CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. -- Monticello's Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants will conduct the 14th annual Open House at its Tufton Farm headquarters from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 27.
Visitors will be able to take informal tours of the nursery -- including the propagation greenhouses, stock beds, and display gardens -- and see roses and other flowers in full bloom. Refreshments will be served, gift plants will be distributed, and an exclusive selection of plants will be offered for sale at the event, which is free and open to the public.
From 1 to 2:30 p.m., rose expert Kent Krugh, CHP rose consultant Doug Seidel, and CHP Assistant Nursery Manager Dennis Whetzel will conduct a rose identification workshop and answer questions. Iris specialist Anner Whitehead will follow with a discussion of the identification and propagation of historic irises.
The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, collects, preserves, and distributes historic plant varieties and strives to promote greater appreciation for the origin and evolution of garden plants. The program centers on Jefferson's horticultural interests and the plants he grew at Monticello, but also covers the broad history of plants cultivated in America by including varieties documented through the 19th century.
The CHP facility at Tufton Farm is located on Milton Road (Route 732), approximately one-half mile from its intersection with Route 53.
Additional information about the CHP Open House can be obtained by calling (434) 984-9816
The Open House at Tufton Farm will be preceded at 10 a.m. by a presentation, Old Roses Illustrated, by Krugh at the nearby Jefferson Library. Krugh will talk about and show photographs of the roses in three historic Virginia cemeteries: Thornrose in Staunton, the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, and Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
The fee for this presentation is $10, and reservations are required. Reservations can be made by calling (434) 984-9822 or visiting the Web site monticello.org.
