http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/ en-us Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:57:53 -0500 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:57:53 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss dukecms 5 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/the-gillette-forum-my-reframed-beauty/ by Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden I came away from the Gillette Forum completely in awe of the job that landscape architects who are committed to creating beautiful but sustainable landscapes have. The task of convincing those with the power (the client) to do the right thing environmentally, seems daunting -- especially if the client thinks they know what they want or that they think they know what is beautiful. After listening to Thomas Woltz, ASLA, and Douglas Reed, FASLA, Lewis Ginter's Gillette Forum keynote speakers, I realized that beauty is subjective and that the ... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:16:48 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/the-gillette-forum-my-reframed-beauty/#2371 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/the-incredible-power-of-one-sustainable-yard-at-a/ Thomas L. Woltz, ASLA and Douglas Reed, FASLA, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for the Gillette Forum.by Adele MacLean, Program Developer/Special Projects and Jonah Holland PR & Marketing Coordinator The Gillette Forum, the last of Lewis Ginter's four-part 25th anniversary symposia, was filled with many great stories, images and ideas about how each of us can do our part to create landscapes that are both beautiful and environmentally sustainable. After taking a moment to absorb it all, our special projects program developer and I have gathered our thoughts and reflections on the symposium. The Gillette Forum moved more than a ... Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:21:16 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/the-incredible-power-of-one-sustainable-yard-at-a/#2359 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/woolly-bears-acorns-persimmons-oh-my/ by Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator Has anyone else noticed the multitude of acorns this year? Aside from unsteady footing have you ever wondered what all those acorns mean? Some say you can predict the weather by how many acorns are on the ground. Something to do with how the squirrels will need to forage more because of deep snow and a harsh winter. Earlier this fall, you may have followed along on Facebook as we cut open a persimmon to look at the seeds with the hope of forecasting the winter. The result: inconclusive (I should have done ... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:56:17 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/woolly-bears-acorns-persimmons-oh-my/#2350 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/community-kitchen-garden-stinky-tomatoes-and-more/ By Janine Butler, Garden Volunteer The growing season may be over, but there’s still plenty to be done in the Community Kitchen Garden and a little bit of rain doesn’t stop the volunteers at Lewis Ginter! Last week we had a good crew show up regardless of the rain and we picked the last of the tomatoes. We also pulled out many of the remaining plants, including the tomatoes, peppers and eggplants (by the way, did you know that where I come from we call eggplant ‘aubergines’?). This week, again we started off in a slight drizzle and sheltered in ... Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:51:51 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/community-kitchen-garden-stinky-tomatoes-and-more/#2278 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/come-visit-our-human-sundial-in-the-childrens-gar/ by Erin Wright, Children's Garden Educator and Horticulturist Working in the Children's Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is always a lot of fun -- the staff here loves learning about nature as much as we like teaching kids about it. Krissi, one of the Program Developers in the Children's Garden, has the very cool job of designing a new Kid Quest every couple of months. This outdoor scavenger hunt for kids of all ages is a great way to get to know the gardens at Lewis Ginter better. The Kid Quest that is available through the end of November ... Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:17:02 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/11/come-visit-our-human-sundial-in-the-childrens-gar/#2273 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/richmond-places-greater-importance-on-trees-parks/ It looks like Richmond is looking at its trees and its parks more seriously these days. Ever since our symposium, Green Tonic: Urban Gardening for Health & Wholeness back in August, I've been thinking more about the city's parks and trees and apparently so has the rest of Richmond. On Monday, City Council voted on whether to establish an urban forestry commission for the city -- that proposal was adopted! And then I came across Mark Holmberg's report on city parks on Buttermilk & Molasses earlier this week, it was even more good news for Richmond's parks! Holmberg's report addresses ... Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:21:50 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/richmond-places-greater-importance-on-trees-parks/#1972 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/obamas-kitchen-garden-available-for-tours-this-we/ By Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator, Lewis Ginter Botancial Garden Want to see Michele Obama's Kitchen Garden? Now is your chance. According to US News & World Report, this weekend, the White House garden and grounds will be open for free tours. Thanks to Red White & Grew for letting us know! The tour is free and open to the public, but make sure you get a ticket. Details below: ANNOUNCING THE WHITE HOUSE GARDENS AND GROUNDS TOURS: The White House Gardens and Grounds Tours will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17th, and ... Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:02:55 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/obamas-kitchen-garden-available-for-tours-this-we/#1768 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/wordless-wednesday/ by Jonah Holland, PR & Marketing Coordinator After reading the Garden Club of Virginia's Horticulture blog (one of an impressive 3 blogs that they sponsor, in addition to Tweeting!) I came across Wordless Wednesday. A day's post dedicated to a photo of some beautiful flower or creature. I like the idea so much, that I'll be adopting Wordless Wednesday here as well. I hope you'll tune in to see what wordless wonder is happening at the Garden right now! Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:35:58 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/wordless-wednesday/#1758 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/community-kitchen-garden-at-lewis-ginter-get-read/ By Janine Butler, Garden Volunteer Yes, you read that correctly. The heat of summer may only just be over, and many people are looking forward to the cooler weather of fall, but smart gardeners are already thinking about spring! Here at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden vegetable garden we are planning ahead so that next spring we will have an even more successful harvest than we did this year. The plants are dying down and in the next week or two we will pull out all the remaining dead plants. You are probably doing the same at home in your ... Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:16:03 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/community-kitchen-garden-at-lewis-ginter-get-read/#1747 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/timeless-design-in-a-sustainable-world-the-charle/ AP Farm, photo courtesy of Reed Hilderbrand In just a few short weeks, we will be hosting internationally known landscape architects here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for the Gillette Forum. Timeless Design in a Sustainable World: The Charles Gillette Forum, will feature Thomas Woltz, ASLA, principal at Nelson Byrd Woltz, in Charlottesville and Douglas Reed, FASLA, principal, Reed Hiderbrand Associates, of Watertown, Mass. Douglas Reed of Reed Hilderbrand, was just featured in this month's (September/October 2009) Garden Design magazine as a Green Award winner for incorporating sustainable design, along with beauty. They were only one of three firms in ... Thu, 8 Oct 2009 10:11:42 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/timeless-design-in-a-sustainable-world-the-charle/#1693 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/rose-fest-brings-passion-to-lewis-ginter-this-wee/ A Tango in the rose garden during Rose Fest I have to admit it. I love to watch the tango. Look at the serious passion on these dancer's faces. Last year, when this photo was taken, during our first Rose Fest ever, in our (relatively) new rose garden, I felt like I was transported to Spain. My husband, my children and I stood in awe, watching as these dancers made use of one of the most romantic places here at the Garden, and shared their passion for roses and dance for all to see. We were voyeurs, and sat quietly ... Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:17:52 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/10/rose-fest-brings-passion-to-lewis-ginter-this-wee/#1630 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/tulips-wild-willful-ruination-of-an-economy-find-/ by Phyllis McLeod Laslett, Adult Education Coordinator I love tulips in the spring. I love them in vases and have never wanted to tame their twining, twirling habits as cut flowers. Their bright, clear colors and elegant shapes are so satisfying. I love watching Lewis Ginter’s spring tulip border emerge each April. So, who knew that these beloved spring heralds nearly wrecked one of the world’s great economies? It’s a great story: when tulips were first imported from Turkey in the 16th and 17th centuries, they fascinated the Dutch, at that time one of the great economic powers of the ... Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:57:20 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/tulips-wild-willful-ruination-of-an-economy-find-/#1534 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/explore-the-grand-saga-of-the-monarch-butterfly-s/ Monarch on Milkweed by Phyllis McLeod Laslett, Adult Education Coordinator When I was about ten (never mind when that was) I was playing in a neighbor’s yard when a stream of Monarch butterflies came through. It was a gray early fall day—probably late September, just like now. Suddenly the yard was filled with hundreds of fluttering Monarch butterflies! They swooped low and flew all around me! It was a magical moment I’ve never forgotten. Now, I know the even more magical story that these unusual butterflies migrate from North America all the way to the central highlands of Mexico where ... Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:54:04 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/explore-the-grand-saga-of-the-monarch-butterfly-s/#1533 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/green-tonic-urban-gardening-for-health-wholeness-/ A few weeks ago, Drew Becher, Executive Director of the New York Restoration Project, came to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and spoke at our Green Tonic: Urban Gardening for Health & Wholeness symposium about how NYRP has been transforming New York City through there urban greening initiatives. He is a dynamic speaker, and we hope that you enjoy this podcast of his presentation -- Trash to Treasures: Greening One Block at a Time. New York City has done a wonderful job of reclaiming part of their water front and turning it back to a lush green environment for all to ... Wed, 9 Sep 2009 14:58:56 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/green-tonic-urban-gardening-for-health-wholeness-/#1390 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/lewis-ginters-artists-work-featured-at-american-h/ Paeonia suffruticosa, watercolor by Juliet Kirby Lewis Ginter's own, botanical illustration teacher, Juliet Kirby, has her art featured at River Farm, the American Horticulture Society's headquarters, just outside of Alexandria, VA. The show, Eyes on Nature: Botanical Artist Bring Their Views to River Farm, will run though Jan. 4, 2010. In addition to Juliet Kirby, the show will feature work by her Lewis Ginter students, Barbara Chadwick, Judy Rogers and Mary Jane Zander, and others. Orchids, peonies, arrays of spring bulbs and other exquisitely rendered flowers, as well as trees, herbs, fruits, vegetables and the occasional butterfly or moth, will ... Tue, 1 Sep 2009 14:46:53 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/09/lewis-ginters-artists-work-featured-at-american-h/#1362 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/08/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-at-lewis-ginter-botanic/ This morning I started out to document what's in bloom right now at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. I didn't get very far. After leaving my office and strolling through the Woodland Walk, I quickly realized that this would have to be a catalog of simply what was in bloom just in the Woodland Walk portion of Flagler Garden, and also a small area of the Garden known as the Robert Haskell Garden. There is SO much in bloom everywhere I look at Lewis Ginter! This post was inspired by a post from Washington Gardener's Blog. Which was in turn, originally ... Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:13:50 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/08/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-at-lewis-ginter-botanic/#1346 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/07/butterflies-live-has-its-own-blog/ Our very own butterfly wrangler, Jay Forehand, has started a Butterflies LIVE! blog. This is great news since he is living, eating and sleeping butterflies. OK, he's not eating them, but you know what I mean. Jay has an INCREDIBLE 1-minute movie of a Papilio Dardanus emerging. And, the other great news this week is that we just received our first Atlas Moth -- the largest and most famous of the moths. The Atlas moth can be 10-12 inches across. Check out the photos of this guy! Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:27:59 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/07/butterflies-live-has-its-own-blog/#1237 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/07/richmond-bloggers-visit-lewis-ginter-botanical-ga/ This past week I hosted not just one but TWO blogger tours at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Not only did I get to meet some new friends, but I also got to meet some folks that I've known for a while, but only through social media. I had a great time showing the bloggers and their kids around the Garden. And both days we were blessed with a beautiful mornings. Here is a round up of the coverage: Kate Hall from Richmondmom.com brought her sweet, sweet daughter on the tour and wrote a very entertaining report on Lewis Ginter -- ... Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:23:22 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/07/richmond-bloggers-visit-lewis-ginter-botanical-ga/#1215 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/06/community-kitchen-garden-weeds-and-bugs-two-guara/ by Janine Butler, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden volunteer In last week's blog, I commented on how well all the plants had been growing over the last couple of weeks. Well guess what else has been growing? Yep, WEEDS! I spent a good hour or so on Saturday using a cool tool called a scuffle hoe - you move it back and forth as if you were sweeping the floor, except instead of collecting dirt it wacks the top of the weeds off! It works pretty well for the broadleaf weeds, but we also have some pesky wiry, grassy weed, which ... Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:47:17 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/06/community-kitchen-garden-weeds-and-bugs-two-guara/#1134 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/06/community-kitchen-garden-look-whats-growing/ Community Kitchen Garden: Look What’s Growing! by Janine Butler, garden volunteer What a difference a couple of weeks can make! Look at these pictures that were taken this morning: [ The squash seeds that we planted a couple of weeks ago are doing great. I can’t believe that they could grow so big in such a short time! The seed package did say that germination would occur in 10 -15 days, but as I have never grown squash before I didn’t quite believe it. Well, seeing is believing! The rest of the plants are also doing very well. It is ... Thu, 4 Jun 2009 13:46:04 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/06/community-kitchen-garden-look-whats-growing/#1095 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/butterflies-and-flowers-making-waves-in-richmond-/ The flurry of activity around Butterflies LIVE! and the Garden has been incredible these past few days. What an incredible way to kick off the summer! I'd just like to take a few minutes to thank and round up some of the blog posts of Richmonders who decided it would be a good idea to come see our Butterflies LIVE! exhibit for themselves and give the rest of Richmond and Central Virginia a preview. The really cool thing is that they all decided to do this on thier own. From movies, to photos, to blog posts, each was inspired by ... Wed, 27 May 2009 15:13:52 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/butterflies-and-flowers-making-waves-in-richmond-/#1065 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/community-kitchen-garden-at-lewis-ginter-girl-pow/ by Janine Butler, garden volunteer Under the watchful eye of Tom Brinda, Assistant Executive Director of Horticulture & Education, the first team of vegetable garden volunteers got things moving on Saturday! And what a team it was! Five ladies, including myself showed up bright and early to continue the work that was started last Thursday during the Planting Day Celebration. First off, we moved several 50-pound bags of cow manure. This was spread up and down the rows of cabbages and peppers that didn’t get manure prior to planting. Then we placed old newspapers down around the plants, about 5-6 ... Wed, 20 May 2009 11:12:41 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/community-kitchen-garden-at-lewis-ginter-girl-pow/#1030 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/community-kitchen-garden-planting-day-success/ By Janine Butler, garden volunteer Today was awesome! About a hundred people participated in the celebration planting day this morning, including a group of 20 4- and 5-year-old students from New Directions Daycare. It was great fun watching the children get in the dirt and plant cabbages, bell peppers, eggplant and tomatoes. It comes so natural to children - they have no fear or anxiety over whether they are doing it in just the right way, its all about getting it done. They worked with folks from the Virginia Master Gardener Program and volunteers who did a great job explaining ... Fri, 15 May 2009 13:43:17 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/community-kitchen-garden-planting-day-success/#1007 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/butterflies-live-opens-may-22/ We got a really sweet write-up in todays Richmond Times-Dispatch on Butterflies LIVE! that is opening next week at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Check it out! Butterflies seem to be a hot topic these days, Maymont opens their new butterfly trail with a Garden Celebration this Sunday and then our exhibit opens on Friday. I'll be posting some behind the seens photos soon, our first shipment of 100 adults and 500 pupa should arrive tomorrow -- so stay tuned! I'm so excited to see the butterflies -- especially the blue morpho butterfly, pictured here. Fri, 15 May 2009 10:50:05 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/butterflies-live-opens-may-22/#1003 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/no-child-left-inside-restoring-nature-to-early-ch/ My teacher husband wrote a great blog post on the Garden's recent Dinner in the Garden for Teachers that Lewis Ginter hosted as part of our No Child Left Inside: Restoring Nature to Early Childhood symposium, so, I'll let you read about Jane Kirkland, our keynote speaker and her wonderfully funny and inspiring story on his blog. Jane Kirkland signs books at the No Child Left Inside symposium I want to get down to business talking about some of the amazing speakers that inspired me the next day, during our full-day symposium. And also, some of the children that inspired ... Wed, 13 May 2009 15:49:54 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/05/no-child-left-inside-restoring-nature-to-early-ch/#995 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/04/making-a-home-for-fairies-at-lewis-ginter-botanic/ I just spoke with Tracy Kane, author of the Fairy House Series of books. She'll be at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, April 29th for our No Child Left Inside: Restoring Nature to Early Childhood symposium. I was very excited to speak with her because I've seen with my own children how completely enthralled they are with fairy houses and miniature worlds and I thought she might have some insight into what it is about fairy houses that is so special. I think it is partly because the magic of nature is so easy to believe in. Watching a caterpillar turn ... Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:29:05 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/lewisginter/2009/04/making-a-home-for-fairies-at-lewis-ginter-botanic/#889