Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is Richmond's horticultural showpiece: roughly fifty acres of cultivated gardens, ponds, woodland paths and glasshouses in suburban Henrico County, about fifteen minutes from downtown. Founded in the 1980s on land that once belonged to Lewis Ginter, a Gilded Age tobacco and railroad magnate, it has grown into one of the premier public gardens in the mid-Atlantic. Unlike a typical park, each section is designed as a collection, with seasonal color from early spring bulbs to autumn chrysanthemums, and strong plantings in every month. Highlights include the Conservatory, a domed glasshouse with tropical and subtropical plants, a lively Orchid Display, and the Asian Valley, a peaceful area with a pagoda and a stream. The Rose Garden, Healing Garden, Flagler Perennial Garden and Lakeside Garden each offer a different mood. The Kroger Children's Garden is a big draw for families, with water features, a treehouse, play spaces and hands-on learning.

For many Richmonders, the garden's biggest event is the winter holiday display, GardenFest of Lights, when the grounds are covered in hundreds of thousands of lights, with illuminated plants, themed displays and seasonal treats. It is a popular tradition, so tickets for popular nights sell out and advance reservations are strongly recommended. Other seasonal highlights include the spring bloom, summer butterflies and a fall display, plus a calendar of classes, concerts and events.

Admission is charged, with discounts for seniors, students and children, and membership offers unlimited visits and reciprocal benefits at other gardens. Parking is free and plentiful. The garden has a cafe and a shop, and picnicking is allowed in designated areas. Because the layout is flat and well paved, it is easier to navigate than some hillside parks, and strollers and wheelchairs generally do well. Allow two to three hours for a thorough visit.

Where does it fit? If Maymont is the historic estate, Lewis Ginter is the curated collection, so keen gardeners often visit both. Together with VMFA, they make a strong gardens-and-art itinerary. Because the garden is outside the downtown core, plan transport by car or rideshare, and combine it with a lunch in the Scott's Addition or Museum District area. In any season, but especially spring and the holiday season, it is a reliably beautiful half day and one of the best places in the region for a slow, restorative visit.

To get the most from a visit, check the garden's calendar before you go. Seasonal exhibits, plant sales, art shows, outdoor concerts and classes appear throughout the year, and the garden's annual displays, such as spring bulbs and summer lanterns, can shape your timing. Photographers should visit in the morning when the light is soft and the crowds are thin.

Bring a refillable bottle and a hat in summer, and layers in cooler months, because the Conservatory is warm while the grounds are not. The cafe offers light meals, and the shop carries plants, books and gifts for gardeners.

Memberships pay for themselves after a few visits and often include reciprocal admission at gardens in other cities, which is useful for frequent travelers. Wheelchairs and strollers are available at the visitor center in many cases, and guided tours by volunteers add plant knowledge you would not get on your own.