Donna Dunn
By the time you hold this issue of HOME magazine in your hands, I expect spring will be in full bloom. I remember going into Virginia Baptist Hospital on April 3, and being in labor, not really noticing a lot of flora or fauna along the way. But when I came home with my daughter two days later, it seemed like all of Lynchburg was blooming! I still tell my daughter — 17 years later — that the dogwoods and azaleas always come out to celebrate her birthday.
I still love that moment each spring when I look around and it seems like the whole earth is reawakening. The red buds create a haze of purple along the back roads and tulips begin to pop up in a spectacular range of colors. It’s the perfect time to make the most of the mild weather and sun-kissed days. One of the annual traditions we highlight in this issue is Virginia’s Historic Garden Week. We’ve got all the details on the five private homes on the tour, along with some fun garden-related activities at Camp Kum-Ba-Yah.
This issue also showcases a classic Lynchburg home designed by well-known architect Stanhope Spencer Johnson (1881–1973) and renowned garden architect Charles F. Gillette. This one-of-a-kind jewel has been in the midst of an enormous garden renovation, and we immensely appreciate the Zippels sharing their progress with us.
If you’re ready for some home renovations of your own, we’ve got plenty of inspiration in this issue, especially if your kitchen needs a facelift. We offer you tips from the pros about what’s trending and what is timeless. Whether you’re planning a full kitchen renovation, new countertops, a new refrigerator or just new cabinet hardware, you’ll find tips and wisdom for all of these topics. We even have all the chore hacks you need to get your spring cleaning done without pain and suffering.
Beyond the kitchen, we also have plenty of spring-themed joie de vivre! In the garden, we’re looking at ways to enhance our outdoor living — water features, statuary and more. If you’d like to attract some pollinators in the months to come, you’ll find a list of some of the best annuals and perennials to plant this season. We also have some easy and fun recipes for hosting a brunch full of spring flavors.
The best thing about spring is its beauty and light. The worst thing is it is so fleeting. As Robert Frost once wrote in “Nothing Gold Can Stay”:
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
So don’t delay to make the most of this wonderful time of year. Pick some strawberries, plant some tomatoes, and enjoy all this season has to offer!
Donna Dunn | donna@jamesrivermedia.com
