Would you like to spend some time in nature and feel the stress of your day lift away? Or maybe, you are looking for the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic lunch with a friend while the kids are fascinated by all of the butterflies and garden colors. Perhaps you are looking to add a garden to your home and need some inspiration to get the project started. Did you know that there is a great spot in Gloucester, Virginia where all of this can happen? It is the Bulb Shoppe and Gardens at Brent and Becky’s!
In 2003, Brent and Becky’s relocated from the home property of Brent and Becky Heath to an 18-acre property at the head of Ware Neck in Gloucester, Virginia. Initially, they were shipping from the new, larger warehouse, utilizing a more modern office space and opened a local retail store. Brent and Becky along with the help of staff and friends, began designing and implementing a display garden on the property. As the years went by, garden installation began, and over the years, the garden has developed and matured into the beautiful space it is today.
The gardens at Brent and Becky’s are not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill gardens. They are like a botanical wonderland with a twist! First up, you will find the Living Catalogue Garden. Imagine walking through a garden that is literally a living version of their printed catalogue. It is like window shopping for plants, but with a real-life, hands-on experience. Talk about taking garden shopping to a whole new level! Items in the Catalogue Garden are not for purchase but definitely for enjoyment. The Living Catalog Garden allows you to see the plants and flowers up close and personal. You can look at when they bloom, what blooms at the same time, the variation in colors of flowers on some varieties, and more. This garden is a great place to discover what you like and dislike and what you would like to have in your own garden for the next season.
Next, pass through the Courtyard and into the Chesapeake Bay Friendly Teaching Gardens. The teaching gardens are like gardening schools for the adventurous souls. Here, you can learn all sorts of gardening techniques and discover how to make your garden the ultimate hangout spot for birds, bees, butterflies, and your animal crew. It is like going to a school where the teachers are the flowers, and you are the student. The teaching gardens are designed to show you different gardening styles and what can be achieved without the use of chemicals. As part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, we want to do our part to be environmental stewards for the bay, and we do that by not adding harmful chemicals to the area. We use gardening practices that are environmentally friendly and are happy to share these gardening successes with you!
The Chesapeake Bay Friendly Teaching Gardens sprawl across a whopping four acres and are divided into themed “rooms”. There is a Music Garden where the plants harmonize like a botanical orchestra, a Native Garden that celebrates the local flora, a Meditation Garden for those seeking inner peace amidst the flowers, and a Bird and Butterfly room because even feathered friends need a place to freshen up. Other areas of the garden are designed to show off different designs with color and even ideas for planting in repurposed objects. The Rock Garden is a great place to see smaller and unique plant varieties that would get lost in a larger garden and is an area that provides great drainage for the plants that need it. It is like a garden-themed amusement park, complete with hidden paths, water features, and a variety of garden art. You never know what surprises await around the corner! You might walk up upon the Beehive Observation Hut where the bees are checking in and making honey like the hardworking creatures they are. Watch them fly in (high up above your head) and take the pollen they are carrying back to the hive. You can watch this happen up-close but safely separated by a screen, to keep you and the bees happy.
You can check out Brent and Becky’s event listing for a variety of different onsite events which are usually held in the garden or in our Chesapeake Lounge facility. These include monthly talks by the Master Gardeners, workshops, and more. The Chesapeake Lounge facility is available for rent if needed for a special event. Speaking of special events, you will not want to miss the Gloucester Wine Festival held in the gardens annually by the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce in September.
As you stroll through the gardens, your senses will be treated to a visual feast. Colors and textures abound, creating a sight that will excite your senses. It is like nature’s fashion show, where every plant struts its stuff like a supermodel on a catwalk. There are areas in the garden where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view. Think of it as the VIP section of the garden, where you can take in the beauty without breaking a sweat. There is a picnic pavilion where you can enjoy the breeze, eat your lunch, and enjoy the beauty of the garden. So, if you are looking for a garden experience that is out of this world, come on down to Brent and Becky’s. The gardens will make you go “wow”, teach you a thing or two about gardening, and leave you buzzing with delight. It is like a garden adventure that will tickle your senses and put a smile on your face. Get ready to step into a floral fantasyland, where plants are the stars and you are the lucky audience. We look forward to seeing you in the garden!