If you’re looking for something both fun and relaxing to do, I have a location for you to visit! Virginia’s most extensive garden is a place that is dedicated to educating the community and getting people to spend more time outdoors. The Norfolk Botanical Garden is powered by 100% renewable energy. It is also classified as a 501 non-profit organization that supports the community! So if you’re looking for a fun place to visit while giving back locally, you should make the trip! As a children’s photographer, I love going to the gardens and dreaming up new ideas for sessions with my clients. It is such a peaceful and beautiful space!
About the Norfolk Botanical Garden
In 1939, Thomas P. Thompson and Frederic Heutte had the idea to make a beautiful garden the growing centerpiece in the Norfolk area. A natural horticulturist, Heutte deeply loved Azaleas and thought the area had an excellent climate for growing the flower. Today, the garden rests on a whopping 175 acres of land. It is a popular destination for families from all backgrounds to visit. It includes over 60 themed gardens that can be viewed by boat or tram. In addition, there are over seven miles of paved and seven miles of unpaved pathways to walk through. Surrounded by water on three sides, garden societies and volunteers expand the garden yearly to add new forms of vegetation, plants, and flowers. As a result, you’ll never run out of things to see at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.
The Gardens
The Norfolk Botanical Garden has something for everyone and every season of the year. Each season features different gardens, while other gardens are year-round! Some of the gardens focus on plants that are native to the area, while others showcase some styles from lots of different parts of the world. Some gardens are tamer in color and scents, while others are full of brightness and intense fragrances. Whatever you want, there’s always something for you to see at the garden.
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens also separates its gardens into different categories to help guests ensure they get to where they want to go. Below, you’ll find each of those sections and when you can visit them!
1. Gardens for Exploration
- Enchanted Forest – Available in the Spring and Fall
- Mirror Lake – Available in the Spring and Fall
- WPA Memorial Garden – Available Year-Round
The WPA Memorial Garden honors the 200 African American women and 20 African American men who received the assignment of preparing the Norfolk Botanical garden.
2. Gardens for Learning
- Bristow Butterfly Garden – Available in the Summer
- Butterfly House – Available in the Summer
- Virginia Native Plant Garden – Available in the Spring and Fall
- Flowering Arboretum – Available in the Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Conifer Garden – Available in the Winter
- Four Seasons Garden and Wildflower Meadow – Available in the Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Baker Overlook – Available in the Spring and Fall
- Eagle Tribute Plaza – Year-Round Garden
- WOW Children’s Garden – Year-Round Garden
The WOW Children’s Garden is full of learning and exploration for children! It features splash fountains, gardens, climbing rocks, a plant safari, and more for children to explore all things nature.
3. Gardens for Display
- The Margaret Moore Hall Rose Garden – Available in the Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Fern Glade – Available in the Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Rhododendron Glade – Available in the Spring
- Sarah Lee Baker Perennial Garden – Available in the Spring, Summer, and Fall
- The Margaret Moore Hall Rose Garden – Available in the Summer
- Fern Glade – Available in the Summer
- Fragrance Garden – Available in the Summer
- Kaufman Hydrangea Garden – Available in the Summer
- Sarah Lee Baker Perennial Garden – Available in the Summer
- Hofheimer Camellia Garden – Available in the Winter
- Holly Garden and Turner Sculpture Garden – Available in the Winter
- Sunken Garden – Available in the Winter
- Japenese Garden – Available Year-Round
- Renaissance Garden – Available Year-Round
With its fragrant flowers and various plants from around the world, The Gardens for Display will be at the top of your list.
Additional Information
In addition to the fun things you can do and see, the garden also features some fun volunteer experiences. Here, you can help plant and educate the community. The botanical garden seeks to fulfill its promise to the environment. Therefore, the garden doesn’t provide bottled water in the gift shop. Instead, they encourage patrons to bring reusable water bottles to fill stations around the garden.
Speaking of the gift shop, if you work up an appetite, you can take advantage of the gift shop and cafe area. You can also explore the art donated by local artists throughout the gardens. Dogs are welcome in the garden every Sunday, and service animals are always welcome. The Norfolk Botanical Garden also allows bikes on their paths daily from 4 PM to 7 PM, starting on April 1st and ending on October 15th.
Location, Hours, and Pricing
Norfolk Botanical Garden begins at $14 per person. Children ages two and under are always free! Each year starting on April 1st, you can catch a tram ride around the gardens! The tram runs from 10 AM to 4 PM. You can also take a boat tour through the gardens for an additional low cost! From Memorial Day through Labor Day, you can catch a boat tour at 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, and 4 PM.
Norfolk Botanical Garden is open daily from 9 AM – 7 PM. The garden’s address is 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, Virginia 23518.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
This garden is truly a must-see. At any time of the year, you can visit one of the 60 gardens on the property and be able to see something new every time you visit. As things change periodically and new offerings are added, you won’t feel like you’ve seen everything every time you walk through. Check out Norfolk Botanical Garden to be a part of the fun!
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