'Walk on the Hill' Garden Tour, Flower Show This Weekend in Vienna

PHOTO courtesy of Town of Vienna

_________

VIENNA, VA -- Perhaps the loveliest signal that spring has indeed arrived in Vienna is the annual Walk on the Hill celebration. This year’s 42nd stroll through gardens throughout the Windover Heights Historic District on Sunday, April 24, will include the Ayr Hill Garden Club’s biennial flower show as well as, for the first time, the Green Expo, featuring Solarize Vienna and an in-home energy audit.

The yards and gardens of approximately 50 homes in the Town’s northwest historic district will be open to visitors from 2-5 p.m. April 24. “It’s a really nice way to get together,” says Town of Vienna Councilmember Carey Sienicki, a Windover Heights resident who is organizing this year’s event. “Everyone’s exhausted from sprucing up their yards and, through this event, they get to enjoy – and share – the beauty of their yards and the trees and flowers in bloom.”

As the Vienna Community Center is closed for reconstruction, the Community Enhancement Commission’s Green Expo is going al fresco this year and has been combined with Walk on the Hill.

“What better way to be green than be historic?” wonders Sienicki. “Green Expo is a good fit with Walk on the Hill. It’s never been done outside before so this is something new.”

The Ayr Hill Garden Club will present Step into History – A Small Standard Flower Show that features floral designs as well as horticultural and educational exhibits. While most Walk on the Hill activities have a rain date (Sunday, May 1), the flower show will be held April 24 rain or shine. For “day of” Walk on the Hill weather-related information if necessary, visit viennava.gov or call Vienna parks and recreation at 703-255-6360 or Historic Vienna, Inc. at 703-938-5187.

All activities are free and open to the public – more details about activities are provided below. Parking is available at Green Hedges School, 415 Windover Avenue. Many roads in the historic district will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 2 p.m.

“The longtime success of this event is truly a community effort and a wonderful start to spring,” says Historic Vienna, Inc. President Anne Stuntz.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Walk on the Hill

· self-guided walking/garden tours

· plein air artists from the Vienna Arts Society

· live music: Green Hedges School Jazz Ensemble at 2 pm and Vienna Community Band at 3 p.m., 288 Windover Avenue

· Architectural Tour with Susan Pierce of Commonwealth Home Design, 4 p.m., meet at 277 Windover Avenue

· Olde Tyme Machine performances and music-related discussions throughout the afternoon at the Marcey Log Cabin, 223 Walnut Lane

· hospitality at 277 Windover Avenue

Green Expo – Windover Avenue and Orchard Street

· alternative fuel vehicles

· see a “solarized” home and learn more about Solarize Vienna 2016, 326 West Street

· home energy check-up demo, 205 West Street

· e-recycling and composting exhibitors , 415 Windover Avenue

· James Madison High School trout program and sustainable science fair projects

· National Wildlife Federation community program and Ranger Rick

· beekeeper

· children’s passport program

· greenhouse propagation discussion, 247 Nutley Street

Ayr Hill Garden Club Flower Show – 307 Windover Ave.

· features floral designs as well as horticultural and educational exhibits

· will take place April 24 rain or shine (rain date for other activities is May 1)