THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505090106
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Scott McCaskey
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Stop and smell the roses.
That's an overused adage, perhaps, but it has a particularly fragrant application for Norfolk.
While taking in the International Azalea Festival, I experienced another city asset that goes unrelished by many citizens: The Botanical Garden.
``Yeah, I know it's nice, but I haven't been there for years,'' one resident said.
Nice is not quite the word. Words can't really do the place justice, but I'll try. Idyllic, serene, escaping. All lead down the right path, but footbridging under weeping willows draped over meandering canals that are flanked by corridors of exploding roses is closer.
Or maybe losing it in the enchanted forest, tripping through a meadow of wildflowers, or relaxing along the shore of Lake Whitehurst.
Gardens within a garden, the retreat is a sensory overload of the right kind; a spot close by but light years away from bombings and taxes.
The boat and train rides give you an educational perspective, but to really take it all in, bring your land legs. To fall under the influence, it's best to walk the 155 acres. For a $2.50 entry fee and a little foot power, it's a natural bargain.
The site is one of only two true botanical gardens in Virginia, said Peter Lawrence, marketing director for the Norfolk Botanical Garden. The other one is the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden north of Richmond.
You'll find a nature show 365 days a year, but spring is prime time. The 200,000 azaleas, 250,000 rose blooms, 700 varieties of camellias and 150 types of rhododendron provide the backdrop. The metallic luster of Japanese red maples reflecting off magnolia greens is just part of the stage for a cast including bald eagles, owls, hummingbirds and red-headed woodpeckers. Foxes, beavers, turtles and skinks are among the many other players.
The Statuary Vista, a larger-than-life lineup of 19th century marble sculptures of Titian, Raphael and other great artists, infuses a sense of history to the site. The grassy corridor leads to the stone fences of the aptly named Renaissance Garden, which hosts the annual coronation of the azalea queen.
Only the planes from Norfolk International Airport are an intrusion to the garden, and they somehow blend into a dull background roar.
While attendance at the site has remained steady over the past several years - about 125,000 annually - administrators have made recent efforts to draw more visitors. The Garden of Lights Christmas show attracted nearly 180,000 people, public relations coordinator Jill Doczi said.
The Spring and Fall Concerts Series, which started two years ago, showcases acts such as the Killroos, The Famous Unknowns (Lewis McGehee, Mike Lille and Robbin Thompson) and the Virginia Symphony also has raised awareness of the venue. Wine and beer served during the shows has added a spirited appeal.
But it's the garden's beauty as a natural setting that has attracted recent attention from around the world and nation. National Geographic World, the children's publication, is scheduled do an article on the site later in the spring. Wheel of Fortune and Vanna White used the Renaissance Garden for a backdrop for the show's prize highlights on April 30. Southern Living Magazine did a photo shoot May 3.
``We have been working closely with the city to get national coverage. We're starting to get some recognition,'' Doczi said.
The best time to check out this haven in our own back yard is right now. A large portion of the flowers are in bloom, including the roses, and the temperatures are ideal. Weekdays are least crowded. The spring concert series and a variety of education, kids and nature seminars are ongoing.
Costs are $2.50 for garden admission, a dollar less for seniors, military and students. The boat and train ride are $2.50 each. Concerts and special programs are extra. Garden memberships are also available. Wear your walking shoes; no bikes or skating allowed. ILLUSTRATION: GARDEN HISTORY
The Botanical Garden was founded in 1938 with a Works Progress
Administration grant. By 1947, it contained 75,000 azaleas, 5,000
rhododendrons and 400 camellias. The site was merged with an
adjacent municipal garden into a 250-acre area in the 1950s. In
1954, it was designated as the location for the annual International
Azalea Festival.
There was much development in the 1960s, including building of
the canals and administration building. During the 1970s and '80s,
the expansion of the airport claimed 95 acres of the site. Today,
the garden is a not-for-profit organization in a public-private
partnership with the city. The arrangement helped established a
master plan for upgrading the facility. A new $3.2 million
visitor/reception center will open this summer.
Call 441-5830 for more information.
by CNB