246 Tuesday, April 21, 2015 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Photo courtesy of Nina Mustard and Garden Club The Williamsburg Williamsburg Bruton Parish Churchyard is a restoration project of the Garden Club of Virginia using proceeds from past Historic Garden Week tours. Commemorating the 300th anniversary of Bruton Parish, the church will be decorated with wedding flowers in celebration of one of the most joyous event in the life of a church. This theme will be reflected in flower arrangements at all tour properties including the Custis Tenement and Garden, the William and Mary President’s House and Garden, the Fife and Drum Inn, Providence Hall, and properties and gardens at Colonial Williamsburg. A floral design demonstration and sale in the Parish Hall is included. This walking tour is appropriate for bus groups and will be especially attractive to history buffs and garden enthusiasts. Properties are within the immediate area of Merchants Square. Visitors will enjoy the proximity to numerous lunch and shopping options offered by local merchants. Hosted by active flower arranging demonstration, and The Williamsburg Garden Club transportation via Colonial Williamsburg buses. Tickets are available at the Colonial ___________________________Chairman Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center the Meredith Lunceford day before the tour, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and (757) 810-2515 or on tour day 9 a.m. to noon. Tickets are [email protected] also available on tour day at Bruton Parish House, Tour Headquarters, 331 W. Duke of ___________________________Co-Chairman Gloucester St. (payment by credit card, cash, or check) and at Providence Hall House, Terry Buntrock 305 S. England St. (cash and checks only). (757) 293-8553 or Tickets are non-refundable. [email protected] Advance Ticket, General Information Advance Tickets: $40 pp. www.vagarden- & Luncheon Reservations week.org. Cash or check only through April ___________________________ 18 at 4 p.m. at Seasons of Williamsburg, Cathy Adams Jamestown Road; Wild Birds Unlimited, (757) 220-2486 or [email protected] Settlers Market, Closet Envy, Merchants Square, or by contacting Cathy Adams, info. After a day of touring, spend the night above. in Williamsburg. For reservations call 1-800-History. Two-Day Combo Ticket: $60 pp. www.va- Tour Information gardenweek.org only through April 18. Tour ___________________________ Tuesday in Williamsburg and Wednesday in Tickets: $50 pp. Includes admission to nine Hampton-Newport News and save $10 pp sites, escorted Garden Walking Tour, inter- on two tours. 247 Williamsburg Facilities: Public restrooms are located Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center. Free throughout the Historic Area, Merchants Daily Parking on the right. To Merchants Square, at the Bruton Parish House and at Square (“Merchants Square Bus Stop,” Bru- the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor ton Parish House Tour Headquarters, Fife Center. and Drum Inn, College of William and Mary Tour Headquarters/Ticket Sales/Help Desk/ President’s House, Sir Christopher Wren Checkstand and Pick-up Location for Pur- Building, Bruton Parish Church, Custis chases: Bruton Parish House, 331 W. Duke House): Exit 238, Colonial Williamsburg, of Gloucester St. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. onto Rt. 143 East. Continue on Rt. 143 East This is the only location accepting credit for 0.5 mi., turn right at the second traffic cards as well as cash and checks. Light re- light onto Rt. 132 South. Continue straight freshments served. Lunch information, maps through two traffic lights 1.9 mi., Prince and restrooms available. This is also the lo- George Street Parking Garage on the right cation for the flower arranging demonstra- (hourly fee). Exit the Henry Street Garage on tion (see below.) An exhibit of church mem- foot at Prince George St., and the Fife and orabilia is on display. Drum Inn will be on your right. Exit the Henry Street Garage on foot at N. Henry St. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bruton Parish House. and walk to the right down N. Henry St. to Watch and learn as professional design- Duke of Gloucester St. Bruton Parish House ers, Williamsburg Garden Club members Tour Headquarters, Bruton Parish Church and flower growers share techniques and and the Custis Tenement will be on your left. tips for floral designs, bouquets and embel- Exit the Henry St. Garage on N. Boundary lishments appropriate for weddings and St. and walk left to College Corner. The Wil- other Springtime celebrations (demonstra- liam and Mary President’s House and Wren tions ongoing throughout the day). You Building will be on your right. Hourly and may purchase floral creations and wares fee parking lots are also available in and from these Virginia artisans (purchases can around Merchants Square. From the Colo- be held for you while you tour). nial Williamsburg Regional Visitors Center, get off the bus at the Merchants Square Bus Wedding Photos: The Virginia is for Stop. To Williamsburg Inn (“Tavern Bus Lovers L-O-V-E letters sign can be Stop,” Providence Hall House, Walking found on Duke of Gloucester Street in Mer- Garden Tour): Exit 238, Colonial Williams- chants Square. In keeping with the wedding burg, onto Rt. 143 East. Continue on Rt. theme of the tour, the L-O-V-E letters are 143 East for 0.5 mi., turn right at the second decorated with flowers. Be sure to stop at the traffic light onto Rt. 132 South. Continue L-O-V-E letters and take a “Love is in the straight 2.1 mi., turn left at third traffic light Air” photo as a remembrance of this wed- onto W. Francis St., Continue 0.4 mi. and ding-themed day. Provided for Historic Gar- turn right into the Williamsburg Inn parking den Week as a courtesy of Merchants Square. lots and park. Walk to Providence Hall Colonial Nursery, 208 West Duke of House which is located behind the Williams- Gloucester St. Get your hands dirty in burg Inn at 312 E. Francis St. (behind and to this garden filled with vegetables and per- the left of the Williamsburg Inn.) fumed by heirloom roses and herbs. Meet a gardener and handle the specialty tools used Ticket includes admission to the in the 18th century for planting and harvest- following 9 properties, all close to ing crops. Find festive seasonal wreaths, edi- Merchants Square shops and restaurants, ble herbs, and clay flowerpots. Take a piece as well as an escorted walking tour: of our garden home with you and watch his- tory unfold before your eyes. For more infor- mation visit colonialwilliamsburg.com. For your convenience, purchases made during Mom! He Proposed! Dad! She Said Yes! the tour day will be delivered to Bruton Par- The Adams Garden at the ish House Information Desk for pick-up College of William & Mary upon completion of your tour. Corner of Richmond Road Directions: To Colonial Williamsburg and N. Boundary Street Regional Visitor Center (for ticket pur- chases or to catch the Colonial Williamsburg Dedicated in 1986, the garden has become bus): Exit 238, Colonial Williamsburg, onto a popular spot for outdoor lunches and Rt. 143 East. Continue on Rt. 143 East for study breaks for William and Mary students. 0.5 mi.; turn right at the second traffic light Originally planted with azaleas and small onto Rt. 132 South. Continue straight bulbs, this enchanting garden now includes through first traffic light for 1.3 mi., bear left interesting collections of woody and herba- onto Visitor Center Dr. Turn left at the ceous material which can be viewed from the second entrance in 0.1 mi. into Colonial crushed oyster-shell path. The Williamsburg Garden Club contributes financial support. Williamsburg 248 country’s early presidents – George Wash- ington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Tyler. The President’s House and the adjacent boxwood garden are open for Historic Garden Week by President and Mrs. W. Taylor Reveley III. The Bride’s Room Custis Tenement and Garden 202 West Duke of Gloucester Street The Custis Tenement stands on a lot ac- quired in 1714 by John Custis IV, who lived from 1678-1749. He owned this property and two lots to the west, on which he built structures and earned income through leases to a succession of tenants. The house is a re- construction of the original which burned in 1776. Presently it is leased by Bruton Parish Church for hospitality use. Fully accessible, it has an updated galley kitchen and four furnished rooms for receptions and meet- ings. Almost directly across the street from the church, it provides the perfect place for a bride to dress for the wedding ceremony. John Custis himself lived on Francis Street and was an avid plantsman, known for his four-acre garden. Later the property was in- herited by the widow of Daniel Parke Cus- tis, Martha Dandridge Custis, who married George Washington in 1759. It is a typical gambrel-roofed structure with an A-framed addition to the west. A brick terrace at the The garden will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 rear overlooks the pasture, where sheep of- p.m. on tour day. Open for Historic Garden ten graze. Open for Historic Garden Week Week by the College of William and Mary. by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Bruton Parish Church. The Rehearsal Dinner The President’s House at the Wedding Bells are Ringing and You College of William and Mary are Invited to the Wedding! 102 Richmond Road Bruton Parish Church West Duke of Gloucester Street This stately Georgian dwelling is the oldest 201 official residence for a college president in Bruton Parish was formed in 1674 the United States and has been home to 26 and is an active parish in the Episco- of the College’s 27 presidents.