The Art of Native Plant Gardens

By: Lindsey Cline-Shrader

In garden design, native plants aren’t only chosen for their adaptability and ecological benefits; a growing trend embraces the beauty of native plant gardens. Native plants are celebrated for their striking aesthetic potential and following fundamental design principles helps maximize their beauty. From pairing plants for color and texture to mastering scale and color theory, designing with nature has never been more rewarding.

Scale

Scale refers to the size of elements in the overall space. In large suburban or rural yards, mature trees, a forest, or built elements like pergolas help fill the space and create a sense of scale that matches the garden’s size. The mistake I often see is making small, colorful perennial beds that demand maintenance but quickly get lost in an ample space. This leaves the gardener, as I’ve frequently felt, overwhelmed. 

Instead, plant in drifts or clusters of the same species to create a strong visual impact and avoid a scattered look. Large swathes of a few plant species unify an expansive landscape. Use natural materials like stone walls or boulders to blend the garden seamlessly with its surroundings. A well-placed fence or hedge can make the scale more manageable and break up the space.

In expansive gardens, open spaces or lawns provide a visual break.
Balance these areas with planted sections to avoid monotony with too much lawn and prevent chaos with too many planting beds.

In smaller urban gardens, compact plants and furnishings make the space harmonious. Here, the key is to use layers of smaller trees, then shrubs and perennials to bring the canopy down to earth and balance the space. For smaller spaces, consider smaller drifts of three to five plants to create interest. 

Creating Visual Hierarchy

Creating a visual hierarchy guides the viewer’s eye through the garden. Each garden area or “room” should have one focal point: a flowering shrub, bright perennials, a garden shed, a fountain, or a hardscape element like a fireplace or fire pit. To add impact, surround the focal point with ground covers and perhaps a dwarf tree. This layering technique adds depth and interest, ensuring no element overwhelms the space.

If hardscapes create the focal point, plantings are vital to softening them and creating harmonious spaces. Plants mitigate the harshness of stone or concrete by adding warmth, texture, and color. Limiting hardscape areas to specific purposes, such as pathways or seating areas, prevents them from overwhelming the garden’s natural beauty. 

Color Pairings

Color theory can help guide a visually stunning garden. Harmonious color schemes, such as monochromatic (different shades of the same color), analogous (colors next to each other on the color wheel), and complementary (colors opposite each other on the color wheel), can enhance your garden’s aesthetic in unique ways.

Monochromatic Color Schemes

For a serene and cohesive look, consider a monochromatic scheme using shades of green or white and green. This style works particularly well in shady spaces and around quiet seating areas. Native ground-covering grasses like Carex (my favorite is Carex vulpinoidea) provide a tranquil backdrop. Layering multiple leaf shapes and sizes over the base grass adds depth and interest while maintaining a soothing space. 

Analogous Color Schemes

Analogous color schemes incorporate colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel. This style brings harmony and unity to the garden, creating a cohesive look that’s perfect for gathering areas, outdoor dining spaces, and often for front or back entrances. The smooth transitions between colors create a sense of comfort and tranquility, making these areas feel welcoming.

Complementary Color Schemes

Complementary color schemes (colors opposite on the color wheel, such as blue and orange) attract attention and create lively, engaging environments. They are perfect for bold entrances, focal points, or larger entertainment spaces.

Warm Color Schemes

Warm colors, such as reds, oranges, and yellows, create a sense of warmth, energy, and vibrancy. These colors evoke excitement: warm colors advance toward the viewer, naturally drawing the eye and making spaces feel dynamic or further enhancing focal points. Warm colors thrive in sunny spots, where the natural light enhances their brightness and intensity.    

Cool Color Schemes

Cool colors, including blues, greens, and purples, evoke calmness, serenity, and a sense of spaciousness. These colors recede from the viewer, making spaces feel extensive and tranquil.

Cool colors perform well in shaded or moist areas, where their subtle tones can create a refreshing feel. Their receding nature can give the illusion of depth and distance, making compact areas feel more expansive.

Plant Textures

Plant textures add depth and contrast, particularly to monochromatic spaces. Fine-textured plants, such as grasses or ferns, bring a delicate, airy quality, ideal for lightness and movement. These can be strategically placed near pathways or seating areas to draw the eye and soften hard edges. Coarse-textured plants, like large-leaved vines or shrubs, provide a dramatic contrast and can serve as striking focal points. By layering and contrasting these textures, you can create a balanced yet dynamic garden.

Designing with native plants allows for a harmonious blend of ecological benefits and aesthetic appeal, creating beautiful and sustainable gardens. You can transform any space into a stunning natural haven by carefully considering scale, visual hierarchy, and color theory. Embrace the art of native plant gardening to enjoy a landscape that thrives with minimal maintenance while offering a captivating visual experience.

Exploring Magical and Mythical Gardens

Gardens have long been places of tranquility, beauty, and contemplation. Yet, beyond their aesthetic allure, some gardens are steeped in folklore and legend, where the plants themselves are believed to possess magical properties. These mythical gardens, brimming with plants associated with ancient stories and mystical qualities, captivate the imagination and invite us to explore the intersection of nature and legend.

The Alchemist’s Garden: Plants of Transformation

Alchemists, in their quest for the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life, were believed to tend gardens of transformative plants. One such plant is the rose (Rosa spp.), symbolizing secrecy and sacred knowledge in alchemical traditions. The phrase “sub rosa” (under the rose) signifies confidentiality. Roses have long been associated with love, beauty, and even mystical enlightenment. Alchemists valued the rose not just for its beauty but for its symbolic representation of transformation and the perfection of the soul.

The Garden of Hesperides: The Golden Apples

One of the most famous mythical gardens is the Garden of Hesperides, from Greek mythology. Tended by the Hesperides, nymphs of the evening, this garden was said to be the home of the golden apples of immortality. While these apples are purely mythical, the garden’s real-world counterpart is believed to be the quince (Cydonia oblonga). In ancient times, quince trees were often associated with love and fertility. The fruit’s aromatic scent and bright golden hue mirror the legendary golden apples, suggesting why ancient Greeks might have drawn this enchanting parallel.

The Sacred Groves of Asclepius: Healing Herbs

In ancient Greece, sacred groves dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine, were known for their medicinal plants. One such plant is the mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), which has a storied history in both medicine and magic. The mandrake’s root, often anthropomorphized in legends, was believed to emit a deadly scream when uprooted. Despite its fearsome reputation, mandrake was used in small doses as an anesthetic and sedative in ancient times. Its potent alkaloids contributed to its revered status among healing herbs in these mythical gardens.

Avalon: The Isle of Apples

The mythical island of Avalon, prominent in Arthurian legend, is described as a paradise of perpetual summer, where magical apples grow. These apples are said to grant eternal youth and healing. In reality, the apple (Malus domestica) has long been a symbol of knowledge and immortality in various cultures. Orchards of apple trees, with their blossoms in spring and bountiful fruit in autumn, evoke the essence of Avalon, blending the boundaries between myth and horticulture.

The Garden of Eden: Symbolism & Scent

The biblical Garden of Eden is described as a paradise where the first humans lived. Among its fabled flora is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, often depicted as an apple tree, though the Bible does not specify the fruit. Another significant plant is the fig tree (Ficus carica), which provided leaves for Adam and Eve’s garments. Figs are one of the oldest cultivated fruits, revered in many cultures for their sweetness and medicinal properties. Their presence in this sacred garden underscores their enduring symbolism of life and abundance.

The Witch’s Garden: Poisonous & Magical Plants

In European folklore, witches were believed to cultivate gardens filled with both healing and harmful plants. One such garden might feature belladonna (Atropa belladonna), also known as deadly nightshade. This plant has a dark history, used by witches and poisoners due to its potent tropane alkaloids, which can cause hallucinations and death. Despite its dangerous reputation, belladonna was also used medicinally in controlled doses to treat muscle spasms and as an anesthetic. The dual nature of belladonna—both perilous and medicinal—reflects the complex relationship between humans and the natural world in folklore.

The Druidic Groves: Sacred Oaks

Druidic traditions hold oak trees (Quercus spp.) in the highest regard, considering them sacred. The oak’s strength, longevity, and the nourishment provided by its acorns made it a symbol of endurance and wisdom. Mistletoe (Viscum album), which often grows on oaks, was another plant of great significance to Druids. It was believed to have magical properties, especially when harvested during the winter solstice. The ritual of collecting mistletoe with a golden sickle underscores its revered status in Druidic culture.

The Lotus Garden: Symbols of Purity & Enlightenment

In many Eastern traditions, the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a plant of profound spiritual significance. It is often associated with purity, enlightenment, and rebirth. The lotus’s ability to emerge pristine from muddy waters symbolizes spiritual awakening and the journey toward enlightenment. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the lotus is a central motif, often depicted in art and literature. The serene beauty of a lotus garden, with its blooms rising above tranquil waters, embodies the mystical qualities attributed to this revered plant.

The Legacy of Mythical Gardens

The allure of mythical gardens lies not just in their beauty but in the stories they tell. The plants within these gardens are real, yet their associations with folklore and legend enrich our understanding of cultural history and human imagination. As we wander through these enchanted realms, we discover that the magic of these gardens is not in their supernatural qualities but in the profound connection between nature and the stories we weave around it.  

The Community-Building Power of the Village Concerts Series

By: Emily Mook / Photos by: Brianne Friberg

The power of music is boundless and often paradoxical: it hearkens back even as it innovates, it defines moments in time and is defined by those moments in seemingly equal measure, it can inspire conflicting emotions within seconds, and it can transport listeners while simultaneously making them feel more grounded. And yet, despite its myriad complexities and its capacity for evading definition, music has at its center an abiding feature: the ability to foster meaningful connection. 

Music can—and does—mean entirely different things to different people, but anyone who listens to it can agree that it is meaningful, and so we find ourselves listening to it, talking about it, and perhaps even making it together. In the extraordinary case of Polly King and Van Holton, music has led to finding a life partner and hosting a groundbreaking concert series together that spotlights and nurtures music’s singular community-building power: the Village Concerts Series.

King started the Village Concerts Series in Palmyra, Virginia, in 2007 and met Holton
when he attended one of the concerts in 2009. Long before that fateful meeting, music had
played a significant role in both of their lives.

“I’ve been a groupie since the late 60s,” Holton remarks. “Nobody could ride in the backseat of my Volkswagen because I had so many boxes of 8 tracks back there!”

For King, music was a constant in a childhood characterized by frequent change.

“I was an army brat, and we ended up traveling quite a bit,” she recalls. “My mom loved to sing and cofounded a choir in Wilmington, North Carolina, many, many years ago. We always had a piano and I learned to play the flute.”

At a certain point, King realized that she felt more suited to playing a supporting role when it comes to music, and this realization played a role in her decision to get her master’s degree in Arts Administration.

“I always loved the arts in general and gravitated toward creative people,” she notes. “I always felt that many of my friends were more creative than I was, but I was a good organizer and support person. When I ended up going to graduate school at Virginia Tech, I went for a MFA in Arts Administration with the full intention of being the background person.”

After attaining her degree, King traveled widely and worked for the Baltimore Symphony, a chamber music and jazz producing company in Mount Gretna, and an ethnic folk arts center and a baroque chamber ensemble in New York City. Subsequently, her then-husband got an arts job in Abingdon and hired her to put together an arts series that they called “The New Traditions.”

“The series lasted about three years,” says King. “We featured music, lectures, and films. It was a lot of fun and really brought people together in a good way.”

These experiences, coupled with a desire for connection, led King to start the Village Concerts Series in Palmyra in 2007.

“I started the concert series in Palmyra because I was lonely,” she remarks. “I lived in a village of twelve houses, ten of which were occupied, and when I was home on the weekends, people were gone. I didn’t see very many people. So, I thought, ‘Well, I know how to push furniture back in my living room and put up folding chairs and host concerts,’ and that’s what I did. The first year was rough and I thought I wasn’t going to be able to continue because we didn’t have a lot of people coming for the parties, but then more and more people started coming and this wonderful community of music lovers was built up around a common theme of sharing live music.”

As luck would have it, one of those attendees was Holton, who had incidentally had a similar realization to King about playing a supporting role when it comes to music.

“It used to frustrate me that I can’t sing or play an instrument, but then I learned a word: aesthete,” he states. “An aesthete is an expert appreciator.  That’s me; I can do that!”

And so, although neither King nor Holton sang or played an instrument on that fateful day in December 2009, music—in its limitless capacity for facilitating connection—brought them together.

Holton built King a gardening shed (which was actually more suited to serve as a stage), and in 2013, the pair began hosting annual outdoor “SHED Song” concerts in addition to several indoor concerts per year. The two wed in their backyard in Palmyra in 2015 between the second and third bands of that year’s outdoor concert.

In 2018, the couple decided to move to Lynchburg. After looking into hosting concerts through various commercial venues, they ultimately decided to host concerts at their home on Harrison Street in 2020. After hosting one concert in January and one in March, however, the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. In late 2021, they moved to their current home and started presenting again.

Location changes aside, the Village Concerts Series has retained certain qualities from the start: it features a mix of Sunday matinee shows (seven to nine per year) and an annual “SHED Song” show the weekend before Father’s Day, attendees are invited through a mailing list and pay strictly on a voluntary basis, the shows are deemed “listening shows,” and the caliber of music presented is always topnotch.

Because attendance is limited to a mailing list—a longstanding but also ever-growing list—of Holton and King’s friends and friends of friends, Village Concerts are able to operate in a non-capital driven and organic capacity. The couple asks attendees for voluntary contributions and then makes up the difference from their own pockets.

“The folks who attend the concerts are not patrons—they’re friends,” notes Holton. “It’s not about commercialization. We don’t make or keep a dime. We love to introduce our friends to our other friends who just happen to be musicians!”

According to King, “guests can come up and talk to the musicians in the potluck line and have one-on-one conversations that they would never have elsewhere.” That intimate feel also extends to the concerts themselves in that they are considered “listening shows.”

“People come here and learn that musicians want to be listened to,” King says. “It’s rare to be at a show where people actually listen. We’ve had people cry in the audiences of the concerts we host because they’re so moved—the beauty of the music and the experience moves them to tears. People stop talking and truly listen, and the musicians really appreciate that.”

Village Concerts Series concerts are not limited to specific genres of music, but they all feature first-rate talent.

“When people ask what kind of music gets played at the concerts, I always say that it’s good music,” says Holton.
“It could be jazz, folk, bluegrass, rock and roll—it could be just about any genre. It’s professional, high-shelf music. These are artists who live to play music. I personally admire strong stage presence, beautiful timing, and a good backstory. I love to see what music does to a room.”

Past featured artists include Wayne Henderson, Mike Seeger, The Honey Dewdrops, The Steel Wheels, Will Kimbrough, Mary Gauthier, Ana Egge, Morgan Wade, David Olney, Love Canon, David Wax Museum, Arkansauce, Palmyra, Abe Partridge, The Matt Flinner Trio, Tony Furtado, Maeve Gilchrist, Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin, Eric Taylor, James and Vivian Leva, Danny Knicely, Tony Trishka, Robin and Linda Williams, Michelle Malone, Seth Walker, and more.

Additionally, at the time of publication of this issue, the Blue Newt Band—a popular and award-winning Lynchburg-based band from the 1990s through the 2000s—will have reunited for their first performance in almost 20 years for a special Village Concert on August 31. The show will have been open to the public and all voluntary donations will have gone to the Lynchburg Daily Bread.

An upcoming collaboration with the Academy Center of the Arts (ACOA) will also increase access to the Village Concerts Series’ unique charms. The Academy will host shows coordinated by Village Concerts in their new Music Hall or in the Warehouse Theater, with the first show slated for September 20.

“Polly and Van are bringing acts to the Academy that they could not bring to their own venue, whether because of audience size, cost of artist, etc.,” remarks Tabitha Abbott, Chief Operating Officer of ACOA. “These acts will be reviewed by an internal committee and presented through the Village Concerts brand. I love how Van and Polly have created a niche audience, and our hope is that we can bring their influence to downtown Lynchburg to continue to diversify the music scene in the arts and culture district. They have a reputation and a following and we are honored to combine our resources to benefit the community.”

As more and more voices add their harmonies to the beautiful melody that King and Holton have composed with the Village Concerts Series, Lynchburg stands to become an even more sought-after musical destination—a fact that is music to King’s ears.

“I find the sense of community especially rewarding,” she notes. “Even though I called the concerts ‘Village Concerts’ because I lived in the village of Palmyra, what has actually grown up around it is a village of people.”  

Wedding planning doesn’t have to be stressful—all it takes is the right resources in your corner and you’ll be getting hitched without a hitch. Consider our Best of Central Virginia Weddings your resource guide to finding the right venue, attire, photographer, caterer, and more.

 Newlyweds, industry colleagues, and our readership nominated and voted on the people and businesses listed in 30 categories. With these picks in hand, your wedding day will be one to remember. 

Peace of Pie Pizzeria Offers Customers Stellar Food at Reasonable Prices

By: Christian Shields  |  Photos by: Ashlee Glen

Through a combination of quality food and family atmosphere, as well as an appreciation of classic rock music, Peace of Pie Pizzeria diligently serves the Altavista community.

Featuring a variety of pizza, salad, sandwiches, and more, the restaurant aims to provide every customer who walks through the door with fantastic food.

Started in 2010 by Donna Hendricks, the restaurant was purchased by Breezy and Lucas Peterson, who by their own admission have done as little as they can to change the small business since their acquisition. This includes adding only one new menu item, the Chicken Bacon Ranch (available as a pizza, sub, or salad), and keeping prices similar to what they have been in the past.

“We have done as little differently as possible, because everything [Hendricks] did was so successful,” Breezy said. “For her, her guiding principles were to love people and love food. That is what we continue to do. First and foremost, we are Christians, so our faith definitely guides all of the decisions that we make. When we love people, we love them as Christ would love them, we just do that with pizza.”

Originally from San Francisco, California, the Petersons first moved to Altavista from Connecticut in 2013 after Lucas completed six years of service in the U.S. Navy. They instantly fell in love with the town and decided that it would be a great place to raise their young children. After several years as faithful customers of Peace of Pie, Breezy and Lucas decided to purchase the place after hearing from a mutual friend that Hendricks was planning to sell the restaurant. 

“It’s cool that we get to know people and they get to know us,” Breezy said. “When you buy from a small business, you aren’t throwing money into the corporate void. It literally pays for our kid’s horseback riding lessons and our 17-year-old just bought her first car with the money she earned here. When you come and see us, we are a part of the fabric of Altavista, and we love that.”

The couple recently purchased a two-story building on Main St., providing them with three or four times the amount of space they had at their previous location. This new building also includes an inn on the second floor, offering yet another business opportunity for the family. 

While the current focus for the Petersons has been on renovating the pizzeria in the new space, they plan to eventually rebrand the inn to match the restaurant’s musical theme once they rebuild their cash reserves. 

Customers entering the restaurant are instantly greeted with a wide range of music memorabilia ranging from vinyl records, homemade coasters, and even Lego models of Volkswagen Beetles. Breezy noted that a lot of this memorabilia was purchased alongside the restaurant, but a large portion is gifts by customers who wanted to add their own personal flair to the restaurant. 

“It’s amazing how much it resonates with people, and that comes from our culture,” she said. “It’s very important to us to love people well. It’s not about being nice for a good tip, but we genuinely enjoy people and want them to enjoy the experience and the food.”

When the family purchased Peace of Pie, they were originally hesitant to broadcast the change in leadership, hoping to continue the same level of expertise maintained by the previous ownership.

“For us, it was a point of pride to make it so that no one noticed,” Breezy said. “We didn’t want the quality of food to change, and we didn’t want the quality of the service to change. We actually didn’t ‘out’ ourselves on social media for almost a year. That was a choice that we made because we wanted to see if we could continue with Donna’s standard to honor her. She is one of the coolest people on the planet—if she could do this forever, I’m sure no one would be mad about it. But I’m glad she gets to relax, enjoy her dogs, and be retired.”

Keeping with the family environment, Peace of Pie utilizes an exposed kitchen. Not only does this allow the couple and their older children to remain close while working long hours in the restaurant, but it also allows customers to see firsthand how the food is made. Breezy noted everything on the menu is made in-house, apart from the gluten-free and vegan options (which, Breezy noted, are incredibly tiresome to make by hand) and the chicken wings.

“It’s unique to function like that and it would certainly be cheaper to get things coming in in little pre-sliced cubes and frozen things that have a better shelf life, but we are not willing to compromise on taste and quality,” she said. “It works for people, and we are really glad. If the economy were a little different and we weren’t so successful, then maybe we couldn’t do things the way we do because it is more expensive for us. But it is true to the identity of Peace of Pie, which is good food, made well, by real people. I have the scars from the slicer to prove it. We do everything ourselves.”

Another way Breezy and Lucas maintain this family atmosphere is through selective hiring, ensuring that everyone who joins the Peace of Pie community falls in line with the restaurant’s values and mission. With a workforce composed largely of local high school and college students as well as the couple’s own children, Peace of Pie remains a place where Altavista residents feel comfortable and at home. 

Because of the small staff, the Petersons are unable to keep the restaurant open for the same number of hours as other similar restaurants, but Breezy noted that this decision is intentional, so the couple still has time to raise their children.  

Customers can visit Peace of the Pie Pizzeria, located at 534 Main St., Wednesday-Saturday from 12-8 p.m. They can also keep up with the restaurant by following them on Facebook.

Written and Photographed by: Abby Price

Bristol, a twin city straddling the border of Virginia and Tennessee, is famous for the world-renowned Bristol Motor Speedway. However, it’s also celebrated as the birthplace of country music.

In 1927, the Bristol Sessions, which were a series of music recording sessions that took place in Bristol, marked a significant milestone in country music history. Musicians from near and far like Ernest Stoneman, the Carter family, and Jimmie Rodgers, flocked to Bristol to record their songs, guided by Ralph Peer, a Victor Talking Machine Company producer. These sessions catapulted country music into the national spotlight, cementing Bristol’s place on the musical map.

Today, Bristol’s rich musical heritage permeates the city, evident in nods to its musical past at nearly every turn. Whether strolling through a park, enjoying live music at a restaurant, or staying at the lovely Sessions Hotel, you’ll feel immersed in Bristol’s musical legacy practically everywhere.

Harmonious Details at The Sessions Hotel

The Sessions Hotel takes its name from the historic Bristol Sessions of 1927. This event is echoed throughout the hotel, which retains a vintage exterior while offering modern amenities inside.

The hotel consists of three separate buildings: the Bristol Grocery Building, the Jobbers Candy Factory, and the Simply Grand Granary Mill. These three historic buildings were refurbished and now serve as The Sessions Hotel.

The rooms at The Sessions Hotel are a delightful blend of industrial and contemporary design. They feature exposed brick, tall ceilings, and other classic details paired with chic, modern touches and musical elements.

As you enter your room, you’re greeted by a record player and vinyl on your bed, a nod to Bristol’s musical legacy. Other thoughtful details throughout the room honor the Bristol Sessions, including musical accents like wall art and light fixtures crafted from antique microphones, adding to the unique charm.

Complementing the musical touches in your room, the hotel boasts three live entertainment spaces, including a rooftop venue where we enjoyed a local musician’s performance. With soft seating and a cozy bar serving delicious drinks and small bites, it was the perfect way to conclude a day of exploring, especially with the stunning mountain views you can appreciate all around you from on top of the hotel.

Another live entertainment venue sits between the three buildings in the grassy courtyard area. While we couldn’t catch a live performance while we were in town, it’s undoubtedly a highlight of the hotel, making it convenient for visitors to catch live shows just outside their doorsteps. 

Adding to the hotel’s appeal is the addition of the Southern Craft barbecue restaurant located at the bottom of one of the hotel buildings. The restaurant offers outdoor seating right by the courtyard entertainment area, making it super convenient to eat and watch live music. 

Not only is the restaurant a prime location for catching a concert, but it’s delicious, too. We enjoyed our dinners there, relishing dishes like burnt ends, pulled pork, and mac and cheese. The convenience of having such a great restaurant just steps from our room was a highlight, enhancing the overall experience and thoughtfulness that went into the hotel’s refurbishment and design.

Country Music Roots Throughout the City

While the hotel excels at celebrating the town’s musical history, the entire city also embraces this heritage. Many venues throughout Bristol offer live music, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

During our weekend getaway to Bristol, my favorite spot for live music was The Rooftop at the Sessions Hotel. However, another great venue to visit is the Axe and Ale House, offering ax throwing, bar food, and live music on specific days. >>

In addition to live music, Cumberland Square Park is another fantastic destination with unique tributes to the town’s musical history. The park is a great place for a stroll and features statues of musicians singing and playing the guitar and violin, showcasing the community’s pride in its musical heritage.

The park is conveniently situated near numerous top-rated restaurants, bars, and attractions in town, including the renowned Birthplace of Country Music Museum. The museum is the perfect place to explore the origins of country music and learn about the historic Bristol Sessions.

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum 

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a place to learn more about the roots of country music and Bristol’s history. One of the highlights is a short film that plays every 20 minutes in a small theater in the museum, providing a glimpse into Bristol’s musical past.

When you reach the top floor of the museum, you can choose to watch the short film first or explore the exhibits. My husband and I opted to explore the exhibits and were instantly captivated by the various displays, which included archives, guitars, letters, and more. The exhibits featured items from the film, such as the Victor Talking Machine, alongside other artifacts like signed instruments, letters from musicians, and photographs. 

The maze of archives provided us with a deeper understanding of the Bristol Sessions and the development of country music. We saw old banjos played by country music legends, black-and-white photographs of Bristol during the Sessions, and glimpses of how the community would come together to watch live performances or gather on porches to listen to radios. We also had the opportunity to listen to the recordings themselves, experiencing the static yet brilliant music that was shared across the United States.

The museum excels at guiding visitors through the history of country music, from the musical instruments to the nuances of how country music permeated households in the 1920s. One unique exhibit I found particularly noteworthy was the role of porches during this time. Interestingly, porches were especially significant in the 1920s when family and friends used them as gathering places for chatting, singing, and enjoying good music. This greatly facilitated the spread of music at that time because not every family had a radio. Instead, people valued their porches as gathering spots where loved ones could visit, enjoy each other’s company, and listen to the latest songs.

Besides the porch exhibit, the museum does a fantastic job of showing the timeline of country music’s development and explaining why Bristol is called the Birthplace of Country Music.

Just like a porch in the 1920s, where community was created over warm songs and the soulful sound of Jimmy Rodgers crackling over a radio, Bristol continues to foster a community of music lovers. By nature, the city spans across both Virginia and Tennessee and equally transcends genre and musical tastes. While it’s known as the Birthplace of Country Music, it will continue to be celebrated for its liveliness and remarkable character.