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Enjoy “Art and the Garden” at Williamsburg’s Historic Garden Week events

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In Williamsburg, Historic Garden Week in Virginia takes on a day of “Art and the Garden” with more than just pretty plants and fine furnishings in the homes open to visitors along Burns Lane on April 26.

Full ticket admission for the day includes admission to five sites, an “Art in Bloom” fine art and flower exhibition, escorted College of William and Mary landscape tour, Virginia Glass Guild show and sale, lectures on botanical art and landscape design and even a vintage car display.

“Our tour guests will find it very convenient to park in the city parking garage on North Henry Street and take the free shuttles to the neighborhood,” says tour chairwoman Terry Buntrock.

“The headquarters area is at 616 James Road — that is Cedars Bed and Breakfast. From Cedars, you can walk past vintage cars along Burns Lane back to the homes or cross the street and visit the fine art and flowers show at the Muscarelle Museum of Art. That flower show will present more than 20 works of art interpreted by flower arrangements. Just a short stroll past the Muscarelle is the Swem Library. The Virginia Glass Guild’s show and sale of ‘garden-inspired glass’ will be in the library’s Botetourt Court.”

Two homes — Lindsey Home and Bel-Mede — along Burns Lane are sure to catch your attention and make you stay awhile, according to Buntrock.

“I’m a huge fan of woodland gardens and shade-loving plants, and Ed and Glenda Lindsey have transformed a woodland ravine behind their home.

“The Lindseys added a brick-lined path through the woods that expands their usable property in a beautiful creative way; it adds some mystery and adventure to their property. I think a lot of our tour guests this year will be inspired by the use of a part of the yard that is often ignored,” Buntrock said.

Owners Jim and Pam Penny have carefully restored Bel-Mede, which was built in 1770 near Wakefield, and moved to Williamsburg in 1947 by a W&M art professor, according to Buntrock.

“Looking at the property from the front garden, tour guests will never imagine the surprise that is in store when they enter the house,” she says.

“In addition to the careful restoration, the Pennys added an art gallery wing to house their collection of folk art. I don’t want to say too much about it, because the surprise of it will be spoiled, but I will say, it is an enviable art collection and the room that houses the collection is joyful and just makes you smile to see it.”

In addition, members of the Williamsburg Garden Club will escort guests on a tour of the gardens, art and architecture on the William and Mary campus, and this year’s tour ticket includes admission to the Art Museum at Colonial Williamsburg.

“You can also visit the Williamsburg Arts District, which starts at the 800 block of Richmond Road,” says Buntrock.

“There you will find 21 sculptures that make up the Outdoor Art Gallery. As always, Mattey’s Garden at Matthew Whaley Elementary School and the Adams Garden at William and Mary are part of the tour.”

Contact Kathy at kvanmullekom@aol.com.

Want to go?

What: Historic Garden Week in Virginia Williamsburg tour, sponsored by the Williamsburg Garden Club.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 26.

Where: Burns Lane, Williamsburg.

Details: In addition to the homes on Burns Lane, the tour includes:

Admission to “Art in Bloom” flower show. The area’s top floral designers will interpret artwork from the collection at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary.

Virginia Glass Guild contemporary glass art show and sale; art inspired by the garden.

Three lectures at the Swem Library at the College of William and Mary include: 10:30 a.m., botanical artist Linda Miller presents “The History of Botanical Art;” 1:30 p.m., Fred Ferris, deputy director of Virginia Living Museum speaks about “Going Green in Your House and Garden;” and 3 p.m., Anne Corso, educational director of Chrysler Museum of Art on “Art of Design.

Vintage Car Show on Burns Lane, 10 a.m.-4:30p.m.

“Birds, Bugs and Plants: Observing the Natural World in the 18th Century” at the Art Museums at Colonial Williamsburg.

Chamber Music Candlelight Concert at Bruton Parish Church, 201 Duke of Gloucester St., at 8 p.m.

Escorted Walking Tour of the College of William and Mary Campus, Phi Beta Kappa Hall.

601 Jamestown Road. Begin your tour at the Dodge pocket garden and refreshment area (soups, sandwiches, salads and drinks until 2 p.m.) located at the side of Phi Beta Kappa Hall across the walkway from the Muscarelle Museum of Art. This 30-minute guided loop, which starts on the hour and the half-hour 10 a.m.-4 p.m. includes the Swem Library sundial garden, notable trees, sculpture and information about campus architecture and history. Optional self-guided extensions to the Wildflower Refuge, Crim Dell and the Sunken Gardens, and the historic campus are noted along the way. Lunchtime food trucks (Tex-Mex and barbecue) are just around the corner from the Wildflower Refuge.

Cost: $50 at the door or $40 in advance at Seasons, Wild Birds Unlimited and Closet Envy or at vagardenweek.org, also for information and directions.

There’s also a two-day combo ticket for April 26 in Williamsburg and April 27 in Fort Monroe (Newport News-Hampton tour) for $60 (saves $15 per tour, according to Buntrock); also a three-day combo tour that adds the April 28 Norfolk tour for $85; available at vagardenweek.org/Williamsburg.