PHOTO BY JONAH HOLLAND for the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Warm spring days are made for strolling through green gardens, running through meadows and stopping to smell the roses.
About a 90-minute drive from Alexandria is the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
"It is truly a special place here in the region," said Brian Trader, president and CEO of the 50-acre garden in Lakeside, Va., a suburb of Richmond, just north of the city. The centerpiece of the property is the soaring conservatory, which opened in 2003, designed by Rough Brothers, Inc. of Cincinnati.
"It's gorgeous year-round," said garden spokesperson Beth Monroe. "Even in the dead of winter, it's an oasis." The conservatory showcases palms, orchids, tropical plants and more. The conservatory is also the venue for the Garden's "M&T Bank Butterflies LIVE" exhibit, which opened last month and will feature hundreds of fluttering butterflies on display through Oct. 10. Admission to the exhibit is free with garden admission.
The community-oriented non-profit garden named for Ginter, a prominent businessman, was started by Ginter's niece, philanthropist Grace Arents, who bequeathed funds to create the garden. A garden created in her honor is located in front of a historic home on the property, the Bloemendaal House, where she lived until her death in 1927. It was restored by the Garden Club of Virginia in 1990.
The house was originally used by Ginter for the Lakeside Wheel Club, a bicycle club. The park offers a variety of guided walks and art classes for all levels. You can even check out seeds from the garden's on-site library, where they circulate a collection of seeds that people can borrow, plant, harvest, save and return to the library for others to borrow (if all goes to plan, as they say).
If you're really into roses, mark your calendar for Saturday, May 21 (1-4 p.m.) and Sunday, May 22 (11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) for the Rose Society Show, which is free with regular admission to the garden. Roses will be on display and experts will be available to answer your questions.
Rose lovers can also visit the Louise Cochrane Rose Garden, featuring more than 1,300 bushes on a 9,000-square foot hillside garden. Peak bloom occurs in late May and early June. It's one of more than a dozen themed gardens, which also include Children's Garden, Asian Valley and Cherry Tree Walk.
Thursday evenings from June to mid-September, the garden is open late until 9 p.m. for "Flowers After 5" with live music, activities, food and drinks. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Although outside picnics are not allowed, food sales continue until 8 p.m. at "Flowers After 5."
The second and fourth Thursday nights are also Fidos After 5 Nights, when the Garden partners with the Richmond SPCA and leashed dogs are allowed. If you plan to bring your dog, read up on some of the garden pet rules here: lewisginter.org/visit/dogs.
During regular hours, the Garden Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, featuring freshly made flatbreads, sandwiches, soup, salad bowls, plus grab and go selections, dessert, beverages and more. Before you head home, make time to stop by the Garden Shop for a souvenir or useful gardening supplies and gardening-inspired gifts for all ages.
Admission is $14 per person for ages 13 and older, $11 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for military, $8 for ages 3 to 12, and free for children under 3. If you live more than 50 miles away from the garden, there is a discount for membership, which allows unlimited visits. To help plan your visit, you can see what's in bloom each month here: lewisginter.org/visit/whats-in-bloom.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GARDENS IN THE AREA:
BROOKSIDE GARDENS Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 1800 Glenallen Ave. Wheaton, Md.
GREEN SPRING GARDENS Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays. 4603 Green Spring Road, Lincolnia
MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS Hours: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna
U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, D.C.
U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3501 New York Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.
WINKLER BOTANICAL PRESERVE Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria
