Summer is here! If you like hosting backyard barbecues, pool parties, cocktails on the back patio, or generally entertaining family and friends outdoors, you’re probably thinking about giving your exteriors a good spruce.

The process of elevating your outdoor spaces, landscaping, and hardscaping isn’t as daunting as it may seem—with just a few simple steps you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful outdoor space that you can enjoy all summer long.

1.  A Good Scrub Goes a Long Way!

“Don’t underestimate the power of a good cleaning,” said Rebecca Mahanes with LandTech, a landscaping and pool contractor serving Central Virginia.

If your hardscape is looking a little dingy from red clay stains (thanks, Virginia!), moss, or mildew buildup, you should start your spruce with a power washing. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money renting a high-powered gas power washer, either.

“Hardscape power washing tools are available at most garden centers and department stores, and they do the job just fine,” Mahanes said. “You can use the same tool to give your wood surfaces, like porches and decks, a good thorough cleaning as well.”

2.  Get Down to the Details

The next step is to address the little things that can make a big difference. If you have a patio or walkway made of stone pavers, it’s time to refill the joints with polymeric sand and make sure your edging is firmly in place so those stones don’t begin to slide and spread. This will help prevent weed growth between the pavers, and make your stonework look fresh. If you have cracked or broken mortar in your hardscaping, remove and replace it. You can DIY this project, or call a mason to come and help you out.

3.  Deck the…Deck!

After a long, damp winter, wooden decks and porches can begin to look weathered and splintery, even if they are structurally sound. Touch up those spots where the paint or stain has faded or chipped. For the deck boards, there are special products available at home and garden centers for making wood surfaces look good as new—or better! They’re a little thicker than paint, and fill in the cracks between the wood grain, smoothing over any rough areas and creating an improved walking surface. 

“When it dries, it can even be power washed for easy future cleaning!” said Mahanes. 

4.  A Bright, Fresh Look

You may consider replacing your patio furnishings for a quick but impactful splash of color. Check out the new seasonal options for pillows, cushions, umbrellas, and outdoor throw rugs. There are plenty of fun colors and patterns to choose from that are sure to be instantly eye-catching. 

Looking for something a little bigger? Think about adding a fire pit! You can build your own or purchase ready-to-go backyard fire pits and fireplaces of all sizes and shapes.

5.  Perfect Plantings

Simply adding a few patio pots with brightly colored annuals can really liven up an outdoor space. If you’re looking to take it a step farther, new edge plantings like shrubs and flower beds can really add variety, color, and elegance to your landscape. 

Looking for plants that the deer won’t eat? 

“For shrubs, plant boxwoods,” Mahanes said. “For deer-resistant perennials, plant daffodils, iris, peonies, hellebores, lavender, foxgloves, ferns, and heuchera, to name a few.”

It’s worth noting that for some of these, the deer don’t eat them because they are toxic, so do a little research before planting if you have young kids or pets.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to refresh your hardscape this season. Any one of these little improvements can make for a great outdoor project and go a long way in sprucing up your backyard. So fire up the grill, get the marshmallow sticks ready, call the neighbors, and let the good times roll!  

Gregory and Lindsey Smith’s Home is a Lesson in Connecting with Where You Are

We fell in love with Lynchburg from afar,” said Lindsey Smith, standing in the kitchen of the A-frame home she shares with husband Gregory and 13-year-old son Oliver.

Both Louisiana natives, Lindsey and Gregory met in their senior year of college and connected over growing up in small towns outside of Baton Rouge.

“We grew up 20 minutes apart from one another, but never met,” Gregory, who now leads the development department for sporting equipment company Marucci, remembered.

After living in Baton Rouge together for 10 years, the Smiths knew they were ready for a change but weren’t sure where to move.

“I’ve traveled out West a lot and I knew I wanted mountains, hiking, and easy access to the beach,” said Lindsey. “But the West Coast felt unattainable.”

“If we tried to move there, it would be so expensive,” Gregory added.

But in the summer of 2017, the Smith family road-tripped north, stopping in Lynchburg before making their way on to Charlottesville and then Richmond. After just five hours in Richmond, the Smiths turned around and made their way back to Lynchburg. Lindsey had been following a handful of Lynchburg accounts on social media, and already knew how special the area seemed, and how much it offered similar outdoor amenities to the West Coast.

“We booked an Airbnb on the way back and also contacted [realtor] Victoria Bartholomew,” Lindsey remembered. “We knew this was home.”

By 2018, the Smith family had moved to Lynchburg—tucked into an early 19th-century home close to downtown Lynchburg. That home became a transitional home for them, emphasizing just how much they valued space, peace, and quiet.

So when a fellow parent connected to Boy Scout Troop 29—their son’s troop—mentioned that their A-frame house just outside of the Lynchburg city limits was going on the market, the Smiths jumped at the opportunity to view it. From the moment they pulled into the tree-lined driveway, surrounded by nothing but bird and squirrel chatter, they knew they had found their new home.

The Smiths moved into their new home in 2019 and have been making it theirs ever since.

“Our strategy has always been to get to know a place and a space before making any big decisions or changes,” said Lindsey. “I worked for Juniper Ridge [a wilderness fragrance company] for a while and their owner was a great mentor to me. He would often quote writer Gary Snyder by saying, ‘Find your place on the planet. Dig in, and take responsibility from there.’ And so that’s what we’ve done.”

The home was move-in ready, with only the need for the Smiths to make the aesthetic changes they saw necessary to truly make the space their own.

“We absolutely loved the big windows [in the living room] and we wanted to choose a paint color that almost made the walls disappear so you only saw nature when you looked out,” said Gregory.

That intentionality to unobstruct nature is seen throughout their four-bedroom home and the surrounding two and a half acres. Wood paneled ceilings give way to towering windows and each room in the home has natural elements and textures on display.

“We like to blur the lines between inside and out,” explained Lindsey.

It’s not just nature that the Smith home connects with, however. There is a central line of generational and ancestral connection that tells a unique story of how the Smiths got to where they are today.

“We haven’t bought a ton of ‘new’ furniture,” Lindsey said. “Most of it is family heirlooms or from estate sales.”

With designers like Jersey Ice Cream Co. and Sibella Court and visually stunning locales like Wisconsin’s Camp Wandawega as inspiration, the Smiths have expertly woven familial elements throughout their home.

On one table, a tiny sleeve of postcards exchanged between Lindsey’s grandparents while her grandfather was away during WWII rests, inviting the passerby to pause. In the downstairs guest bedroom, an unassuming oak and pecan headboard tells the story of Hurricane Katrina and Gregory and his father’s combined labor to create a furniture piece that will stand the test of time.

Walking through their home, both Gregory and Lindsey can point to any piece or element and rattle off their respective stories with expert accuracy and great care.

In one room there’s a truck-tarp ottoman—full of texture and slightly undone—that Lindsey purchased from Anthropologie when she worked on their visual team. In the breakfast nook, a dining room table, lovingly purchased by Lindsey’s mom as an engagement gift, marks the years of Lindsey and Gregory’s relationship. Above their fireplace mantle, Great Blue Heron by painter John James Audubon—who often identified himself as a native Louisianan—casts a wary eye on a bobcat that Lindsey’s father hunted in the ’70s. Wooden walking sticks and a vessel full of bird feathers tell the stories of the countless hikes the Smiths have gone on as a family. Even the most subtle detail—a tiny stamped “X” on an All Roads Studio iron peg rail—marks the Smiths’ 10 year wedding anniversary.

No matter where one turns in the Smith home, stories and nostalgia abound. There’s a sense of permanence—of investing in pieces that last and of nurturing them so they do. That feeling makes its way outside of the large sliding glass doors and out into the porch and surrounding land, as well.

“I grew up gardening with my grandmother and mom,” said Lindsey. “They were the type that would knock on a neighbor’s door and ask them the name of a plant, and so that’s what I grew up with. And my grandmother grew up during the Depression, so she never wasted anything.”

Tucked into nooks, sprawling across river rock, and sweeping up the back hillside, native plant life thrives. 

“Most of our plants are propagated or grown from seed. It’s a great practice at being slow,” explained Lindsey, wearing a ring with the words “Live Slow” stamped onto it, putting a period to her point. “We think of ourselves as stewards of a place rather than owners. We’ve prioritized native plants and are a certified pollinator habitat.”

Even amongst the plantlife, heirloom pieces can be found. A cast iron cauldron that Gregory’s grandfather once used as a cookstove now lives a second life as a water fountain—water pumping from a cast iron pitcher pump they pulled from Gregory’s grandparents’ property.

“When we talk about getting to know a place, you have to think about nature,” said Lindsey. “Nature is different every single day and you can always see something new, whether we’re hiking the same hike we’ve done a hundred times or walking in our backyard.”

The Smith’s nature- and heirloom-filled home feels like an extension of that state of mind. With elements and family pieces expertly blending in with the home’s natural surroundings, there’s always something new to see and a new story to unravel.  

Grow Your Own Apples By Grafting!

Who doesn’t love snapping a juicy bite off a crisp fall apple? For me, it’s one of the luxuries of autumn in Virginia. Right now, the United States produces about 200 different varieties of apples, ranging in color, size, sweetness, and purpose. Some are best for pies and baking, others for applesauce, some are great for cider and pressing, and, of course, many are great for snacking. However, at one time there were more than 20,000 varieties of apples!

It may surprise you to learn that you cannot just pluck a seed from your favorite apple, plant it, and produce a tree that bears the same fruit. You’ll get an apple tree, but the apple it produces could bear no resemblance to the one you got the seed from. This is because apples are “open pollinated.” This just means that the flowers of the apple tree are pollinated naturally, by pollinating insects, wind, etc., which can get pollen from any other apple tree. So, if you get a seed from a Red Delicious apple and plant it in the ground, the fruit that the seed produces will be 50-percent Red Delicious, and 50-percent something else. Naturally over time, each new generation of apple tree produces something further and further away from its parent. 

So how do we ensure the preservation of specific apple varieties, and control the genetics of our apple seeds so that they continue to produce the exact apple we want? The answer lies in a process dating back several thousand years called grafting. 

To learn more from an expert, I spoke with local orchardist John Hoskins, who has been successfully grafting trees for many years. He has over 800 individual trees and 40 different varieties growing in his orchards. He explained that apple grafting starts with two essential things: a root stock, and a scion.

The root stock is, of course, the lower part of the tree that includes the roots. It doesn’t matter what type of apple tree the root stock comes from. Root stock is chosen for qualities such as drought resistance, anchorage (how stable is it in the ground), and disease resistance. The root stock also determines how high the tree will grow. 

The scion is the top part of the tree. This is the part that will bear fruit and contains the genetic makeup of its parent. Orchardists select the scion solely on what type of apple they wish to produce. 

According to Hoskins, anyone can learn to graft apple trees. The process is straightforward, and simply requires practice to master. It goes something like this:

STEP 1: The root stock will need to be ordered in advance from a nursery. In the old days, crabapples were often selected for root stock because their qualities were desirable, and they were easy to come by. This is also an option if you would prefer not to go through a nursery. Your root stock should be about the diameter of a pencil, or only slightly larger.

STEP 2: The scion wood can also be ordered from a nursery, collected from a tree you wish to preserve, or from a tree that bears the type of fruit you want to grow. It’s best to collect the scion wood in winter while the tree is dormant. You’ll want to take a cutting with only about three buds above the cutting and, again, about the diameter of a pencil. After collection, store the scion cutting carefully by wrapping the cut end in a damp paper towel, placing the paper towel end into a plastic bag, and saving it in the refrigerator until spring. 

STEP 3: Early spring is the best time to graft your tree. With a grafting knife, carefully take two angled slices about an inch long off the bottom of the scion wood, so that you have two flat cuts coming to a point. 

In the top of the root stock, make a downward slice directly into the center of the wood, about an inch deep. 

Then, like a puzzle, you will slide the point of the scion wood into the gap that you cut into the root stock. The cambium, or the very edge of the live wood, just under the bark, of the two trees should line up. The place where they join is called the “graft union.”

STEP 4: You’ll need to care for your new tree until it is strong enough and ready to be planted. It is important to prevent the wood from drying out. Wrap the graft union in freezer tape to lock in moisture. 

New trees should be stored out of direct sunlight. The root stock should be placed in damp peat moss and wrapped in a plastic bag until the buds above the graft union begin to show growth. Any new buds below the graft union should be quickly removed so that all the energy from the roots is directed to the tree above the graft. Once new growth can be seen, the tree can be transplanted outside!

You need at least two apple trees to produce fruit, but the more you have, the better chance you’ll have of thorough pollination and a good harvest!  

WHY GRAFTING IS IMPORTANT TODAY

Apple grafting is a critical part of preserving heirloom apple varieties and developing new ones. Many people use it as a means of preserving a tree they loved in childhood, from a grandparent’s farm. Earlier, we said that America produces about 200 apple varieties, but at one time, there were more than 20,000. So, what happened?

Well, apples were not really produced for eating until the 1920s or ’30s. Before then, apples were produced for sugar and fermented cider. During westward expansion in the 1800s, settlers were offered 100 acres of land if they would commit to establishing homesteads and settlements on it. In most cases, they were required to plant fifty apple trees over the course of three years to prove that they were established. About this time, an enterprising man named John Chapman, who you may know as Johnny Appleseed, began planting hundreds of acres of apples across the unexplored west, selling the seedlings, and even selling land planted with apple trees, to frontiersmen. They would cultivate apple orchards and, as new apples were discovered with desirable qualities, nice colors, etc., they would be preserved. 

But in the 1920s and ’30s, as apples became popular for eating and mass production and nationwide shipping fell into popular demand, large companies began selectively growing only a few types of apples that kept well in storage and didn’t bruise easily. Countless varieties of heirloom apples were lost. 

Orchardist John Hoskins says that there has been a push back against mass production with the return of small farmers, apple grafting workshops, and a growing community of heirloom apple enthusiasts. Now, “Fruit Explorers” (that’s really what they’re called!) are out there searching for hundred-year-old apple trees to collect cuttings and preserve varieties. They conduct research to try to identify the tree, and as a result, long-lost apple varieties are coming back into popular cultivation, and the art of apple grafting is being rediscovered.

Laura Miner knows a thing or two about a well-run kitchen. As a mom of three and the creator behind the popular food blog Cook at Home Mom, Miner spends much of her time testing recipes and creating content for her blog, all while serving up three square meals a day for her family.

“I always wanted the kitchen to be the center of the home, like it was for my mother and grandmother,” Miner said.

A New York native, Miner grew up around food and the community that it can create. Her grandmother was known for hosting big family meals and get-togethers and it was in her kitchen that Miner herself began to cook.

“Every Sunday, we were there and she always had something cooking,” Miner recounted. “The kitchen was the center of the household and food was always at the center of our family. I learned the basics from my grandmother and, as I got older and went away to college, I would call her and say, ‘Okay, I have a can of beans and an onion here, and I think I have some pasta in the cabinet,’ and she would basically give me a cooking lesson on the phone.”

It was after Miner got married and had kids that she started experimenting more in the kitchen—deviating from the soul-nourishing cheese and pasta staples from her childhood and learning how to adapt recipes to her and her family’s preferences. She started her blog, Cook at Home Mom, in 2014 on a whim and a means to connect with others creatively. At that time, she had just moved to Lynchburg with her family and was a new stay-at-home-mom and the blog served as a hobby, creative outlet, and, by 2018, her full-time job.

Steady readers of Cook at Home Mom will notice an emphasis on whole, healthy foods, many of which are Whole30, paleo, or low-carb friendly.

“I didn’t grow up eating that way,” Miner explained. “I grew up eating pasta and cheese—all the things that are good for the soul but not necessarily good for my body. I did the Whole30 in 2015 and I found that all sorts of lifelong issues that I had felt—rosacea, joint pain, inflammation issues—disappeared. I hadn’t realized before then that I was having reactions to certain foods. So anti-inflammatory diets have just helped me feel better. After I finished the Whole30, I started transitioning to a paleo-type of diet—but I still do occasionally eat bread and cheese.”

There’s a natural crossover between the recipes Miner shares on her blog and the meals that make their way to her family’s table. On and off the internet, Miner prioritizes whole foods while still leaving plenty of room for special indulgences.

“We don’t have our kids follow any strict protocol or anything like that. My main concern is their overall health,” she said. “I think it’s good to allow them to experience all the different foods that there are and talk in kid-friendly terms about the decisions that we make. When we are watching what we eat, we talk about it not in terms of what we can’t have, but in terms of what we can have. To little kids, that makes sense in a way that is less harmful than talking about food as either ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ And we explain to them that their taste buds change every now and again and that they may now like a food that they didn’t before. I want them to have a good relationship with food.”

The prioritization of accessible whole foods plus the daily cadence of creating new content for her blog means Miner requires a lot out of a kitchen. But when they moved into their Lynchburg home, its piecemealed kitchen quickly exposed inefficiencies and frustration.

“The kitchen was essentially three separate rooms,” said Miner. “We had to knock out two walls. There was a full wall and a door between the kitchen and the dining room. For us, it just didn’t make sense.”

Despite the glaring inefficiencies of the space, Miner and her family spent a full year living in and getting to know their home before jumping into renovations.

“Over time, you think about how you use the space and how you want to use the space,” she said.

After observing, cooking, and learning, renovations got underway. The Miners knocked out the ancillary walls to completely open the kitchen into their living room and took down the door between the kitchen and dining room. What was left was a flood of northwestern light that gradually softens throughout the year as the tall trees in their backyard leaf out in the spring and summer.

Opening up the kitchen into the living room left two stunning bay windows that allow light to stream in.

“We went through several rounds of designs, and I was really worried about the windows, that they would look clunky or strange. But we wound up figuring out a way to make it work,” she said.

The new open space served as a blank canvas for what the new kitchen could be.

“I wanted the kitchen to be a place that was calm,” Miner explained. “I didn’t want it to feel crowded or cluttered, which meant we needed a lot of storage. And, of course, I wanted to focus on the utility of the kitchen. I wanted a place for everything, and I wanted everything easily accessible so I could cook quickly and with expedience.”

As a focal point to the kitchen, Miner had a large island installed with enough seating for her family of five. Miner opted for marble countertops despite countless warnings that they would get chipped and stained over time.

“I made my peace with it,” she laughed. “We opted for a leathered finish, so it really hides and masks any wear. I’m hard on the kitchen and I cook a lot. I also have little kids. So, I wanted something more durable but couldn’t find anything that matched that finish that I loved so much. I felt it brought a lot of warmth to a white kitchen.”

The island features abundant storage underneath and beside the deep stainless steel farmhouse sink, but the true storage abilities of the space can be found in the cabinets across and adjacent to the island.

Within arm’s reach of the stove is a dedicated, tiered spice drawer that keeps the many spices and seasonings Miner uses organized and close at hand.

“I knew I didn’t want to be rifling through cabinets,” she explained. “I wanted to be able to go through it in quick order.”

Other efficiencies found their way into Miner’s kitchen redesign—from electrical outlets in the pantries and a dedicated coffee space to a uniquely placed kettle faucet.

“I fill my Berkey [water filtration system] twice a day, so I knew that I wanted a dedicated faucet right above it,” she said. “I also wanted the coffee out of the way so people could come in and make themselves a cup and not interrupt me while I was making breakfast. You just have to know how you work and how you function.”

Miner prioritized design and functionality decisions that felt timeless—like the picket tile backsplash and cabinet finishes—with enough flexibility for the kitchen to continue to evolve as their needs change.

“A designer once told me, ‘Don’t do anything permanent if you’re not sure.’ That’s advice that I took to heart,”  she said.

Miner doesn’t consider her kitchen to be “finished,” and it may never be. For now, future plans include installing bay window seating and storage and continuing to spend her days whipping up nourishing meals for her family and readers.  

 When it comes to planning your family’s summer, balance is key. There is much to be said for the lazy, hazy days that find you laying outside with a good book and a glass of lemonade, but having too many of those days—especially when kids are involved—is a no-go. Luckily, adding structure to your summer also adds fun and excitement! The following pages are full of family-friendly events, outstanding organizations, and adventurous activities that will make your summer memorable—and the furthest thing from monotonous.

Imagination Station
We are keeping little minds growing and creating through art. Masterpieces will be made on different canvases, ceramics, glass, tiles, or wood, while learning to use a variety of mediums. These consist of but are not limited to acrylic, watercolors, oil pastels, gesso, charcoal and much more. Pack a NUT-FREE lunch with a drink and get ready to create. Visit imaginationstationstudios.com for more information.

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Lynchburg Parks & Recreation
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation offers a variety of services and activities to residents and visitors. We maintain over 40 miles of our trails and 17 parks, which offer organized and open areas for recreation, enjoying a picnic, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and children’s play. Find your summertime fun with us! lynchburgparksandrec.com.

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Johnson Health Center
Johnson Health Center is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center with locations in the city of Lynchburg as well as Amherst, Bedford and Campbell Counties. Services include primary care, behavioral health, dental, OB/GYN and on-site pharmacies. All insurances are accepted and new patients are always welcome.

Coming in 2024 – the new Amherst County Community Health Center! This new health center will combine many current services including adult and pediatric primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy with drive-thru, and provide a wellness center designed to facilitate nutritional education and physical fitness.

With your all fun-filled summer activities let the professionals at Johnson Health Center help keep you healthy. For more information visit jhcvirginia.org

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Liberty University
Looking for an unforgettable camp experience? Look no further than Liberty University! We offer a wide variety of camps including athletic camps, academic camps, and external camps and conferences from June to August! Whether you’re taking the field at Football Camp, making your musical debut in the theatre, or snowboarding downhill at Snowflex, there is something for everyone at Liberty University, and Liberty provides several opportunities for campers of all ages to create memories while developing their skills and building a strong foundation with Christ! If you would like to learn more about all Liberty University Summer Camps has to offer, visit our website at www.liberty.edu/summer-camps/.

Natural Bridge Zoo

Natural Bridge Zoo is the wildest place in the state of Virginia, full of fun and excitement for any age! We allow you to get close and personal with a wide variety of rare and endangered animals. Stare into the eyes of a huge white tiger, feed a giraffe, hug a llama, and have a parakeet land on your hand in parakeet landing. Experience an elephant ride by looking at the world from a different view point while feeling the gait of the elephants walk (offered scheduled days/times). See a wide variety of beautiful birds, colorful goats, monkeys, deer, mountain lions and many more. Spend a wonderful day at the Natural Bridge Zoo creating lasting memories with the whole family. For more information, call 540-291-2420 or visit naturalbridgezoo.com.

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Lynchburg Scene Newsletter
Subscribe to the Free Lynchburg Living Scene Newsletter! There is always something going on in the greater Lynchburg area—so much, in fact, that we have an entire newsletter dedicated to sharing what’s current. Don’t miss out on weekly reminders pertaining to some of the best local happenings. From big events like festivals and concerts to small events like farmers markets and small business events, we cover it all. Sign up at LynchburgLiving.com.

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Patrick Henry’s Red Hill
Patrick Henry’s Red Hill is the perfect place to spend your summer! Join us all season long for monthly lectures, walking tours, and our signature Independence Day Celebration.

Our 1,000 acres provide the perfect setting for your visit. Whether you’re an avid historian, a casual hiker, or want to get outside, you’ll always be welcomed at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill. Visit redhill.org for more information.

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Putt-Putt Fun Center Lynchburg

As you plan your summer fun, think beyond the routine road trip and Let The Fun Begin!^TM with all the action and competition to be experienced at a 3+ acre indoor/outdoor family entertainment park!

Feel the Breeze

Jump into the driver’s seat and become champion of the asphalt, zooming around our track for a rush of pure adrenaline. We have karts for single riders, as well as karts that can accommodate a parent and child.

Get Wet

A cool splash on a water ride is a great way to beat the summer heat. Battle it out with friends during a whirling, twirling and wet ride on our bumper boats equipped with water cannons.

Bring it Inside

Escape the heat and team up with family and friends. Guaranteeing nonstop excitement, our laser tag arena is the only two-story arena in Lynchburg. With ALL NEW laser tag vests, our arena is the place to escape sunburn and see who really the ultimate champion is.

Let’s Chill

Chillout and test your skills with the latest and greatest games like NERF and Minion Soccer. Plus, all the classics like air hockey and skee ball. After you’ve won all the points you can, turn them in at the redemption counter for awesome prizes.

Loop the 18

Bragging rights are at stake on our two 18-hole Putt-Putt® Golf courses! Soak in the fun AND the Vitamin D with the entire family. You may even get lucky and ace your shot on our skill-based par 2 courses! Visit PuttPutt.com/Lynchburg-VA to start the fun!

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YMCA
Summer at the YMCA is an experience like no other. It’s a time for kids to make new friends, try new things, and create unforgettable memories. With a wide range of programs and activities, the YMCA is the perfect place for children to spend their summer. From swimming and sports to arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone. YMCA summer camp offers a safe and supportive environment where children can grow, learn, and have fun. With experienced counselors and staff, parents can rest assured that their kids are in good hands. In addition to the camp, the YMCA offers swim lessons, sports programs, and other activities for children of all ages. To learn more about the YMCA, visit ymcacva.org.

From April 15 to April 22, beautiful homes and gardens across the state will open their doors and garden gates to visitors hoping to get glimpses of heirloom blooms and inspiration for their own home gardens. Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, Historic Garden Week is a beloved tradition.

“For more than a century, the Garden Club of Virginia has been an advocate for our commonwealth,” said the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV). “GCV has held fast to its core values: to educate, beautify, share a love of horticulture, increase awareness of important environmental and conservation issues, and to preserve historic public landscapes.”

The first garden that the Garden Club of Virginia restored was back in 1929, in Fredericksburg at historic Kenmore, George Washington’s ferry farm. Since then, they have restored gardens at UVA in Charlottesville, Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, and Mount Vernon.

Locally in Lynchburg, the Club has restored the carriage turnaround at Poplar Forest and restored the gardens at Sweet Briar College, the Miller Claytor House, Point of Honor, and the Anne Spencer Gardens.

This level of commitment to preservation and beautification extends to Lynchburg’s local efforts and participation during Historic Garden Week. On April 18, locals and visitors will be able to tour the private and public grounds participating in Lynchburg Garden Day, which is hosted by Lynchburg Garden Club and Hillside Garden Club.

“Along with the five lovely homes on tour, we are very excited about the opportunity to partner with Camp Kum Ba Yah,” said Edie Light, one of the team members organizing this year’s Lynchburg Garden Day. “A ‘Mother Nature’ form will be created by Garden Club members using the leftover flowers from the home arrangers. We will also have several vendors who will be selling natural and gardening items.”

In addition to the private homes that will be available for tour, a number of public spaces will be open for viewing. They include:

Point of Honor: 112 Cabell Street. Sited in Daniel’s Hill overlooking the James River, Point of Honor is an example of Piedmont Federal architecture, built c.1815 for Dr. George Cabell. Pointofhonor.org

Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest: 1776 Poplar Forest Pkwy. Jefferson’s private retreat and plantation, Poplar Forest provided Jefferson with the perfect setting to pursue his passion for reading, writing, and gardening after retiring from public life in 1809. The octagonal shaped home reflects Jefferson’s idealistic design aesthetic and celebrates classical forms in architecture. A Virginia and National Historic Landmark. Free admission is for the garden only. Poplarforest.org

Sweet Briar Gardens: Route 29, 12 miles north of Lynchburg.. Surrounding the historic Sweet Briar House, the Boxwood Garden and Daisy’s Garden date to the 19th century. Gardens only. (434) 381-6163

Anne Spencer House and Garden: 1313 Pierce Street. This Queen Anne-style house was home to noted Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer (1889-1975). Her garden cottage, “Edankraal,” was a retreat and source of inspiration for many poems. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property is a two-time winner of the GCV’s Commonwealth Award. Annespencermuseum.com

Miller-Claytor House and Garden: 2200 Miller Claytor Lane. Lynchburg’s only remaining 18th-century townhouse was originally located downtown and was moved to Riverside Park in 1936. A Virginia Historic Landmark. Lynchburghistoricalfoundation.org

Old City Cemetery: 401 Taylor Street. Described as a “grave garden,” the cemetery is an arboretum of historic plants with specimens botanically labeled, including more than 425 antique roses, medicinal herbs, a butterfly garden and pond, shrub garden, antique daffodils, and hundreds of native and ornamental trees. The cemetery is a Virginia Historic Landmark. Gravegarden.org

“Viburnum, scilla, tulips, hellebores, Solomon’s seal, Lady Bank’s rose, red buckeye, dogwood, lilac, daffodils, tree peonies, and arum are some of the plant material seen in arrangements during Garden Day,” explained Light. “Plus Columbine, bleeding heart, lily of the valley, kerria, candy tuft, and spirea. We have had a mild winter so far and Garden Day is early. So while the [aforementioned] is what you will usually see on Garden Day, there are no guarantees that any of this will actually be blooming for this Garden Day. And that is the beauty of it…it is always different.”

Five private homes will generously open their doors to Garden Day guests, as well.

“There are five private homes and Camp Kum Ba Yah on tour this year,” said Light. “The home owners graciously allow Garden Club members to drop off gathered flowers on Sunday, turn their homes upside down by arranging on Monday and then open their homes to visitors on Tuesday. We are very grateful to all of them for their generosity. A ticket station will be at the entrance where you can either purchase a ticket or have your ticket stamped. Visitors will be greeted at the entrance and then shown the starting route. Docents will be stationed throughout the home to further help with the traffic flow and to answer questions as best they can.  Arrangements will have note cards next to them which state the composition flowers and the arrangers. It’s wonderful to see all of the beautiful arrangements in various sizes and colors.”

The private homes for this year’s Lynchburg Garden Day include:

114 Craftsman Way – Gail and J. Wayne Harris, owners

105 Lee Circle – Catherine and Mike Madden, owners

3820 Sheringham Place – Suzanne and Stephen Johnson, owners

1050 Greenway Court – Lea and Billy Barksdale, Owners

206 Saint James Place – Karen and Michael Owen, Owners

“This is the first ‘normal’ tour we’ve had since COVID,” said Light. “ If the weather cooperates, we anticipate we could have over 1000 people attend.”

Electronic tickets can be purchased in advance online at vagardenweek.org. Hard copy tickets can also be purchased at Findings, George’s Feed Seed and Grow Shop, The Columns, Farm Basket, Lynchburg Museum and Visitor Services, Lynchburg Garden Supply, Paisley’s, YMCA, and Hill House Gifts. Advanced tickets are $50.00. 

Tickets will also be sold on Garden Day at all of the home sites and Camp Kum Ba Yah. Tickets sold on the day of the tour will be $60. Single visit tickets will also be available for purchase for $15.00 per home. Cash or checks will be accepted at the home sites. All of the tickets are non refundable.

The Lynchburg Garden Day tour runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on April 18 with no rain date alternative. Attendees should wear comfortable clothing and good walking shoes, as this is a walking tour. Parking will be available at First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Peakland Methodist Church, and along Country Club Lane. 

For more information about Lynchburg Garden Day or Historic Garden Week, visit vagardenweek.org. 

All photos courtesy of Lynchburg Garden Club and Hillside Garden Club.

A Kansas City, Missouri, native, Shana Gammon has been around irises her whole life and the familiar has become her passion. Gammon is the owner of Stormy Weather Iris Gardens, a private house garden that sits on a quarter acre within Lynchburg City limits.

Consisting of five beds and 200 different varieties of tall bearded iris, the garden officially opened to the public in 2017.

“I started doing floral photography in 2006 or 2007,” Gammon said of how the garden got its start. “I exhibited nationally and worked with hospitals around the country,  providing photos for their galleries and so on. With four children, it was easier to grow what I wanted to photograph rather than travel around to shoot. Irises were one of the flowers I started growing at that time and they became one of my favorite flowers.”

Stormy Weather Iris Garden grows irises in every color and color pattern, from Plicata and Broken Color irises to Amoena and several Space Age varieties.

“All are tall bearded, but each is different,” said Gammon.

As if walking among a sea of multicolored irises weren’t special enough, Stormy Weather Iris Garden is also one of two Historic Iris Display Gardens in Virginia, with the second being Tufton Farm at Monticello.

“I love history, so joining the Historic Iris Society was a perfect fit for me,” explained Gammon. “One of the requirements is that you have to have at least 15 historic iris varieties in your garden and the garden should be open to the public. We have more than 15 historic varieties but we also have many newer introductions.”

To qualify as a historic iris, the iris must have been introduced to the American Iris Society 30 years ago or earlier. 

For Gammon, sourcing which irises to grow in the gardens is one of the highlights of operating a historic iris garden.

“I’ve worked hard over the years to establish a collection that is unique and something you won’t see anywhere else in Central Virginia,” she said. “My collection is from private and commercial growers from around the United States. We have some varieties from well-known hybridizers, but I also like to reach out to hybridizers within local clubs around the county and collect their varieties as well. They haven’t received as much recognition nationally, but their varieties are beautiful.”

Last year, Gammon obtained varieties from a hybridizer in New Mexico and, in the previous year, she obtained several varieties from a hybridizer in Wisconsin—varieties that are unique to their collection and that won’t be found anywhere else in the area.

Home gardeners looking to expand their own iris gardens or dip their toes into planting irises for the first time can look to Stormy Weather Iris Gardens for their rhizome purchases. Their annual rhizome sale is the third weekend in July, which runs on Etsy.

“Each year we have sold out within a few hours,” Gammon said. “This year will be the first year we will be shipping nationwide, so order early!”

Stormy Weather Iris Gardens is state licensed and inspected for rhizome delivery, and their Etsy shop can be found on Etsy by searching “Stormy Weather Iris”.

To visit Stormy Weather Iris Gardens, simply email stormyweatheriris@yahoo.com to schedule a visitation time. They will begin scheduling in the first week of April and visits are free. Irises usually start blooming toward the end of April and their Open House runs the first two weekends in May with peak bloom typically around Mother’s Day.

The Herbs and Flowers You Need to Create a Stunning, and Healing, Medicinal Garden

Herbal medicine predates written language and recorded history. Archaeologists have found evidence of herbal medicine usage as far back as 60,000 years at research sites in present day Iraq. Now, we have chemically synthesized medicines that, without a doubt, save lives and cure disease, however, our modern medicine doesn’t nullify the value and importance of natural medicine. In fact, some of our most powerful drugs are still derived from plants! Did you know that two common drugs used in fighting childhood leukemia come from Madagascar periwinkle?

The plant has been used by indigenous peoples for ages to treat diabetes, however it was discovered to have cancer-fighting properties in the 1950s. We have not yet figured out how to synthesize these chemicals, so we still use the plant extract itself to make these life-saving medicines, reminding us that science is amazing, but sometimes you just can’t beat nature.

As a matter of fact, there are MANY modern medicines that come from plants, or that were developed because of our understanding of plant science. And traditional herbal medicine is still practiced today in much of the world. But you don’t have to be an expert or consult a mysterious medicine woman to add herbal medicines to your cabinet. Here are a few safe and simple herbs you can incorporate into your health and wellness routine:

For Insomnia: Chamomile, Lavender, Valerian Root
All three of these herbs have long been used to reduce tension and settle the mind and body in preparation for sleep. Valerian Root is especially trusted as a natural sleep aid. Drinking a hot tea in the evening of any one or more of these herbs is a great way to treat yourself to a little R&R.

For Pain: Feverfew, Ginger, Turmeric
If you suffer from chronic pain or frequent headaches, or deal with muscle soreness after a workout or a day on your feet, these options may help to relieve your discomfort. They’re great options to try for anyone looking to lessen their use of over-the-counter pain medications. Ginger is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, as well as a host of other health benefits. Feverfew, as you might guess, is used to reduce fever, but also helps curb pain from rheumatoid arthritis and toothaches. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and has shown in some studies to be as effective as Ibuprofen in pain relief. It’s also easily incorporated into the diet in juices, smoothies, soups, or curry.

For Energy: Ginseng, Peppermint, Ashwagandha
All three of these herbs have been shown to improve energy, brain function, focus, and physical performance. Peppermint is probably the easiest to grow in your home garden and is great when used as an essential oil in a diffuser, as studies suggest that simply inhaling the scent of peppermint sharpens your focus and enhances your mood. Ginseng is popular for athletes and is commonly found in supplements and beverages. Ashwagandha is truly ancient and has continually proven to have a powerful effect on cognitive function, alertness, and even reaction time.

Powerhouse Herbs to Keep on Hand

There are a few herbs that are just good to have around, as they can address all sorts of ailments and issues. This is only a short list. In fact, most medicinal herbs have more than one use, and it’s a good idea to get an herbal guide or do some research if you’re interested in knowing more!

Ginger is one of them. I have frequent migraines, and I keep ginger in my kitchen, purse, and my desk at work, to deal with the resulting nausea. It’s also known to be hugely helpful for expectant mothers dealing with morning sickness. I prefer to eat dried ginger (you can find it at almost any grocery store), ginger chews, or cook with fresh ginger. But it is also available in supplements and teas. Even my kids enjoy the chews and get one any time they complain of an upset stomach.

Echinacea is very well-known and is used for building up the immune system. If someone in your family is already sick, giving this to other household members may help prevent them from catching the bug. The root of the plant is especially powerful. It’s also good for relieving a sore throat.

Oregano is not only delicious, but it’s also a great herb to grow in your garden, as it is antimicrobial, meaning it fights fungal, viral, and bacterial germs. It’s also high in antioxidants.

Bee Balm/Bergamot is charming in the flower garden and is also a wonderful herb with many benefits. Like oregano, it is antimicrobial. It also soothes cough, skin irritations, and stomach cramping. 

There are so many more valuable herbs that can play a role in your family’s health. Don’t be afraid to give nature a try! Afterall, it has sustained us for thousands of years.

As spring approaches, it’ll soon be time to get your herbs in the ground! Visit the medicinal garden at Old City Cemetery for inspiration as you plan and plant your own medicinal garden at home.  

Please note: While the above herbs are generally considered safe, allergic reactions and drug interactions are always possible. It’s important to consult with your doctor and conduct your own research before adding an herbal regiment to your wellness routine.

Rainwater becomes plant fuel with rain chains

utters and drains along a roof are one of the most important elements to maintain and take care of in a home. When water is effectively guided to the ground, your home’s roof, attic, or interior can be spared from damage. While most homes in the United States have a metal downspout that carries rainwater away from the home, there are additional downspout options that can be implemented on your home that are functional, beautiful, and effortlessly water your garden.

The History of the Rain Chain
Rain chains originated in Japan and are still used in many Japanese homes to keep water runoff away from roofs and foundations. Originally called kusari-doi, rain chains attach to gutters and guide rain down to the ground or to a water harvesting receptacle like a rain barrel. 

Rain chains can be DIY-ed by feeding a weather-resistant chain through copper or aluminum cups that have had holes added to them for drainage. They can also be store-bought, are incredibly affordable, and can be found in a number of different designs—from simple cups to pineapples to owls. Either way, they add a unique charm that “regular” metal downspouts just can’t offer.

Why Choose a Rain Chain?
If you’ve been considering harvesting your rainwater or have plans for a zen rock garden in your backyard, a rain chain can effortlessly guide rainwater to your desired location. 

If you don’t harvest your rainwater, you can use a rain chain to guide the water to a rock garden, planter, or fountain. Rain chains also work well as added garden components if you don’t want to entirely redirect the rain flow. Decorative rain chains can channel water into a large planter for the thirstiest plants in your garden.

Store-bought rain chains come in a variety of colors and finishes, though most are made of copper or metal. This level of customization will allow you to add a tiny pop of color or whimsy to your home.

Best yet? A rain chain could be added along the gutter channel without removing the existing downspout. Of course, your home’s unique gutter system will determine if that’s actually possible. However, many rain chains can be added by simply using tin snips to open a small hole in the gutter where the rain chain can be hung. 

There’s something to be said for the steady trickle of rain down tiny copper barrels to make you instantly feel like your home is an oasis.  

Being a teacher is more than just a job. It’s more than a just career. It’s a calling.

Our annual Top Teacher Awards are a way to honor deserving educators who have not only answered this call for public service, but they also go above and beyond to make sure their students are thriving.

This list—made up of various school districts, grade levels and subjects—is only a snapshot of the incredible teacher talent we have in our region.

Thank you to Chick-fil-A Wards Road/River Ridge for partnering with us again on this campaign and providing each teacher with a bag of gifts and coupons.