“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” Lucy Maud Montgomery

During our September staycation my brother Dwight and I plotted a visit to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to see the Wind, Waves and Light exhibit (as blogged here Sunday) but we held off. We thought if we waited a few weeks, we might see a few fall colors.

Spreading a little Earthy love (#LoveVA style) at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia (the state)

Last Thursday we took off for Richmond, scurrying an hour’s drive to see the exhibit before it finished October 18^th and hopefully catch a few fall color vibes.

We were not disappointed! This tree greeted us in the parking lot when we arrived…

“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.” William Cullen Bryant

We have never visited Lewis Ginter in the fall. As shared previously, it is beautiful in the spring (Flowers! Flowers! Flowers!) and spectacularly inspirational during December’s GardenFest (Garden of Lights), but an October day at Lewis Ginter is also something to remember.

A kaleidoscope of October “in-between” colors @ Lewis Ginter

Even on an “in-between” October day (fall colors aren’t quite fully switched on here yet) we saw plenty of gorgeous trees.

I love this blue spruce in the conifer section. Check out her tall neighbors (wow!)

We also caught an unexpected plethora of blooms in the Rose Garden.

An October rose soaring high @ Lewis Ginter!

As Dwight went off exploring, this avid rose groupie spent an hour reveling in beautiful blossoms, giving plenty of buds photo ops as their due. (More to come…)

Another advantage to a sunshiny October day in Virginia (the state) – before cold bits of fall swirl upon us, butterflies still flutter about outside…

…and turtles in Japanese Garden ponds bask in warm Light.

For local friends, Lewis Ginter has taken extra COVID-19 precautions to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. With tickets purchased online, there’s a one way flow through the main entrance. Even though the gardens are outside, visitors are asked to wear masks everywhere.

Seemed like everyone complied, even brothers hiding behind flower bushes!

Tasty prepackaged meals and snacks are available for purchase at the Tea House for consumption on outside tables. We enjoyed our lunch on a table in the rose garden.

A beautiful October day in the Rose Garden @ Lewis Ginter

Even though the Wind, Waves and Light exhibit has now finished, I hope local friends will consider making an October visit to Lewis Ginter in Richmond. As colors become more glorious in our area, there’s that – and roses are still blooming!

“To love beauty is to see light.”  Victor Hugo

For blogging friends and email buddies around the world, hope you enjoyed this two-part tour of the exhibit and an autumn October “in-between” day at one of my favorite Botanical Gardens in Richmond, Virginia.

To finish the tour, this tree took my breath away (literally.)

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1

grace, peace & spectacular seasons

Virginia : )

“As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see.” Vincent van Gogh