Cover Story

Highlights from Come to the Bay

Many hours of preparatory work and extensive planning came to fruition during the week of January 22 with the 2024 Come to the Bay. That event started on Monday with a service project at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center – that project was only possible because of tremendous support from Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS). The following three days were filled with classes and networking opportunities at the Hampton Roads AREC.

The service project met two major needs: establishing a native planting around a newly installed demonstration pond and controlling erosion caused by stormwater surging into the tidal inlets. Both needs were met by industry and public schools working together. Lawns and Gardens Plus provided much of the labor and materials needed to prepare for planting around the pond; VBCPS students at the Career and Technical Center grew many of the plants in their greenhouses. Other plants were provided by Wild Works of Whimsy. Two students enrolled in the environmental studies program worked with architects to design the planting. Both industry volunteers and students from the Center worked to install these plants!

Erosion controlling coir logs were the mainstay of protecting the site from stormwater surges. These logs were huge – each was approximately 18" wide and 8' long. They were also heavy! Landscape Supply donated the logs. They delivered them on Monday morning and even provided a forklift to get them off the flatbed trailer. We needed additional logs and they were graciously provided by SiteOne. VBCPS students who were also enrolled in the environmental studies program worked with another architecture firm to design proper placement of the logs. On the day of the service project, they carried the logs down the embankment and worked with industry volunteers to firmly attach them to the soil.

Afterwards, all the volunteers gathered for lunch and listened to presentations by the students who designed and installed the service project’s plantings and erosion control. Bill’s Landscaping & Designs provided tickets for attendees who wanted to visit the aquarium. Agronomic Lawn Management and Lawns & Gardens Plus, primary sponsors of Come to the Bay, provided lunch.

For the first time in its history, Come to the Bay’s classes were held at the Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Tech’s Virginia Beach facility. Being at that location allowed us to showcase the great work being done there for our industry. Our attendance was more than the building could hold so SiteOne and Land & Coates sponsored a large tent that was set next to the main entrance of the AREC. Members who attended the classes got free pesticide and fertilizer certification and recertification credits. Lunch on each of the three days of classes was provided by Agronomic Lawn Management and Lawns & Gardens Plus.

Tremendous networking happened between classes and during lunch – discussing business opportunities and the challenging information presented by each speaker. Karen Duhring of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science was the keynote speaker. Her insights into business opportunities in establishing and maintaining living shorelines were very timely and possibly caused more than one attendee to plan on adding that service to their customers.

Volunteers and sponsors made the 2024 Come to the Bay conference a success. We are currently making plans for next year’s event. Please contact the VTC or the VTC Environmental Institute if you are able to help make the 2025 even better.

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors!

Agronomic Lawn Management

Bill’s Landscaping and Design

Land and Coates

Landscape Supply

Lawns & Gardens Plus

McGill Compost

SiteOne Landscape Supply

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center

Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Wild Works of Whimsey

We are currently making plans for next year’s event. Please contact the VTC or the VTC Environmental Institute if you are able to help make the 2025 Come to the Bay even better. http://www.vaturf.org