An already delightful garden retreat has
ambitious plans: the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden intends to become one
of the world’s outstanding gardens with exceptional seasonal floral plantings.
It offers more than 40 acres of spectacular gardens, dining and shopping. A
classical domed Conservatory (the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic)
displays more than 200 orchids in bloom, tropical plants and a year-round
climate controlled environment.
The Henry M. Flagler
Perennial Garden showcases the plants available to southeastern gardeners.
There are approximately 12,000 plants representing 655 species and cultivars.
This includes the trees and shrubs as well as green and flowering plants.
Something is in bloom year round, although January is the slowest month.
The winding brick path leads past a stream and small pond to the garden’s focal
point---a large stone pavilion at the end of the central bed.
A new Children's Garden a wheel-chair accessible Tree House,
Sand Play and Water Play areas, an Adventure Pathway and an International
Village.
You can visit more than a dozen themed gardens, including a
Healing Garden, Sunken Garden, Asian Valley and Victorian Garden.
There's also a nicely-stocked Garden Shop.
The Grace E. Arents Garden was created on the
grounds adjacent to the house in the late teens and early 1920s by the niece and
heir of Richmond businessman Lewis Ginter. The house, which served as a sort of
country club, was called Bloemendaal House, Dutch for “flower valley.” Grace
Arents created a botanical garden in memory of her uncle. The property was once
part of a 217-acre track of land owned by Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia.
Over the years the design of the garden changed, but key elements remained. In
1990 the Garden Club of Virginia began restoring the garden, relying on
recovered remnants to pinpoint where the walkways, central beds, sundial, arbors
and summer house once stood. As in Miss Arents time, the annuals create an
ever-changing look.
A timeless look is achieved in the English
cottage garden, with its knot garden and old roses. The herb collection
includes culinary and medicinal varieties. The children’s garden has an
international collection with varieties native to Africa, Asia, North and South
America. The botanical garden also has the American Ivy Society’s Standard
Reference Collection. With 190 different cultivars, it is the world’s largest
and most accurate collection. A wildflower meadow, shrub border and
rhododendron collection are also in place.
Another specialty area is the Martha and Reed
West Island Garden with an exotic display of bog and wetland plants. This is
located in the lake area between the perennial garden and Lora and Claiborne
Robins Tea House and Gardens. Lunch is served in this Japanese-inspired
teahouse daily from 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. After walking along the lake and
crossing a picturesque footbridge you’ll see the colorful lotus pool, which is
at its peak in mid-summer.
Currently the visitors center and “Shop in the
Garden” are located in the Bloemendaal House. The house can be toured, except
when special events are in progress. Long-range plans call for an attractive
new visitors’ pavilion and what can only be described as a crystal palace for
conservatory plants.
The grounds open daily at 9 A.M. and close at
5 P.M. Garden admission: adults, $10, seniors $9, children (3-12)
$6, children under 3 free. Garden members - free. For more information about
current activities, go to
www.lewisginter.org
Directions: From I-95 south take Exit 83B, Parham
Road west. Get into the lefthand lane immediately. At the traffic light, turn
left on U.S. 1. Continue on U.S. 1 to the second traffic light, and turn right
onto Lakeside Avenue. The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is at 1800 Lakeside
Avenue on the right. If you are traveling north on I-95 take Exit 80,
Lakeside-Hermitage. Go to the traffic light and turn right onto Lakeside
Avenue. Travel north on Lakeside Avenue until you see the garden entrance on
the left.
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Not far away in Henrico County the Division of
Recreation and Parks has equipped Three Lakes Park with a nature center
and observation deck. It offers families a place to get outside, let children
play and also see an indoor-outdoor fresh-water aquarium. Among the specimens
in this 50,000 gallon tank are bluegill, largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish and
channel catfish. The nature center has a wide variety of hands-on
nature-related exhibits. There are also hiking trails around the lakes. The
park is at 400 Sausiluta Drive; call 804-672-5100 for details on the county
parks.
