Oh my.
What an embarrassment of riches!
How on earth does one narrow down which gardens to visit?
Literally from one end of the state to the other - hmmm. . . I've got relations in Arlington, Lexington, Richmond, VA Beach. I think I need to start finessing some invitations.
Tess

Indeed. What intrigues me is the pairing of high-profile period gardens with private residences on the same tour(s). Tess, I was specifically wondering if there was any kind of similar event in California--obviously you've got gardens and garden tours galore there, anything with a historic theme?
Kate

HOW inundated is my inbox? WhenI first read the thread title I could have SWORN it said "Historic Garden Week in Viagra."

WHAT is the world coming to?

BACK on topic: CLEARLY we need to visit my brother in Richmond that week...

melanie

melanie

Kate, there may be, but I am unaware of anything on this scale. The best we have to offer is our participation in the Garden Conservancy's Open Days.
I am *really* impressed with the Virginia program.
I comfort myself that y'all have a couple centuries more of gardening history than we do out here. :)
Tessa

Here is a link that might be useful: Open Days

Kate, Tessa and others! Mais non! You must check out the California Garden and Landscape History Society at their website which is cglhs.org. They have an interesting newsletter and a fabulous annual meeting with tours of historic gardens, some public, some private that most of us would never get in otherwise. Join! I live on the opposite coast but am a member, just for the publications. No doubt I'll get out there for some of those meetings, as I have been attending the wonderful meetings of the Southern Garden History Society each year. Last year Atlanta, this year New Orleans.

Back to California. I hope you get Pacific Horticulture magazine which often has articles about California garden history, and blurbs about garden tours. And check out THE book about California garden history, which does indeed go back centuries, "California Gardens: Creating a New Eden", by David Streatfield. He is the most important scholar in this area and the book is beautiful, as well as informative and RELIABLE. Sorry for the emphasis. A sore spot with me.

Another excellent book, heavy on fabulous photos, light on text, is "The Gardens of California, Four Centuries of Design from Mission to Modern", by Nancy Goslee Power.

California is oozing with garden history. You just have to plug yourself into the network to hear about local tours. As an afterthought, who is going to see this info on a Virginia thread??

SO--Ginny--Start a new thread! GO for it , girl!

melanie

Tried to cut and paste my CA post above onto a new thread, California Garden History, but couldn't make it work. If anyone knows how, I'd be glad for the info.

Just the mention of VA Historic Garden Week is enough to give me nasty flashbacks!

I have been to Garden Week in Virginia 3 times - it is diverse and fascinating - nearly every city and town and historic site have something to offer - even tours of gorgeous homes along with the gardens. Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon and Monticello and many other historic sites (inluding fabulous plantations) have special tours, exhibits and shops dedicated to gardening.

I understand that Richmond puts on one of the best shows - but we haven't made it there during gardening week yet. I love the tours of Colonial Williamsburg, the northern neck of Virginia tours (delicious box lunch on that one), Old Town Alexandria tours and the James River Plantations tours.

We live in California and travel to Virginia just for this event - if you go - plan on going the whole week and see how lovely Virginia is.

Fran--y'know, there are TREATMENTS for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder....

melanie

I've only just now realized that this is the 71st Annual Week. That means that all those high school and college years I spent in the general vicinity I was deprived of this resource! Ackkk! Now i must travel 3000 miles to partake.
Small comfort, but my brother in Arlington was _still_ unaware and now will be my host.

Tess