Historic Garden Week in Virginia
April 17 - 20, 2010
Historic Garden Week in Charlottesville and Albemarle County
For more information, click here

April 17 - 25
Historic Garden Week in Virginia
For more information, click here

Useful Links and Information (See Calendar of Events below)

Andre Viette Farm and Nursery www.Viette.com

Virginia Garden Week www.VAGardenWeek.org/

Wintergreen Nature Foundation www.twnf.org

Ivy Creek Natural Area http://ivycreekfoundation.org/ivycreek.html

Monticello www.monticello.org

Maymont Garden Center  www.maymont.org

Nature Camp http://www.naturecamp.net

Piedmont Environmental Council http://www.pecva.org/

United States Botanic Garden www.usbg.gov 

Albemarle County Extension Service
To become involved with the next Albemarle County Master Gardener program in January, call the Virginia Cooperative Extension at (434) 984-0727.  This program consists of a series of lectures on topics such as botany and landscape design, as well as 50 hours of community service.  This year the program cost is $175.00, which pays for books and horticulture magazine subscriptions.

The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, a government organization, offers educational programs in areas such as agiculture, natural resources, family and nutrition.

Horticulture Help Desk
The Horticulture Help Desk is staffed weekly by Piedmont Master Gardener volunteers to answer your questions about garden topics related to horticulture. If you need help, call The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, 434-984-0727.

Nellie Hough Memorial Gardening Course 2010
Sponsored by Albemarle Garden Club
To Be Announced

January

February

March

March 20
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Starting a Vineyard Workshop
Gabriele Rausse will lead this two-hour workshop in the Monticello vineyards. He'll discuss the basic principles of grape growing -- variety and site selection, trellis systems, soil preparation, planting, pruning, pest control, and harvesting -- and provide beginning grape growers a foundation in serious viticulture. Reservations required; call 434-984-9880. Meets at the Jordan Classroom in the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center, 9:30 a.m. $10.

March 27
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
History of the Thomas Jefferson Parkway Hike and Launch of the Friends of the Parkway
The development of the Thomas Jefferson Parkway—the creation of Kemper Park, Saunders–Monticello Trail, and Saunders Bridge—is an intriguing story full of drama, creative design, and clever construction. Join Peter Hatch for a two–hour hike that will focus on the evolution of the project. The hike recognizes the launch of the "Friends of the Thomas Jefferson Parkway," an initiative that will allow our many trail devotees in the community to participate in supporting this popular and vital resource. Meets at the Garden Center, Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. Reservations required; $10.

April

April 3
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Pruning and Propagating Historic Roses
Old roses possess a grace, charm, and beauty unique among cultivated garden plants. Join CHP nursery manager, Dennis Whetzel, for a two-hour workshop devoted to the practical care of these plants, and the ways to start your own. Learn as you go in the display gardens at Tufton Farm. Bring your hand pruners and a pair of gloves. Reservations required; call 434-984-9880. At Tufton Farm, 9:30 a.m. $10.

April 7-8
76th Annual Daffodil Show
Sponsor: The Garden Club of Virginia
Host Club: Hillside Garden Club, Lynchburg, VA
For detailed information, click here    

April 10
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Spring Wildflower Walk
This three-hour hike through the woodlands of Monticello to the Rivanna River is a perennial favorite of hikers and native plant enthusiasts alike. Enjoy the botanical treasures of early spring: trout lilies, Virginia blue bells, spring beauties, and more. Be prepared for a strenuous trek, muddy slopes and uphill climbs, and an intimate view of the wild Monticello, particularly the lovely plant communities along the river. Wear sturdy shoes. Walks will be led by Peggy Cornett, Peter Hatch, and Kate Meyer. Note earlier starting time. Meets at the Garden Center/Museum Shop in the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center, 9:00 a.m. $10.

Historic Garden Week in Virginia
April 17 - 20
Historic Garden Week in Charlottesville and Albemarle County
For more information, click here

April 17 - 25
Historic Garden Week in Virginia
For more information, click here

April 17
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Spring Wildflower Walk
This three-hour hike through the woodlands of Monticello to the Rivanna River is a perennial favorite of hikers and native plant enthusiasts alike. Enjoy the botanical treasures of early spring: trout lilies, Virginia blue bells, spring beauties, and more. Be prepared for a strenuous trek, muddy slopes and uphill climbs, and an intimate view of the wild Monticello, particularly the lovely plant communities along the river. Wear sturdy shoes. Walks will be led by Peggy Cornett, Peter Hatch, and Kate Meyer. Note earlier starting time. Meets at the Garden Center/Museum Shop in the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center, 9:00 a.m. $10.

April 20
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants
Peggy Cornett will survey the historic horticultural collections of this unique program to preserve the plants of the past. Her illustrated lecture will be followed by a tour of the CHP's Tufton Farm nursery, where plants will be available for purchase. Free; no registration required. 2 p.m., at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith History Center. No charge or registration required.

Thomas Jefferson, Gardener
As part of Historic Garden Week, Peter Hatch will present an hour-long illustrated lecture discussing the themes that defined Thomas Jefferson's passion for horticulture. An hour-long tour of the Monticello gardens will follow. Meets at 10 a.m. at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith History Center. No charge or registration required, but space is limited.

April 24
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Spring Wildflower Walk
This three-hour hike through the woodlands of Monticello to the Rivanna River is a perennial favorite of hikers and native plant enthusiasts alike. Enjoy the botanical treasures of early spring: trout lilies, Virginia blue bells, spring beauties, and more. Be prepared for a strenuous trek, muddy slopes and uphill climbs, and an intimate view of the wild Monticello, particularly the lovely plant communities along the river. Wear sturdy shoes. Walks will be led by Peggy Cornett, Peter Hatch, and Kate Meyer. Note earlier starting time. Meets at the Garden Center/Museum Shop in the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center, 9:00 a.m. $10.

May

May 8
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Montalto Challenge
A demanding, all-uphill 5K race from the base of the Saunders-Monticello Trail to the top of Montalto. This is a unique and spectacular venue with thrilling views of Monticello, Charlottesville, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The race begins at 8 a.m. and finishes on Montalto, at an elevation of 1,282 ft. Registration required, $25 ($15 for students) through May 7 (an additional $5 fee on race day). Special parking at Secluded Farm. Special thanks to Mark Lorenzoni of Ragged Mountain Running Shop for his work in conceiving and directing this event.

Spring Bird Walk
Learn the basics of bird identification and explore a variety of habitats in this three-hour walk during the spring migratory season. Peggy Cornett will lead this trek from Tufton Farm to the Rivanna River. We recommend waterproof shoes, long pants, and binoculars. Meets at Tufton Farm, 7:00 a.m. Reservations required. $10

May 15
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Sustainable Gardening Workshop
Join Ellie Thomas for this two-hour tour of the Monticello Vegetable Garden, where she will present an overview of sustainable gardening techniques, including natural pest controls and beneficial insects. She will then lead a hands-on workshop demonstrating various bed preparation methods including double digging. Bring your gardening gloves; tools will be provided. Reservations required. Meets at Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10.

May 22
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Center for Historic Plants Open House
The 18th annual Center for Historic Plants Open House at Tufton Farm will feature the rose, iris, and dianthus collections in full bloom, and informal tours of the CHP nursery. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the installation of CHP’s iris collection, and Anner Whitehead will present a workshop on the history and propagation of heirloom iris varieties. Dennis Whetzel and Doug Seidel will conduct a rose workshop; participants are encouraged to bring their mystery roses for the experts to identify. Refreshments will be served, gift plants distributed, and a wide selection of plants will be offered for sale. The celebration continues with a special Wine Tasting from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Stay and stroll the gardens while enjoying the wine and roses during the cool of the evening. Free; no registration required. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Center for Historic Plants Open House Lecture
"The China Syndrome: History and Influence of the China Rose"
Between 1753 and 1824, five roses were brought by the British to Western nurseries that completely changed what Europeans and Americans would expect of their roses. In this PowerPoint illustrated talk Douglas Seidel will examine the original China roses and the eight classes that developed from them at the beginning of the 19th century in England, France, and the United States. Reservations required. Meets at CHP's Tufton Farm nursery, 9:30 a.m. $10.

June

June 5
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Pruning Practices for Woody Ornamentals
Few horticultural practices are as misunderstood as pruning, particularly for shrubs. One needs to know, first of all, how to make a proper pruning cut, but also how to enhance the natural growth habit of the plant itself. Join CHP assistant nursery manager Brian Hartsock in the Tufton Farm gardens for this two-hour workshop to learn how to stop butchering your bushes. Reservations required. At Tufton Farm, 9:30 a.m. $10.

June 12
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Painting and Sketching in the Garden
Join Debbie Donleyfor this painting workshop in the flower gardens of Monticello. She will demonstrate both simple line-drawing and basic water color techniques. Participants will be encouraged to examine and portray the botanical details of the late-spring and early-summer flowers, many in their full glory at this time of year. Meets at the Garden Center Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center, 9:30 a.m. Reservations required. $10

June 13
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Historic Landscape Institute begins
This two-week course (June 13-25) will use the gardens and landscapes of Monticello and the University of Virginia as an outdoor classroom for the study of historic landscape preservation. Lectures, workshops, field trips, and practical working experiences will provide an introduction to the fields of landscape history, garden restoration, and historical horticulture. Fee charged; registration required. Call 434-984-9836 for more information.

June 16-17
68th Annual Lily Show
Sponsor: The Garden Club of Virginia
Host Club: The Petersburg Garden Club
For more information, click here

June 26
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Ancient Herbs
Culinary, medicinal, and fragrant herbs have been important in everyday life for thousands of years, and the first European settlers to North America brought seeds and cuttings with them to the New World. Join CHP’s nursery manager Dennis Whetzel to study first-hand the many herbs used in American kitchen and dooryard gardens of the 17th and 18th centuries. Meets at Tufton Farm, 9:30 a.m. Reservations required; $10.

July

July 10
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Natural History of Trees
Trees perhaps occupied first place in Thomas Jefferson's hierarchy of favorite garden plants. This two-hour walking tour explores the natural history of Monticello's exotic and native trees. Learn to identify about fifty species through an understanding of their ornamental, cultural, and historical character. Peter Hatch will lead this relaxed morning ramble through a typical central Virginia hardwood forest. Reservations required. Meets at the Garden Center Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. Reservations required; $10

July 17
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Natural Dyes Workshop
Until the late 19th century, dyes that colored cloth came primarily from plants. Join Pat Brodowski for this two-hour workshop to learn how the palette of European dye colors such as madder and indigo expanded with the discovery of dyes from North and South American flora such as goldenrod and black walnut. Use available dye pots to create a booklet of samples. Meets at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center, 9:30 a.m. Reservations required. $10

July 24
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Herbaceous Plant Propagation
Propagating ornamental flowers from seeds, cuttings, or divisions is one of the most gratifying of the horticultural arts. Brian Hartsock will lead this two-hour workshop at the propagating facilities at Tufton Farm. He’ll discuss the principles of seed sowing—timing, stratification, and soil mediums—and review the fundamentals of asexual propagation. Bring pruning shears and gloves. Reservations required. At Tufton Farm, 9:30 a.m. $10.

July 31
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Winemaking Workshop
Join the incomparable Gabriele Rausse, the Father of the Virginia wine industry, for this fun two-hour session on wine production. “No nation is drunken when wine is cheap,” said Thomas Jefferson, who apparently failed to make a Monticello-grown vintage despite years of experimental vine plantings. Learn how to make your own—from harvest through fermentation to bottling—in this participatory workshop. 9:30 a.m., Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center. Reservations required; $10.

August

August 7
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Tomato Tasting
Heirloom tomatoes are now at the height of fashion, and one can only marvel at the genetic diversity found in everyone's favorite homegrown vegetable. Tomatoes are finally being esteemed, first and foremost, for their flavor, and this participatory workshop will examine and rate a sample of varieties now available to gardeners. Maggie Stemann Thompson and Pat Brodowski, Monticello’s Vegetable Gardener, will host this two-hour workshop.Participants are encouraged to bring in their own favorite garden varieties. Reservations required. Meets at the Garden Center, Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10.

August 14
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Summer Fruit Tasting
Enjoy the harvests of summer, what Thomas Jefferson referred to as "precious refreshment." On site in the Monticello Fruit Garden, Tom Burford, Peter Hatch, Gabriele Rausse, and Fruit Gardener Kerry Gilmer will entertain participants with the fruits of summer: early apples, peaches, figs, grapes, nectarines, apple cider, blackberries, pears, and others. Short talks on the history of fruit growing in Virginia will vary the menu in this informal two-hour feast in Jefferson's Fruitery. Reservations required. Meets at the Garden Center, Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10.

August 21
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Creating an Herbal Potpourri
CHP Nursery Manager Dennis Whetzel will demonstrate an 18th-century recipe for making potpourri from old garden roses, fragrant heirloom flowers and herbs, and exotic spices. This two-and-a-half-hour workshop will include a discussion on the use of essential oils and fixatives for long-lasting fragrance. Meets at CHP's Tufton Farm Nursery, 9:30 a.m. $10.

August 28
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Tour of the Visitor Center Landscape
The landscaping of Monticello’s new visitor complex, recipient of a LEED Gold Level certification, is designed to blend the buildings into the native Monticello woodlands with plantings of North American native species and cultivars, including 40 species of trees, over 50 species of flowering shrubs, and 75 types of wildflowers and groundcovers. Join Peggy Cornett and Peter Hatch for a two-hour stroll through these rich habitats from the pavilions’ green roofs through the rain-garden style greenway to the African-American Cemetery. Reservations required. Meets at the Garden Center, Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10.

September

September 10
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Historic Plants Symposium
The 7th biennial symposium, entitled "Come to Table—Historic Plants in the Kitchen," will focus on the garden’s harvest in early American recipes from a regional perspective. Speakers include New England food historian Sandy Oliver, heirloom vegetable collector and author William Woys Weaver, and John Martin “Hoppin’ John” Taylor, author and expert on Charleston foodways and Lowcountry cuisine, along with Monticello’s Leni Sorensen on African-American cooking and Peter Hatch with a look at Thomas Jefferson’s vegetable garden and kitchen. Registration required; Meets at CHP's Tufton Farm barn. Contact Peggy Cornett for further information.

September 11
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello
Co-sponsored with the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, the fourth annual Heritage Harvest Festival will be held on the grounds of Monticello. The festival is a family-oriented, educational event that highlights organic gardening; the preservation of traditional agriculture and regional food; and includes tastings, informative workshops, and talks by authorities such as William Woys Weaver, Tom Burford, Barbara Pleasants, Barbara Melera, and Jeanine Davis. New speakers this year include George DeVault with the Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa, and Sharon Astyk, author of the Jefferson inspired, A Nation of Farmers.

September 18
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Montalto Trek
Join Peter Hatch for a strenuous, 1,000-foot vertical hike up Montalto, Jefferson’s “high mountain.” Walk through a mature forest then break onto cleared pastureland with unobstructed views of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and, of course, Monticello. A two-and-a-half-hour trek for the fittest. Reservations required. Meets at the Thomas Jefferson Parkway Lower Trailhead, 9:30 a.m. $10.

September 25
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Seed Saving Workshop
The historic tradition of seed saving in America provides a meaningful model for modern gardeners eager to get the most from their gardens. Many special (and more common) garden plants are unavailable from commercial sources and need to be preserved from year to year. Learn the dynamics of seed production—pollination, timing, seed identification, cleaning, and storing—then visit the gardens for a hands-on collecting demonstration. Debbie Donley, Monticello’s Flower Gardener, and Pat Brodowski, Monticello’s Vegetable Gardener, will lead this two-and-a-half-hour workshop. Meets at the Garden Center, Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10

October

October 2
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Tufton Fern Walk
Ferns will be the excuse for this ramble along Henderson Creek in the forests of Tufton Farm. Peggy Cornett and Peter Hatch will lead this two-hour cross-country walk through a uniquely pristine, relatively undisturbed, and isolated natural woodland, pointing out the native plants as they go. There is no trail on substantial sections of this two-mile hike, so wear appropriate hiking shoes and be prepared for briar scratches, spider webs, and uneven terrain. Reservations required. Meets at CHP's Tufton Farm barn, 9:30 a.m. $10

October 6-7
72nd Rose Show
Sponsor: The Garden Club of Virginia
Host Club: Harborfront Garden Club, Norfolk, VA
For more information, click here

October 9
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Thomas Jefferson and Natural History Walk
Thomas Jefferson's passion for gardening arose from his truly wide-eyed curiosity about natural history and the “tranquil pursuits” of science. Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants at Monticello, will lead this two-hour trek through the forests of Monticello. Participants will examine autumn wildflowers, seedpods and nuts, trees, mammals, birds, the skies, fungi, insects, and geology with the historical perspective of the sage of Monticello ever in mind. Please wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for muddy slopes and uneven terrain. Reservations required. Meets at the Garden Center, Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10

October 16
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Apple Tasting
This annual event, truly a unique opportunity to explore the essence of the apple, has been among our most popular programs. Tom Burford will provide numerous apple varieties, each introduced with a discussion of their history and culture. Participants will taste, savor, and, most importantly, rate each apple in this 2-hour program. Reservations required. Meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Tufton Farm nursery. $10

October 30
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Cooking Unusual Vegetables
Visitors to Monticello’s Kitchen Garden are unfailingly curious about how to prepare many of the odd and rare vegetables found there. Gabriele Rausse is a chef revered by his colleagues and friends for his ability to simply transform ordinary and unusual garden produce into delicious meals. During this two-and-a-half-hour session, he will introduce participants to surprising curiosities like sea kale, cardoon, and Caracalla bean flowers; as well as underappreciated gourmet vegetables such as endive, Florence fennel, fava beans, and crowder peas. Meets at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10.

November

November 13
Saturdays in the Garden
Sponsor: Monticello
Vinegar Making Workshop
Vinegar was an integral ingredient in various Jefferson-family recipes, and there’s more to vinegar, translated literally as “sour wine,” than salad dressing. Most people are unaware of the rich traditions of using vinegar in cooking, as a food preservative, and even as a wholesome beverage. As well, making vinegar at home is quite simple. Join wine-maker and master chef Gabriele Rausse in reviewing the basic principles of vinegar-making, and then learn how to use it in preparing vegetables and meat and in concocting delicious aromatized dressings. This workshop is two hours long. Meets at Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m. $10.

December