Richmond's Garden Jewel

Southern Living, Jan 2004 by Vanhooser, Cassandra M

Shake off winter's chill with a stroll amid these colorful blooms, located in a new conservatory just minutes from I-95.

Ask the folks at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Virginia how their garden grows, and they might reply like this: with towering steel and shiny glass and pretty orchids all in a row.

Inspired by the world's great glasshouses, the large structure features a central palm house topped with a 63-foot dome and flanked by two wings. On one side, visitors find a stunning display of exotic orchids and tropical flora, while the other features a changing assortment of flowering plants designed to dazzle.

"Rather than having the traditional permanent collection of rare species, the idea was to have some very beautiful plants as a backdrop with a constant array of floral display changes," says the garden's assistant executive director, Tom Brinda. "We've sort of melded the old fashioned-style conservatory with the best of the new-style display conservatory."

This backdrop of permanent plants includes a 35-foot-tall Christmas palm tree that stretches into the towering classical dome. There are bushy jaboticaba trees, native to Brazil, anchoring the corners of the center court, plus a full-size unicorn covered in moss and ivy. A number of plants, including a 30-year-old dwarf date palm and hybrid split-leaf philodendrons, were gifts from the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.

To these plantings, Lewis Ginter's gardeners add splashes of seasonal color. "The conservatory provides us with the chance to have a year-round display of flowers and gives visitors something to enjoy even when the weather is bad or the garden is dormant," Tom observes.

January and February bring the first of the flowering spring bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, and paperwhites. There are Easter lilies in April and hydrangeas in May. This year, the summer months will feature free-flight American butterflies. In the fall, chrysanthemums of every description, including the spectacular cascading variety, provide the wow factor. The conservatory is piled high with poinsettias and draped with lights for the holiday season.

The East Wing features a constantly changing display of more than 200 orchids, revered as much for their color and beauty as for their unique flower formations. Rather than growing them on-site, the garden contracts with Chadwick & Son Orchids in nearby Powhatan to provide the exotic blooms. "Week after week, the flowers change as the plants come in from our growers," Tom says. "It really is spectacular."

The conservatory adds a whole new dimension to the facilities at Lewis Ginter. Still, one of the best things about this garden is its location. "We're just minutes from I-95," Tom notes. "We have a nice place to stretch your legs, a place to eat, and multiple bathrooms. It's the perfect rest stop for people traveling the interstate."

CASSANDRA M. VANHOOSBR

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228; (804) 262-9887 or www.lewis ginter.org. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors, $4 ages 3-12. Directions: Heading south, visitors should take Exit 83B. Northbound travelers should look for Exit 80. Good garden shopping: Don't miss the Lewis Ginter Garden Shop. It's full of treasures for your home and garden. Table with a view: The Garden Cafe, which features a daily entree special, sandwiches, salads, and soups, is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.