There are so many stunningly beautiful Virginia native flowers, but some plants can do so much more than just add beauty to the landscape. Here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, we have many species planted specifically to attract birds and butterflies and to boost the ecological health of our gardens. While native plants are featured […]
Read MoreGrasses and sedges are often overlooked in garden planning but they make a wonderful addition to any garden because aesthetically, they provide great texture, color, and height to gardens in every season. In addition to adding beauty to your landscape, native grass and sedges provide resources to a wide variety of birds, insects, and even […]
Read MoreOne of the most frequent questions we get this time of year is about the magnificent beautyberry shrub. It seems that many of our visitors are enamored with this striking plant as soon as they spot it! With almost surreal metallic purple berries cascading down branches of vibrant green leaves, this is one handsome plant! […]
Read MoreSome gardeners may call it devilwood, but the fragrance of the osmanthus shrub is nothing less than heavenly. Its tiny, creamy white flowers form clusters that emit a powerfully fragrant scent, similar to the heady fragrances produced by magnolias and gardenias. Originating in East Asia, the osmanthus was cultivated for centuries and offered as aromatic […]
Read MoreWhat are natives? What nature intended: Natives are the plants that grow naturally in a region — as in, they generally occurred here before European settlement. They also are the grassroots for co-survival of other native species, including insects, birds and wildlife. More for less: Native plants sometimes are more resistant to drought, insects and […]
Read MoreMinimalism. One of its appeals is in stripping away the superfluous and admiring the beauty of simplicity. The same can be said of the garden in winter, especially trees. Enjoy simplicity with winter tree ID. It’s easier to see the “bones” or the underlying structure of a garden in winter. Without leaves, some trees even […]
Read MoreWe’re in the early stage of spring avian migration, a time when birders’ pulses quicken in anticipation of finding colorful songbirds, shorebirds and raptors. Some migrants will stay and breed in our region and others will continue north as far as Canada’s boreal habitats. On a late April morning, I headed to the Garden with binoculars […]
Read MoreAwake! This woodland rambler is an early riser from winter’s slumber. Consider mayapple a welcome harbinger of spring. State of popularity: Virginia is for Lovers … of mayapples! The native perennial (Podophyllum peltatum) can be found in almost every part of the state. What’s in a name: The moniker suggests May beauty, but Richmond’s mayapple blooms often […]
Read MoreIt was maybe two weeks ago when a couple of visitors stopped by the Admissions desk on their way out of the Garden to show us all pictures they had taken of the first couple of daffodils they saw blooming. Sitting behind the desk on that late winter day, a wave of excitement rushed over […]
Read MoreQ & A with Botanical Illustrator Lara Call Gastinger Lara Call Gastinger is a botanical artist and illustrator from Charlottesville, VA. Gastinger is the lead illustrator for the Flora of Virginia project. She has over 50,000 followers on Instagram where she posts samples from her own nature journal. Gastinger’s art focuses on the minute details […]
Read More10 steps for making your own urban garden in Richmond A vacant lot, neighborhood square and school courtyard have something in common. All have potential to be transformed into vibrant community gardens. Duron Chavis readily recognizes the possibility, having launched 12 community gardens in urban areas of Richmond and Petersburg. “None of this is new, […]
Read MoreDecember 12 is National Poinsettia Day, honoring Euphorbia pulcherrima: the country’s most popular holiday plant, according to retail sales. Purchase one locally, and chances are it originated in Ethiopia or Costa Rica, some 6,000 to 7,000 miles away. Cary Gouldin, one of three Richmond brothers who own Strange’s, shared how poinsettia cuttings (also called slips) are […]
Read MoreBerries boast a full range of hues this time of year, proving Nature’s color obsession isn’t limited to spring blooms, summer sunsets and autumn leaves. During winter, she brightens landscapes through berries, which are color-packed fruits of some ground covers, shrubs and trees. Though typically tiny, they don’t disappoint. Some boast firecracker reds, blistering oranges […]
Read MoreA Behind-the-Scenes Look at Garden Design Give a gardener a new bed, full of fresh soil and unlimited possibility, and stand back. Twice a year at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, in early spring and again in early fall, horticulture staff and volunteers pull spent bulbs and weary annuals out of their beds and replace them with […]
Read MorePredicting the future can be tricky business. It’s the stuff of tea leaves and tarot cards, Magic 8 Balls and Ouija boards. And yet, for farmers, horticulturists and even home gardeners, it’s helpful to know ahead of time when a weed will go to seed, or a pest will pupate so that we can schedule […]
Read MoreWalking around Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on this early day of spring is like getting lost in a fantasy world where everything is fair and lovely. One would easily be enchanted by sun-kissed daffodils in bright yellow and white, captured by blushing camellias in robust red and pink, and simply mesmerized by the sight of […]
Read MoreIf ever there was a plant with a fandom in Virginia, it would be the Virginia bluebell. Mertensia virginica makes fast friends with anyone new she meets. A native wildflower, you are just as likely to find her at Pony Pasture in the James River Park System as you are to find her here at Lewis Ginter Botanical […]
Read MoreIf autumn is nature’s grand finale, in winter the curtain falls. The annual performance finished, nature’s theater goes dark. Backstage, costumes are refreshed and actors rest. Players audition for new roles. And you, loyal fan, wait for spring when the drama will resume. But waiting can be the most difficult part when you’re a gardener. […]
Read MorePumpkins on a stick, bumpy gourds and alien-looking plants – you never know what you’ll find in the Children’s Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in October. Last Sunday I came as a visitor with my 11-year-old daughter and her friends and we discovered a whole world of weird and wacky. The Children’s Garden plans […]
Read MoreFall is the time to plan and plant spring wildflowers “You anticipate them all winter long, but when you finally find them, they don’t last very long,” said Nancy Vehrs, Prince William County resident and president of the Virginia Native Plant Society. “They just bloom, pollinate and disappear, but it’s their fleeting moments of glory that […]
Read MoreA southern summer wouldn’t be complete without the sweet smell of the southern magnolia blossom. Magnolia grandiflora, an icon of the South, is such a marvelous tree. Its large shiny evergreen leaves and large, showy, fragrant blossoms are a splendid addition to any southern garden. Here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden we have several wonderful […]
Read MoreA Million Blooms continues daily through June 1, 2015. Don’t miss it!
Read Moreby Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Guess what?! This weekend is peak bloom time for the cherry blossoms! Be sure to check out our new Cherry Tree Walk too. See you soon.
Read Moreby Jonah Holland, Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden We promised you we’d let you know when the Cherry Tree Walk was budding up and starting to bloom and it’s well on its way! As we mentioned earlier, it’s really a guess as to when the peak bloom time will be but some varieties […]
Read MoreHave you ever been issued a “save the date” card without an actual date? Seems silly I suppose, but with our new Cherry Tree Walk blooming for the first time this year, we are gearing up for a very exciting spring. Trouble is, no one can predict exactly when they will bloom. Predicting the bloom […]
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