Saturdays in the Garden Calendar
Jul. 12, 2008
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 Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10
Jul. 19, 2008
Woody Plant Propagation
Propagating trees and shrubs from seeds or cuttings is one of the most gratifying of the horticultural arts. CHP Nursery Manager Marc McVicker will lead this 2.5-hour workshop at the Center for Historic Plants’ propagating facilities at Tufton Farm. He'll discuss the principles of seed sowing—timing, dormancy, scarification, stratification, soil mediums—and also review the fundamentals of asexual propagation. Bring your pruning shears. Reservations required. Meets at CHP's Tufton Farm nursery, 9:30 a.m. $10
Aug. 2, 2008
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 Thompson will host this two-hour workshop, and registrants are encouraged to bring in their own favorite garden varieties. Reservations required. Meets at the Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10.
- See the results of the 2007 Tomato Tasting.
Aug. 9, 2008
Wine-making Workshop
Join the incomparable Gabriele Rausse, the Father of the Virginia wine industry, for this fun two-hour workshop 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 in Monticello's restored vineyards. Reservations required. Meets at the Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10
Aug. 16, 2008
Summer Fruit Tasting
Come and 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 Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10.
Aug. 23, 2008
Creating an Herbal Potpourri
Dennis Whetzel will demonstrate an 18th-century recipe for making potpourri from old garden roses, fragrant heirloom flowers and herbs, and exotic spices. This 2 ½-hour workshop will include a discussion on the use of essential oils and fixatives for long-lasting fragrance. Reservations required. Meets at CHP's Tufton Farm Nursery, 9:30 a.m. $10.
Sep. 4, 2008
Historic Plants Symposium
The Center for Historic Plants’ 6th biennial Historic Plants Symposium will feature prominent early American gardeners and the plants they grew: what the gardener said about the plants and what the plants tell us about the gardener. Speakers include the irreverent Felder Rushing, author of Passalong Plants; Andrew Smith, food historian and author of The Tomato in America; cider-maker and heirloom fruit lover Ben Watson; herb authority, Dr. Arthur Tucker; Colonial Williamsburg’s Garden Historian, Wesley Greene; and Monticello’s Peter Hatch. Meets at the Jefferson Library. Contact Peggy Cornett, or call 434-984-9816 for further information.
Sep. 5, 2008
Historic Plants Symposium
The Center for Historic Plants’ 6th biennial Historic Plants Symposium will feature prominent early American gardeners and the plants they grew: what the gardener said about the plants and what the plants tell us about the gardener. Speakers include the irreverent Felder Rushing, author of Passalong Plants; Andrew Smith, food historian and author of The Tomato in America; cider-maker and heirloom fruit lover Ben Watson; herb authority, Dr. Arthur Tucker; Colonial Williamsburg’s Garden Historian, Wesley Greene; and Monticello’s Peter Hatch. Meets at the Jefferson Library. Contact Peggy Cornett, or call 434-984-9816 for further information.
Sep. 6, 2008
Heritage Harvest Festival
Co-sponsored with Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, the 2nd annual Heritage Harvest Festival is a family-oriented, educational event designed to promote healthy gardening practices and preserve heirloom plants. The Festival will highlight the efforts of non-profit organizations supporting sustainable agriculture as well as of for-profit groups promoting organics and “slow food” principles; and will provide an array of food vendors and free samples. The Festival will also include informative workshops and lectures by renowned authorities like Michael McConkey, Tom Burford, and herbalist, Cyrus Hyde. Workshops in cider making, seed saving, and the ever-popular melon, tomato, and apple tastings will make for a memorable afternoon at Tufton. Admission and most events are free. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; held at Monticello's Tufton Farm. For more information, visit: www.HeritageHarvestFestival.com.
HHF Workshops Requiring Reservations
- Cider Making - 9:30 a.m.
- Hands-on Propagation of Woodland Medicinals - 12:00 p.m.
- Potpourri: Using Herbs, Fragrant Flowers, and Spices - 3:00 p.m.
For more information on these and other Heritage Harvest Festival workshops, visit the HHF website.
Sep. 13, 2008
“Precious Refreshment”; Virginia Cider Making
It was a significant event when Americans began eating their fruit rather than drinking it. Fruit Gardener Kerry Gilmer and Tom Burford will first review our Virginia cider-making tradition, and then demonstrate the process itself in Monticello’s South Orchard. Although you will need to help turn the crank, the cider made from the Hughes’ Crab, described as "ambrosia" by one apple enthusiast, will be your just reward. Reservations required. Meets at Tufton Farm, 9:30 a.m. $10
Sep. 20, 2008
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.Monticello’s Flower Gardener, Debbie Donley will lead this 2.5-hour workshop. Reservations required. Meets at the Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10
Sep. 27, 2008
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 will lead this two-hour trek through the forests of Monticello mountain. 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. Reservations required. Meets at the Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10
Oct. 4, 2008
Tufton Fern Walk
Ferns will be the excuse for this ramble along Henderson Creek in the forests of Tufton Farm. Peggy Cornett will lead this two-hour cross-country walk through a 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 be prepared for briar scratches, spider webs, and uneven terrain. Reservations required. Meets at the Tufton Farm, 9:30 a.m. $10
Oct. 18, 2008
Apple Tasting
This annual event, truly a unique opportunity to explore the essence of the apple, has been among our most popular programs. Supermarkets today provide only a limited sample of the thousands of apple varieties once available to nineteenth-century fruit lovers. Tom Burford, Professor Apple, 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 2.5-hour program. Reservations required. Meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Tufton Farm nursery. $10
See the results of the 2007 Apple Tasting.
Nov. 1, 2008
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, a chef revered by his colleagues and friends for his ability to simply transform ordinary and unusual garden produce into delicious meals, 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. Reservations required. Meets at the Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10. Length: 2.5 hours.
Nov. 15, 2008
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 ancient and European tradition 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 winemaker 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. Reservations required. Meets at Monticello Garden Shop's temporary location, 9:30 a.m. $10. Length: 2 hours.
Dec. 4, 2008
Wreath Workshops
These ever-popular workshops, now in their twenty-first year, produce a gratifying and tangible end-product: a beautiful Christmas wreath. Janet Miller, Lou Hatch, and Maggie Stemann Thompson will lead you through the process of making your own. All materials (straw wreath forms, pins, wire, etc.) will be provided, including a cornucopia of natural materials. This three-hour workshop will stretch your imagination and transform any novice into a stylish holiday artist. $45 covers the workshop and all materials. Wreath Workshop reservations can be made beginning on November 11 by calling 434-984-9822 or by purchasing tickets online. Bring your hand pruners. All workshops will be held at the new Smith Education Center.
Dec. 5, 2008
Wreath Workshops
These ever-popular workshops, now in their twenty-first year, produce a gratifying and tangible end-product: a beautiful Christmas wreath. Janet Miller, Lou Hatch, and Maggie Stemann Thompson will lead you through the process of making your own. All materials (straw wreath forms, pins, wire, etc.) will be provided, including a cornucopia of natural materials. This three-hour workshop will stretch your imagination and transform any novice into a stylish holiday artist. $45 covers the workshop and all materials. Wreath Workshop reservations can be made beginning on November 11 by calling 434-984-9822 or by purchasing tickets online. Bring your hand pruners. All workshops will be held at the new Smith Education Center.
Dec. 6, 2008
Wreath Workshops
These ever-popular workshops, now in their twenty-first year, produce a gratifying and tangible end-product: a beautiful Christmas wreath. Janet Miller, Lou Hatch, and Maggie Stemann Thompson will lead you through the process of making your own. All materials (straw wreath forms, pins, wire, etc.) will be provided, including a cornucopia of natural materials. This three-hour workshop will stretch your imagination and transform any novice into a stylish holiday artist. $45 covers the workshop and all materials. Wreath Workshop reservations can be made beginning on November 11 by calling 434-984-9822 or by purchasing tickets online. Bring your hand pruners. All workshops will be held at the new Smith Education Center.
Dec. 7, 2008
Wreath Workshops
These ever-popular workshops, now in their twenty-first year, produce a gratifying and tangible end-product: a beautiful Christmas wreath. Janet Miller, Lou Hatch, and Maggie Stemann Thompson will lead you through the process of making your own. All materials (straw wreath forms, pins, wire, etc.) will be provided, including a cornucopia of natural materials. This three-hour workshop will stretch your imagination and transform any novice into a stylish holiday artist. $45 covers the workshop and all materials. Wreath Workshop reservations can be made beginning on November 11 by calling 434-984-9822 or by purchasing tickets online. Bring your hand pruners. All workshops will be held at the new Smith Education Center.
Dec. 10, 2008
Wreath Workshops
These ever-popular workshops, now in their twenty-first year, produce a gratifying and tangible end-product: a beautiful Christmas wreath. Janet Miller, Lou Hatch, and Maggie Stemann Thompson will lead you through the process of making your own. All materials (straw wreath forms, pins, wire, etc.) will be provided, including a cornucopia of natural materials. This three-hour workshop will stretch your imagination and transform any novice into a stylish holiday artist. $45 covers the workshop and all materials. Wreath Workshop reservations can be made beginning on November 11 by calling 434-984-9822 or by purchasing tickets online. Bring your hand pruners. All workshops will be held at the new Smith Education Center.
Dec. 12, 2008
Wreath Workshops
These ever-popular workshops, now in their twenty-first year, produce a gratifying and tangible end-product: a beautiful Christmas wreath. Janet Miller, Lou Hatch, and Maggie Stemann Thompson will lead you through the process of making your own. All materials (straw wreath forms, pins, wire, etc.) will be provided, including a cornucopia of natural materials. This three-hour workshop will stretch your imagination and transform any novice into a stylish holiday artist. $45 covers the workshop and all materials. Wreath Workshop reservations can be made beginning on November 11 by calling 434-984-9822 or by purchasing tickets online. Bring your hand pruners. All workshops will be held at the new Smith Education Center.
Dec. 13, 2008
Wreath Workshops
These ever-popular workshops, now in their twenty-first year, produce a gratifying and tangible end-product: a beautiful Christmas wreath. Janet Miller, Lou Hatch, and Maggie Stemann Thompson will lead you through the process of making your own. All materials (straw wreath forms, pins, wire, etc.) will be provided, including a cornucopia of natural materials. This three-hour workshop will stretch your imagination and transform any novice into a stylish holiday artist. $45 covers the workshop and all materials. Wreath Workshop reservations can be made beginning on November 11 by calling 434-984-9822 or by purchasing tickets online. Bring your hand pruners. All workshops will be held at the new Smith Education Center.
Saturdays in the Garden convene at:
- the Garden Shop of the Center for Historic Plants, now in temporary headquarters next to the Ticket Office in the Monticello parking lot;
- or at Tufton Farm: go 1.3 miles east of Monticello on the Thomas Jefferson Parkway (Rt. 53), take a left before Brix Market (also has "Simeon" painted on it) at a sharp right curve and proceed .6 mile on Milton Rd (Rt. 732) to Tufton entrance. Take a left and follow driveway to CHP headquarters in grey barn.
- or at the Jefferson Library, at Kenwood, .2 mile east of Monticello's entrance on Rt. 53 (Thomas Jefferson Parkway);
- or at Thomas Jefferson
Parkway Trailhead, on Rt. 53, .2
mile east of the junction with Rt. 20.
For More Information: (434) 984-9822