Upcoming Events
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Fall Fred Fair, October 10th from 10-3
Fall Fred Fair is back—and you won’t want to miss it! Join us at Fred Heutte Garden on Saturday, October 10, from 10 AM–3 PM for a beautiful fall day filled with plants, community, and fun for the whole family. Shop our fall plant sale featuring gorgeous pansies, snapdragons, perennials, fruiting plants, and more—all at amazing prices and ready to give your garden a spectacular autumn boost. Meet local plant societies and gardening experts, discover the terrific work being done by area nonprofits, and spend the day exploring one of Norfolk’s most beautiful hidden gems. And bring the kids! Our Kid Zone will be packed with giant bubbles, a huge play parachute, crafts, garden-inspired activities, and plenty of room to have fun. Whether you’re a serious gardener, a bargain-hunting plant lover, looking for a great family outing, or simply want to enjoy a fall day surrounded by flowers and friends, Fall Fred Fair has something for everyone. Come for the plants, stay for the fun, and celebrate fall with us at Fred Heutte Garden!
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TEAM FRED VOLUNTEERS EVERY SATURDAY 9AM-12
Team Fred meets every Saturday morning to care for and grow the gardens we all love.
Join us at 8:00 AM and stay for an hour—or stay the whole morning. Every bit of help matters.
No tools? No problem. We provide everything you need, including garden tools and gloves.
Year round, our work continues outdoors in the gardens and indoors as well.
Volunteers may help with seasonal garden maintenance, planting, mulching, and winter prep, as well as light indoor projects. Fred Heutte Garden is 100% volunteer-maintained, and we truly can’t do this work without you.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or brand new, there’s a role for every skill level. Come help out at Norfolk’s Urban Garden. Always free, always open dawn til dusk.
Together, we make a difference—one Saturday at a time.
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October's Once Upon A Garden
Flutter into Fred Heutte Garden for a very special October Once Upon a Garden! We’ll gather in the garden to read two wonderful children’s books about butterflies, learning a little about these beautiful and important garden visitors along the way.
After story time, we’ll get creative! Children will make their own colorful butterflies to take home, inspired by the butterflies that bring our gardens to life.
This program is designed especially for preschoolers and early elementary-age children. One adult must accompany every three children.
Once Upon a Garden is free, but registration is required and space is limited. Because we expect a waiting list, registered participants must arrive by 10:15 AM. After 10:15, unclaimed spots will be offered to children on the waiting list.
Come read, create, explore, and celebrate butterflies with us at Fred Heutte Garden!
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Fred Talk: Herbs and Heart Health
Fred Talk: Heart Health with Vickie Shufer
Sunday, November 1 | 1 PM | Fred Heutte Garden
$20 per person | Registration requiredThe heart is the workhorse of the body and the powerhouse of the circulatory system. Join herbalist, naturalist, and forager Vickie Shufer of Wild Woods Farm for a fascinating and hands-on Fred Talk exploring herbs traditionally used to support heart health and overall well-being.
Vickie will introduce participants to a variety of plants and herbs, discuss their traditional uses, and share practical ways to incorporate herbal teas into everyday life. Then we’ll put that knowledge to work as participants prepare heart-healthy herbal teas to take home and enjoy.
Vickie brings decades of experience studying and teaching about edible and medicinal plants. She holds a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism from the Maryland University of Integrative Health and is the owner of Wild Woods Farm, a certified native nursery specializing in native and medicinal plants. She is also the author of The Forager’s Handbook, The Everything Guide to Foraging, and her newest book, The Forager’s Garden: Cultivating Wild Plants for Food & Medicine.
Come spend an afternoon at Fred Heutte Garden learning from one of our region’s most knowledgeable herbalists—and leave with new knowledge and your own herbal tea preparations.
Fee: $20
Advance registration is required. -

November's Once Upon A Garden!
Join us for a wonderful November morning outdoors at Fred Heutte Garden! We’ll read two great books together, explore the garden, and get creative making our own tabletop turkeys from pinecones and colorful feathers—perfect to take home for Thanksgiving.
Once Upon a Garden is designed especially for preschool and early elementary-age children. The program is completely free, but registration is required. Please plan for one adult for every three children attending.
Because our programs often have a waiting list, registered families must arrive by 10:15 AM. After 10:15, unclaimed spaces will be offered to children on the waiting list.
Come read, explore, create, and enjoy a beautiful fall morning in the garden. We can’t wait to see you!
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Free Fred Talk, Composting with Cameron Kania
Composting doesn’t have to be complicated, messy, or mysterious. Join us at Fred Heutte Garden for a free Fred Talk with Cameron Kania, founder and owner of Tidewater Compost, and learn how food scraps and other organic materials can be transformed into something every garden needs: rich, healthy soil.
Cameron will take the mystery out of composting, explaining what composting actually is, what can and can’t go into compost, how the process works, and how compost improves soil and supports healthier gardens. Whether you’re interested in starting a compost pile at home, wondering what to do if you don’t have the space for one, or simply want to understand why keeping food waste out of the landfill matters, this is a great place to start.
A Virginia Beach native and longtime home gardener, Cameron Kania founded Tidewater Compost in 2022 after his interest in gardening, soil building, and sustainability led him to look more closely at composting options in Hampton Roads. With a professional background in financial analysis, Cameron took an unconventional path into the composting world, turning a personal passion into the region’s first residential and commercial food-waste recycling and composting company. Tidewater Compost
And there’s a special connection to the Fred: Fred Heutte Garden is a Tidewater Compost drop-off location, making it easier for our community to keep food scraps out of the waste stream and put them back to work building healthy soil. Tidewater Compost
Come with your questions! This practical, approachable Fred Talk is for experienced gardeners, composting beginners, and anyone who has ever looked at a banana peel and wondered, “Couldn’t I be doing something better with this?”
The talk is free, but registration is required.
Fred Talk: Gardening Myths Debunked
Join us for a Fred Talk on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Fred Heutte Garden with Alexandra Cantwell, Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Senior Director of Adult Education. Her talk, “Garden Myths Debunked,” will take a practical look at some of the most common pieces of garden “wisdom” we all hear—what’s true, what’s outdated, and what really works in a Tidewater garden.
Come ready to rethink old rules, ask questions, and leave with clear, confidence-building tips you can put to work right away—whether you’re a brand-new gardener or have been growing for years.
All Fred Talks are Free! but you must register here.
November's Once Upon A Garden
Once Upon a Garden — Join us at Fred Heutte Garden on Saturday, November 15th at 10 AM for story time, a make-and-take garden craft, and a guided exploration of our demonstration beds designed just for kids. Free and open to all; registration required. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Register Here
Cyanotype Workshop at the Fred
Join us Saturday October 25th at 12 noon for a two hour workshop on creating Cyanotypes. Professional photographer Eleise Theuer will teach you how to do this magical process and give you lots of tips and tricks to enhance your creations. You'll leave with several completed pieces and a list of instructions and resources to continue creating! Register Here.
Square Foot Gardening Presentation with Norfolk Master Garden Paul Ziegler
Join Norfolk Master Gardener Paul Ziegler to learn the basics in establishing a square foot garden. This high yield garden process is perfect for urban gardeners with limited space. Norfolk Master Gardeners Square Foot Garden at the Fred has been under cultivation for many years, and donates almost 2,000 pounds of produce to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia yearly. Come learn from a Square Foot Gardening Expert! Saturday, October 25th from 10am to about 11:30 am. Register Here. THIS IS A FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAM.
October’s Once Upon A Garden
Join us at the Fred on October 18th at 10AM for Once Upon A Garden. This free, fun children’s activity is sure to make nature lovers happy. We enjoy storytime, a garden make and take and garden exploration. For children of all ages. An adult must accompany the children. The event is free but registration is suggested so we have enough materials on hand for the littles!
October’s Fred Talk: Garden Design with Maintenance in Mind, Laurie Fox, PhD.
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 10 at 6:30 PM when Fred Heutte Garden hosts Dr. Laurie Fox, PhD, for her Fred Talk Presentation “Garden Design with Maintenance in Mind.” Dr. Fox will share expert insights on creating landscapes that are both beautiful and easier to maintain—ideal for busy gardeners who still want thriving, sustainable spaces. This event is free and open to the public, with donations appreciated……..
Team Fred Volunteers Every Saturday
Join Team Fred on Saturdays
Roll up your sleeves with Team Fred at Fred Heutte Garden every Saturday, 9:00–11:30 AM. No gardening experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to pitch in. We work side-by-side on seasonal projects, learn as we go, and enjoy the camaraderie of growing something beautiful together.
What to expect
Friendly, hands-on tasks suited for all skill levels
Quick tips from experienced volunteers
A welcoming pace—come as you are and stay as long as you can
What to bring
Your favorite gloves or tools if you have them—otherwise, we’re happy to supply everything you need
Comfortable clothes and closed toed shoes
Meet us at Fred Heutte Garden, 1000 Botetourt Gardens, Norfolk. Questions or interested in bringing a group? Contact us at garden@fredheutte.com. We can’t wait to grow with you.
Event One
Celebrate the season with us at the Fred Heutte Garden Plant Sale and Fall Festival! This family-friendly event features a wide variety of plants perfect for fall planting, including perennials, pansies, fruiting plants, and pumpkins. Local native plant nurseries and community nonprofits will be on hand to share expertise, resources, and ideas on sustainability and gardening. Enjoy garden tours, hands-on gardening information, and a lively kids’ zone with fun activities for children. With a focus on ecology, community, and the beauty of the season, the Fall Festival at Fred Heutte Garden is the perfect way to connect with neighbors, support local growers, and bring home plants that will thrive in your garden.