The explosion of craft beers is no surprise,” said Chris Ray, co-founder of the Center of the Universe (COTU) Brewing Company. Neither is the explosion of growing hops. As a main ingredient in traditional IPA-style beers, breweries, brewmasters and home brewers are planting hops in everything from backyard containers to full-scale brewery gardens. In […]
Read MoreProfile of Asclepias tuberosa: a native plant beloved by butterflies and gardeners alike … Clusters of color. Crown-shaped flowers blaze with bold orange or yellow vibrancy in the summertime. Nectar and pollen. Butterflies, monarchs, and hummingbirds greedily guzzle its nectar, while only wasps pollinate its flowers. Weedy or worthy? Butterfly weed may be persistent as […]
Read MoreOrigami in the Garden continues to fascinate and inspire! Let’s unfold more about origami, the exhibit, the process, the inspiration, and impact. More About Origami Origami means “folding paper” in Japanese. “With origami, the possibilities are endless,” says Kevin Box, the exhibition’s sculptor. The Process Each of Kevin Box’s monumental sculptures begins with a blank piece […]
Read MoreCucumbers. Tomatoes. Strawberries and collards. Big plans are underway to infuse the community garden at Peter Paul Development Center (PPDC) in Church Hill. Lakeshia Allen, a former engagement coordinator at PPDC and a Ginter Urban Gardener graduate says, “I wanted residents who live here to buy into this garden by creating the list of what […]
Read MoreRecently I met with Executive Chef Anne Maury Haapala who shared her vision for the upcoming cooking demonstration Lightened Up Favorites with Chef Anne which will take place on July 25, 2018. This 90-minute demo is followed by a delectable lunch featuring some of the recipes discussed. MSC: What is your vision or approach to […]
Read MoreThe young man in duck trousers and a company shirt had just finished off-loading the last of four ball-and-burlap pin oaks. As he busied himself latching up the tailgate of his truck, he chided me, “Remember, don’t put a dollar tree in a nickel hole.” I have heard this admonition many times over the years. […]
Read MoreAs you walk around our garden enjoying the beautiful plants, you might not realize that they have complicated personal lives. All those beautiful colors and structures have a purpose. Often the purpose has to do with eating and reproducing, and nothing to do with your enjoyment. According to the PBS video Plant Behaving Badly, scientists […]
Read MoreIt’s 8:15 a.m. Like many 18-year-olds, Tristin Compton would love to spend his morning listening to music or watching videos on his iPad. Yet he also yearns for independence and a meaningful job. So, reminded of these goals, he boards a van that transports him to Lewis Ginter. On arrival, he clocks in and pins […]
Read MoreBackyard birds often wander widely around our neighborhoods during summer, so it can seem that birdlife has diminished. Consider these tips to increase avian traffic in your backyard. Water: Backyard birds need a source of water, especially during our hot, humid summers. Provide a birdbath and refill it often. A water drip in the birdbath […]
Read MoreMeet this year’s #MillionBlooms Instagram Contest winner, Garden Member Kelly Randall (@falco_kapowski on Instagram). We love this story! “Mara and I go to Lewis Ginter two or three times a week. My grandparents got us a membership for Christmas and we have definitely been getting our money’s worth! Mara loves to practice her walking and […]
Read MoreAs you move down the Main Garden Path this summer, you’ll notice the rainbow of flowers — each one part of a group of pollinator plantings–stretching at its side. You’ll see a variety of specimens, including annuals, perennials, and native plants. These blooms aren’t just attractive to the eye, but help to attract useful pollinators […]
Read MoreHave you seen the Origami in the Garden sculpture exhibition at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden yet? The outdoor origami art exhibition, which continues through September 30, is included with Garden admission and is free for Garden members. The second stop on a national tour, Origami in the Garden captures the delicate nature of a paper art form (origami) in […]
Read MoreMost of us can attest to the positive effects that nature in general and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, in particular, has on our minds, bodies, and souls. The Therapeutic Horticulture program that Lewis Ginter hopes to launch would unearth this healing effect on populations that lack routine access to the Garden or any safe space […]
Read MoreTired of bland and boring cocktails? Harvest some herbs for herb-infused cocktails! “Fresh herbs take mixology to a whole new level,” said Ashley Greene, catering manager with Meriwether Godsey, the in-house caterer for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The pungency of herbs infuses unexpected flavors and pleasant aromas. “Mixing craft cocktails involves science and the art […]
Read MoreSpring is here and seems like the perfect time to tell you about some garden renovations taking place at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. We got swept up in spring cleaning and have cleared out two plant beds near the North Terrace. The fun part is seeing what comes next, keep reading! The plant bed, located outside […]
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