Making a Difference in the Community

Jan 1st, 2022

Looking Back at 2021

I’ve always appreciated New Year’s as a time for looking back and an opportunity to look forward. One of my favorite movies is “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and Ferris puts […]

Dec 23rd, 2021

The Firekeeper: A Heartwarming Story

One thing I hear over and over again about Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights is that our staff are welcoming, friendly, and go out of their way to help visitors. It […]

Dec 8th, 2021

Picture Perfect: Community Partnership

The day was picture perfect. Vibrant fall colors and a clear blue sky provided the backdrop for a photo session with the Browder family. Their visit was the result of […]

Oct 6th, 2021

Saving the Glen Stream

A few years ago some generous donors gave Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden seed funding to save a stream. This unassuming stream, the Glen, cuts its way across Parking Lots B […]

Sep 1st, 2021

Volunteers Making a Difference Gardening

“The Garden would be a jungle without them,” says Senior Horticulturist Elizabeth Fogel, the gratitude in her voice infused with respect and relief. “Or overrun with weeds, for sure. They’re […]

Aug 26th, 2021

Afghan Women’s Garden Beds

This blog post about the Afghan Women’s garden beds was written before the events in Afghanistan the week of August 16, 2021. The women continue to visit their garden beds […]

Aug 23rd, 2021

Pollinator DNA with Biologists from Randolph Macon

In a crime with no witnesses, investigators rely on forensics and DNA to figure out what happened. Turns out, pollinator science is not much different. For Randolph-Macon College Professors Drs. […]

Aug 20th, 2021

CVNLA: Central Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

Elizabeth Fogel is a woman on a mission. As the new president of the Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, she wants to make the group more relevant than ever. […]

Jul 6th, 2021

Birdfeeders: Take Down Your Feeders

UPDATE 12.31.21 The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has retracted the temporary ban on feeding activities, so people can resume normal activity. However, they are recommending frequent (i.e. at least […]

Jun 17th, 2021

Planting for Pollinators

Something serendipitous happens when a bee or a beetle, a bird, a bat or a butterfly rummages through the bright bloom of a flower in search of food. Lured by […]

Jun 15th, 2021

Native Bees, Bumble Bees & Honey Bees

Bees, bees, bees! Recently there’s been a lot of talk about saving the honeybees. Many articles explain the importance of honey bees as pollinators, and their declining numbers due to […]

May 27th, 2021

Unicia Buster:
Human Cecropia

My love of moths continues as I channeled the spirit of the Hyalophora cecropia Linnaeus or Cecropia moth, the largest native North American moth for my latest work of art. […]

May 5th, 2021

Overcoming Obstacles: The Kroger Community Kitchen Garden

Everyone should be able to enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables. The Kroger Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden helps make that possible by growing and harvesting produce and […]

Apr 28th, 2021

Elizabeth Fogel: Designing for Tomorrow

Senior Horticulturist Elizabeth Fogel studied the latest theories for sustainable and regenerative landscapes by visiting 10 eco-focused botanical gardens over the past two years. Her cross-country travel and hands-on research […]

Apr 25th, 2021

Building Biodiversity

Landscaping in Layers Nature loves a layer. She cements courses of sediment into solid stone. She laminates an annual succession of circles into living trees. She layers an onion in […]

Mar 31st, 2021

Claudine Reyes: Inspiration and Innovation

It’s easy to find inspiration when the Garden is your office! “A simple walk around the Garden really inspires me and reenergizes me,” Visual Media Specialist Claudine Reyes explains. She […]

Mar 14th, 2021

Planting for Nature’s Best Hope

Teddy Roosevelt stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon in 1903 and, looking out across the country’s 1.2-million-acre National Park, made an impassioned plea to the American people. “Leave […]

Feb 14th, 2021

Love Letters to Nature

Are you writing love letters to anyone special this Valentine’s Day? Remember that love isn’t just about romance! Love includes being grateful for those who bring you joy, whether that’s […]

Feb 11th, 2021

Citizen Science in Your Backyard!

Calling all birders, bird enthusiasts, and even the bird curious. The annual Great Backyard Bird Count is quickly approaching, and YOU have an opportunity to participate in something global and […]

Feb 9th, 2021

Garden’s New President & CEO: Brian Trader

I can’t think of a time when our society has needed the respite and healing of gardens and nature more. This is just one of the many reasons I’m honored and humbled […]

Dec 22nd, 2020

Invasive Plants: The “Dirty Dozen”

Meet the Plants Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing 12 of the most problematic invasive plants that you’ll encounter in Central Virginia. Unfortunately, we also have to […]

Sep 28th, 2020

Designs for Diversity: Dean Dietrich

IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) is an evolving committee where different voices are heard. Departmental representatives gather in a safe, neutral zone to address important topics related to inclusion, […]

Sep 21st, 2020

Tarneshia Evans: Kids Identify with Me

Sep 2nd, 2020

Smart Watering

A waterwise garden works with nature and natural forces (like rain) to hydrate plants while conserving water. Reducing the need to water your garden requires a little bit of research […]

Jun 21st, 2020

Front Entrance Picnics

Since Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden closed its gates to visitors in March of this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteer Elaine Loomis has spent some of her days […]