Not just public art in private spaces, the 23rd annual New River Valley Garden Tour, of seven well-groomed Blacksburg gardens is meant to demonstrate good ideas about palette, structure and design, structure and story-telling, giving you the nerve to do that exciting thing with ferns on that shady side of the house.
A self-guided, rain or shine tour, visitors wander in and out from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. this Saturday, July 7.
Friends of the Library with the cooperation of the New River Valley Master Gardeners’ Association, Master Gardeners will be on hand to help identify and discuss unique plants and trees, and point out sustainable gardening practices and plein air artists will be stationed in each garden.
“The garden tour showcases seven exquisite private gardens in Blacksburg every July,” said hosts Friends of the Library with the cooperation of the New River Valley Master Gardeners’ Association in an announcement showcasing innovative, specialty and simply beautiful private gardens in the New River Valley.
“Elissa Steeves’ garden on York Dr. has been featured in Southern Living, Horticulture magazine and other periodicals. It’s known far and wide for its ever-changing diversity. Combining whimsy and art with an amazing array of flora and fauna, it is a horticulture delight,” Lynn Brammer, a Master Gardener helping organize the long-running event, said. “Visit the Master Gardener plant clinic tent at the Effinger garden for your soil test kits, planting charts and free seeds!”
Advance tickets, maps, and brochures are available at Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Jessie Peterman, and Meadowbrook libraries as well as libraries in Salem and Radford.
“Bring your camera and your notebook. We recommend folks make a day of the tour and stop by a local restaurant to catch their breath, cool off and enjoy supporting all that is local,” the Friends said.
Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 on the day of the tour-available that day at any of the gardens. For more information and a map visit: mfrlfriends.org/gardentour.html.
