John Custis IV, in addition to being a member of the political elite and the first father-in-law of Martha Washington, was the creator of one of the most renowned colonial gardens of the early eighteenth century. The four-acre garden was said to contain gravel paths, topiary, hundreds of native and imported plant varieties, and statues. While his correspondence with gardening luminaries such as Peter Collinson revealed much about the plants, the appearance and layout remained a mystery—until now. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation concluded a five-year archaeological excavation to uncover this important lost landscape. We will explore the evidence to discover the design for the garden, revealing a truly baroque layout.
JACK GARY is Executive Director of Archaeology for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He leads a team of archaeologists, curators, and scholars to reveal the hidden stories of Williamsburg’s past. He is the former Director of Archaeology and Landscapes for Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.
The Garden Conservancy will present a webinar on September 25 at 2 pm with Jack Gary. Note: You will receive the webinar link directly from Zoom. A recording of this webinar will be sent to all registrants a few days after the event. We encourage you to register, even if you cannot attend the live webinar. $5 for Garden Conservancy members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/events/web25-john-custis-9-25-2025
Colonial Williamsburg invites you to its 76th Annual Garden Symposium, Digging the Garden: Horticulture, History, & Archaeology, with Virtual and In-Person options, April 27 – 30, 2023.
To gardeners and horticulturists soil is a fundamental element which influences the survival of a plant in the future. To archaeologists, soil is the very thing that holds the remains of the past. Digging in the soil is key both to gardening and to archaeology, which converge for Colonial Williamsburg’s 76th Annual Garden Symposium.
Over the last several years, our archaeologists have dug up exciting discoveries at the site of Custis Square, home to John Custis IV (1678-1746), known by his contemporaries as a curious gardener whose ornamental garden was unparalleled in the American Colonies. This dig has expanded our understanding of not only the land, but the people, enslaved and free, who cultivated it.
According to Thomas Jefferson, “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.” Here at Colonial Williamsburg our talented landscape staff strive to nurture this relationship as they work to balance historical practices within the needs of the contemporary environment.
This year’s Garden Symposium will feature an opening Keynote on Thursday evening by English garden designer Lady Xa Tollemache, Gold and Silver winner at London’s Chelsea Flower Show, and creator of gardens at England’s stateliest houses. Author, renowned garden historian, and historic landscape consultant Mark Laird also joins us Thursday evening to discuss Virginia’s own Royal Governor Lord Botetourt and his English gardener Thomas Wright’s work at Botetourt’s Stoke Gifford.
On Friday morning, we begin our focus from both an historical and ground up perspective with Colonial Williamsburg’s Director of Archaeology Jack Gary as he considers John Custis IV, the man and gardener, and the ongoing archaeological dig which provides the historic backdrop for this year’s symposium. Nationally recognized writer, speaker, radio and television personality Charlie Nardozzi continues the conversation, speaking on the necessity of soil for the modern gardener.
Saturday morning, we are joined by Daria McKelvey (American Horticultural Society’s Emerging Horticultural Professional Award Winner and Supervisor, Kemper Centerfor Home Gardening at Missouri Botanical) who will highlight how to combat pests and disease in your garden. Author, speaker, garden and design consultant and Gold Medal Award Winner—Massachusetts Horticultural Society Kerry Mendez speaks to Inspired Garden Design and lessons learned. Finally, our renowned gardening experts join Colonial Williamsburg’s Director of Landscape Joanne Chapman on the stage for our Ask the Gardener Panel.
Join notable horticulturists, archaeologists, historians, and guest experts as we examine best practices through an historical lens, using the past to inform the present and future, and take part in hands-on workshops and tours where you too can dig deep in our historic and iconic gardens. For registration links to both the in-person and virtual options, visit HERE.
Join Mount Vernon for a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn more about historic gardens and landscapes! The Triennial Garden Symposium, May 30 through June 1, features renowned speakers specializing in historic landscape exploration, preservation, and public interpretation. The symposium includes a private reception on the piazza, tours of the Mansion and newly opened Library, an elegant dinner in the Ford Orientation Center, and more behind the scenes experiences.
This conference offers a broad scope of historic garden and landscape topics. Experts will examine, discuss and evaluate a wide variety of topics including, but not limited to: 18th-century bulbs, the search for lost gardens, maintaining plants throughout the winter, and the gardens of 18th-century Virginia. Tickets to this symposium are $250. The ticket includes meals and a private reception on the Mansion piazza.
Featured experts include:
Nicholas Luccketti is the Principal Archaeologist with the James River Institute for Archaeology in Williamsburg.
Kent Brinkley is a Virginia native and an award-winning landscape architect, lecturer and author of The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg, whose professional career spans over thirty years.
William D. Rieley serves as the Landscape Architect for The Garden Club of Virginia, a position he has held since 1998.
Scott Kunst is the owner of Old House Gardens, the country’s premier source for heirloom flower bulbs.
Fiona McAnally examines issues of food policy, supporting groups such as the Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Association and the Tennessee Food Policy Council, while pursuing her interests in southern garden history, food history, and agriculture.
Wesley Greene founded the Colonial Garden and Garden Shop where costumed employees interpret 18th-century plants, tools and cultural technique and sell heritage plants, seeds, bulbs and garden related items.
Jack Gary is the Director of Archaeology and Landscapes at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, where he leads an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists and scholars in order to discover the site’s hidden landscapes.
Peter J. Hatch is a professional gardener and historian with 38 years of experience in the restoration and interpretation of historic landscapes.
Dean Norton has researched 18th-century landscape design and gardening practices at Mount Vernon for more than 35 years.
For more information on registration and lodging options contact Melissa Wood at 703-799-5203 or email mwood@mountvernon.org. Image from www.uncc.edu.
