Residential homes in Clarke highlight Virginia Garden Tour
By Hannah Hager
Owners of historic homes in Clarke opened their residences to the public last weekend for the annual spring Virginia Garden Tour.“It's gardens and it's beautiful homes and things that I thought the public would enjoy,” said Patsy Smith, director of the Winchester-Clarke Garden Club Tour.
“The homeowners have been wonderful and gracious with their homes,” said Smith.
At historical Long Branch, which is uninhabited, curator Colette Poisson was busy preparing the home and grounds for the tour last weekend.
Having been featured many times on the tour, Long Branch boasts several gardens, including Poisson's favorite, the rose garden.
"They smell scrumptious," said Poisson as she walked through the bushes.
Cilantro and basil were growing in the herb garden and hellebore garden, the plants were spreading “babies all over the place” -- as Poisson says-- for pollination.
Listed below is a brief overview of the homes featured on the Virginia Garden tour last weekend in Clarke County, according to the Winchester-Clarke Garden tour guidebook and brochure:
Long Branch
A federal-style brick residence, Long Branch was built by Capt. Robert Carter Burwell in the early 1800s.
Throughout the years, the home underwent several additions, including columned porticos on the outside facade and Corinthian columns and a spiral staircase in the entry hall.
Harry Isaacs established a foundation to manage the property for the public benefit before his death in the 1980s.
A quarter-mile drive lined with London plane trees leads to the home, which is set in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.
Home to retired thoroughbred horses, the nearly 400-acre farm has views of the Blue Ridge mountains.
The rose, herb and hellebore gardens were conceived by Martha Robinson Cook, of Boyce, said Poisson.
Foxcote
Built in the 1990s for a retired Master of Fox Hounds, this English cottage has been upgraded by the current owners.
Its features include a glass-walled dining room, a game room with a pool table and bar, and the entrance hall has murals depicting the countryside.
For a steeplechase horse, said Smith, “It would live in heaven” if it resided in this home's newly built barn.
Framed by hardwoods and conifers, the stalls are labeled by brass plaques where now-retired winners of the Maryland Hunt Cup.
The barn was displayed on the tour, including an equine shower, laundry room, tap room and grooming stalls.
Red Gate
The federal-style home of Red Gate was built made of bricks kilned on the property in 1788.
It still boasts the original woodwork, doors and hardware. The entrance hall, living room, library and dining room retain the original – yet recently upgraded -- pinewood floors.
A Greek Revival front portico and a sun porch have been added.
The gardens compliment the house and view. The landscape is noted with several boxwoods from a Richmond nursery.
Huntingdon
Built in 1830-1, Huntingdon is a federal-style estate built out of native rubble limestone.
The drive is lined with period stone fencing. Original shutters, hardware, woodwork and floors are featured throughout the home.
A small sitting porch and a boxwood-enhanced area for entertaining is divided into a sunny garden and a shady garden.
The tour was sponsored by the Winchester-Clarke Garden Club and The Little Garden Club of Winchester.
Contact the reporter at hhager@timespapers.com