EXPLORING VIRGINIA-GROWN FLOWERS
WITH RIVER CITY FLOWER EXCHANGE

Fall in love with Virginia-grown flowers this summer! Join Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden as we go on the road for an exclusive opportunity to tour River City Flower Exchange, Central Virginia’s first all local flower market. You’ll meet local growers, learn all the secrets about Virginia-grown flowers, and have an opportunity to purchase sustainably-grown local blooms at the market. Explore for yourself why the beauty of Virginia-grown flowers is the best beauty for you and your world. You’ll learn a brief history of the US domestic cut flower industry and its ecological impact, why using local flowers in your designs is more sustainable, and information about seasonal selection and how to substitute Virginia-grown flowers for imports. We’ll also explore how Virginia-grown flowers increase freshness and vase life, the economic impact of Virginia-grown flowers, and what sustainable practices look like for local growers.

Please note that this class will meet off-site at the River City Flower Exchange (3300 W Broad Street, Suite 106 in Richmond). The building where this class will take place is partially ADA accessible; the market itself is accessible by ramp or stairs, but the classroom space is on the second floor and only can be accessed by stairs. If you would like to participate in this class and need accommodations to do so, please email [email protected].

Fees: Member $34, Non-Member $40

All programs are subject to change. Pre-registration through our website is required.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden strives to be a Garden for all and we are committed to offering diverse adult learning opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to all learners. If you would like to request an accommodation to support your participation in an adult learning opportunity at the Garden, please contact [email protected] or call 804-262-9887 x328 and we will make our best effort to help.

Register Member $34

Register Non-Member $40

Date:
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Time:
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Event Details

The course will be held at River City Flower Exchange, 3300 West Broad St. Enter from the alley between Roseneath Rd and Mactavish Ave. There is street parking in front of the building on West Broad, on Mactavish and on West Marshall.

GES: FD, 2, elective*

*This class offers 2 hours of elective credit toward the Garden Education Series: Floral Design Certificate. Non-certificate students are welcome. All levels welcome.

About the Instructor

Kathy StewartKathy Stewart is the owner of Toano Botanicals LLC. She lives on a small regenerative farm called Crow Meadow near Williamsburg, VA. She is a grower-member of the River City Flower Exchange, Central Virginia’s first all-local flower market. Her farm provides sustainably grown peonies, dahlias, and various seasonal blooms and branches. Kathy’s agricultural background began during her childhood on a small midwestern dairy and row crop farm. After finishing her formal education, she spent two decades traveling the country with her family as they moved from one military assignment to the next. During that time, Kathy left her mark on their homes by planting and caring for numerous perennials, shrubs, and trees. This was a counter balance to her working as a CPA and she credits gardening as a means to regulate her sanity. In 2016, as the military assignments and the tax practice came to a close, the Stewart Family felt the call back to the land and moved to a 10-acre property in rural James City County, Virginia. The need and desire to regenerate the fallow land on their farm led first to Crow Meadow Farm and then the addition of specialty cut flowers through Toano Botanicals in 2018, and she has not looked back. Regenerative and sustainable practices have helped the soil at Crow Meadow Farm immensely, but there is still a long way to go and Kathy is excited to share these successes and lessons learned with others through teaching.

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