Garden Gates Open

While April showers encourage May flowers, storms nation-wide continue to reap havoc on emerging spring blooms. Still, gardeners open their gates to welcome others into their landscapes.

 

The Wright Scoop garden identified as 'best of Birds and Blooms' woodland garden.

From April 23 through April 30, the historic gardens of Virginia host tours for visitors and local residents, alike. Rain or shine, each spring visitors are welcomed to more than 250 of Virginia's most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks during "America's Largest Open House." This 8-day statewide event provides visitors an unique opportunity to see unforgettable gardens at the peak of Virginia's springtime color, as well as beautiful houses sparkling with over 2,000 fabulous flower arrangements created by Garden Club of Virginia members, for details visit Virginia Garden Week http://www.vagardenweek.org/ .

Or, identify a local community activity such as Lavender Fields Farm event ‘Treat Mom’, held May 1-2 and 8-9. Make a commitment to ‘Treat Mom’ to an experience at one of Glen Allen’s hidden gems, Lavender Fields Herb Farm. Enjoy lunch together, stroll the gardens, browse the store, relax on the deck overlooking the river. Or, plan to join the Spring Herb Faire & Open House held Friday & Saturday. There are also custom baskets, deluxe container gardens, unique gifts or give Mom a gift certificate so she can choose what she would like. For details, visit Lavender Field Herb Farm, http://www.lavenderfieldsfarm.com/index.php/mum.

Or, schedule a trip to an educational garden such as the gardens of Brent and Becky Heath, https://brentandbeckysbulbs.com/ . Their 'Heron Pond' is decorated with pots filled with lots of different types of spring flowering bulbs. In the background, you can see some great containers, their Catalogue Garden and the red-roofed structure is a Picnic Pavilion. It's a marvelous place to have lunch!

Or, if you have such an option, visit a private garden such as the Wright Scoop’s woodland garden. Located in central Virginia, this garden is identified by Birds and Bloom magazine as the ‘best of Bird and Bloom’ woodland gardens. The private garden consists of traditional, heirloom and vendor supplied test plants creating a variety of seasonal color. To view, link to web site www.TheWrightScoop.com or or link to Landscape Gardening with CARE video  https://youtu.be/ENPhCg9QQNc  or acquire a copy of Landscape Gardening with CARE, http://www.lulu.com/shop/sylvia-hoehns-wright/landscape-gardening-with-care/paperback/product-22167399.html  .

While it has been a long hard cold winter followed by a cool wet spring, spring has arrived. So, rain or shine walk the gardens of your community and connect with living green that surrounds you!