Words and Images Courtesy of the Virginia Zoo.
The Virginia Zoo’s Animal Wellness Campus planter boxes received a facelift thanks to a grant from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. The Julian Haden Gary and Margaret Savage Gary Fund, used for horticultural educational purposes, awarded the Virginia Zoological Society $6,500 to replace eight raised garden boxes and add additional signage.
The eight new planter boxes are made from treated lumber projected to last a decade. Sizes of the planter boxes vary from two to eight feet in length, and stand two to three feet high. The boxes were designed to be elevated for easier planting and maintenance, and to deter Canada geese and the infamous Zoo peafowl from enjoying the herbs and vegetables planted in the beds.
The Wellness Campus garden also provides a great opportunity for Zoo volunteers and local garden clubs to participate in the planting and maintenance of the garden. Additional signage will be place to provide helpful do-it-yourself instructions.
The Zoo’s Horticulture staff and volunteers are currently planting a variety of herbs and vegetables, including rosemary, cilantro, shallots, beets, and sugar snap peas. Once ready for harvest, the Zoo’s Diet Kitchen will utilize the plants as food or as special enrichment or treats for many of the animals’ daily diets.
About the Virginia Zoo
The Virginia Zoo, located in Norfolk, Virginia, is home to more than 700 exceptional animals representing over 150 fascinating species. Founded in 1901 and residing on 53 beautifully landscaped acres, the Virginia Zoo has demonstrated a commitment to saving and protecting the world’s wildlife by inspiring a passion for nature and taking conservation action at home and around the world. The Virginia Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is recognized as a global leader in education, recreation, science, wildlife conservation, and animal care and welfare. For more than a century, the Zoo has connected adults, families and school children with the natural world and its wildlife. To learn more, visit www.virginiazoo.org.
About Hampton Roads Community Foundation
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation's mission is to inspire philanthropy and transform the quality of life in southeastern Virginia. The community foundation manages permanent funds created by people from all walks of life. The foundation invests their gifts to grow over time while awarding grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students. For more information, visit www.hamptonroadscf.org.