HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK

Information Provided by the Garden Club of Virginia

LYNCHBURG TOUR
Tuesday April 29, 2025 10 am to 5 pm

Historic Garden Week 2025 in Lynchburg gives visitors access to four private homes and gardens, showcasing the Rivermont Historic District and Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center. A treat of old-world charm mixed with new conservation and horticultural practices, the tour offers visitors a variety of architectural and landscape styles. 

3115 RIVERMONT AVENUE

Sue Ott Rowland, 11th president of Randolph College 
This Georgian Revival mansion has housed the presidents of Randolph College ever since its purchase in 1983. Lynchburg architect Pendleton S. Clark designed the home inspired by Tidewater plantation homes. The hipped, slate roof is set off by dormers, and the home is anchored by two formidable chimneys. Hallmarks of the home’s craftsmanship include bay windows flanked by ornate, custom crown moulding and wainscoting. During Historic Garden Week 2025, art students of Randolph College will share selections from the college’s art collection; the complete collection resides at the Maier Museum. The park-like gardens surrounding the home were designed when the home was built in 1932 and are filled with peonies and grandiflora magnolia trees. 

3125 RIVERMONT AVENUE

Owners: Betsy and Jeb Burton 
This two-story, five-bay brick Colonial was meticulously crafted in 1941 and boasts classic design elements, generous living areas and a newly renovated modern kitchen. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has a Doric entrance to welcome guests into a foyer, which features a stairwell lined with generations of family portraits. A 6-foot, detailed replica of the U.S. Capitol hangs in the living room, anchoring the space. Built by a Shenandoah craftsman and restored by Mr. Burton’s father, it is more than 100 years old. Art brightens the rooms, and the owners’ interests in history and nature enliven the spaces. In the back, a slate terrace provides a place to lounge and view the garden, a serpentine brick wall, an arched fountain and generous planting beds of various plants, such as boxwoods and hydrangeas. 

1509 LINDEN AVENUE

Owner: George Vermilya 
A Federal-style brick home with an American foursquare design, this was constructed in 1931 for Randolph and Glenna Myers, remaining in their ownership until 1987. The character and architectural integrity of the home have been carefully maintained as the Vermilyas have updated it. The den has been enlarged, a sunroom was added in 1996, the upstairs was renovated in 2000, the kitchen was remodeled in 2018 and the upstairs bedrooms were redecorated in 2020 in a classic style. The interior contains antique furniture, rugs, porcelain, silver and art. The English cottage-style garden features a collection of David Austin English roses with a variety of perennials and shrubs that produce blooms from early spring until frost. 

1602 PARKLAND DRIVE
Owners: Torii and David Jones
A restored French Provincial home in Boonsboro built in 1929 remained in the Ivey family until 2021. The current owners undertook a complete renovation, going to great lengths to keep the home historically intact. The home features the original turret and courtyard, arched doorways and wideplank floors. It also includes many modern amenities in its remodeled kitchen and baths. The living space is airy and open, with a vaulted ceiling, containing many pieces of art by Mrs. Jones’ mother and other local artists.

CAMP KUM-BA-YAH NATURE CENTER (CKBY)

4415 Boonsboro Road
Nestled in a 47-acre urban forest with 42 acres in a conservation easement, CKBY Nature Center is a naturalized play and educational space for public enjoyment. It was organized in 1950, evolving to have various activities such as gardening and hiking. This year, the camp added Addison’s Amphitheater, which serves a variety of uses, from an outdoor classroom space to a wedding venue. Blue Ridge Conservation will supply information, while local vendors will have plants and products for sale. Children’s activities from 4-5 pm will include flower arranging and cookie decorating. ✦