MAGNIFICENT GARDENS

MAGNIFICENT GARDENS

Fauquier Loudoun Garden Club and Leesburg Garden Club

Oak Spring-Brick House

Gum Tree Farm

Claybrook

On Thursday, April 20 and Friday, April 21 visitors will have the opportunity to explore Virginia Hunt Country, nestled in the rolling hills of the Piedmont just west of the historic village.

There will be three properties on the tour. These will include part of the original Paul Mellon Rokeby Farm known as Oak Spring, formerly the “Brick House,” a private residence from the early Mellon era. This is where local Botanical devotee Bridget Wilson has gone to work on a total transformation for the home owners. It began with boxwood hedges and went from there.

“I’ve installed 17,000 bulbs for spring,” Bridget said. “There are old and new tulips, daffodils, crocus, allum and more.”

Also showcased on this tour: Gum Tree Farm, a working sheep farm, and the lovely gardens of Claybrook. Visitors will be delighted by the variety of these grand estates and landscapes that celebrate the open spaces of this stunning part of the area.

Please note: Little Oak Spring, the home and garden of the late Paul Mellon and Rachel “Bunny” Lambert was originally offered as a separate ticket and has been sold out.

Tour chairs: Georgiana Watt, co-chairs Sheila Harrell and Anne Walker. Details: middleburg@vagardenweek.org. Tickets $50 per person in advance at www.vagardenweek. org. Middleburg headquarters: National Sporting Library & Museum, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg, VA.