The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
- Nelson Henderson
We're here for the long term, 2024 will mark our 40th year! Years from now, our Horticulture students will bring their children back to the garden and point out "I helped plant that tree." As all who have gardened know, gardens are dynamic entities that require patience, hard work, creativity, and a bit of good luck. The Hahn Horticulture Garden is no exception. Our small but passionate staff does a lot with a little. Our community volunteers and student workers help keep it beautiful. In-kind donations of plants and services from generous green industry members and affiliates over the years have helped build the garden into the campus jewel that it is today.
The HHG is located on the Virginia Tech campus and is a subset of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (formerly the Horticulture Department). The School pays for three full-time staff salaries (however, our director also teach university classes and only has 50% [20 hr/wk] garden appointment). The university provides the land, power, and water. Beyond that, we have to raise our own funding.
This means that we have to pay for all plants, materials, tools, equipment, furniture, fuel, special projects, expansion, improvements, etc. that go into maintaining and improving the Garden. We also have to cover gaps in full-time staff salaries/benefits and pay for all of our part-time staff and student workers. In summary, the university does not provide funding for our day-to-day operations. The HHG would not exist, without your generous support.
Our income is derived from numerous sources, including facility rentals, memberships, the Spring Plant Sale, and our Summer Garden Gala. Here is a breakdown of our revenue sources for Fiscal Year 2018:
There are many ways you can help support the mission of the Hahn Horticulture Garden: join our Friends of the Garden membership program, give a gift, or volunteer your time and skills. Please use the links below to find out more information about supporting the Garden.
Please note that, as an entity of Virginia Tech, all of our financial transactions must process through the university or the Virginia Tech Foundation (VTF). Do not be alarmed or concerned if you start receiving mail/email from the VTF after becoming a Friend of the Garden or making a donation, the VTF manages all donations to the Garden. Rest assured that your donations to the HHG do end up in the Garden’s account!
Donations to the Hahn Horticulture Garden may be made payable to the Virginia Tech Foundation, a tax-deductible organization. Ways to give include outright gifts and pledges, matching gifts, stocks or securities, gifts-in-kind, and deferred gifts/bequests.
Click here to access the Virginia Tech Foundation Online Giving Website and follow the directions below:
Please contact the Garden Director, Scott Douglas, for more information (540) 231-7432 or VT Gift Planning at (800) 533-1144 or giftplanning@vt.edu.
We are excited to announce our Donor Tree Program. In exchange for a $1,500 donation, you will receive a custom engraved leaf for our donor tree.
Please visit Donor Tree for additional information.
This is a great way to make a difference! All funds come directly to the garden and help support our day-to-day operations and expansion.
Click here to download the Membership Form. Mail the form and your payment check to the address listed on the form. You may also establish (or renew) your membership with a credit card by calling VT Gift Accounting at 540-231-2828.
Membership levels available:
Friends of the Garden annual membership benefits:
Note: You can join at any time with your membership expiring one year from the end of the month that you join. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of your new membership card. Your contribution may be tax deductible’ however, since you receive some benefits from your gift, IRS rules may limit the deductible portion to 80% of the amount contributed. We recommend you consult your tax advisor to determine how the tax laws may affect you.
Gardens have long been regarded as a wonderful place to honor an individual, organization, or event. Since the Hahn Horticulture Garden's inception in 1984, more than 30 benches, structures, and garden features have been dedicated.
While we are not currently accepting new bench donations, we are working to establish a new menu of donor options based on our 2022 Long Range Plan for the Garden. Please contact the Garden Director, Scott Douglas, for more information - (540) 231-7432.
Many individuals, green industry members and allied businesses believe in our mission and help support the garden! Some contribute as sponsors of our Garden Gala. Others help by donating plants, products, or services. Many thanks to these long-term supporters:
Contact us at vtgarden@vt.edu to find out more on furthering the Garden with a sponsorship.