Native Carnivorous Plants I’ve made a few jokes about how carnivorous plants have so many fans — especially tween boys. They even have paparazzi! So, I wasn’t surprised when a saw a post on our Facebook page from a mom who said her son was crazy about them. “Back in March, we promised Ethan to take him to Lewis […]
Read MoreDiscover the Weird and Wacky in Nature Oddities of nature surround us. The great outdoors is where curiosity is not disappointed, it finds discovery. Quirky findings aren’t rare, they abound. Strangeness is not manmade, it comes naturally. A bizarre-shaped veggie intrigues passersby to pause and ponder its form. A seed head resembling a face brings a […]
Read MoreWhen you join Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, it changes the way you experience this special place. You explore the Garden from a new perspective. You find a deeper connection in nature. You feel a sense of ownership. Now, you can make that experience yours with the exciting new membership options at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Here are my […]
Read MoreAs fall begins, I am reminded of the systems in nature that transform place. The new art exhibit in Ginter Gallery II features Richmond artist Erling Sjovold’s paintings from Old River, New Shore. Old River, New Shore meditates on the transformative power of the James River and shifting environments. Sjovold’s depictions of the beloved James River […]
Read MoreInstagram Contest Winners Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks was a very special exhibit and called for a very special Instagram contest. We wanted to encourage fans to get outside, to learn, to feel playful, to be inspired and to have fun. So, for this year’s Instagram Contest we asked our visitors to celebrate all things LEGO by sharing their favorite photos inspired […]
Read MoreIt’s that time of year! The monarch (Danaus plexippus) migration is underway as these incredible butterflies begin their journey from as far away as Canada to overwinter in Mexico, coastal California, and the southern tip of Florida. We’ve been seeing plenty of monarchs a the Garden this week since Virginia is on the way for many […]
Read More“An estimated 15 to 30 percent of the world’s flowering plants have yet to be discovered.” —Missouri Botanical Garden Plant hunters dabble in science, adventure, horticulture and research — whether working in the eighteenth century or today. Typically, his calling is to travel the world, or sometimes just across the country, in search of undiscovered plant specimens […]
Read MorePlant fans in Richmond have been looking forward to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s plant sale since 1987, the year of our first plant sale. This year they are just as excited as ever, 29 years later we are still one of the most popular plant sales in Central Virginia. Our plant sale is still volunteer-run with […]
Read MoreNewton Ancarrow had a passion for his hometown river, the James. He’d always loved boating, and took up boat-building as an adult. With two 300-horsepower Cadillac engines and fins to match, his luxury crafts were designed for the world’s richest speed boating enthusiasts. Customers included King Paul of Greece, the sheik of Qatar, the […]
Read MoreAn Urban Forest Growing in Your City Urban forests are thriving in Richmond. For 25 consecutive years, RVA has been designated a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation. RVA’s urban forest is spreading its canopy. It comprises every tree in the city limits, whether planted in medians, or residential districts and parks. Each […]
Read MoreJames Draper Shares Pinhole Photos of Nature Connects Exhibit Our Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks exhibit has been wildly popular, not just with kids and millennials, but with adults of all ages. Each age group seems just as excited about it as the next. For young children, often it’s the enormity of the sculpture or […]
Read MoreAre we friends on Instagram? We should be! As one of the readers of our blog, you are likely one of our biggest fans. You deserve to be among the first to see new blooms at the Garden too! We also post highlights of the day, sweet moments, videos and even Instagram Stories, all in real time. Plus you […]
Read MoreButterflies are some of the most beloved and charismatic creatures in nature. They excite and inspire curiosity of visitors at the Butterflies LIVE! exhibit. One of the most frequently asked questions from our visitors is: where do the butterflies come from? The answer is, from all over the world! Our butterflies have undergone one of the most […]
Read MoreWhite chairs lined up in neat rows stretch across the soft grass, surrounding a brick path on both sides, ready for a garden wedding. At the beginning of this walkway stands a beautiful bride in a white chiffon dress, a bouquet of vibrant peonies in her hands. Her veil flows delicately behind her as she steps slowly […]
Read MoreWhy plant fruit trees in backyard orchards? Store-bought fruit offers advantages: convenience, variety and year-round availability. However, sometimes commercially grown products conjure nagging questions. Where was it grown? When was it picked? Will it ever ripen? Were chemicals used, and if so, how much? And what about nutrition and flavor? Many of these questions can’t be […]
Read More