A retired botany and horticulture professor from Christopher Newport University will speak at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday.

Ted Hoagland, a Smithfield resident and author of “Grandpa, Why Are You Planting That Tree?” will be the guest speaker at Twilight at St. John’s at 4 p.m. Sunday. The church is located at 828 Kings Highway.

Hoagland’s informal — but informative ­— presentation will focus on the types of flowering plants that are best suited for the Suffolk area, according to St. John’s pastor, the Rev. Les Ferguson.

Hoagland said he looks forward to sharing 10 of his favorite annuals, perennials and shrubs for this climate, as well as a handful of other gardening tips.

Light refreshments will be served and the quaint 18th-century church will be open for tours.

The church has been sponsoring Twilight at St. John’s events quarterly for the past year, said Ferguson.

The talks are both ways of sharing interesting, relevant information with the community and introducing people to the small, historic church outside Chuckatuck, he added.

When he came to St. John’s in 2010, Ferguson said he was surprised to learn how many local residents didn’t realize Chuckatuck had an Episcopal church.

With 45 members, St. John’s typically sees about 20 people in the congregation on Sundays, he said.

“The church is a little off the beaten path … and we have a lot of new neighbors,” Ferguson said, referring to the growing subdivision, Summer Creek Estates, near St. John’s.

On Thursday, Ferguson said he walked through Summer Creek Estates and delivered invitations to homes.

“We hope people in the community will come by for the presentation, tour the church and grounds, and meet people,” Ferguson said. “We would like to share our church and heritage.”