| Within the hustle and bustle of Hampton Roads, there is a
place of beauty and tranquility. The Arboretum and Display Gardens at the
Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center in
Virginia Beach are open to the public year round at no charge.
Whether you're a local resident or a visitor to the area, you are invited to spend a few minutes or a few hours in these beautiful gardens. Here you will see a wide display of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that are being evaluated for suitability to the Hampton Roads climate and conditions. |
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You may have some unexpected company as you stroll through the beds of colorful blossoms--butterflies abound in the gardens, drawn by a variety of flowers planted especially to attract them. In fact, these winged visitors are so popular that the Center hosts a public butterfly festival every other summer.
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Master Gardeners with Virginia Cooperative Extension conduct annual flower trials, install and maintain perennial and herb demonstration gardens, and assist in the Arboretum. Their special touch is readily apparent in these beautiful gardens. Yet the value of these gardens goes far beyond their beauty. Research is an integral part of all of the Center's activities, with a focus on weed, insect, and disease management of ornamental plants as well as plant production and growth regulation. |
Education is another important function of the Center. It provides training for Master Gardeners and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents. It also offers horticulture professionals a chance to earn masters degrees through a Virginia Tech off-campus program. In addition, Center staff members often talk to industry and local horticulture groups.
A listing of the plants in the arboretum is available to download as either a Word file or in Adobe PDF format. You must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to access the PDF file; it is availabe free from Adobe.