This coming week is Historic Garden week in Virginia. This annual event features lush gardens all over the state. Come see the best of Virginia’s landmarks. Presidential houses, historic homes, and privately owned estates open once a year for “Virginia’s open house.” From Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, to the Staunton, VA tour, there is plenty to see in our area.
Our personal favorite? Morven Gardens.
Built in 1820, Morven manor is a red brick house of the Late Georgian/Federalist style. Situated on land Thomas Jefferson knew as the “Indian Camp,” the estate passed hands until the last private owner donated the property to the University of Virginia Foundation. The first floor of the manor will be open for tours—don’t miss it when you stop by to view the gardens.
Speaking of gardens, there are few places as calm and serene as Morven gardens. Cultivated over centuries, the landscape includes a variety of garden styles. A participant in the first Historic Garden Week in 1929, Morven includes formal and cutting gardens which were renovated in the 1930s. There is a “series of distinct garden rooms”, some inspired by modern landscaping and some harkening back to the home’s origins. The combination of tulips and lilacs, dove trees and phlox, will take your breath away.
This year, you can visit Morven gardens on Saturday, April 22nd, anytime between 10 AM and 5 PM. Morven gardens is a spectacular tour, but it may be closed in the event of inclement weather. Call (434) 960-3561 the morning of April 22nd to see if there are weather cancelations.
Can’t make it to Morven or want to visit even more of the spectacular gardens on tour this year? Garden week is happening all over the state from April 22-29th, but the bulk of tours in Albemarle County will take place the first half of the week.
As always, check out our availability chart to make your last-minute garden getaway plans!