Tour of UVa Lawn and Gardens
August 2026
John Sauer, past President of PLA, expounds on his 50 year career as gardener and groundsman at UVA. John toured our group around the Rotunda, the Lawn and the west Pavilion Gardens, sharing a lifetime of stories and pointing out many of the now mature trees he planted throughout grounds.
John Sauer, past President of PLA, expounds on his 50 year career as gardener and groundsman at UVA. John toured our group around the Rotunda, the Lawn and the west Pavilion Gardens, sharing a lifetime of stories and pointing out many of the now mature trees he planted throughout grounds.
Happy hour and informal tour at The Forum Hotel and Darden Arboretum
July 2026
Eugene Ryang and Todd Shallenberger of Water Street Studio gave an impromptu tour of the Tahija Arboretum & LaCross Botanical Gardens after PLA happy hour at The Forum Hotel. Eugene was part of the team of landscape architects at Water Street that designed and implemented these plantings which take advantage of the natural ravine behind the hotel and feature a Japanese Garden at the top. PLA member Roger Sherry, founding principal of Plank Road Studios, drew the conceptual design for the James Madison National Landmark Trail at Montpelier.
Eugene Ryang and Todd Shallenberger of Water Street Studio gave an impromptu tour of the Tahija Arboretum & LaCross Botanical Gardens after PLA happy hour at The Forum Hotel. Eugene was part of the team of landscape architects at Water Street that designed and implemented these plantings which take advantage of the natural ravine behind the hotel and feature a Japanese Garden at the top. PLA member Roger Sherry, founding principal of Plank Road Studios, drew the conceptual design for the James Madison National Landmark Trail at Montpelier.
Tour of James Madison's Montpelier
June 2025
Robert Myers, Montpelier horticulturist, toured the PLA through the plantation's historic specimen trees, some of which were "witness trees" to President James Madison as well as massive specimens planted in the 20th century by the duPont family. The field trip also included the formal sunken garden, herb garden and remnants of the 200 acre Landmark Forest with trees that "have been virtually undisturbed by man since the 1790's". We saw massive oaks and tulip poplars and observed the first stages of the deadly beech leaf disease which is making its way through our woodlands. The nine mile Montpelier-Grelen Trail links Montpelier with PLA member Grelen Nursery in Orange County.
Robert Myers, Montpelier horticulturist, toured the PLA through the plantation's historic specimen trees, some of which were "witness trees" to President James Madison as well as massive specimens planted in the 20th century by the duPont family. The field trip also included the formal sunken garden, herb garden and remnants of the 200 acre Landmark Forest with trees that "have been virtually undisturbed by man since the 1790's". We saw massive oaks and tulip poplars and observed the first stages of the deadly beech leaf disease which is making its way through our woodlands. The nine mile Montpelier-Grelen Trail links Montpelier with PLA member Grelen Nursery in Orange County.
Field Trip to Morven
April 2025
Redbuds and Cherries in bloom for our tour of the historic estate of Morven, gifted to the University of Virginia by businessman and philanthropist John Kluge in 2001. The 2,913 acre estate is home to a renowned Japanese Garden as well as the Sustainability Lab which combines a broad range of programs from internships in the organic kitchen garden to the food lab which studies agricultural production, food access and public health. The perennial garden dates from the 1930's and has been a staple of Virginia Garden Week since its inception.
Redbuds and Cherries in bloom for our tour of the historic estate of Morven, gifted to the University of Virginia by businessman and philanthropist John Kluge in 2001. The 2,913 acre estate is home to a renowned Japanese Garden as well as the Sustainability Lab which combines a broad range of programs from internships in the organic kitchen garden to the food lab which studies agricultural production, food access and public health. The perennial garden dates from the 1930's and has been a staple of Virginia Garden Week since its inception.
Forum Hotel Arboretum and Botanical Gardens Tour
June 2024
First PLA tour of the grounds at The Forum designed by Water Street Studio of Charlottesville and Richmond. Both the Japanese Garden and the Arboretum are open to the public and have an extensive collection of ornamental and native plants with excellent signage. They are easily accessed from the parking lot behind the hotel.
First PLA tour of the grounds at The Forum designed by Water Street Studio of Charlottesville and Richmond. Both the Japanese Garden and the Arboretum are open to the public and have an extensive collection of ornamental and native plants with excellent signage. They are easily accessed from the parking lot behind the hotel.
Tufton Farm, Monticello Tour
May 2024
Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, leads PLA members through the gardens at the Historic Plant Center at Tufton which displays and propagates plants from Jefferson's time, including the Leonie Bell Rose Garden and Border which conserve a collection of antique and species roses like China, Gallica, Musk, Moss and Damask. The double border peaks in May and is celebrated at the Center's annual Wine and Roses Open House generally held the third Saturday in May.
Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, leads PLA members through the gardens at the Historic Plant Center at Tufton which displays and propagates plants from Jefferson's time, including the Leonie Bell Rose Garden and Border which conserve a collection of antique and species roses like China, Gallica, Musk, Moss and Damask. The double border peaks in May and is celebrated at the Center's annual Wine and Roses Open House generally held the third Saturday in May.
Cole Burrell Garden Tour
April 2024
PLA members walk through Cole Burrell's woodland garden at Bird Hill, his 10 acre "pleasure ground" in Free Union, at the height of spring. Garden designer, plant collector, author of Hellebores, A Comprehensive Guide and Perennial Combinations, Cole toured us through beds of sedges, ferns, bulbs, hellebores, wildflowers, shrubs and flowering trees. He combines pots, water features and architectural salvage throughout the paths that wind down his hillside.
PLA members walk through Cole Burrell's woodland garden at Bird Hill, his 10 acre "pleasure ground" in Free Union, at the height of spring. Garden designer, plant collector, author of Hellebores, A Comprehensive Guide and Perennial Combinations, Cole toured us through beds of sedges, ferns, bulbs, hellebores, wildflowers, shrubs and flowering trees. He combines pots, water features and architectural salvage throughout the paths that wind down his hillside.
Botanique Pitcher Plant Tour
August 2023
Pitcher Plants abound at Rob Sacilotto's Botanique Nursery in Stanardsville which specializes in carnivorous plants including Venus' Fly Trap and Sundews. Much of the Sarracenia collection came originally from swamp sites that were destroyed during the 1970's by development. Part of his mission is to preserve "our relic populations and increase public support for rare endangered wildlife." Botanique boasts "the largest, most diverse collection of pitcher plants in the world."
Pitcher Plants abound at Rob Sacilotto's Botanique Nursery in Stanardsville which specializes in carnivorous plants including Venus' Fly Trap and Sundews. Much of the Sarracenia collection came originally from swamp sites that were destroyed during the 1970's by development. Part of his mission is to preserve "our relic populations and increase public support for rare endangered wildlife." Botanique boasts "the largest, most diverse collection of pitcher plants in the world."
Berrybrook Springs Walking Tour
October 2020, the PLA offered a walking tour of the Berrybrook Springs Farm.
This was a socially distanced field trip. Berrybrook Springs Farm is a 320-acre property on the slopes of Mount Sharon in Orange, VA. The owners explained and discussed how they have transitioned 5-7 acres into semi-formal gardens in addition to preserving the residue of the property as an agricultural respite that includes a small horse farm, woodland, pond, wildflower meadows and natural habitat for the local wildlife. Working with wildlife expert, Brian Morse, they discussed how they have successfully struck a balance between managing the land and allowing nature to have its way. Humans vs. Nature. They further explained while the wildflower fields are crawling with birds, bees, butterflies and other critters how they ecosystems and pollinators provide ecological contributions and diversity, pollution mitigation as well as educational significance to surrounding community.
Assisting in the tour was Diego DeCorte with Elysium Honey. DeCorte discussed additional native plants, meadows and the importance of pollination and the health benefits of pollinators with new colonies. He explained how his 24 hives have played a critical role in both the food and horticulture production on the farm and to the community.
Other take-aways included:
This was a socially distanced field trip. Berrybrook Springs Farm is a 320-acre property on the slopes of Mount Sharon in Orange, VA. The owners explained and discussed how they have transitioned 5-7 acres into semi-formal gardens in addition to preserving the residue of the property as an agricultural respite that includes a small horse farm, woodland, pond, wildflower meadows and natural habitat for the local wildlife. Working with wildlife expert, Brian Morse, they discussed how they have successfully struck a balance between managing the land and allowing nature to have its way. Humans vs. Nature. They further explained while the wildflower fields are crawling with birds, bees, butterflies and other critters how they ecosystems and pollinators provide ecological contributions and diversity, pollution mitigation as well as educational significance to surrounding community.
Assisting in the tour was Diego DeCorte with Elysium Honey. DeCorte discussed additional native plants, meadows and the importance of pollination and the health benefits of pollinators with new colonies. He explained how his 24 hives have played a critical role in both the food and horticulture production on the farm and to the community.
Other take-aways included:
- Plant species such as monarda, ironweed, black-eye susan provide a great buffet to the bees beginning in early March through winter.
- Sumac is another species that makes a great cover for wildlife, adds color (with it's berries) in the winter.
- Swamp wetlands with periodic managed disturbance from prescribed fires, also can offer a different diversity to the other parts of the farm. Furthermore, species like buttonbush, silky willow and dogwood, swamp rose, swamp milkweed and joepye are often found in these communities.
- One of the largest invasive species is Johnston grass because often farmers don't think about transference when moving equipment and livestock from one farm to another. Being diligent in washing down equipment would make a big step in reducing this invasive species.
Christmas Party Celebration
December 2019, following the monthly PLA Board meeting, members got together at Rapture to celebrate the past year at our annual holiday party.
Field Trip: Walking Tree Tour with Mike Van Yahres in Charlottesville
October 2019, article provided by Tiffany McCord
Last month, PLA members were treated to a historic & notable tree walk of downtown Charlottesville led by Mike Van Yahres of Van Yahres Tree Company. It was a beautiful fall evening to look at some truly incredible trees. We started with the very old and very hollow Linden in Market Street Park and moved on to what is possibly the largest Green Ash in downtown C'ville tucked away in a courtyard by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. We continued the tour to view several trees in Court Square along with a very prominent Shumard Oak by the library. We then took a stroll down the mall to discuss the past, present and future of the Willow Oaks lining our beautiful downtown pedestrian mall and finished up the tour with a viewing of the new mural on 2nd Street that was commissioned by Van Yahres Tree Company. Thanks so much Mike for leading this tour and spending your evening with members of the Piedmont Landscape Association! To learn more about Van Yahres Tree Company, visit their website.
Last month, PLA members were treated to a historic & notable tree walk of downtown Charlottesville led by Mike Van Yahres of Van Yahres Tree Company. It was a beautiful fall evening to look at some truly incredible trees. We started with the very old and very hollow Linden in Market Street Park and moved on to what is possibly the largest Green Ash in downtown C'ville tucked away in a courtyard by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. We continued the tour to view several trees in Court Square along with a very prominent Shumard Oak by the library. We then took a stroll down the mall to discuss the past, present and future of the Willow Oaks lining our beautiful downtown pedestrian mall and finished up the tour with a viewing of the new mural on 2nd Street that was commissioned by Van Yahres Tree Company. Thanks so much Mike for leading this tour and spending your evening with members of the Piedmont Landscape Association! To learn more about Van Yahres Tree Company, visit their website.
Field Trip: The Quarry Gardens at Schuyler
September 24, 2019
It was a beautiful evening to view the the gardens and we are so thankful to Armand and Bernice Thieblot for hosting us after hours! If you haven't already been to the gardens, you've got to make time to do it this fall. As we learned, there is no right time to go because there is always something to see! For more information about the gardens click here.
It was a beautiful evening to view the the gardens and we are so thankful to Armand and Bernice Thieblot for hosting us after hours! If you haven't already been to the gardens, you've got to make time to do it this fall. As we learned, there is no right time to go because there is always something to see! For more information about the gardens click here.
Read this exciting article published this past July ('19) in the Crozet Gazette about one of our dedicated members, Jessica Primm, and her involvement with the City Schoolyard Gardens.
www.crozetgazette.com/2019/07/10/school-notes-july-2019/
www.crozetgazette.com/2019/07/10/school-notes-july-2019/