74 Photo courtesy of Lisa Stuart Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Fredericksburg10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Kenmore Valley neighborhood was part of the original estate of Colonel Fielding Lewis’ Kenmore Plantation, and was surveyed by George Washington in 1752. Subdivisions on the farmland began as early as 1853, and as the growth of Fredericksburg accelerated westward with the establishment of the “State Normal School” on the heights above, the city chose to annex the valley. This walking tour is situated between Sunken Road, the eastern boundary of the University of Mary Washington on one hill, and Kenmore Avenue following the route of the old mill race that ran down the valley below Kenmore Plantation on the other side. Hosted by The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club Co-Chairmen Advance Tickets: $35 pp www.vagarden- Lisa Stuart (804) 366-2187 week.org. Also at the following locations: [email protected] Monkee’s of Fredericksburg, Salon 730, Lydia’s, Whittinghams, Virginia Hill, Fred- Anne Stuart (540) 368-2535 ericksburg Visitor Center and Spotsylva- [email protected] nia Visitor Center at Massaponax. Cut-off date for advance ticket sales at local loca- tions is Monday, April 24, at noon. Bus and Group Tour Information There are many restaurants near the Lana King (540) 847-5990 tour area. For reservations and infor- [email protected] mation: J. Brian’s (540) 373-6650, Casti- glia’s (540) 373-6650, Keystone Coffee, Tickets: $45 pp available on tour day only at tour headquarters, Cossey Botanical Sandwiches & Smoothies (540) 374-5228, Park, 1601 Littlepage Street: cash, check Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee (540) 368- or credit card. 5500. Local brochures and guidebooks also Complimentary and served from 11 available. a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the garden at 909 Madison Street. Fredericksburg 75 Facilities/bathrooms: Fredericksburg kitchen, added a large den with a dining Visitor Center, 706 Caroline Street, and area on the back of the house, and created portable toilet at Cossey Park, 1601 Lit- a new master bedroom and bath upstairs. tlepage Street. One element of the original house that the Kileys kept are the mezuzahs in some of Horticulture exhibit all day at 1715 the doorways, which contain parchments Sunken Road. with verses from the Torah. A covered slate Flower-arranging demonstrations at 11 patio off the den overlooks a casual city a.m. and 1 p.m. at 1618 Franklin Street. garden enclosed by a brick wall, including a custom scupper, a wall fountain, a pond, The Fredericksburg Plein Air Artists will and a steel pergola.The garden adds to the be located at homes and gardens located many outdoor spaces the owners enjoy nu- on the tour. Painting during the hours of merous months of the year. Artifacts found 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the excavation will be displayed. Betsy and Jim Kiley, owners. Tour private courtyards of the historic homes and shops located behind the new Neo-Georgian courthouse in downtown 1315 Sunken Road Fredericksburg from 3 to 7 p.m. Enjoy Two city lots which were part of the Photo courtesy of light refreshments, music, and an outdoor art gallery with a painting demonstration. original Kenmore Plantation owned by Fielding and his wife Betty Washington Neighborhood parking available near Lewis, George Washington’s sister, were the tour area. A complimentary auctioned off in 2002. The current owners trolley will be available all day between the bought both lots and decided to build a tour route and downtown. house that blended with the older neigh- borhood by using brick similar to other Directions to the tour headquarters: houses in the area. Mature trees and shrubs From I-95: take exit 130 A/ Rt. 3 East/ surround the house; a screened porch over- Business. Turn left onto William St. follow looks a natural woodland shade garden in to Kenmore Ave. make a left and follow the backyard. They recently added a raised to the end. Cossey Botanical Park, 1601 bed for vegetables. The floor plan of this Littlepage St., is the tour headquarters and house is open and spacious. An existing starting point. den can be converted to a first-floor bed- room and a full bath in the future. Items from the owners’ travels to Russia are dis- Ticket price includes admission to the played in a cabinet in the front hall and in following 6 private homes and 3 private the den. Mr. McNatt’s photographs, some gardens, Garden Club of Virginia of which won blue ribbons in Uniquely restoration sites in Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, an art show celebrating refreshments in the garden at works inspired by the Fredericksburg ex- 909 Madison St., the 3 to 7 p.m. tour perience, decorate the den and dining room walls. Family pieces, including a teapot of private courtyards, and an opportunity collection, decorate the house. Trudy and to win a painting by a member of the Milton McNatt, owners. Fredericksburg Plein Air Artists: 1201 Sunken Road This traditional, Flemish-bond, one-and- 810 Sylvania Avenue a-half-story brick house with a slate roof was built on the corner of Sunken Road Unique to the Fredericksburg area, and Cornell Street in 1954.The current this Tudor brick and stone home owners purchased the house 30 years later was built by Anne and Harry Sager in and have made a few changes to the basic 1938. Mr. Sager was the attorney for the floor plan. In 1989 they enclosed part of Sylvania plant where many of his neigh- the back patio to provide an eating area bors worked; Mrs. Sager opened Anne’s for the kitchen, added a garage with a Dress Shop on Caroline Street in the down- breezeway to the house, and constructed town area.The second and current owners a brick patio in the backyard. The kitch- bought the house in 1987. Mr. Kiley did en, bathrooms, floors, and windows were most of the renovations himself, including updated in 2006, and the living-room fire- replacing all of the windows and moldings. place was opened in the back in order to In 1990 the owners added a large brick pa- share the fireplace with the sunroom. The tio along one side of the house. A two-sto- owners have made major changes to the ry addition in 2013 updated the galley landscape, reflecting their joint interest in 76 Fredericksburg 1715 Sunken Road gardening. Ivy-covered terraces are used in arched French doors that lead to the gar- the front and back yards of this sloping lot. den. The entire first floor has raised panel The back patio overlooks what was origi- wainscoting and crown molding. Large nally an all-shade garden below the lower arched doors and windows are a repeated terrace, although part of it has recently architectural theme throughout the home. been converted to a sun garden due to tree Artwork from around the world decorates removal. The shaded portion has many the walls and serves as a catalog of where varieties of hostas and ferns, and the sunny the current owners have traveled. A low portion features herbaceous peonies and brick wall with handmade iron gates daylilies, as well as annuals in the summer. surrounds the property, creating a beauti- The northern border of the property is ful green space that can be enjoyed by dominated by a row of Leyland cypress, anyone walking by. The formal garden is fronted by crepe myrtles, viburnum, and divided into rooms with boxwood lined azaleas. In the spring, hundreds of tulips flower beds and Alberta spruce topiaries. bring color to the entire yard. Terrie and Hydrangeas and crepe myrtles complement Bill Crawley, owners. the original holly trees and hemlocks. Each room of the garden has a different fountain. Rosemary O’Grady and Mitch 1715 Sunken Road Sojack, owners. This brick house at the end of histor- ic Sunken Road was built in 1942 1618 Franklin Street and purchased by the present owners in 1988. They served as the architect, engi- This brick Georgian Colonial built in neer, and general contractor for all the ren- 1946 is situated on a gently raised ovations. The main entrance does not face corner lot. Its slate roof, interior crown the street, opening to a central hallway molding and box gutters help retain its running nearly the entire length of the original character. The current owners, home. Branching off the main hall are the who purchased the house in 1984, added a open kitchen, guest room, closets, bath- sunroom on the back of the house to re- room, and office. The central hallway ends place an in-ground pool that occupied two at a great room with a fireplace and win- thirds of the backyard. The backyard is dows on three sides and eight-foot, glass now a formal garden with boxwood-lined Fredericksburg 77 brick walkways, a fountain, pergolas, and rear courtyards. The original dormer flowers and mature trees, plus a working windows are still visible but the addition garden.The owners removed invasive and of four two-story turrets completely toxic species and replaced them with plants changed the façade. The contemporary de- that attract insects, birds, and butterflies. sign includes an open floor plan in the cen- Local artwork and watercolors of family ter of the home with rooms separated by members, painted by Mrs. Lewis’ twin un- columns instead of walls. The kitchen, all- cles, decorate the walls of the living room glass dining room, bar area, and billiard and dining room. A large oil painting of room all emanate from a great room like the family dog peeking over the garden spokes on a wheel.