The Norfolk Botanical Garden in Virginia stands as a living monument to Depression-era workers who transformed swampy land into a breathtaking paradise. Started in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project, it provided jobs to 200 African American women and 20 men during tough economic times.
Their backbreaking work created one of America’s most beautiful gardens, blending history and natural beauty in a remarkable way.
1. The WPA Vision Comes To Life
In 1938, Norfolk city manager Thomas P. Thompson secured funds from President Roosevelt’s New Deal program to bring both jobs and beauty to Virginia during the Great Depression. The workers, mostly African American women, earned just 25 cents an hour clearing dense vegetation and planting the first azaleas.
Despite difficult conditions—including mosquitoes, snakes, and swampy terrain—these determined laborers transformed 150 acres of Virginia wetland into what would become a horticultural masterpiece.
2. Azalea Garden Legacy
The very first project tackled by WPA workers was planting 4,000 azaleas, 2,000 rhododendrons, and thousands of other shrubs. Today’s spectacular 75-acre Azalea Garden collection features over 50 varieties that burst into a riot of pink, white, and red blooms each spring…