COVID-19

September 18, 2024

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam held a COVID-19-related press briefing to outline the state’s readiness. Eight days later, on Thursday, March 12, Governor Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia. Public spaces were soon ordered to shut down and a stay-at-home order was issued.

When Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden closed its doors indefinitely following Governor Northam’s declaration, President Jean Gilpin sent an email to board members announcing the cancellation of Daffodil Day. On Saturday, March 14, she called an emergency teleconference meeting of the GCV board to discuss cancellation of Historic Garden Week. With no time to spare, the board made  the decision to cancel Historic Garden Week in 2020, and a communication plan was quickly put into place.

Read Board Minutes of March 14 Meeting.

Jean called a second teleconference board meeting on Monday, March 23, to discuss GCV COVID-19-related financial concerns and Centennial plans.

Read Board Minutes of March 23 Meeting.