It never fails. Whenever I try to steer the Floramont Journal back to France, something throws me off course. Before you know it, I am headed back onto a southerly course. This time, it was a combination of two forces: A garden and a book. I'm not yet ready to talk about the book, so let's focus on the botanical excursion.
Recently, I had a chance to visit MacCallum More Museum & Gardens in Chase City, a historic town in Southern Virginia. I always wanted to visit this garden, but the timing was never right. My husband and I drove by it on our way back from getting married, but there was not enough time for a proper visit. Luckily, a friend was familiar with the garden and seemed glad to have a chance to visit, so we arranged to go there on a sunny Saturday afternoon. As a matter of fact, my friend's relative has an impressive arrowhead collection at the garden's museum. The original collection, consisting of about 50,000 arrowheads and related artifacts, has been catalogued and managed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. A few pieces can be found at the Smithsonian, too. The pieces go back to 9000 B.C., mostly found in the surrounding area of southern Virginia.
Seeing the museum was just the beginning of awe and wonder. When we stepped back outside, the enthusiastic tour guide shared sweet stories passed down by family members and local residents. There was so much to see all at once. I would have been content just to look at the ironwork from places like New Orleans and Europe. Let's just say an imported Spanish stone cloister can be found next to a bubbling fountain with goldfish, leading to a large-columned courtyard, then follow the path to a rose garden, walking amongst Greek and Italian statues and, oh my goodness, I could keep going. There is so much more to the story, but you may want to visit, so I don't want to give too many spoiler alerts!
Interested in seeing MacCallum More Museum & Gardens for yourself? While the garden is open virtually every day, you can also visit during Virginia Garden Week 2024 during the Chase City Tour on Saturday, April 27th. You can also learn more about the garden by visiting the official website: maccallummore.org.
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