Fall Gardening Goes Virtual

We've reimagined our traditional Fall Gardening Festival to bring a safe, socially-distanced event to the Hampton Roads community. 

During the month of October, we'll be bringing our gardening festival directly to you through our website. With live Zoom sessions, virtual tours, how-to videos, gardening tips, children's activities, local societies, and an online plant & craft sale, you can still enjoy your favorite parts of the festival. 

Each week, we'll unveil new featured articles and videos, alongside more resources that let you take a deep dive into your favorite gardening topics. 

Art and Crafts Sale

Plant Sale Preview

Schedule of Events

October 1 
          Fall Gardening Festival launches
October 2 @ 10am
          Online Plant Sale Opens to Public
October 4 @ 7pm
          Online Plant Sale Closes
​October 7 @ 7 - 8pm
          Zoom Session - Planting a Fall Vegetable                                            Garden
October 9-11
          In-Person Plant Pickup
October 10 
          Week 2 of Fall Gardening Festival begins
October 14 @ 7 - 8pm
          Zoom Session - Managing Stormwater in                                             Your Landscape
October 18
          Week 3 of Fall Gardening Festival begins
October 21 @ 7 - 8pm
          Zoom Session - Daylilies
October 25
          Week 4 of Fall Gardening Festival begins
October 28 @ 7 - 8pm
          Zoom Session - Ask a Master Gardener
October 31 
          Fall Gardening Festival closes

Frequently Asked Questions

​Do I need to register to participate in the Virtual Fall Gardening Festival? 

​No, there is no need to register to access the articles, videos, or other content on the Fall Gardening Festival pages.  You may need to enter your name and email to access Zoom sessions. 

​How will the online plant & craft sale work?

​The plant & craft sale will open at 10:00am on Friday, October 2, and will be available until 7:00pm on Sunday, October 4. Select the plants and/or craft items you wish to purchase from our online store, add them to your cart, and then check out. It will be similar to shopping at any other online store. During the checkout process, you will select a time to pick up your items. Pick up dates are October 9 – 11. You’ll receive an email copy of your receipt, along with pickup instructions. 

​When can I pick up my plants and other items I’ve purchased? 

​Our pickup dates are October 9 – 11. You will select a date and time to pickup during checkout. 

​What is the procedure for picking up plants & craft items I’ve purchased? 

​All pickups will be at the Virginia Tech-Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center (HRAREC), located at 1444 Diamond Springs Rd, Virginia Beach, VA. Arrive at the HRAREC at your scheduled time and volunteers will direct you to your assigned pickup space. Plants & other purchased items will be waiting at your pickup space for you to load into your vehicle. Then you’ll follow the signs to exit. Everyone is asked to wear a face covering while on the property. All sales are final. Please bring the receipt that was emailed to you with you to pick up. 

​What social distancing measures will be in place at in-person pickup? 

​Your interaction with our volunteers during pickup will be limited. Volunteers will stay at least 6 ft away from your vehicle when directing you to your pickup location. All volunteers will wear face coverings and gloves. Pickup spaces will be assigned to allow for a minimum of 6 ft of space between customers. Customers will load their own purchases into their vehicle. Hand sanitizer will be available to volunteers and customers. 

​What if I can’t pick up my plants at the scheduled time? 

​If you are not feeling well, or have any symptoms associated with COVID-19, please do not come to in-person pickup. Someone else may pick up your plants for you. This person should bring your receipt with them to pick up. If you are unable to pick up at your scheduled time, email vbmgevents@gmail.com to schedule an alternate time, and we will make every reasonable effort to reschedule. 

​What if it is raining on my pickup day? 

​Pickups will take place rain or shine. In the event of extreme inclement weather, customers will be contacted to reschedule their pickup time. 

​Can I purchase additional plants or other items when I come to pick up? 

​No. All items must be purchased in advance. 

​How do I participate in a live Zoom session? 

​Prior to the session, you will need to download the Zoom app to your device. Zoom session links will be posted on the Virtual Fall Gardening Festival page, under the session description. At the scheduled time, click the button labeled “Join the Session”. You may be asked to enter your name and email address. More information specific to Zoom can be found here - https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206175806-Top-Questions.

​Is there tech support available if I experience difficulty accessing any of the content? 

​We are unable to provide individual tech support, as individual equipment and settings vary widely. 

​Will Zoom sessions be available to watch on demand?

​Yes, Zoom sessions will be available to watch after the live session has ended. Please allow up to 24 hours for on demand sessions to be added to the website. 

​How long with Fall Gardening Festival content be available on the website? 

​On demand content, articles, and videos will be available on the website until Dec. 1, 2020.