Timothy Gustafson, Lees Corner Elementary, fourth grade. Photo by Bonnie Hobbs.
Spring is here, trees and flowers are in bloom and it’s time for Vienna’s annual House and Garden Tour. Presented by the Garden Club of Fairfax, it’s set for Tuesday, April 29, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
On tour are four private homes and gardens in the historic area, plus a full day of gardening-themed activities at Wolftrap Performing Arts Center and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
Advance tickets are $25 at www.vagardenweek.org or at these Vienna shops: The Dandelion Patch, 111 Church St. N.W., ReFind, 101 Church St. N.W., and Cocoa Vienna, 120 Church St. N.E. On tour day, tickets may be purchased at any of the homes or at Meadowlark. Cost is $30 to visit all the sites or $15 for just one location. Children ages 6-12 are $15.
It’s a combination shuttle bus and walking tour, so attendees are advised to wear comfortable shoes. Visitors should park at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens or at Wolf Trap National Park. Shuttle buses will drive visitors between the two parks and to two stops within the 3/4-mile loop connecting the homes on the tour’s walking portion.
Backpacks, strollers, high heels, interior photography, smoking and cell-phone use aren’t allowed inside the homes. Strollers aren’t permitted on the shuttles, either.
340 Glyndon St. N.E. -- Owned by Tommy and Randy Staats, this family farmhouse dates back to the 1890s. The windows and floors are original, as are the doorknobs. An eat-in kitchen with fireplace was added during a renovation, as were a sunroom and back porch. And during the Civil War, Union soldiers camped in the front and side yards of this home.
320 Glyndon St. N.E. -- This 30-year-old house is a post-and-beam saltbox also owned by the Staats. It features a wisteria archway and a century-old fishpond in the front yard. Inside, there’s a double-sided fireplace on the first floor and an antique, candlelit chandelier. Highlighting the patio are a large, outside fireplace plus a fountain.
334 Ayr Hill Ave. N.E. -- This Craftsman-style house was featured in Home and Design Magazine in 2008. There are wide plank floors and 12-foot-high ceilings, and stone-based pillars anchor the foyer. The central kitchen has two stone islands, and the master-bedroom suite includes a large bathroom with an antique Italian chandelier. Owners are Kathy and Richard Igercich.
156 Church St. N.E. -- Boasting slate and copper roofs, this remodeled farmhouse is owned by the Downs family. Highlighting the living room are stained-glass windows and heart-pine floors, and the fireplace was constructed with the house 100 years ago. The kitchen has a farmhouse sink and solid walnut counter tops, and there’s a recreation area on the lower level.
Wolf Trap National Park -- Wolf Trap will offer a variety of special activities, including tours of its three, native-plant gardens containing more than 100 different species. There’ll be live music, plus other performing artists throughout the day. Visitors may learn about birds, bees and butterflies and may view ceremonial plantings, too.
Meadowlark Gardens -- The 95-acre Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is a park featuring paved walking trails over hills, through wooded areas and around three lakes, gazebos and an 18th-century farmhouse. Attendees may also enjoy the more than 20 varieties of cherry trees, as well as azaleas, lilacs, peonies, irises, a hosta and fern garden and a children’s garden. There’s even a Korean Bell Garden featuring native Korean plants and the Bell of Peace and Harmony.