Blandy Farm and State Arboretum –
Have you ever visited Blandy Farm on Mother’s Day weekend for their Garden Fair? If not, do yourself a favor this year and go visit. Take in all the wonderful vendors and stroll the grounds. Or go on a day where you have the place almost to yourself and take in the wonderful specimens of trees and shrubs. Some of which were planted almost 100 years ago.
I went to VA Tech as a horticulture student and we had a field trip to Blandy. Reading up on it for this post, I was fascinated by the history of the place. I don’t think a single one of us on that trip picked up on the fact that we were on UVA ground! We might not have gotten off the bus.
I still have pictures from that trip in 1979, of the beautiful trees, the old buildings and some really cool rock formations. Last time I was there – I couldn’t find anything from my old trip – but it was just as beautiful.
Below is a timeline with some high points and interesting facts about Blandy.
- Blandy Farm was established in 1926 when Graham Blandy, a New York stockbroker, and railroad tycoon, left 700 acres to the University of Virginia. In 1927 Dr. Orland E White became the first director. He was asked to establish a working field lab for advanced
- The students, under Dr. White’s guidance, created the Arboretum to collect and study genetic diversity in woody plants and shrubs. Dr. White retired in 1955, leaving behind a collection of some 5,000 specimens at the Arboretum. Over 1,000 of those specimens are still standing today.
- After Dr. White’s retirement, Dr. Ralph Singleton took over. Also known as “the Father of Hybrid Sweet Corn Breeding”, Dr. Singleton took the fieldwork in a new direction. In the hopes of creating crops with disease resistant and greater yields, he started experimenting with nuclear radiation.
- The American Boxwood Society was established at Blandy in 1961.
- Between the years of 1965-1972, the University lost interest in the research programs and the Arboretum was neglected and became overgrown.
- In 1972 Tom Evert was named Director and Curator. He brought with him a vision of Blandy becoming a community resource, emphasizing horticulture and community outreach.
- So began the Blandy that we all know and love today. Mr. Evert added seasonal programming, garden shows and allowed the use of the grounds for weddings.
- He also added and encouraged school field trips. I was a beneficiary of one of those early field trips when my Horticulture class made a trip in 1979
- From 1973-1987 Lord Fairfax Community College also took advantage of the programming. Bringing students to study farming.
- 1975-1990 Bob Arnold was on board as an arborist and historian.
- 1977 saw the first ornamental garden created – The Herb and Boxwood Memorial Garden.
- From 1983 to 1997 Ed Connor was Director, focusing on the ecology of plant-eating insects and trees and shrubs.
- 1984 FOSA or Friends of State Arboretum was established along with the shop being opened and the first Garden Fair and ArborFest.
- In 1999, the woodland section of the Nancy Lawick Crosby Native Plant Trail was opened.
- 2001 brought the meadow and wetland parts of the trail, along with the Hewlett Lewis Overlook Pavilion.
- 2004 saw the Peetwood Pavilion built classrooms for the K-12 class programming.
- 2009 the Wilkins Lane Loop Drive was open, allowing visitors access to the farther reaches of the property.
- 2012 glass doors were installed to the Peetwood Pavilion allowing longer use of the classrooms.
There are so many reasons to visit Blandy!
- There are eight herbaceous gardens
- Herb Garden
- Pollinators Garden
- Zoo Garden – where all the plants are named after an animal!
- Walter Flory Memorial Iris Garden
- Kiosk Annual Display Garden – where a small space garden is planted with veggies, herbs, and annuals for pollinators.
- VA Native Garden
- Dwarf Conifer Collection at the Margaret Byrd Simpson Amphitheater
- Courtyard Gardens at the Quarters Building which shows how to use a micro-climate to grow plants slightly outside of our zone.
- There are several trails with their own brochure for those who enjoy walking and even one for horses!
- Native Plant Trail
- Conifer Trail
- Ginko Grove
- Boxwood Garden
- Audio Trail – which lets you listen to an audio lesson on the plants you are viewing
- Bridle Trail – for those who want to be on their horse exploring the grounds
- Wilkins Lane Loop Drive – for those who aren’t up to walking, this drive takes you around the outermost spots of the grounds.
Blandy also has a wide range of programs, both educational and fun, for all ages.
In keeping with their history of education and research, Blandy offers educational class/activities for pre-school, elementary and secondary classes. There is also a research community that comes to Blandy for environmental studies as Blandy supports a wide range of habitats to be discovered.
Blandy offers:
- Spring Programs
- Summer Camp
- Book Club
- Photo Club
- Sketch group
And if that isn’t enough, you can also get a plot of land to grow your own in their Community Gardens! All they ask is that you donate a portion of your produce.
Please visit their website for much more information. http://blandy.virginia.edu/
All in all, there is an abundance of offerings at Blandy. I do hope you get a chance to visit one day soon.
Have you been to Blandy? I would love for you to share your pictures and memories in the comment section below!
