The Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia was a spectacular place to visit while we were staying at the Chesapeake Campgrounds!
The entry to Norfolk Botanical Gardens
Lunch at Tap It Local
But first we had a fabulous lunch at Tap It Local in downtown Norfolk. We randomly picked this local brew pub because there was a free parking space right in front and we were starving. It’s a cool place with a soaring ceiling, a staircase right in the middle of the dining room and tables spaced quite far apart to keep us safe during this pandemic.
Tap It Local Burger with those fabulous fries!
Smoky Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Bacon and Fries at Tap It Local
Steve’s Tap It Burger was piled high with all of the accoutrements including plenty of yummy, thick cut bacon. My Grilled Chicken Sandwich was a luscious smoky mouthful also piled with a bounty of toppings. But it was those fries that were really the stars of the show. We had never had fries cut that way. And I think that is what made them so good. It gave those taters lots of surface for seasoning and to become nice and crisp on the outside, with perfectly soft potatoey goodness inside. I could have easily made a meal of those potatoes alone.
Norfolk Botanical Gardens
Steve in front of the Welcome Center just before the rains came
We were greeted at the Welcome Center by these flamingo topiaries.
Loved this gorgeous glass sculpture with a cardinal inside the Welcome Center
After filling our bellies we headed out for an afternoon of strolling though the exquisite landscape of the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. This is a place to immerse yourself in a world of beauty.
When we arrived the sky looked quite ominous and threatened rain. So we thought it would be a good idea to take the tram ride to get an overview of this glorious park. We felt comforted in the fact that we were the only passengers so we didn’t have to worry about being near anyone who could possibly get us sick.
The only problem was that what started as a misty drizzle had become a downpour. We couldn’t hear anything that the driver/park guide was saying. Aaannnd we were getting drenched!!! I mean going in the shower with your clothes on drenched. But we were better off on the tram than trying to walk back to our car or any other shelter.
This gorgeous lake is right after you pass through entry gates of the Norfolk Botanical Gardens
When the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobbin’ along…
A group of flamingo topiaries, a fountain and misty drizzle in the gardens
After the rain
When we arrived back at the welcome center we decided we’d take our wet selves home. We drove almost to the exit where there was a gorgeous lake and parked for a moment to get a couple of photos. It was still drizzling but the sun was trying to peak through the grey clouds. And then suddenly, the rain stopped and the sun was shining gloriously warming us up and drying us off. So we drove back to our beginning location and parked. Again.
We were certainly glad we had not left the property. Even though it was steamy we were so happy to meander through the magnificent gardens. The highlights were too numerous to talk about so I will just let our photos do the talking for us.
A trio of steel sculptures on the hill overlooking the Norfolk Airport
The Norfolk Airport abuts the Norfolk Botanical Gardens
A magnolia tree with a flower bud forming
Looking out though the branches of a huge Live Oak tree
A beautiful butterfly in the butterfly house
The Lifecycle of the Butterfly
The butterfly gardens and butterfly house.
Lush beauty everywhere you looked, including on this little bridge that crossed a lake on the property
A few of the fabulous flamingo topiaries that where everywhere at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens
A small part of the sprawling rose garden
A deep pink double ruffle rose.
A pink rose with deeper pink edges
A walking bridge over the lake by the rose garden
More flamingoes
A fabulous flamingo stampede
The leader of the pack is flanked by stunning Crape Myrtle trees
The last of the 70 flamingo topiaries that dot the landscape at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. And yes, we found all of them!
A huge butterfly sculpture let’s you know you have arrived at the butterfly garden and house
A mermaid shows us the way to the Butterfly Garden
Lily pads on the pond.
A peak through the Crape Myrtles
If you are planning a trip to the Norfolk, Virginia area I highly recommend that you set aside a few hours to enjoy the idyllic splendor of the Norfolk Botanical Gardens!
