GARDEN MEMBERSHIP FAQ

What are digital membership cards?

Digital membership cards are virtual cards that allow members to access their membership benefits conveniently from their smartphones or digital devices. Instead of carrying a physical card, members can download and store their digital card in apps like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Digital membership cards display the member’s name, membership ID, membership level, expiration date, and barcode. Digital membership cards are secure, automatically update after you renew, and they are more environmentally friendly compared to traditional plastic cards.

How will I receive my digital membership card?

Once your membership is processed, you will receive an email with a unique link which will show you options to access your digital membership card.

Will I need to download my digital membership card each time I renew my membership?

If you download your digital membership card to your Apple Wallet (iPhone) or Google Wallet (Android/Samsung/Pixel) app, your membership card will update automatically when you renew.

If you prefer to print a copy of your card or save as a file or image, you will need to do so each time you renew.

How can I access my digital card?

Once your membership has been processed, you will receive an email from us with a unique link. Click the link, and choose from one of the following options:

• Print Membership Card – if you prefer to print a copy of your card
• Download Membership Card – if you prefer to save to your card as a file or image
• Add to Apple Wallet – if you prefer to download your card to your iPhone wallet
• Google Wallet | Save to phone – if you prefer to download your card to your Google Wallet app on your Android/Pixel/Samsung device

How do I use my digital membership card?

Your digital membership card can be used just like a traditional plastic card. Just present your digital card for scanning when you visit. Your digital membership card is always with you, so you can conveniently access reciprocal benefits when traveling.

How can I share the other card if my membership includes two members?

Once your membership has been processed, the primary member will receive an email with a unique link for each named member associated with the membership. As the primary member, you can forward the email to the secondary named member so they can access their digital membership card.

What if I lose/delete my membership card, or it hasn’t arrived yet?

Contact the Membership Team at membership@nbgs.org or 757-441-5830 ext. 334, and we’ll be happy to resend your digital membership card link to your email address. Members can also present a photo ID at our Tollbooth. We will look up your membership details and get you on your way as quickly as possible.

Can I access my membership card without using the Apple Wallet or Google Wallet app?

Yes. You can choose from the other options listed when you click the link in the email you received from us:

• Choose “Print Membership Card” to print a copy of your card.
• Choose “Download Membership Card to save to your membership card as a file or image.

Members can always present a photo ID at our Tollbooth. We will look up your membership details and get you on your way as quickly as possible.

Can someone else use my membership card?

No. Digital membership cards are not transferrable. Only the member(s) named on the membership may use the digital membership card. There is also a limit to the number of times digital membership cards can be downloaded.

Will the recipient of my gift membership receive a digital membership card?

If you choose “Deliver membership to: Gift recipient” and provide the gift recipient’s email address, they will receive a welcome email with digital membership card link(s) when purchasing a gift membership online. If purchasing a gift membership over the phone or in person, the email will be sent directly to the giver.

Can I upgrade my membership?
You are welcome to upgrade your membership at any time. To upgrade, just the difference in cost between the two membership tiers is paid. The original expiration date of the membership does not change. To upgrade your membership, please visit us in person at Baker Hall or call us at 757-441-5830 ext. 334.

Can I delay the start of a gift membership?
Memberships are active immediately upon purchase. As another option, you can purchase an NBG gift card either online or at the Gift Shop in Baker Hall for the monetary amount of a membership. NBG gift cards can be used for memberships, class registrations or purchases in the Gift Shop. If the recipient uses their gift card toward a membership purchase, the membership will activate when the gift card is redeemed.

Is there a discount for the Garden Family & Friends or Garden Family & Friends+ membership?
There are no discounts available on the Garden Family & Friends or Garden Family & Friends+ membership levels.

How can our membership purchase qualify for either the senior or military discounts?
For our Garden Family membership, only one cardholder is required to be either military (active duty, veteran, retired, or dependent) or a senior (65+). For our Garden Individual membership, the cardholder must either be military (active duty, veteran, retired, or dependent) or a senior (65+).

If I qualify for a senior or military discount, can the membership I am purchasing for someone else have that discount?
We are only able to apply either discount if one of the cardholders on the membership qualifies. If only the purchaser qualifies, the discount cannot be applied.

Do you offer monthly memberships?
We do not offer monthly memberships.

I want to purchase a Garden Family or Garden Family & Friends membership. Does my second cardholder have to be in the same household?
Yes, Garden Family and Garden Family & Friends level memberships can have up to two named cardholders within the same household.

What if I purchase a membership but don’t use it?
Memberships are only valid for a year and cannot be extended. Memberships are non-transferrable and non-refundable.

I want to visit in person before becoming a member. Can my admission ticket apply towards the membership?
You are welcome to visit our campus before becoming a member. A portion of your admission can be used towards the purchase of a membership. Please bring your receipt to our Front Desk in Baker Hall Visitor Center or give us a call at 757-441-5830 ext. 334 within 30 days of your visit.

Do you offer corporate memberships?
We do not offer corporate memberships at this time.

How long is a NBG membership valid for?
A membership is valid for a full 12 months from the date of purchase.

Can I add a third cardholder to membership?
Individual memberships can only have one cardholder. Up to two cardholder may be assigned for family level memberships and above. We do not offer adding a third cardholder.

Can I add/switch a cardholder later?
Yes, you can add a second cardholder or switch the second cardholder at any time. To add a cardholder, please give us a call at 757-441-5830 ext. 0 or visit us in person at Baker Hall Visitor Center. To change your second cardholder, please visit us in person at Baker Hall Visitor Center and bring the card you would like to switch out. If you change the second cardholder on your membership, the original second card will no longer be valid and will be disposed of.

Can I put two different names on my membership card?
Only one named individual is allowed per membership card.

What if I forget my membership card when I come to the Garden?
As long as you have a photo ID with you, we are able to look you up in our system and verify your membership status.

What happens if I lose my physical membership card?
If you can’t locate your membership card, please bring a photo ID with you when visiting the Garden. We can look you up in our system and verify your membership status. A charge applies to reprinting physical membership cards.

I just signed up for a membership, and I want to come to the Garden today. I don’t have a membership card yet; can I still come?
As long as you have a photo ID with you, we are able to look you up in our system.

I just signed up for a membership, and I selected for physical cards to be mailed. How long will my cards take to reach me? 
Once in the mail, membership cards often arrive within 1-3 weeks. If you still have not received your card(s) after a month, please give us a call at 757-441-5830 ext. 334. All NBG members with a valid email on file will also receive digital membership cards within a day of their transaction.

I just signed up for a membership, and I selected to pick up my physical membership cards. When will they be ready?
Physical membership cards are printed on demand at our Front Desk in Baker Hall Visitor Center. You are welcome to stop by at any point during our normal operating hours to pick up your new cards. All NBG members with a valid email on file will also receive digital membership cards within a day of their transaction.

How do I get class discounts with my membership online?
The email you provided when you signed up for your membership is the key to getting your class discounts. Using the email on file, you can register an account on our website. The “Create account” button appears either in the top left or top right corner of the screen once you reach the ticketing page for a class. When creating your account, please make sure to use the same information attached to your membership, including your phone number and mailing address. By using all the same information, the website links up to your membership in our system. Next time you log in and try to purchase class tickets, you should see your member discount. If you already have an account with our website, choose the “Sign In” button instead and follow the prompts. If you experience any issues with this or need to confirm what information is on file, please give us a call at 757-441-5830 ext. 334.

I don’t have regular access to a computer, but I still want to sign up for classes and get my member discount. Am I able to sign up in person?
We are happy to assist you with signing up for classes in person or over the phone. Visit us at our Front Desk in Baker Hall, or give us a call at 757-441-5830 ext. 338.

Does my membership include photography sessions?
Membership levels of Garden Family or higher receive one complimentary photography session reservation per year. Members must provide their own photographer and advanced reservations are required. Please review the photography policy on our website or call 757-442-5830 ext. 320 for details or to schedule a session.

I am a member of Norfolk Botanical Garden, and I want to visit another garden participating in in the American Horticultural Society Garden Network. How should I use my membership to do so?
A membership at NBG gets you reciprocal benefits to 380+ gardens across the United States. We recommend calling or emailing the garden you plan on visiting beforehand to ensure you know their policies. Our system is not connected with other reciprocal gardens, so a non-expired NBG membership card, either physical or digital, is needed for admission at participating locations.

Do I have to make an online reservation to visit the Garden?
Online reservations are not required at this time. Instead, please bring your membership card to present at our Tollbooth. In the event that our parking lot begins to reach capacity, we will only allow entry for NBG members. 

Do all my guests have to be in the car with me?
Guests coming in under your membership card either need to be in your vehicle or in the vehicle directly behind you.

My friend is coming in later under my membership; can you take their name to let them in?
Due to our high volume of guests and shift changes, we are unable to hold any names at our tollbooth. Guests coming in under your membership card either need to be in the car with you or in the vehicle directly behind you.

Can I leave and come back in the same day with my membership card?
Yes, you are welcome to leave and come back within the same day. Please present your membership card or ID each time you enter and let our Tollbooth staff know you are re-entering.

Since we have two cardholders for a Garden Family & Friends membership, can we bring 12 total people in a day?
While our family level memberships and above allow for up to two cardholders, both the primary and secondary cardholders still share one membership. Therefore, a Garden Family & Friends membership, as well as any level above, only allows for six people total per day.

Why do you ask how many people are in the car when we come in?
Our membership tiers differ by how many people are let in under a single membership. By asking how many people are visiting, we are able to keep an accurate guest count both within a membership and for the entire garden.

I’m a member of a garden participating in the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Garden Network, and I forgot my card. Can you look me up in your system?
Although we participate in the AHS Reciprocal Garden Network, our membership systems are not connected with the systems of other gardens. Please bring your current member card or other member identification for the garden you are a member of.

I am bringing additional guests that will not be covered under my membership. Do my guests get a discounted admission rate?
We do not offer additional discounts for general admission tickets in conjunction with a membership. Admission can still be purchased under the military and senior rates.

Is your holiday light show included with the membership?
Tickets to our Dominion Energy Garden of Lights are an additional fee, but members get the best discounts on those tickets.

My membership just expired, but I want to renew in person. How can I visit?
If your membership is expired, you’ll first stop by our tollbooth to pay regular admission into campus. Please bring your receipt from the tollbooth to the Front Desk in Baker Hall, where we will refund the applicable admission tickets during your membership renewal.

Can my friends, family, Airbnb guests, etc. use my membership when I am not present?
No. A cardholder must always be present with guests. If a cardholder is not present when visiting our campus, guests will be asked to pay regular admission. Memberships are for personal use only, not commercial use. Norfolk Botanical Garden reserves the right to cancel and revoke membership privileges if memberships are abused or used outside these guidelines.

As a member, am I allowed to bring a kayak to launch out of the Garden?
The Garden does not offer any boat launch access for guests or members.

As a member, am I allowed to fish in the lake?
The Garden does not allow any fishing from our shorelines into the lake. Please see the City of Norfolk’s regulations on fishing in public lakes and shorelines, or visit the nearby public access boat ramp located on Shore Drive.

I recently moved and need to change the address on file for my membership. How can I change my information?
We are happy to do that for you in person, via email at membership@nbgs.org, or over the phone at 757-441-5830 ext. 0. You are also welcome to change it online via our new membership portal.

Still have questions?

Please email membership@nbgs.org or call 757-441-5830 ext. 0.