The Garden of Tomorrow is privately funded by over 1700 generous donors who have contributed more than 32 million dollars to this project. Thank YOU!
We need your HELP to Build & Plant the future!
For more information contact Cathy Fitzgerald, Chief Operating Officer at cathy.fitzgerald@nbgs.org or (757) 441-5830 ext. 319
Help us BUILD & PLANT the Garden of Tomorrow – GIVE TODAY
Norfolk Botanical Garden is a private non-profit organization.
May 26, 2024
May 16, 2023
Learn more about the Brock Entry Pavilion & Brock Parking Garden Click here
April 21, 2023
This week began the asphalt installation in the west side of the parking lot near the Baker Hall Visitor Center. The installation is ongoing and slated to be complete next week followed by parking space striping and handicap parking signage. If all goes well, this parking area will open in the next couple of weeks and will provide additional parking. Next week concrete piles will be installed, driven 75ft into the ground, to create the new Brock Entry Pavilion – 85 piles when finished. This process will take about 2-3 weeks. Today, we opened our new Tram Circle behind the Baker Hall Visitor Center where guests will board a guided tram. Thank you for all of your support!
Learn more about the Brock Parking Garden and New Brock Entry Pavilion Click here
April 7, 2023
This week, the west side of the parking lot saw demolition of remaining area of the former tram circle located at the front entrance to the Baker Hall Visitor Center. Pavers for the new sidewalk are nearly complete – about 85%! Final grading in this area will take place next week. New parking spaces will be installed later this month. At the main construction site, a service road has been created that will also act as a construction laydown.
Learn more about The Garden of Tomorrow Click here
March 24, 2023
Concrete and curb installations are taking place around the Baker Hall in preparation for new parking spaces.
In the future, this area will transform into Brock Parking Garden – featuring a beautiful water feature that improves habitat quality and will serve as a nature based solution for storm water run off.
Learn more about the Brock Parking Garden Click here
A new tram pick-up location is being created behind Baker Hall – look for more information coming soon.
At the time, we have LIIMITED PARKING and are requiring Timed-Entry-Tickets for all guests.
We are expecting more parking spaces by early May. Please stay tuned!
There is currently one entrance into the Baker Hall building. Both the Education and Rose Garden Hall entrance are closed, but are accessible through the Baker Hall entrance. Please look for signs to direct you to the cross walk that will lead you safely to the Baker Hall Visitor Center. Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this time.
Need more information: Click here
Reserve your ticket: Click here
Need help reserving your ticket(s) call (757) 441-5830 ext. 0
THANK YOU for supporting NBG as a private non-profit organization.
March 17, 2023
March 13, 2023
The site for the Entry Pavilion has received additional soil for the ground base and pilings are expected to be tested this week. The construction area from the previous tram circle area to Rose Garden Hall entrance has been prepared for the upcoming curb and gutter installations that are scheduled to begin this week. Contractors are also installing drains and site work preparations for future utilities that will service the new buildings. New storm drains and piping were installed last week to support additional parking spaces.
In the future, this area will transform into The Brock Entry Pavilion and Brock Parking Garden – featuring a beautiful water feature that improves habitat quality and will serve as a nature based solution for storm water run off.
Learn more about the Brock Entry Pavilion & Parking Garden Click here
At the time, we have LIIMITED PARKING and are requiring Timed-Entry-Tickets for all guests.
We are expecting more parking spaces by early May. Please stay tuned!
There is currently one entrance into the Baker Hall building. Both the Education and Rose Garden Hall entrance are closed, but are accessible through the Baker Hall entrance. Please look for signs to direct you to the cross walk that will lead you safely to the Baker Hall Visitor Center. Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this time.
Need more information: Click here
Reserve your ticket: Click here
Need help reserving your ticket(s) call (757) 441-5830 ext. 0
THANK YOU for supporting NBG as a private non-profit organization.
March 8, 2023
In preparation for The Garden of Tomorrow expansion, the current Baker Hall Visitor Center building officially became powered by the sun in December of 2022. Ryan Call, Director of Facilities at NBG, worked with Covert Solar to install a 212.400 kW system on the roof of the Baker Hall Visitor Center/Education Building. Comprised of 472 panels, this system is expected to offset 83% of that building’s energy needs. NBG is committed to being GREEN! The savings and environmental benefits are already working! In the first two months, NBG saved nearly $4,000 dollars and the solar panels have saved more than 80,000lbs of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to over 600 trees that store carbon. This is the second solar panel installation at the Garden, the first was in 2018 when 120 panels were installed on the Dominion Energy Garden of Lights storage building.
Learn more about how the Garden is taking Environmental Action.
March 3, 2023
A message from NBG President & CEO Michael P. Desplaines
We want to take a moment to thank everyone for your support during the construction phase of The Garden of Tomorrow.
THANK YOU to the 1,777 and growing donors who are financially helping BUILD & PLANT the future of the Garden. The Brock Parking Garden will feature more parking spaces, more trees, more electrical vehicle charging stations and will be one of the most environmentally advanced parking gardens on the eastern seaboard.
THANK YOU so much for reserving your Timed-Entry-Tickets during this phase of construction with LIMITED PARKING – especially our NBG Members! We can’t thank you enough!
THANK YOU for supporting NBG as a private non-profit organization.
February 22, 2023
At the time, we have LIIMITED PARKING and are requiring Timed-Entry-Tickets for all guests.
There is currently one entrance to the Baker Hall building. Both the Education and Rose Garden Hall entrance are closed, but are accessible through the Baker Hall entrance. Here is a map to help you on your next visit. Please look for signs to direct you to the cross walk that will lead you safely to the Baker Hall Visitor Center. Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this time.
February 14, 2023
The roadway near Baker Hall Education entrance is currently being removed in preparation for the addition of new parking spaces. This specific location is estimated to be complete by early May. (Look for more updates as we get closer to spring) Thank you for your patience as we continue to BUILD & PLANT the Garden of Tomorrow. Learn more about the future Brock Parking Garden.
The Education entrance and Rose Garden Hall entrance are currently closed. The main entrance to Baker Hall is open with access to the rest of the building. Please note the new crosswalk that leads guests to a paved pathway followed by another crosswalk for easy access into Baker Hall.
THANK YOU so much for reserving your Timed-Entry-Tickets during this phase of construction with LIMITED PARKING – especially our NBG Members! We can’t thank you enough!
February 7, 2023
This week, work continues in the area beyond the parking lot. In the future, this area will transform into The Brock Entry Pavilion that will include a beautiful water feature that improves habitat quality and will serve as a nature based solution for storm water run off. There is also work taking place at the back of the parking lot where asphalt is being removed for the future Brock Parking Garden.
Learn more about the Brock Entry Pavilion & Parking Garden Click here
February 3, 2023
As construction continues, temporary fencing has been installed. Look for signage that will direct guests into Baker Hall. The Education entrance and Rose Garden Hall entrance are currently closed. A new crosswalk was painted for easy and safe access to the front entrance of Baker Hall.
February 3, 2023
January 31, 2023
As construction continues, temporary barriers have been placed near our main Baker Hall Building. The Education entrance and Rose Garden Hall entrance are currently closed. The main entrance to Baker Hall is open with access to the rest of the building.
January 25, 2023
This week, a group of 14 USS Iwo Jima Sailors volunteered their time to remove pavers from the Sensory Garden in preparation for the new Brock Parking Garden. The pavers were loaded on pallets and stored for future installation. As we expand our parking area, we are planting more than 100 trees in and around the parking garden. The back portion of the parking lot is also being prepared for lot expansion.
THANK YOU to all of the volunteers that help us through the year! As a non-profit organization, we could not do what we do without the hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
Interested in volunteering? Click here.
January 18, 2023
Dills Architects, the A.R. Chesson construction team and NBG staff met to discuss the latest updates and construction timeline. As we move through this exciting time building and planting the Garden’s future, NBG is working on making sure you are in the know and that you have a wonderful experience visiting the Garden during the construction phase of The Garden of Tomorrow.
January 17, 2023
Work on building the Garden of Tomorrow began in earnest late last week with the rerouting of underground electrical cables, dredging for future water and power lines as well as installing fencing around the work site. The latest activity is taking place in the parking lot. More than 100 trees are scheduled to be planted in and around the New Brock Parking Garden with more parking spaces, an environmentally – friendly channel run-off and the addition of beautiful water features. In addition, we were able to save and protect the six large willow oaks along Rose Garden Rd. Like all oaks, willow oaks are a keystone species in the local environment providing food and habitat for numerous species as well as needed shade for Garden visitors.
January 12, 2023
January 2023
Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2023.
Look for bi-weekly updates on how the progress is going – videos, images and information as construction progresses. Thank you to everyone who is supporting The Garden of Tomorrow. You are helping BUILD & PLANT the future.
November 17, 2022
President & CEO Michael Desplaines signed the contract to begin the construction of The Garden of Tomorrow.
September 12, 2022
Arrival of the construction trailer.
September 1, 2021
The Garden of Tomorrow groundbreaking ceremony took place September 1, 2021. This event included Norfolk City leaders, major donors, staff and special guests.
(photo: Michael P. Desplaines, NBG President & CEO)
