2008
Ongoing this month:
Special Events
May 3
Spring Bird WalkLearn the basics of bird identification and explore a variety of habitats in this three-hour interpretive walk during the spring migratory season. Peggy Cornett will lead this early morning trek from Tufton Farm to the Rivanna River. This is a rigorous hike. Please wear long pants (ticks, poison ivy, etc.) and sturdy, waterproof shoes (we will be fording a swiftly flowing stream), bring binoculars, and be there at 6:30 a.m. sharp. Meets at Tufton Farm, 6:30 a.m. Reservations required. $10
May 3 , 4
Plantation Community WeekendThe sights and sounds of the early 19th century come to life on Mulberry Row, the plantation “street” along which Monticello slaves lived and labored. Costumed artisans interpret the trades and domestic skills practiced by Jefferson's enslaved and free workers. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Included in price of admission.
May 6
Fellows Forum: Jefferson and HorsesIn her Fellow’s Forum, besides reviewing the numbers and kinds of horses Jefferson had, Professor Douglass will summarize her research in several other areas of interest: his carriages (and roads), Monticello stables and coach houses, and who else rode on the mountain (servants and women). Most of all, she will underscore that his relationship with horses was part of his own identity in a special way, an aspect neglected in the studies of Jefferson. 4 p.m. at Monticello's Jefferson Library. The talk is free, but space is limited. Please e-mail to register.
May 10
Parkway Children's Nature WalkTwigs, leaves, animal tracks; big trees and little flowers; the five senses: all parents want their kids to open up to the wonders of the natural world. Parkway Manager, Jason Stevens, an experienced educator with a wide-eyed sensitivity to the curious details of nature, will lead this fun and engaging hike along Saunders-Monticello trail. Reservations required. Meets at the Parkway Lower Trailhead, 9:30 a.m. $10.
May 12
Fellows Forum: Neither Britons nor FrenchmenMatthew Hall, Assistant Professor of History at Goucher College in Maryland, explores how the radicalized French Revolution accelerated and decisively shaped the development of American national identity. Confronted with a choice between their former colonial sponsor and their Revolutionary War ally, Americans could not help but define themselves against the British and French. 3:30 p.m. at Monticello's Jefferson Library; reception follows. The event is free, but space is limited. Please e-mail to register.
May 15
Fellows Forum: Fighting for Freedom: Virginia’s Religious DissentersJohn Ragosta, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Virginia, will read Jefferson's Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom and then examine the extent to which Jefferson’s views were influenced by Virginia's dissenting population and the crucial role that group played in the statute’s adoption. 4 p.m. at Monticello's Jefferson Library. The talk is free, but space is limited. Please e-mail to register.
May 17
Montalto TrekThe Thomas Jefferson Foundation recently purchased what locals called "Brown’s Mountain," but what Jefferson named Montalto, or "high mountain." Join Peter Hatch for a strenuous, 1,000-foot-vertical hike, the long way up (but the short way down). We’ll walk through mature hardwood to learn forest dynamics, then break into cleared pastureland with unobstructed views of Albemarle County, the Blue Ridge mountains, and, of course, Monticello. Only from Montalto can one understand the geographic scope of Jefferson’s property and farms. A 2.5-hour trek only for the fittest. Reservations required. Meets at the Thomas Jefferson Parkway Lower Trailhead, 9:30 a.m. $10.
May 19
Fellows Forum: British Invasion of Virginia in 1781Michael Kranish, Washington Correspondent for The Boston Globe, will present his research on the 1781 British invasion of Virginia led by Benedict Arnold, which forced Governor Thomas Jefferson to flee Richmond to Monticello, and then, as other British troops pursued him, to flee Monticello for Poplar Forest. Kranish will discuss his use of journals, ship logs, field reports and other primary sources for research. He will also discuss how the invasion nearly ended Jefferson’s political career but ended up shaping the foundations of Jefferson’s character as he ran for and gained the presidency. The research is being conducted for a forthcoming book. 4 p.m. at Monticello's Jefferson Library. The talk is free, but space is limited. Please e-mail to register.
May 24
Center for Historic Plants Open House LecturesMichael Twitty, will deliver the Lynn Richmond Memorial Lecture honoring Monticello’s former Vegetable Gardener: “Growing Home, The African Virginian Presence in Historic Gardens and Food.” Mr. Twitty will celebrate the historical traditions that bring together African American gardens and good food, two topics that engaged the passions of Lynn Richmond. At 10:30 our friend Douglas Seidel will discuss “The Legacy of Léonie Bell” on the 10th anniversary of the installation of the Léonie Bell Rose Garden at CHP’s Tufton Farm. Ms. Bell was one of the great rosarians of the 20th century. Meets at the Jefferson Libary. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. (but pre-registration is encouraged); the program lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Boxed lunches are available by request for those attending the Open House at CHP by calling (434) 984-9822. $10
May 24
Center for Historic Plants Open HouseThe 16th annual open house at Tufton Farm will feature the rose, iris, and Dianthus collections in full bloom, and informal tours of the CHP nursery. Doug Seidel and CHP's assistant nursery manager, Dennis Whetzel, will conduct an informal workshop on propagation and identification of old and found roses. The public is encouraged to bring their mystery roses for the experts to identify. Refreshments will be served, gift plants distributed, and roses, iris, and selected perennials will be offered for sale to our special guests from the horticultural community. Call (434) 984-9816 for further information. Noon to 4 p.m. Free.
May 28
Fellows Forum: “The King’s ‘Harum-Scarum Army’Liam Paskvan, Ph.D. candidate at The College of William and Mary, will discuss schemes devised by the supporters of Lord North’s ministry to supplement the Crown’s troop levels in the rebellious colonies throughout the American Revolution. Certain policymakers called for the recruitment of American slaves, a measure that promised not only more troops for Britain’s military levies, but also freedom for many slaves who rallied to the King’s Standard. 4 p.m. at Monticello's Jefferson Library. The talk is free, but space is limited. Please e-mail to register.
For More Information: (434) 984-9822