Last updated: 1.31.12

(Choose links for calendar details)

ON-GOING

May 22, 2011 until as long as Nature allows 
Diamonds in the Rough: A Meadowmorphosis stick sculpture by Patrick Dougherty

Explore a towering, whimsical stick sculpture built entirely of locally gathered sticks and twigs. Diamonds in the Rough is one of world-famous artist Patrick Dougherty's latest creations and is located in the Garden's Anderson Wildflower Meadow. The sculpture will be featured in the Garden’s landscape for a year or more, as Nature allows; guests can enjoy its seasonal changes and related activities.

2012

Wednesday, Feb. 1 – Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012
The Garden is for Lover’s Valentine’s Display (Tea House Valentine’s Dinners on select evenings)

A special display steams up the Conservatory, featuring tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in full bloom, while the tropical wing showcases exotic, fragrant orchids. (Those enjoying special Valentine’s Dinners and Brunches in the Tea House can also stroll through the Conservatory during brunch and dinner times.)

Feb. 8, 9 & 10, 2012
Winter Symposium

8 am – 4 pm

Treading Lightly on the Land:  2012 Winter Symposium and CVNLA Short Course Presented by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, and Virginia Cooperative Extension Massey Conference Center Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

An event for green business owners and their staffs, landscape architects and designers, master gardeners, and seasoned home gardeners.  Earn continuing education hours, update pesticide certification (Friday), network with colleagues, and rekindle passion for your profession. 

Speakers include:

Nancy Ross Hugo, Seeing Trees

Douglas Tallamy, Networks for Life: Addressing the Biodiversity Crisis Through Landscape Connectivity: Gordon Hayward, Landscape Designer, on Your (Client’s) House, Your (Client’s) Garden: A Foolproof Approach to Good Garden Design (and) The Winter Garden

$40 per day includes coffee and lunch

Net proceeds from this event help build CVNLA’s scholarship fund for students pursuing horticultural careers.

Register online or by phone, 804-262-9887, ext. 322

5 contact hours for professional development apply each day. 

Wednesday and Thursday are registered for 5 LA/CES units each, HSW applies 

March 2, 2012
Tree Care Symposium

March 1 – 31, 2012
March Madness
Discounts in Shop, Café and Tea House

15% discount on purchases in the Garden Shop for Garden Members (only).

Saturday, March 10 – Sunday, April 22, 2012
Orchids Galore!

Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Regular Garden admission

A Million Blooms kicks off with a spectacular orchid display in the Conservatory!
Dazzling color, intoxicating fragrance and exotic beauty -- Orchids Galore! features hundreds of orchids on display in the Conservatory. Vignettes will include cascades of blooms against a tropical landscape and miniature and full-size specimens.

Saturday, March 10 - Sunday, June 3, 2012
A Million Blooms

Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A Million Blooms kicks off with Orchids Galore! -- a spectacular display of orchids in the Conservatory from Saturday, March 10 – Sunday, April 22. The celebration continues with millions of blooms throughout the spring season: daffodils, cherry blossoms, tulips, irises, roses and peonies. Highlights include special events such as Easter Weekend, Mother’s Day, the Spring Plant Sale and plant shows, and activities in the Children’s Garden.

April 1 – 30, 2012

EXHIBIT: Pinwheels for Prevention Garden

Children’s Garden

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, 3,000+ pinwheels will be “planted” in the Children’s Garden, each representing a child served this past year by Prevent Child Abuse Virginia’s Healthy Families program.

Saturday, April 7 & Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter Weekend with Peter Rabbit

1 – 4 p.m. both days: Meet Peter Rabbit
Saturday, 2 – 3 p.m.: Concert

Peter Rabbit greets visitors and poses for photographs (both days). Concert by the Richmond Concert Band on the lawn at Bloemendaal House (Sat.); Easter Brunch in the Tea House by reservation (Sunday).

Saturday, April 7 & Sunday, April 8, 2012

Virginia Daffodil Society Show

Saturday, 2 – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Education and Library Complex

Included with regular Garden Admission
Hundreds of delightful prize-worthy daffodils and expert growers.

Friday, April 13, Saturday, April 14, & Sunday, April 15, 2012
Richmond African Violet Society Show and Sale

RVC atrium & Robins Room
Open free to the public / regular admission to visit the Garden

SALE: Friday, Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm, Sunday, 12 – 5 pm

SHOW:  Saturday, 1 – 5 pm; Sunday 9 am – 5 pm

Interesting and unusual African violet varieties on display and for purchase.

Thursday, April 19
Cheers to Art

Ticketed event

The Garden’s annual Cheers to Art! event features more than 100 extraordinary, local artworks available by silent auction coupled with beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment to benefit enhancements to the Children’s Garden.

Auction items include modern, abstract and contemporary pieces of art, pottery, jewelry, photography, sculpture and more. Ticket costs include light cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a pass to stroll the garden.

Saturday, April 21 & Sunday, April 22, 2012
Heritage Weekend
Saturday, Noon – 3 p.m.
Sunday, Noon – 4 p.m.
Celebrate tulips at their peak and historic highlights from the Garden’s past. Enjoy tours of Bloemendaal House and imagine its early days as the original Lakeside Wheel Club.

Tea House brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (for reservations, ext. 399; Garden admission required.)

April 24, 25, 26, 2012

Historic Garden Week in Richmond

Garden open til 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 for Historic Garden Week

To celebrate Historic Garden Week, Garden has extended hours on the evening of Thursday, April 26 only with historic Bloemendaal House open; wine-tasting, live music, dining, shopping and more.

May 3, 4 & 5, 2012

Spring Plant Sale

Thursday, 1 – 6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Garden’s plant sales are among the largest in the region selling plants ranging from well-known favorites to rare exotics. Presented by Garden volunteers.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Schmooza Palooza

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother’s Day Concert

1 – 4 p.m.  

 Treat Mom to a special day! Enjoy a free concert in the Garden (included in admission). Brunch is available in the Robins Tea House by reservation; food also available for purchase in the Garden Café or a la carte in the Garden.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Friday, May 25 - Monday, October 14, 2012
Butterflies LIVE!
Hundreds of live butterflies will again take flight in Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's glass Conservatory in 2012. The Butterflies LIVE! exhibit is back by popular demand and will feature showy tropical species. Visitors will be able to walk among the butterflies in the North Wing of the Conservatory. The exhibit will also feature special plantings to provide food for the butterflies, allowing visitors to get an "up-close" and personal view of these fascinating creatures. Butterflies LIVE! is supported by the Robins Foundation.

 Saturday, May 26 & Sunday, May 27, 2012
Richmond Rose Society Show

Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m – 3:30 p.m.
Auditorium, Education and Library Complex

Included with regular Garden Admission

 Displays of specimen roses and seminars by consulting experts.

June, July & August Tuesdays
June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24; August 7, 14, 21, 28, 2012

Families After 5

Garden open til 9 p.m.

Ever-changing family fun after-hours in the Children’s Garden. WaterPlay remains open until 8:30 p.m.; food available for purchase.

June, July & August Thursdays

Jun. 7, 14, 21, 28; July 5, 12, 19, 26; August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012

Flowers After 5

Garden open til 9 p.m.

Relax on summer evenings; stroll through the gardens; enjoy wine-tasting, music, outside dining and shopping. New this year, the Garden’s in-house caterer Meriwether Godsey offers themed wine tastings, specialty beers and the chance to sample great local fare. Music ranges from opera to jazz to bluegrass – even tango and salsa dancing! Garden partners with Richmond SPCA on second Thursdays of each month and allows leashed pets (Fidos After 5).

Second Thursdays of each month during Flowers After 5
June 14, July 12, August 9, 2012

Fidos After 5

Garden open til 9 p.m.

The Garden partners with the Richmond SPCA and leashed pets are allowed during Flowers After 5 on these special nights (second Thursdays).

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Richmond Area Daylily Society Show and Sale

Sale: 9 am until sold out, terrace outside Education and Library Complex

Exhibit:  1 – 3:30 pm, Education and Library Complex auditorium

Open free to the public / regular admission to visit the Garden

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Father’s Day

1 – 4 p.m.

Celebrate Father's Day in the Garden with entertainment and garden-related activities. Enjoy a free concert (included in Garden admission) and see classic cars. Food will be available for purchase.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Fourth of July
FREE admission

Guests are invited to wear red, white and blue and bring wagons and strollers to decorate for a “parade.” Enjoy music, WaterPlay and fun activities in the Children’s Garden.

Friday, September 21 & Saturday, September 22, 2012

Fall Plant Sale

Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Avid gardeners know fall is a great time for planting. The Fall Plant Sale features vendors selling plants ranging from well-known favorites to rare exotics. Presented by Garden volunteers.

October 1 – 31, 2012

October Oddities

This October, refresh your “garden spirit” at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden with displays and activities for all ages. Enjoy vignettes designed to provoke a sense of curiosity and wonder using underappreciated oddities of nature and ‘horti-torture.' Every Saturday in October from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. the Garden presents opportunities to explore “Oddities and Curiosities” in the Children’s Garden and Anderson Wildflower Meadow.
 

Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7, 2012
Rose Fest

Noon – 3 p.m.

Rose Garden in full bloom with informal tours, live music and more.

Sunday, October 28, 2012
Goblins and Gourds

1 – 4 p.m.

Harvest celebration with live music, pumpkin decorating, good green fun in the Children’s Garden.

Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3, 2012
(Member Night Thursday, November 1, 2012)

Museum Stores of Richmond Holiday Shoppers Fair at Science Museum

Richmond-area museum gift shops sell their wares, including many specialty items. Proceeds benefit the museums.

Thursday, November 8, 2012
Champagne ‘n’ Shopping

5 – 8 p.m.

The Garden hosts a special evening of shopping just in time for the holidays. Guests are greeted with a glass of champagne or sparkling cider; live music and door prizes.
 

Friday, November 9, 2012
Holly Jolly Christmas on Lakeside Avenue

5 – 9 p.m.
Lakeside-area merchants, including the Garden Shop, stay open late for holiday shopping.

Friday, November 23 – Monday, Jan. 7, 2013

Dominion GardenFest of Lights

5 – 10 p.m.

Dominion GardenFest of Lights is a holiday tradition featuring more than a half million lights, botanical decorations, trains, holiday dinners, family activities and more.

Saturdays in December, 2012
Saturday Brunch with Santa
Join Santa for brunch on Saturdays in December. The jolly old elf will make a special appearance and children will be able to tell him their “wish-lists.”

Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year’s Eve Family Frolic

2 – 5 p.m.

Family activities in the afternoon with live entertainment and crafts. (GardenFest of Lights in the evening from 5 – 10 p.m.)