Norfolk Botanical Garden was started off by a young horticulturalist, Frederic Heutte and Thomas P. Thompson, Norfolk City Manager 19-35-1938. The fondness of azaleas and suitable weather for the plants was what prompted Huette and Thompson to pursue the idea of an azalea garden to rival those of Charleston in S.C., which even during the depression years drew throngs of tourists annually. The city of Norfolk then provided Huette and Thompson with a seventy five acre section of high, wooded ground and another seventy five acres of the Little Creek reservoir to establish a city garden.

The idea for what would eventually become Norfolk Botanical Garden came from Frederic Heutte, a young horticulturalist, and Thomas P. Thompson, Norfolk City Manager 1935-1938. Heutte had a fondness for azaleas and thought Hampton Roads had a climate uniquely suited for growing the plants. Heutte and Thompson believed that Norfolk, VA could support an azalea garden to rival those of Charleston, S.C., which even during the depression years drew thousands of tourists annually.

The city of Norfolk provided Heutte and Thompson with a seventy-five acre section of high, wooded ground and another seventy-five acres of the Little Creek Reservoir to establish a city garden named Azalea Garden.

It was in 1955 that the name Azalea Garden was converted to Norfolk Municipal Garden as a show of support for the Garden. It was not until February 18, 1958 that when the Old Dominion Horticultural Society took over maintenance of Norfolk Municipal Gardens changed the name to Norfolk Botanical Garden that we know today.

What once was a garden that started full of azaleas is today a magnificent garden with different garden themes. Today the theme gardens include the Bristow Butterfly Garden, the Sarah Lee Baker Perennial Garden, the Virginia Native Plant Garden and the Four Seasons Garden. Each of these gardens is unique to their own plant varieties and cultivation.

Norfolk Botanical Garden provides an educational experience while entertaining visitors of all ages. Their programs include adult group tours, school group tours, camps and scouts programs. Birthday parties and weddings have also been organized in the past for a nature filled experience. Speakers and courses are also organized for gardening enthusiasts from well known horticulturalists and experts.

Today, Norfolk Botanical Garden includes 155-acres, with over 20 theme gardens that can be viewed by tram, boat or by foot.

Norfolk Botanical Garden along with local garden societies and volunteers continues to expand and improve every year.