The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail is a developing project connecting Suffolk and Chesapeake with a much larger trail planned to link Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. The completed Suffolk portions of the trail include four trailheads: Town Point (Pughsville), Driver, Suburban, and the Railroad Museum.
Each segment of the trail follows the former Seaboard Coastal Railroad right of way and much of the pathway is surrounded by trees, farmland, and neighborhoods. Built specifically for walking and biking, the trail has gradual contours for easy to moderate walking, is fully paved, 10 feet wide, and fully ADA accessible. Parking areas can be found at each of the trailheads, along with public restrooms. Please note that the trails are open daily, from sunrise to sunset.
The Driver trailhead is located at 3160 Kings Hwy and extends 3.5 miles (one way) to the Town Point trailhead. The Driver Garden is located at the trailhead.
The Master Gardeners maintain the gardens at the trailheads. Most of the plants are native pollinators. However, one will also find examples of all kinds of plants that have been dug from our gardens. We believe in planting the right plant in the right space. We aim for different colors, textures, and scents that bloom at different times of the year. We try to plant plants that provide seeds and habitats for local wildlife.
Garden Program
The Master Gardeners work most every Monday, March through November, with 9am starts in hotter months and 1pm starts in cooler months. Exceptions are made for inclement weather and holidays. We have a small group of volunteers and welcome visitors.
Garden Plants
Native Pollinators:
Natives
- Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower
- Achillea millefolium Common Yarrow
- Helianthus tuberosus Jerusalem Artichoke
- Rudbeckia laciniata Cutleaf Coneflower
*Blooms are nectar sources for Butterflies and in Fall seeds attract songbirds,
especially American Goldfinches. (NC Extension)
Iris Flag; Iris; Snake Lily; Water Lily
*Native North America, Europe, Africa & Asia
- Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed
- Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed susan
- Helianthus divaricatus Woodland Sunflowers
- Solidago sempervirens Seaside Goldenrod
*Wrongfully accused of causing hay fever. Hayfever is an allergic reaction to
wind-borne pollen from ragweed.
Non-Native:
- Salvia guaranitica Blue anise sage
- Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum attracts pollinators
- Ruellia simplex Mexican Petunia
- Hemerocallis Day Lilies
- *Nectar source for Butterflies & Hummingbirds (NC Extension Plant Toolbox)
- Dendranthema x grandiflorum Autumn Mum or chysanths, Garden or Hardy Mum
- Formerly known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium
*Flowers attract Butterflies providing late season nectar source (NC Extension)