More than 140 supporters, partners, elected officials, volunteers, and friends gathered to celebrate the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont’s Garden Groundbreaking. The event marked an important milestone as the Garden moves from vision to visible and prepares to begin construction of its first major element, the pedestrian bridge, this summer.
Event Highlights
More than $12.5 million raised for the future Garden
Over 140 attendees
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation announced as project partner
Construction of the pedestrian bridge begins summer 2026
A Special Message from Carol Angle
Longtime Garden supporter Carol Angle shared this special message with guests during the Garden Groundbreaking. Her generosity and belief in the Garden have helped make this moment possible.
A place like the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont is more than just a scientific endeavor; it is a community hub where everyone in Charlottesville can come together to find beauty, learning, and solace.
Remarks from the Garden Groundbreaking
Guests heard from Board President Margaret Murray Bloom, Campaign Co-Chair Pam Edmonds, University of Virginia School of Architecture Dean Malo Hutson, Executive Director Jill Trischman-Marks, and Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade and as they reflected on the Garden’s impact today and future ahead.
Listen to the remarks below.
I’ve spent my career studying how places shape people’s lives – how the environment we build and the natural systems we live in are bound up with our health, our opportunities, and our sense of belonging. What I’ve learned is that the best places are not imposed on communities, they are made with them. That’s exactly what is happening here.
Photo Gallery
Courtesy Jeffrey Gleason Photography
