I saw Lewis Ginter on a list of the best botanical gardens in every state, so the next time I visited my friend in Richmond we went. They have a butterfly conservatory that is included in the price of admission. It is a really nice garden with a lot of areas to explore. They were having an exhibit of mexican folk art sculptures when we were there, which was a plus. They have a couple of lakes and there is a tree house by one that makes for a beautiful view and is very popular with the kids. They are just planting a prairie grassland by the smaller lake, which is a new feature they are using for irrigation. The cafe is also nice and surprisingly reasonably priced, and they have an extensive gift shop.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is one of my top favorite spots to take people when they visit Richmond. No matter what the season, it never disappoints. This was a May and all the roses were going nuts. It was the end of school so there were a ginormous number of students having fun and laughing as they played. It made the day and helped overcome that the Conservatory and most of the grounds around it were closed. No big deal, the side where the kids garden and the Japanese Garden more than made up for it. The rose garden area is such a nice improvement over the years since I started visiting. It's one of my bucket list items to go to the Tea Garden Restaurant. One day I will visit when it's open! Bring your family & friends to this gem of the Richmond area.

This is worst conservancy I have ever visited. Don’t go. Beds are bone dry. Flowers have wilted on died. No dead heading. No bed care. The glass conservatory was closed. Within 5 minutes of entering, I asked for a refund. Cashier said she was equipped for refunds which is a lie. The waters are scummed over and the fountains don’t work. Cashier gave me her manager’s email address to seek a refund. Disappointing fraud. Should be closed. This was Easter weekend.

I took my children to the Christmas light show hoping for a magical, family-friendly holiday experience. Going to the Christmas light show is one of our Christmas traditions. While the lights themselves were lovely, I was genuinely disappointed by how inappropriately one of the employee’s/volunteer was dressed. Clearly a man wearing big earrings, mascara, a bra with fake breasts and a hair scrunchie. Considering this event is clearly geared toward young children, the attire was distracting, unprofessional, and completely out of place for a Christmas family attraction.It was uncomfortable having to explain to my kids why the outfits didn’t match the holiday theme or the family environment. A Christmas show should feel warm, festive, and welcoming—not awkward for parents.I truly hope the organizers and or Lewis Gunter botanical gardens reconsider their dress guidelines. With more appropriate attire for employees or volunteers this could be a much more enjoyable experience for families.

We had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful garden. I couldn’t get over how great it looked in September. I would love to come back and see it in the spring!