May 22, 2026 - Culture
Lewis Ginter debuts $31M expansion in Richmond
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The new Lewis Ginter conservatory: Image: Courtesy of Tom Hennessy
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's expanded conservatory and new gardens open this weekend.
Why it matters: The expansion comes with more gardens, meadows and views to enjoy — plus butterflies year-round.
Driving the news: The most visible change from Lewis Ginter's $31 million, two-year expansion project is the conservatory, which has doubled in size.
- Inside, there are now four climate zones where plants from across the globe can flourish.
- In the subtropical zone, hundreds of butterflies can be found flying year-round — and all around you.
Zoom in: Outside, there are 7.5 acres of new gardens where visitors will find:
- A butterfly-shaped meadow filled with native plants
- A nature walk around Wick Lake, which is now inside the garden footprint.
- And a new courtyard designed by award-winning landscape designer Wambui Ippolito, whose color inspiration came from Valentino dresses.
Plus: The expansion was done with inclusion and accessibility in mind, per the garden.
- That includes wheelchair accessible paths (and mulch) and beds in the children's garden that are at wheelchair-height.
If you go: Lewis Ginter is open daily 9am-5pm. The expansion opens on Saturday, May 23.
- Adult admission is $24.