April 2025 Issue

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

The University of Virginia has climbed to No. 4 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, advancing one position from last year. The university maintained its No. 24 overall ranking, tying with Emory and Georgetown universities. UVA’s commitment to accessibility and student success stands out in several key metrics. […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Memorial Garden at River Farm Honors Longtime AHS Volunteer

The backyard garden of longtime American Horticultural Society volunteer Clara Plein is the inspiration for a posthumously named garden at the AHS headquarters at River Farm in Alexandria. Dedicated last summer, the Clara B. Plein Memorial Garden showcases combinations of native plants and cultivars based on how well they support the property’s natural ecosystems—from providing […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Alexandria Home Brings “Viewing Garden” Trend to Virginia

So many elements conspire to make an outdoor space successful—how it’s organized, how it’s used, how it functions over time, how it works as part of a larger composition. And then there’s the beauty factor—the eye candy in the form of plants and details—that paint a pleasing picture. In the case of a particular garden […]

by Kendra Taylor

Must-Have Gardening Gadgets & Gear for Spring

As gardens spring back to life, having the right stuff makes all the difference. We’ve curated this season’s most innovative and reliable garden essentials—from boots and blooms to balms and bags. Tame prickly beasts with these Felco 705 Rose Gloves—your armor against vicious roses. Their leather-suede construction and adjustable nylon cuff shield against even the […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Virginia Tech’s Partnership Will 3D-Print Homes Statewide

Technology continues to amaze us, from AI to driverless cars. Now, Virginia is … printing houses? Virginia Housing, the state’s housing finance agency, and Virginia Tech unveiled a robotic 3D printer last November in Virginia Beach, capable of constructing homes. The nearly 11-foot high, 4-ton Tvasta printer, designed and built in India, cuts construction time […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Pharma Growth and Boutique Hotel Fuel Petersburg’s Boom

Tens of thousands of drivers speed past Petersburg daily on I-95, but its exit ramps are becoming busier as the city emerges as a destination in itself. The industry is moving in and fast. Denmark-based pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk acquired a facility there last December, and Phlow Pharmaceutical launched operations last summer, positioning Petersburg as […]

by Hope Cartwright

Crab Point: Home & Landscaping on the Rappahannock River

Landscape plans are always works in progress. Expected outcomes can be confounded by weather, soil, wildlife, even changing goals. That’s why it’s helpful to take a long view—just as Susan and Michael Tempest are doing with Crab Point, their property at the tip of a high-profile White Stone peninsula. Working with father-and-son team Ken and […]

by Paula Peters Chambers

Finding Connection Through Birdwatching and Serendipity

While out for a stroll, my husband and I wander into a garden shop in Georgetown. The person behind the counter is in her 20s, pale-skinned, nose ring, blue jean overalls. “Can I help you find something?” she asks. “We’re looking for a tablecloth,” I tell her. She points to a stack of Indian block […]

by Page Evans Corey

Tour the Tastes of Virginia Through Honey

By Rachel Kester What does a forest taste like? Or perhaps a bustling city or lush meadow? Savoring a landscape’s flavor might seem impossible, but don’t tell honey that. Ranging from hardwood forests in the west to agricultural fields near the coast, Virginia’s diverse environment makes for a very tasty adventure that beekeepers seek to […]

by Staff

Peggy Singlemann is Horticulture Royalty

Peggy Singlemann and I sit at her kitchen table on a cold, snow-covered January morning, sipping Lady Grey tea and enjoying a fresh loaf of her sour cream coffee cake, made from a recipe handed down to her through a family friend. When Peggy was 10, she entered it in a church baking contest—and won […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is Among the Country’s Best

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts clinched 11th place in The Washington Post’s top U.S. museums ranking, outshining major institutions in Dallas, Baltimore, and St. Louis. Critics celebrate its seamless blend of galleries and gardens, world-class collections spanning global cultures, and standout exhibitions of contemporary photography. Richmond’s art scene is set for a seismic shift as […]

by Madeline Mayhood

World’s First Grid-scale Nuclear Fusion Plant in Chesterfield

Chesterfield is making history as the future site of the world’s first grid-scale commercial nuclear fusion* power plant, with a goal of delivering power in the early 2030s. Commonwealth Fusion System (CFS), a spin-off of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will independently finance, build, own, and operate the facility at the James River Industrial Park. […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Mom Hiked the Appalachian Trail with 13 Kids in Tow

Nikki Bettis stood on the jagged summit outcrop of Shenandoah National Park’s 4,011-foot Stony Man, awed by westward panoramic views. Her heart swelled with emotion as she turned to watch her 13 kids shoulder their loaded backpacks and fall into a clamorous single-file line heading back to the Appalachian Trail (AT). “We were in an […]

by Eric J. Wallace

Authentic Greek Olive Oil Comes to Richmond Coffee Shop

In Greek culture, the olive tree is a sacred symbol representing peace, prosperity, and love. For centuries, olive trees were included in marriage dowries, in which they were often split equally between the newlyweds and the bride’s family to keep the two connected for future generations. In Palaiopanagia, a small village south of Sparta at […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Flower-Forward Things To Do in Virginia This Spring

From flower festivals and farms to Historic Garden Week, Virginia bursts with spring blossoms and inspiration. The possibilities for fun are endless, but here are some of our faves. U-Pick flower farms are the places to be for spring. Load up on beautiful blooms—from tulips and cosmos to daffodils, peonies, and more—at these micro-farms all […]

by Madeline Mayhood

2025 Trends Include Purple and Dopamine Décor

Design trends this year include bold statements in color—from using kaleidoscopic palettes to incorporating mood-boosting décor. The color purple is making a splash, with color king Benjamin Moore naming Cinnamon Slate its 2025 Color of the Year. This sophisticated blend of heathery plum and velvety brown is similar to Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal, its own […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Barter Theatre: A Historic Stage Thriving in Abingdon

At 91, she looks darn good. Barter Theatre, the official state theater, is among America’s oldest theaters and one of the nation’s few remaining professional repertory companies. While many a regional theater are cutting back on productions or even shuttering their doors, Barter appears unstoppable, setting new records for success. From 2022–2023, tickets purchased for […]

by Dawn Klavon

Richmond’s Own Baby Pygmy Hippo Earns Global Fame

Moo Deng, Thailand’s baby pygmy hippo, took social media by storm when she was born last summer. With her outsized wails for attention—her screams bigger than her body—and her sweet, W-shaped snout, she became an overnight sensation from her hippo habitat at Khao Kheow Open Zoo near Bangkok. Fast-forward to last December, and the […]

by Hope Cartwright

Experience Burnside Farms’ Stunning Festival of Spring

A rainbow of blooms takes over Burnside Farms in Nokesville each spring, creating a breathtaking backdrop of yellow, pink, red, and orange blossoms. During their annual Festival of Spring, running mid-March to mid-April (check their Instagram, @BurnsideFarms, for exact dates), visitors can picnic, play, and pick their own bundles from over 150 tulip varieties and […]

by Hope Cartwright

Pages: 123

Events

May 9, 2025

Good Foods Grocery Artist Reception

Good Foods Grocery

May 9, 2025

Wright at Twilight

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

May 9, 2025

The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical

Hylton Performing Arts Center

A New Experience at the Virginia Scenic Railway

Virginia Scenic Railway Adds Dome Car for Spectacular Valley Views The popular Virginia Scenic Railway just upped its game with a vintage dome car offering breathtaking 360° views of the Shenandoah Valley. The “Shenandoah”—built in 1948 as the “Silver Palace” for the California Zephyr—now gives passengers an unmatched vantage point on three-hour excursions from Staunton. […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Mom Hiked the Appalachian Trail with 13 Kids in Tow

by Eric J. Wallace

Williamsburg Archaeologists Uncover Secret Garden

In Colonial America, a grand garden was the ultimate status symbol—the 18th century equivalent of a Lamborghini. So when archaeologists at Colonial Williamsburg uncovered John Custis IV’s property, they struck horticultural gold: the remains of a football field-sized garden alongside his Jacobean manor house. Custis, a tobacco magnate and Martha Washington’s first father-in-law, went all […]

by Madeline Mayhood

April 2025 Issue

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Current Issue

Events

Good Foods Grocery Artist Reception

Wright at Twilight

The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical

Most Popular

A New Experience at the Virginia Scenic Railway

Mom Hiked the Appalachian Trail with 13 Kids in Tow

Williamsburg Archaeologists Uncover Secret Garden

April 2025 Issue

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Current Issue

Events

Good Foods Grocery Artist Reception

Wright at Twilight

The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

A New Experience at the Virginia Scenic Railway

Mom Hiked the Appalachian Trail with 13 Kids in Tow

Williamsburg Archaeologists Uncover Secret Garden

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today