by Kathy Johnson

The rolling hills and wooded areas of Ivy are the focus this year for the area’s Virginia Garden Week, April 18 and 19. While there are some homes open on the tour, the real focus seems to be great gardens. In the Ivy area there are seven opportunities to view diverse gardens including some relatively new gardens along with some very mature gardens.

How does 700 boxwoods or 400 rhododendrons sound for massive plantings and making a real statement? Or parterre gardens (one in which the flowerbeds and paths form a pattern) filled with perennials? A disappearing fountain featuring a 500-pound piece of granite? Mountain vistas and secluded pathways are all available during these very special tours.

Brock and Julia Green’s gardens were grown and nurtured along with the family’s children. The cutting garden, including vegetables, was started by Mrs. Green’s father and her sons helped by bringing in river stone to create pathways and later they built the front patio. American and English boxwood, cypress, yew, spirea, Lenten rose, salvias, and nandina—all planted and designed to coexist with the deer. To visit this garden, Nichola and the Gillenwater homes you will use a common parking area located at 430 Gillums Ridge Road.

At Nicola Farm the gardens and a log cabin are both available for touring. Several thousand boxwoods make the most dramatic statement at Nicola, including the main boxwood garden, which contains 700 English boxwoods. Started in 2000, the mass plantings of boxwoods, charming brick pathways and restful look welcome the visitor from every view. Bright red, purple and white azaleas add color to the green palate and soften the edges. Near the parking area an old cemetery contains the grave of Thomas Jefferson’s major carpenter, James Oldham (1797-1843). Both the cabin and the gardens are open for the tour by the owners, Byrd and Mary Leavell.

A shuttle will take you from the parking area on Gillums Road to Grand View, the home of Jay and Shirley Gillenwater. In 1986 and ’87, four hundred rhododendrons were obtained from Germany by the Gillenwaters to provide the foundation for these gardens. Once owned by the Meriwether Lewis family, the gardens contain five acres of azaleas and rhododendrons. Oriental gardens boast large soapstone boulders from Schuyler and there are several stacked cairns, garden art, a stream, waterfall, pond and fabulous stone fountain. These gardens also include eight greenhouses and another two-acre pond.

The house and gardens are both open at Plainfields, the home of Kirk and Cathy Train. Located at 705 Mechums West Drive, these gardens attempt to redirect deer and invite birds. Several different styles of birdhouses invite the occupants to come stay and enjoy. Lovely vistas surround the home and encourage taking a moment out of a busy day.

Whispering Pines, home to Carol and Bernard Tautkus, includes many artistic features within the park-like, wooded setting. Azalea, hosta, rose, viburnum, hydrangea, camellia, holly, dogwood, weigela, oriental grasses, crepe myrtle and day lilies, all growing midst thousands of bulbs, accent the stone and brick walkways and other paths and boardwalks that wind through open woodlands. A disappearing fountain featuring a 500- pound piece of granite will calm the soul, and the many secluded, handicapped-accessible sitting areas offer a moment for reflection. It is located at 1060 Blandemar Lane.

The final home is Halcyon Acres. Here Lee and Joanne Cutcliff offer a sunken parterre garden enclosed by a brick wall. Espaliers, boxwood, tree roses and numerous perennials bloom from spring through fall. The house and gardens are open and the pavilion near the pool offers magnificent views of pastures and mountains—‘top of the world’ view. A magnificent English-style library features carved cherry paneling and cabinetry. Halcyon Acres is located at 1495 Taylors Gap Road.

Tickets may be purchased for $30 in advance at several Charlottesville locations including Boar’s Head Inn, Crème de la Crème, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, Lloyds Hallmark Card and Gift Shop, New Dominion Book Shop and The Shade and Kenny Ball Antiques. Tickets are available at those locations until Saturday, April 10. Tickets may be ordered on the web with a credit card by accessing www,VAGardenweek.org. Tickets will be available on April 18 and 19 for $35 and individual tickets may be purchased at the gardens for $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Adults must accompany minors 17 and younger. Directions to the gardens are provided when you purchase your tickets.