Mindful Gardening to Preserve Planet Earth
The two-acre garden is nearly 20 years old and has many mature trees and shrubs, which gives the public the unique opportunity to see the ultimate size of a mature specimen. Over 150 species of woody plants and many more herbaceous species are within the garden.
Williamsburg Botanical Garden Birdbath
There are over 20 distinct garden areas with a focus on using native plants to support wildlife. Gardens such as the Perennial, Shade, Cottage, Pollinator, Hummingbird and Native Shrubs for the Home Landscape, among others, exemplify sustainable gardening techniques typical to the Virginia Peninsula. The Pollinator Palace is a unique feature that offers nesting grounds for native bees. The Fairy Garden is designed to foster interaction between children and plants. The Therapy Garden is a special area that empowers individuals with disabilities to cultivate and consume their own vegetables. The Butterfly Garden and the Meadow are must-visit spots, especially in the late summer when they buzz with butterflies and other pollinating insects.
Selection of Native Grasses
The Swamp and Marsh habitats contain plants you might not see elsewhere. The aromas of the plants in the Herb Garden engage the senses. Stop by the Calcareous Ravine and marvel at how the plants cling to the rock crevices in this unique re-creation and don’t miss the carnivorous plants in the Bog Garden. If you are visiting in the colder months, take a look at the Native Grasses Garden as well as the Fall and Winter Interest Border along the fence, where you will see plants that bloom when few others are doing so as well as plants with interesting color, bark and berries.
Becoming an Arboretum
In February 2022, the Garden and adjacent Black Settlement area was accredited as a Level 1 Arboretum by ArbNet, the accreditation program of The Morton Arboretum. At the time of its accreditation, it was one of only 16 accredited arboreta in Virginia. The work to identify and label over 150 trees and shrubs to obtain this accreditation was done by the JCC/WMG Tree Stewards.
Butterfly Garden
Touring the Garden
Williamsburg Botanical Garden is in James City County's Freedom Park, 5537 Centerville Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23188. A garden map with other general information may be found at the entrance kiosk. Educational signs are located throughout the garden. If our Master Gardener volunteers are working in the garden, ask them questions because they enjoy speaking with visitors. They would love to tell you all about the gardens and their love for gardening.
Our Volunteers
The garden has many dedicated volunteers from the community. Without their effort, there would be no garden and we can always use more help. There are many varied tasks to be done from planting, weeding and watering to maintaining our structures, equipment and hardscapes. The Volunteer Workday schedule changes through the year depending upon the weather conditions, but are generally from March through October with four workdays on Tuesday - Friday mornings. More information may be found on the Garden website.
www.williamsburgbotanicalgarden.org
Virginia Native Shrubs
