless cultivars represented in this corner of the garden alone. But if you are coming to see conifers, you’ll want to explore the entire property. Beautiful conifer specimens from more than 27 genera can be found throughout the garden. The conifer collection throughout presents guests of the Garden with a broad array of specimens that exhibit outstanding attributes including attractive foliage, bark, interesting bud formation and unusual form and structure.

Picea abies ‘Ziegler’s Weeping.’ photo by Grace Chapman

Foliage in our collection consists of many and varying shades of blue, green and yellow/golden varieties. Some of the conifers change hue in winter months. Other types display variegated leaf tips combining to make a wonderful range of color and interest such as Juniperus rigida ‘Hikari’. Both Thujopsis dolobrata and Fokienia hodginsii show glossy green foliage while the underside displays a silvery white color that is very attractive. Popular shades of blue in the garden include Cedrus deodara ‘Feelin’ Blue’, Pinus parviflora ‘Glauca’, Cupressus arizonica ‘Blue Ice’, Picea pungens ‘Royal Knight’, Pinus sylvestris ‘Beuvronensis’ and Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’. Other conifers provide striking golden yellow color especially in the winter. Pinus strobus ‘Hillside Winter Gold’, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Lemon Twist’, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan-Sugi’, Thuja occidentalis ‘Pumila Sudworth’ are fine examples intermingled between other evergreen and deciduous trees in the garden. Brilliant yellow coloration of Ginkgo biloba in the Grace Arents Garden provides spectacular autumn interest. Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ develops a copper bronze color in winter and Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans Nana’ a deep purple hue that begins when the days become shorter and nights cooler.
A transformation of conifers in our collection begins when new growth emerges in spring and is most noticeable on Pinus and Picea species. New shoot growth, often referred to as “candles,” emerge covered in white colored hairs frequently of a different color from the leaves of the prior season. Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’ renders a white against green contrast when the growth begins. Other specimens in the collection that provide these attractive candles are Pinus densiflora ‘Oculus-draconis’ and Picea orientalis ‘Compacta’.
Another important attribute of the conifers in our collection include their shape or form. Several Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ are trained prostrate in the garden. Globose or ball-shaped is most recognized and popular among dwarf conifers. Cryptomeria japonica ‘Globosa Nana’and Pinus mugo are excellent examples of this form. Fastigiate or columnar forms add to vertical interest and Juniperis scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’ found at the entrance of the Streb garden is an example of an upright form with erect branches. Pendulous forms such as Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Green Arrow’ in the Streb garden and Picea abies ‘Pendula’ in the Flagler Perennial Garden present an eye-catching focal point.

Certain conifers in the garden have unusual forms which may best be described as intriguing. ‘Cristata’, a cultivar of Cryptomeria japonica, has congested foliage resembling that of coral reef while Cryptomeria japonica ‘Araucarioides’ found at the entrance of the Streb Garden has twisted stems and leaves adding to its uniqueness. Picea abies ‘Ziegler’s Weeping’ is an interesting weeper in which branches literally lay across the ground. Pinus contorta ‘Spaan’s Dwarf’ and Pinus parviflora ‘Adcock’s Dwarf’ are unequaled dwarf varieties and have a place in rock gardens or small spaces. Taxodium distichum around Sydnor lake produce buttressed trunks and interesting knee-like formations that provide these trees with anchor support in wet conditions.
The more mature conifers often develop impressive and attractive bark. Pinus densiflora ‘Umbraculifera’ in the Asian garden exhibits exfoliating bark that is reddish brown in color. This tree is grown as a standard to reveal the handsome bark. Pinus bungeana behind the Flagler pavilion exhibits bark that exfoliates in patches of green, grey, white and brown.
This is just a small sample of the treasures to be found at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and whatever your preference, you are sure to find something to delight you. You must visit in every season to fully appreciate all that the Garden has to offer conifer lovers. Proud to be an American Conifer Society member garden, we continue to add to our collection as we can.

Edited from text originally published in the August 2012 issue of Southeastern Conifer.