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Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden cuts ribbon on $31 million expansion
May 26, 2026
Henrico officials and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden staff have welcomed a new era for environmental education.
Spanning 7.5 acres after two years of construction, a $31 million expansion to Lewis Ginter’s conservatory and the construction of a new garden and lake is ready to welcome guests this weekend, following a ribbon cutting on the morning of Wednesday, May 20.
Lewis Ginter VP of Learning and Engagement Kristin Thoroman explained to 8News that the expansion doubled the size of the original conservatory, which first welcomed park-goers in 2003.
The conservatory’s addition spans 24,000 square feet, connecting Richmonders to the world through plants from desert, mediterrranean, tropical and subtropical climate zones.
Hundreds of butterflies are buzzing in the tropical areas as part of Lewis Ginter’s year-round “Butterflies Bloom” program.
“Folks always ask, ‘how can I draw butterflies to my own backyard?’ So, we’re able to share a little bit about how to support pollinators in your own backyard,” Thoroman said.
The expansion helps Lewis Ginter host 125,000 plants in the ground, as well as classroom learning — with the lake right in its backyard.
“We’re hoping people will be able to explore and learn more about how we’re committed to cleaning the water that comes on our property before it heads back into the environment,” Thoroman said. “There’s an outdoor classroom where they can wade, do macro-invertebrate sampling and take water quality samples and actually see that work in-progress in the water.”
The expansion — funded primarily through private donations, foundations and corporations — opens to the public for the first time this Saturday, May 23.
- Topics:
- Henrico County
- Quality of Life
