What Is Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden?

Updated

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a public botanical garden in Richmond, Virginia, at 1800 Lakeside Avenue. It is open for daytime admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it has been recognized as one of the top gardens in the United States — voted America's #4 public garden by USA Today and named a best botanical garden by the Travel Channel. It is worth knowing about if you are planning a visit to the Richmond area, considering membership, or looking for a garden with both display collections and structured learning programs.

Where it is and when you can go

The Garden is located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23228. Daytime admission runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site lists separate pages for hours and admissions, so check those before a trip if you need current seasonal times or ticket details — the homepage excerpt does not state prices.

What makes it notable

Two external recognitions are cited on the site:

  • USA Today voted it America's #4 public garden.
  • The Travel Channel recognized it as a best botanical garden.

Beyond awards, the Garden positions itself as a place for connection, wellness, learning, and resiliency — language tied directly to its recent expansion.

The recent expansion

Lewis Ginter has completed a two-year expansion project and reopened to the public. According to the Garden, the project:

  • Nearly doubles the size of the existing Conservatory
  • Adds 7.5 acres of new gardens
  • Incorporates an additional lake into the Garden experience

If you visited before the expansion, the layout and indoor growing space are meaningfully different now.

What you can do there

The Garden is more than a walk-through attraction. Its navigation and programs point to several ways to spend time:

Area What it covers
Exhibitions & Gardens Display collections across the grounds
Events Seasonal programming such as GardenFest of Lights, Flowers After 5, and HarvestFest
Adult Programs Classes ranging from floral design to birding and bee keeping
Children's Programs Youth-focused learning
Teachers & Schools Resources for educators
Library & Public Tours Research and guided visits
Dine & Shop On-site food and retail
Facility Rental Venue space for private events

Seasonal events change through the year — the site highlights fall programming like the final Flowers After 5 Glow Party and HarvestFest, and winter's GardenFest of Lights.

Ways to get involved beyond a single visit

  • Membership — joining supports programs and operations; the Garden frames it as becoming "part of our family."
  • Volunteering — listed under the Support section.
  • Donating — a Donate Now option is available.
  • Adult learning — enroll in a class through the course catalog.

Practical notes before you go

  • Confirm hours and admissions on the dedicated pages, since the homepage only states the standard 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daytime window.
  • Check the calendar for events, as some programming is seasonal and time-specific.
  • Use the Visit Planner if you want to structure a trip around specific gardens or exhibitions.
  • The Garden states a commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility; its Statement of Support is linked from the site if that matters to your planning.

For current details on tickets, membership tiers, or event schedules, go directly to lewisginter.org — those specifics are not covered in the material summarized here.