17th Annual WPA Garden Heritage Celebration

Celebrating the contributions of 200 African American women and 20 African American men, who planted the first azaleas in 1938.

Date/Time
Sunday, September 28
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Join us in honoring the Works Progress Administration (WPA) original gardeners who cleared the land and planted the first azaleas in 1938. The ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m. in Rose Garden Hall followed by light refreshments served in the Baker Hall Visitor Center. Additionally every year, Norfolk Botanical Garden President’s Council on Inclusion and Diversity (PCID) presents the Groundbreaker Award – inspired by the WPA statue entitled Breaking Ground. The award honors individuals, groups, or organizations who demonstrate groundbreaking leadership and service to the community.

Keynote Speaker:

Capt. Janet H. Days, USN (Ret.)

We are honored to have Capt. Janet H. Days, USN (Ret.) as our keynote speaker. She served with distinction in the United States Navy for 37 years, culminating her career as the Commanding Officer of Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval installation.

Learn More

Mistress of Ceremonies:

Jessica Larché

We are honored to have Jessica Larché as our MC. She is a regional Emmy® award-winning evening news anchor and investigative reporter at WTKR News 3. Her award-winning work has been recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists, the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, the Associated Press, and more.

Learn More

Thank you for Sponsoring

We extend our sincere gratitude to Truist Financial Corporation for their generous sponsorship of our 17th annual Garden Heritage Celebration and contribution to the PCID scholarship. With your support, we can sustain our community impact and preserve our rich cultural heritage.