The gardens have blossomed, and on Friday, June 26, residents will have a rare opportunity to step inside some of the most inspiring examples. The Lynnhaven River NOW (LRNow) Native Garden Tour invites the community to explore seven distinct gardens from 9 a.m. to noon, offering a firsthand look at how community homeowners are reimagining their outdoor spaces through the lens of native planting.

This self-guided tour, priced at $30, features five private gardens in Alanton along with two community pollinator spaces in nearby neighborhoods. At its heart, the event is about more than beautiful blooms -- it’s about restoring habitat, supporting pollinators, and reconnecting people with the natural rhythms of coastal Virginia.

One of the featured stops, the Imrich Garden, tells a story that will resonate with many homeowners. When Trista and Chris Imrich purchased their home in Alanton in 2014, their property reflected a more traditional landscape approach. Over time, that has evolved into a richly layered native garden filled with flowers, shrubs, and trees that provide both visual beauty and essential habitat. A recently added bog garden, now home to frogs and turtles, adds an unexpected and lively dimension.

Trista, a native plant landscaper and owner of Wild Works of Whimsy, represents a growing movement in the area—one that blends design with environmental stewardship. Her garden, like the others on the tour, demonstrates that sustainability and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they enhance one another.

Visitors will also explore the Parker Garden (Susan Parker), Lagergren Garden (Julia Lagergren), Zaki Garden featured in the June issue (Diana Zaki), and the Herbert Garden (Steve & Sally Herbert), each offering its own interpretation of native gardening. From structured and intentional designs to more organic, free-flowing plantings, these gardens collectively showcase the range of possibilities when native plants take center stage.

Beyond private residences, the tour extends into community-driven spaces, including the Brighton on the Bay Monarch Waystation, led by Kelly, as maintained by Kathie McGratton. These shared gardens highlight how neighborhoods can come together to support biodiversity, creating vital pathways for pollinators like butterflies and bees.

This year’s tour expands its scope even further by incorporating elements such as beekeeping, butterfly gardening, oyster gardening, and designated Monarch Waystations. These additions offer visitors a deeper understanding of how individual gardens connect to broader environmental systems. Even small changes—planting native species, reducing turf, or adding water features—can make a meaningful impact.

To enrich the experience, each garden will host representatives from local organizations, including Bee City USA, the Butterfly Society of Virginia, the Tidewater Beekeepers Association, the Tidewater Master Naturalists, and the Alanton Garden Club. These experts will be available to answer questions, share practical advice, and help visitors translate inspiration into action at home.

What makes the LRNow Native Garden Tour especially compelling is its accessibility. These are not showpiece installations—they are personal, evolving gardens, shaped by curiosity, care, and a commitment to the environment. They reflect what is possible when homeowners choose to garden with intention.

In a region defined by its waterways, the connection between land and river is impossible to ignore. Native gardens play a quiet but powerful role in protecting that relationship, improving water quality, reducing runoff, and supporting the wildlife that depends on these ecosystems.

For those looking to reimagine their own outdoor spaces—or simply enjoy a morning surrounded by beauty and purpose—the Native Garden Tour offers both inspiration and practical insight. 

Tickets and additional details are available at LRNow.org/events/.