Julia Billings and her daughters made exceptional changes to the formal gardens behind their Mansion incorporating sculpture, design and color into the mix. Mary Rockefeller continued the tradition with the planting of roses and a cutting garden, still in use today. The gardens are now part of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park grounds and will be featured as part of tomorrow's historical garden tour in Woodstock
Editor’s Update: This event is a fundraiser for the Woodstock Historical Society. Flower bouquets in Miranda Thomas Pottery vases will be auctioned off via silent auction Saturday afternoon. Also…For the fashion-minded…Historical dresses will be displayed at the the Dana House Museum all day Saturday.
The rain, although damp and dismal, has not kept organizers of this weekend’s History in Bloom from continuing to primp and plump their bouquets and garden beds throughout Woodstock. I just spoke with one very nervous landscape designer who was heading back to her garden to make the finishing touches on the property.
The Woodstock Historical Society tonight, as part of the “History in Bloom” event, celebrates the life of Woodstock’s Betty Emmons at an opening reception at the Historical Society museum on Elm Street from 6pm to 8pm. It promises to be an exceptional experience as flowers arrangements are being “married” to both historical and new objects and art in each room.
The full theme of the weekend “History in Bloom” is “Gardens, Fashion and Bouquets.” The cost for both tonight’s reception and tomorrow’s historical garden tour is $50. The cost for the Historical Garden Tour and special Floral Exhibit tomorrow from 11am to 3pm is $25.
The Faulkner Mansion gardens on Mountain Avenue, the Billings-Rockefeller Mansion gardens at the National Park and the Kidder/Lighbourn property on Elm Street are among gardens being shown to the public.
Give a call NOW if you’re interested to 802-457-1822 or visit www.woodstockhistorical.org
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 