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Not only does the Heifetz International Music Institute educate young musicians in their artistic growth, it also treats the community to a variety of world-class listening opportunities. After a year of online programming and virtual concerts during Covid, Heifetz is again bringing live, in-person music to a wide audience.

This year marks Heifetz’s 25th anniversary. It was originally founded in 1996 as a 6-week summer experience by concert violinist and teacher Daniel Heifetz. In 2012, Heifetz opened the doors to 62 students in its new Staunton location. It has grown a lot since then: according to the website, even in the midst of the pandemic, 40 Heifetz faculty members virtually served 100 students across 9 time zones. They brought music to over 500,000 viewers through concerts streaming on YouTube, Facebook Live, and the Violin Channel.

HEIR and Other Recent Notable Activity

As an alternative to normally scheduled Heifetz on Tour programming, Heifetz provided music during the pandemic with its HEIR (Heifetz Ensemble-in-Residence) Program. The audience could attend string quartet or piano trio concerts in-person at The Blackburn Inn & Conference Center’s Great Hall. They could also attend and interact through Zoom.

Heartstrings Program

Another part of the HEIR program was Heifetz’s virtual Heartstrings program, which connected performers with frontline workers and patients at Augusta Health. This program included almost 200 virtual, but intimate performances for patients suffering from both illnesses and the emotional toll brought on by months of social distancing. Additional ensemble performances catered to larger audiences and helped bring music and joy to the wider hospital community. These outlets also helped budding professional musicians connect with audiences.

Virtual Concert Hall

2020’s Rubato Virtual Concert Hall recorded sophisticated, all-new performances by Virtual Institute students and broadcast them to audiences. In 2021, most concerts will be recorded for broadcast, even if they are presented to live audiences. Some will be online only because participating musicians will perform from countries around the world. Want to interact with the Heifetz community? Look for special “watch parties.” Additional streamable options included music, commentary, and interviews from years past.

Chock Full O’Bach

Heifetz students (and most other classical musicians) learn a lot from studying Bach. Heifetz students even use the German composer’s work as audition material for the program. Now they’re sharing with the community by sharing some of those compositions with the public. Subscribe to Chock Full O’Bach to let Heifetz help you start each day with a new release! 

What’s Happening Now: Heifetz Institute’s Festival of Concerts

Celebrate music with this year’s annual Heifetz Institute’s Festival of Concerts, which extends through August 6th and offers both chamber music and multi-genre selections! Choose from over 50 concerts. Concert offerings can be either free and ticketed, but since children under 12 are invited to attend all concerts for free, there’s no need to hire a sitter!

• Stars of Tomorrow (First Presbyterian Church, Tuesdays and Thursdays): “The Institute’s signature series showcases breathtaking performances by extraordinary Heifetz students, visiting alumni artists, and our outstanding Heifetz piano faculty.”

• Virtual Stars of Tomorrow: These live-stream performances allow students from around the world to perform virtually. 
• Fridays in the Gallery (Staunton Augusta Art Center): Free weekday concerts set against the backdrop of local and regional artists. Register ahead if you plan to attend because space is limited in the venues.
• Celebrity Series (First Presbyterian Church, Friday evenings): These programs bring top performers to Staunton, including Shannon Lee, Philip Setzer, Shmuel Ashkenasi, and the Borromeo String Quartet. Concerts will feature works by Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Dohnányi, Schumann, Bach and more.

• HeifetzPEG Showcase (online): This showcase of young talent serves as “graduation recitals” for young string players.
• Heifetz Hootenanny (Saturdays): This series “features students, staff, and special guests in one-of-a-kind, multi-genre mash-ups moves to the Blackburn Inn’s expansive new Great Hall, where you might hear bluegrass picking, Broadway belting, folk fiddling, or rollicking rhythm and blues!”

• Sunday Matinees (First Presbyterian Church, Sunday afternoons): Headliner artists are joined by Heifetz students, alums, and special guests to make wonderful music. Presented by Redbeard Brewing Company.
• Heifetz in the Vineyard (Barren Ridge Vineyard): Concerts both indoors and out take advantage of the vineyard’s idyllic setting. Plus, there’s delicious Barren Ridge wine to sip as you listen.

• PianoPalooza (First Presbyterian Church, July 19): Come watch the Heifetz keyboard wizards as they wow you on the ivories.
• Heifetz Grand Finale (Blackburn Inn’s SummerStage, August 6): The season’s final concert is a passionate gathering of Heifetz students and faculty followed by a farewell feast.

Looking for a Special Gift?

If you like to spoil a music-loving someone on your gift list, head downtown to the Heifetz Gift Shop (107 E. Beverley Street). From music-themed wearables and cards, to Heifetz chocolate bars and sheet music printed umbrellas, you’ll find a unique gift sure to make someone smile. And if you’d like to take an unusual route to supporting Heifetz, you can donate your unwanted household items and clothing to them so they can sell them on eBay. Since Heifetz is a non-profit, they’ll be able to keep 100% of the proceeds and use them to support the Institute.

For other musical experiences in Staunton, click here!

What kind of music will fill your summer nights? Have your ears been yearning for music that doesn’t come through your earbuds? This summer, you can kick back in socially distanced style on the lawn of the Blackburn Inn for a weekly SummerStage series of concerts. You’ll enjoy the sounds of Americana, roots, country, folk, and bluegrass bands from regional and national artists as you relax under the stars and breathe the fresh air.

Headliner artists include North Carolina’s Chatham County Line, Grammy winner Bonnie Bishop, social/environmental activist Ben Sollee, and many more (see full schedule below). Local acts will open each concert.

The concerts will take place each Friday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day. When you buy tickets, you’ll reserve an 8×8 foot square “blanket pod” for up to four people or a smaller “chair pod” for two. Order a southern-style picnic box to savor on your blanket. Purchase beverages from local vineyards, cideries, and breweries from the 2nd Draft Bistro bar. The bar will also serve a grill menu and a decadent, custardy bread pudding with rum sauce.

The Blackburn’s grounds will open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 7. The main event starts at 8, and the bar will close at 10:30. The show will go on, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate! That night’s concert will be held in the Great Hall, part of the Blackburn’s new conference center.

Tickets cost $25-35/person and can be purchased online. Extra tickets, if available, will cost $40 at the door.

Here’s the Lineup

Follow links to learn more about the performers and purchase tickets.

May 28: SummerStage No. 1: Heifetz Memorial Day Weekend Hootenanny

June 4: SummerStage No. 2 Chatham County Line

June 11: SummerStage No.3: The Judy Chops

June 18: SummerStage No.4 Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass

June 25: SummerStage No.5 Fireside Collective

July 2: SummerStage No.6: Scott Miller

July 9: SummerStage No.7 The Quebe Sisters

July 16: SummerStage No.8: The Golden Age

July 23: SummerStage No.9: David Wax Museum

July 30: SummerStage No.10: Aztec Sun

August 6: SummerStage No.11: Heifetz Grand Finale

August 13: SummerStage No.12 Bryan Elijah Smith

August 20: SummerStage No.13: Bonnie Bishop

August 27: SummerStage No.14: Hackensaw Boys

September 3: SummerStage No.15: Ben Sollee

Make a Weekend of It

If you’re from out of town, Staunton makes a wonderful weekend destination. Take advantage of the SummerStage package at the Blackburn and you’ll be able to drift happily back to your room after the concert is over. The package includes a luxurious room at the historic inn, lawn space for a concert and a picnic dinner for two, and a continental breakfast. 

What Else Should I Do While I’m in Staunton?

Make sure you check out Staunton’s Saturday morning producer’s only Farmers’ Market in the wharf parking lot. You’ll find the heart of Staunton’s community as well as the freshest fruit and produce, and local-made goods.

You’ll also want to make time to walk downtown and explore the Beverley Street area during Shop and Dine Out in Downtown. Staunton closes Beverley Street from Friday afternoon to Monday morning so that restaurants and businesses can use space on the sidewalks and in the roadway for dining and merchandise, allowing customers to spread out and stay safe. 

Learn some history while you’re here by taking a tour at the Frontier Culture Museum. You’ll see living history demonstrations about how the early settlers of the Shenandoah Valley survived and thrived.

Get some exercise by hiking some of the great trails in nearby George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.

Relax and rejuvenate with a massage or a skin or nail treatment at the Blackburn’s new spa.

Are you looking for a romantic getaway in a beautiful location with lots of opportunities for adventure? Take advantage of the Blackburn Inn’s Weekend Getaway Package with award-winning Barren Ridge Vineyards. The package will pamper you with delicious food and wine, outdoor adventure, and luxury at the Blackburn Inn. Staunton is within easy driving distance of D.C., Richmond, and Roanoke. You’ll enjoy the incredible scenery and the small-town, historic cool. Read on for our suggested itinerary and book your couple’s weekend today!  

Friday: 

You’ll know you’re in for a wonderful, relaxing weekend when you arrive at Staunton’s Blackburn Inn. This classic red-bricked and white-columned building was designed by Thomas Blackburn in the 1820s. Don’t worry about its age, though. While the 49-room boutique hotel keeps its historic charm, it has been renovated and updated with your absolute comfort in mind. In your room, you’ll find a decadent treat of chocolate-covered strawberries and Prosecco.

Stretch your legs by exploring the immaculately landscaped Blackburn Inn campus. Next, stroll around downtown Staunton with the map that’s included in your package. Staunton has over 100 independent restaurants, galleries, and boutiques as well as prime selfie spots like the “You Belong Here” mural and the Sears Hill Bridge.

When you’ve worked up an appetite, eat dinner at one of Staunton’s fine restaurants. Your package includes a voucher for BLU Point Seafood Co. or Zynodoa (inspired Southern farm-to-table cuisine).

Head back to the hotel and sleep well in your historic room. You’ll enjoy wireless, high-speed internet and elegant touches like oversized bathrooms with glass rainfall showers, plush towels, and luxury toiletries.

Saturday: 

Wake up well rested to a lovely breakfast in the hotel’s onsite Second Draft bistro. The ever-changing menu showcases seasonal, locally sourced fare like pastries, parfaits, frittatas, ham biscuits, eggs Benedict, and breakfast croissant sandwiches.

After you’ve eaten, set out on a hiking adventure to one of the area’s celebrated trails in Shenandoah National Park or George Washington & Jefferson National Forest. You’ll enjoy a scenic drive through the Shenandoah Valley as well as incredible views from your hike. The Blackburn Inn will provide a pack with maps and a delicious picnic lunch for two.

After the hike, head to Barren Ridge Vineyards and take a guided tour of the vineyard. You’ll learn how the vineyard evolved from an apple orchard as well as how grapes are grown and wine is made. You’ll come away with an understanding of the cycle of vines, terroir, and more. Relax after your tour with a bottle of wine or sparkling wine in the tasting room or on the patio.

Listen to live music and use your voucher for a charcuterie/cheese board dinner, which features excellent artisanal cheeses from Goot Essa, salami, organic olives, crackers, or sweets from Giancarlo. You won’t want to leave without buying some wine to enjoy at home, so take advantage of special discounts: 10% per bottle, 15% for 6 bottles, and 20% for a case or more.

After the music, drive to Staunton and take an evening stroll through the safe, walkable downtown, making sure to check out the Victorian architecture and the historic train station.

Stop in at the Green Room for a nightcap of craft beer, wine, or cider and a snack or ice cream in flavors like brambleberry crisp, brown butter almond brittle, or darkest chocolate.

Head back to the Blackburn Inn and fall into your luxurious freshly made bed and enjoy some well-earned rest.

Sunday: 

Wake up refreshed and start your journey back after a yummy breakfast in the hotel and another leisurely stroll around town.

Back at home, open a bottle of Barren Ridge wine and enjoy the memories of this perfect weekend. Remember, it’s never too early to begin planning your next visit to Staunton!

Total cost of your romantic weekend for two:

• Hotel 2 nights: $187 (one room)
• Strawberries, breakfasts, and bag at the hotel: $35
• Friday dinner at BLU Point Seafood Co. or Zynodoa: (Voucher) $50
• Picnic lunch for two from Blackburn Inn: $16 
• Cheese & charcuterie dinner from Barren Ridge Vineyards with a bottle of Rose: $86.00 (Voucher for 2)
• Vineyard walk and talk (1 h): $25 
• TOTAL: $399

Click here to reserve your weekend: Weekend Getaway Package.

When we buy new clothes, we usually think no more deeply about the process than going to the store and picking out what looks best on us. But the process was much, much more involved for our ancestors and the early settlers of the Shenandoah Valley. Not only did they have to harvest the raw materials, but they also had to clean them, transform them into cloth, and then transform the cloth into wearable clothing or other textiles. Each year during Wool Week, the Frontier Culture Museum invites visitors to celebrate spring as well as the process of creating useful products from raw materials.

Come to the museum during the week of April 24-30 to see demonstrations and exhibits focusing on wool and flax processing. The stall will be shearing sheep twice a day at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Enjoy strolling the paths in the warm spring sunshine. As an added bonus, you’ll get to meet the new baby lambs.

How long will the lambs be lambs?

Lambs are usually born in the spring when there’s plenty of grass to eat and the weather has lost its winter chill. Ewes tend to give birth to one to three lambs at a time. Twins are most common and tend to weigh about the same as human babies. They can usually walk within a few hours of being born! Besides sheep, the museum is home to ducks, goats, pigs, horses, cows, and cats.

What is wool, anyway, and how did people on the frontier harvest it?

Wool is the heavy winter coat of the sheep that’s harvested once a year, often in the spring. While we typically use mechanical clippers now, people from the frontier would use sharpened blades like scissors with the pivot point at the end. A skilled shearer can remove the wool quickly and in one piece.

Do sheep like getting shorn?

Sheep shearing is very much like getting a haircut. During the shearing process, though, the sheep may struggle, and it takes a lot of strength to hold them still and clip the wool at the same time. Sheep shearers should take their time to prevent injuries. Shorn sheep feel cooler for the upcoming hot weather and probably relieved to be rid of their heavy, dirty coats. 

Contrary to picture postcards, sheep are pretty dirty. How do they get that wool clean?

The wool fibers are pulled and teased apart by hand to get rid of dirt and parasites. The wool is then washed and carded. Carding untangles the fibers and stretches it out so that it can be spun. The museum staff will teach you how to perform each of these steps.

How did they turn that pile of wool into my favorite sweater?

Spinners wind stretched-out wool fibers are into yarn, which can be dyed before or after spinning. Next, the yarn is formed into a fabric by knitting or by weaving on a loom. Both the German and the Irish farms have looms and visitors can watch the intricate, time-consuming process of working one.

Flax? What’s that?

Flax is a kind of plant. When it’s harvested, it is dried, deseeded, and retted, which means that the interior of the plant is removed and the rest is split into long fibers during a lengthy series of steps. The fibers are spun and then woven into linen fabric. Though it’s difficult to produce, linen is one of the most durable natural fabrics.

What else can I see at the museum?

The Frontier Culture Museum is a living history museum that will connect present-day people with the lives and histories of those who lived in the past. The walkable museum offers a chance to explore the homesteads of the various people who settled the region from other places. They include farms from West Africa, England, Ireland, and Germany. The museum also offers a Native American village and American farms from various time periods.

Earth Day events are designed to help us learn to restore our planet by promoting clean air, land, and water, supporting native species, and more. In past years, Staunton has held a large educational fair for Earth Day, but this year things will look a little different in order to keep people safe from Covid. A number of activities will occur virtually or will be extended for a longer period of time.  Click here for the full schedule.

Live Events:

• Earth Day Staunton Stage: Come to the Sunspots Pavilion on April 24 from 10 – noon for music and demonstrations including tips for native gardening, climate restoration, honeybee behavior, and more.
• Shenandoah Mountain Warblers & Wildflowers: Join Friends of Shenandoah Mountain and Headwaters Master Naturalists at one of three Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail sites to explore the trails, and identify birds and plants. Each site will have a master naturalist, a birder, and a biologist standing by to help you and answer your questions. May 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• ​Litter Cleanup & Classification (Ages 11-Adult): Most litter can end up in our waterways. In this activity you’ll select an area to collect litter (it doesn’t need to be near a body of water). Download the pdf and track the amount and type of litter you found. This will be used in a national database.
• Earth Day Paddle Trip with Friends of the Middle River: This self-guided, 3-hour float on the Middle River is available to those who have their own boats and transportation. May 1st, put-in 8 – 9:30 a.m. 

Virtual Meetings:

• Meet a Bat! Afterschool Animal Encounter & Flappy Hour for Adults: Leslie Sturges (Save Lucy the Bat) will teach the community about how bats are beneficial to the community. She’ll have separate programs for kids (they’ll get to ask questions and see a real bat) and adults (more answers to your bat-related questions, plus “batty” drink recipes). April 21, 4:30 pm  
• Climate Reality and What We Can Do About It: Shenandoah Green will discuss the climate and teach us how to “restore balance.” April 22, 5:30 p.m.
• Watch & Talk — Kiss the Ground: Register to watch the movie and then join the virtual discussion with soil experts on how to “stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies.”

Links available here soon

Activities with Apps and Online Components

• Families can download the ActionBound app and participate in a series of miniature quests called “Earth Day Staunton Bound.” The free activity will be available until April 30.
• Identify that new-to-you plant or critter with the help of iNaturalist’s Seek app. Take photos and earn points as you learn about the subject’s life.

• Kids’ “Restore the River” Art & Photography Activity: Kids learn about keeping the river healthy on the Friends of the Middle River educational webpages. Next, they design a piece of artwork to upload and share. Through April 30.

Natural Areas in Staunton’s Parks

If you’re looking to “get in touch with nature” while in the city of Staunton, you should really check out the natural areas in our parks. Hikers and mountain bikers will love wandering the trails in Betsy Bell Wilderness and Montgomery Hall Park. Both offer miles of trails and the particular sense of peace you get when you’re surrounded by the natural world. Birders, too, will revel in the high number of species that can be identified in these hotspots. Montgomery Hall also offers Nature Ridge natural playground. Tucked away behind the softball field, this playground features no swings or slides, only natural elements that will absorb kids for hours of imaginative and exploratory play.

Staunton Businesses that Promote Good Stewardship of the Earth

Refill Renew

How can you enjoy your favorite cleaning and personal products and do something good for the environment at the same time? Shop at Refill Renew, a low-waste refill shop where you bring your own refillable containers, and pay for the bulk product you add. Choose from hair and body products, sunscreen, various cleaners and detergents, as well as local apple cider vinegar. You’ll also find reusable lifestyle goods like stainless steel utensils and straws, mesh product bags, beeswax wrap, biodegradable trash bags and more.

Concepts Created

Bryan Black, designer and owner of Concepts Created, has been constructing custom furniture out of reclaimed wood and other materials since 2000. Each piece is created after a detailed consultation with the customer. Skilled handcrafting and attention to detail produce unique pieces that have both beauty and history.

Staunton Farmers’ Market

Farmers’ markets are wonderful ways to score the freshest possible produce and connect with your community. They also support local agriculture and sustainable farming practices. Visit the Staunton Farmers’ Market April – November.

Staunton Plant Co.

Native plants are important because they have adapted to their native conditions and generally don’t require as much fertilizer or pesticides as other species. They also support the shelter and food needs of local species of birds, mammals, and insects like butterflies. Staunton Plant Co. specializes in locally grown and native plants. This full-service garden center also provides annuals, perennials, mulch, trees and hanging baskets to beautify your property.

JMD Farm Market & Garden Center

Not only does JMD Farm Market & Garden Center offer locally grown annual, perennial, and vegetable plants, they also carry garden gifts and fresh, local meats, fruits, and vegetables. Shop, enjoy a glass of wine, and let the kids explore on the natural playground.

Several downtown Staunton shops offer garden and garden-themed decor. You might know Blair Made for beautiful handmade wooden signs, but check the website for a glimpse of her vintage botanical prints that are printed on wood and will allow you to look at fresh flowers all year long. Harmony Moon has a nice selection of planters and flower pots, whimsical bird houses, windchimes, birdbaths and other garden décor.

Historic Garden Week

Historic Garden Week has been held since 1927, when it was used to raise funds to restore Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate. Each year, more than 250 historic homes across the state open their grounds to visitors. Proceeds go toward preserving and restoring public gardens in Virginia.

After being cancelled for Covid in 2020, Staunton’s Historic Garden Week Tour is back in bloom for 2021!  The walking tour showcases four gardens on New and Lewis Streets in the downtown area, the Gardens at Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum as well as other outdoor spaces decorated with floral installations created by the Augusta Garden Club. For safety reasons, guests will only have access to the gardens and the exteriors of the homes. 

In addition to the tours themselves, guests may also attend several outdoor presentations. These include a “Fun and Fantasy” floral design demonstration taught by Garden Club of America judges. Visitors can attend educational talks about Staunton architect, T.J. Collins, and also learn about the ongoing archeological dig in the gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum. Finally, guests will get to see plein air artists from the Beverley Studio School at work. Take home a memory by purchasing a finished painting at the “Wet Paint Sale.”

If You Go

• When: April 17, 2021, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Purchase tickets online for a specific time. No tickets will be sold on the day of the tour.
• Plan to wear flat walking shoes. 
• Hungry? Purchase a boxed lunch ahead of time, or visit one of our restaurants close by.
• Please plan ahead: there are no public restrooms on tour properties. Restrooms will be available in the parking lot at tour headquarters at 205 N. Central Ave. 

After visiting Staunton, plan to tour more of Virginia’s historic gardens. See Virginia Garden Week’s suggested itineraries. Nearby destinations hosting tours include Lexington, Albemarle County, and Lynchburg.

Best Gardens in Staunton

If you can’t make it to the Garden Tour, Staunton offers more places where you can enjoy the spring bounty. Walk through many of our public spaces or explore the residential neighborhoods and you’ll be wowed by the gardens. In early spring, flowering trees like redbuds, magnolias, Bradford pears are budding out. Look for dogwood displays to follow. Early spring flowers include daffodils, tulips, forsythia, lilac, and violets. Check out some of our favorites.

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum

The Historic Gardens at Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum are open to the public from dawn to dusk. Originally part of a much larger estate, the existing gardens were designed by landscape architect Charles F. Gillette in 1933. Maintained by the Garden Club of Virginia, the gardens include perennials, lilacs, boxwoods, and hostas. Stroll the brick pathways and admire the plants or rest on a quiet bench just steps from the bustle of downtown Staunton.

Gypsy Hill & Montgomery Hall Parks 

Both Gypsy Hill Park and Montgomery Hall Parks have flower gardens maintained by Staunton Parks and Rec. Look for seasonal blooms and annuals in the landscaping around buildings and park features as well as various types of labeled trees. The dogwood tree is both Virginia’s state flower and tree, and for over 100 years. The Augusta Garden Club’s Project Dogwood has planted over 150 of these springtime beauties in both parks. They’ve also erected signage to identify and provide information about the different types of trees.

Gardens at the Staunton Library

The library has several garden beds, including a large one that wraps the corner of Augusta and Churchville Avenues. Make sure to visit the award-winning Brenda L. Papke Memorial Sensory Garden, a small, universally accessible space designed to stimulate all five of the senses. Sensory favorites include: lavender, rosemary, Annabelle Hydrangea, and butterfly bushes. Download a scavenger hunt to use in the library, when open, and the garden.  

Mens’ Green Thumb Park and Watering Can 

Blink and you might miss this little gem as you drive into Staunton. It’s worth a second pass though: Look for spring blooms spilling out of a giant watering can and larger plants like elephant ears later in the season.

Best Gardens Near Staunton

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum

James Madison University’s Edith J. Carrier Arboretum celebrates native Virginia wildflower, tree, and shrub species in a peaceful, wooded environment. The 125-acre sanctuary contains walking paths, water features, play areas for kids, and daffodil, perennial, and pollinator gardens. Other garden areas showcase ferns, daylilies, herbs, and a shale garden of endemic perennials that survive only in the harshest of conditions.

Boxerwood Gardens

The Play Trail at Boxerwood Gardens will keep your kids busy for hours, but you’ll also want to explore the 15-acre Woodland Garden. Follow the trails through the woods, around the pond, and along the wildflower meadow. Early spring blooms include magnolia and cherry trees.

Shenandoah National Park

Wildflower season at Shenandoah National Park begins in late March and extends all the way through fall. Springtime blooms to look for are redbuds, trout lilies, bellworts, violets, and wild geraniums. Over 850 different species grow here, including many specimens from the aster, pea, lily, mint, and mustard families. Check here for a calendar of what’s in bloom.

Pebble Hall Wildflowers

Pebble Hall Wildflowers offers over an acre of wildflowers and herbs that you can pick to create your own seasonal bouquets. Wander the lovely grounds admiring the views, taking photos, sharing a picnic, and petting the cows. Hula hoops, a small nature museum and a fairy garden will please the younger set. Check out the schedule to see what’s blooming.

White Oak Lavender Farm

Pretty sights and even better smells will greet you at White Oak Lavender Farm. This lavender destination provides beautiful views, a chance to tour and explore the lavender fields and processing areas. You’ll also find a lavender shop where you can purchase lavender-infused items, a discovery area for kids, and a tasting room for the Purple WOLF Vineyard.

Andre Viette Farm & Nursery

The Andre Viette Farm & Nursery is known best for its daylilies, but the extensive display gardens are open to the public and contain much more. The sun and shade gardens will inspire your own landscaping. Check out the garden center to purchase what you like most!