Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden – again!

When in Richmond, I like to visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, only a mile or two from the Amtrak train station. A couple of weeks ago, I visited for the 3rd time and spent six hours there; I never ran out of things to see and places to explore. My other visits were in April and September, so a mid-July visit was all new.

There’s a Lego exhibit on display there now (through 18 Sept), with 27 insects and other animals (and a machine, a person and a plant or two) made entirely from Legos, popping up all along the pathways and in the gardens.

LegoGoldfinchfoodcloseGinterRichmond17July2016

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The butterfly exhibit in the Conservatory had re-opened a day or two before I was there, after a bad storm in mid-June damaged their glass home. I guess the resident butterflies were sent to the Smithsonian butterfly pavilion (which I’ve visited and which is also great), but there are new butterflies in the Ginter conservatory, and adults are breaking forth from cocoons every day. It’s an amazing place to be, though very hot, especially on a day with temps in the 90s.

inside conservatory, (Butter)flies Alive sign
inside conservatory, (Butter)flies Alive sign

ButterfliesLiveOnlyWithYourEyesGinterRichmond17July2016

Butterflies You Might See! sign ... I saw the White Peacock being born, and I've seen Paper Kites here before
Butterflies You Might See! sign … I saw the White Peacock being born, and I’ve seen Paper Kites here before

New butterflies:

Great Owl butterfly:

There were lots of monarchs … and more to come!

swallowtail
swallowtail

Julia butterfly:

Buckeye, I think:

The Clipper (Parthenos sylvia):

A Clipper with closed wings?

creamwhiteblackbutterflyGinterRichmond17July2016

The Common Morpho:

 

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And then there are the hot neon tropical gardens, the orchid and cacti rooms, the many woodland trails, the water features including a lotus bridge and a floating island, healing gardens, the tea house, a rambling children’s garden, a tree house, and a fountain garden. So much to see and do!

Bright colours!

salvia, marigolds, crape myrtle
salvia, marigolds, crape myrtle
Button flower (Gomphrena) and canna lilies
Button flower (Gomphrena) and canna lilies
hot tropicals
hot tropicals
French marigold 'Bonanza Deep Orange' along pathway
French marigold ‘Bonanza Deep Orange’ along pathway
double Zahara Cherry zinnias
double Zahara Cherry zinnias
hot tropicals
hot tropicals
orange zinnias and purple flowers
orange zinnias and purple flowers
tropical plant
tropical plant

Orchids and Cacti:

cactus and houseplants room
cactus and houseplants room
star-shaped cactus flower
star-shaped cactus flower
agave in cactus room
agave in cactus room
Red-headed Irishmen cacti
Red-headed Irishmen cacti
orchid house wall
orchid house wall
orchid
orchid
orchid house
orchid house

and other things in and around the conservatory:

yellow water lily
yellow water lily
textured water platter
textured water platter
purple water lily
purple water lily
palm tree inside conservatory
palm tree inside conservatory

The conservatory itself, visible from many spots on the grounds:

brickpathsorangeflowersconservatorylongviewbestGinterRichmond17July2016 conservatorygardensGinterRichmond17July2016 conservatoryGinterRichmond17July2016 conservatoryskycloudsmeadowGinterRichmond17July2016

Healing and meditation gardens:

MeditationgardensignGinterRichmond17July2016

mortar and pestle in Healing Garden
mortar and pestle in Healing Garden
part of Meditation Garden
part of Meditation Garden
echinacea in Healing Garden
echinacea in Healing Garden
white zinnias, statue, in Meditation Garden
white zinnias, statue, in Meditation Garden

Fountain gardens and other watery spots:

fountain garden, crape myrtles
fountain garden, crape myrtles
fountain garden
fountain garden
lotus plants
lotus plants

cloudsreflectedpondGinterRichmond17July2016

bluegill swimming
bluegill swimming
dragonfly
dragonfly
floating dock
floating dock
pitcher plants
pitcher plants

pondviewLegokoiJapanesemapletreeGinterRichmond17July2016

turtle on shore
turtle on shore
rudbeckia along water
rudbeckia along water

Treehouse and children’s garden:

overview of part of children's garden
overview of part of children’s garden
view of tree house, pond
view of tree house, pond
view from window of treehouse
view from window of treehouse
three-bin compost system
three-bin compost system
anise hyssop and blue bottles in children's garden
anise hyssop and blue bottles in children’s garden

The rose garden:

overlooking rose garden
overlooking rose garden
pavilion near rose garden
pavilion near rose garden
'Knockout' pink roses
‘Knockout’ pink roses

The tea house, where we had a great lunch:

tea house
tea house
cherry limeade at tea house
cherry limeade at tea house
shrimp southwestern salad, avocado quinoa salad, cherry limeade at tea house
shrimp southwestern salad, avocado quinoa salad, cherry limeade at tea house
Asian screens
Asian screens
pond by tea house
pond by tea house

Woodland paths and trails:

shaded pathway
shaded pathway
stonewall with entry
stonewall with entry
woodland bridge
woodland bridge
turtle seen on trail
turtle seen on trail
elderberry and Queen Anne's Lace
elderberry and Queen Anne’s Lace
one of several bird's nests seen
one of several bird’s nests seen
trees and green along trail
trees and green along trail

and assorted other goodies:

sculpture
sculpture

SheWasARealLiveTomatoJakebrickGinterRichmond17July2016

song sparrow singing
song sparrow singing
white hibiscus
white hibiscus
conifers, yucca
conifers, yucca
echinacea and brick wall
echinacea and brick wall

Goldfinches in echinacea:

pathneongardenGinterRichmond17July2016 planterbrickstonewallslightbestGinterRichmond17July2016 EarlytoBedFertilizequotebrickGinterRichmond17July2016

 

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