Day Trip with the JCRA Staff

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"From Daffodils and Magnolias to Conifers and a River Walk"

  • Wednesday, April 17, 2019 – 7:00 am–10:00 pm

Join us on April 17 for a long-day trip that will leave you dreaming in technicolor! We will visit two of eastern Virginia's beautiful and inspiring gardens, with box lunches provided at Brent and Becky's Bulbs and a stop for dinner to break up the journey home.

Brent and Becky's garden

At Daffodil Lane, Brent and Becky's Bulbs features two very different gardens. One, near the shop, is an eight-acre teaching garden with 21 themed garden rooms, each populated by woody plants, including collections of magnolias and hollies, and showcasing all the bulbs represented in Brent and Becky's Bulb catalog. Brent says mulch, ground covers, and "editing of unwanted wildflowers" shows people how to avoid using chemicals on the raised beds and berms of this young garden. The second garden is five acres of a field of daffodils showing bulbs they sell, interplanted with perennials, and the gardens around two homes which showcase a collection of foundation plants with different textures, colors, and flowers. Be sure to visit the store where bulbs, garden tools, and decorative objects are available. Two books on bulbs authored by the Brent and Becky are also available in the store.

Linda and Bill Pinkham's garden

Heading south again, we will stop at the home and gardens of Linda and Bill Pinkham, where one of the finest conifer rock gardens anywhere is a main feature of the property. Once you enter the lawn area, smaller gardens and a view of the James River catch the eye. The ground slopes down a hill to a garden that winds its way along the edge of the river, where Linda and Bill have experimented with plantings, including many rare specimens, that allow for occasional flooding or very dry conditions, following the contours of the land. Intimate garden areas near the buildings are also fun to explore. Available for sale will be some of the daylily crosses Linda has bred, along with plants that Bill has propagated.

Meals

Boxed lunches are included in the trip's fee. Nuttall Store in the old Ware Neck Store and Post Office is providing lunches. Options include:

  • Chicken salad with dried cranberries on a croissant
  • Ham and Swiss cheese on wheat bread
  • Turkey and Cheddar cheese on wheat bread
  • Veggie wrap
  • Chicken salad with gluten-free crackers and brownie

Dinner is on your own in Emporia, Virginia. Options include:

  • Applebee's Grill and Bar
  • Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
  • Wendy's
  • McDonald's
  • China Garden
  • Subway

For those willing to walk a little further, additional options include:

  • Hardee's
  • Burger King
  • KFC
Cost
$80.00 for members, $100.00 for nonmembers.
Registration
Advance registration is required. Please register online using our registration e-store. Registration is limited to 40 people and is considered complete when payment is received.
Cancellation
Program cancellations can be made up to two weeks before the program's start date. A 15% cancellation fee applies.
Location
JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
Directions
Need directions? Click here.
Parking
Free parking is available at the JC Raulston Arboretum and along Beryl Road.