Chesapeake Arboretum

The Chesapeake Arboretum is a local attraction (okay, right across the street from our house) for nature and history buffs. There are several acres of trees, creeks, bridges, and a farmhouse built in 1730 with a nice garden, flower and picnic area. There is plenty of free parking and there are about 4 miles of trails through the woods.

From the Chesapeake Arboretum Website:

"The Chesapeake Arboretum is a 47-acre garden dedicated to promoting horticultural and environmental awareness through displays, education and research. The Arboretum was dedicated in November, 1996, and boasts one of Virginia’s finest trail systems that wanders through a 43-acre mature hardwood forest with many varieties of trees and plants."

The farmhouse built in 1730 has some interesting history, besides the addition of several rooms including a kitchen. The rose garden adjacent to the farmhouse has some varieties of rose which have more thorns but also more flowers--and they are no longer available commercially today. The house was also built around the same time Williamsburg, VA was the Virginia State Capital and under the occupation of the British Redcoats. Therefore, there are no nails or meteal that could be melted down to make bullets for the Colonials, so all the joining of the wood farmhouse is accomplished by wooden pegs.

The Chesapeake Arboretum is a relaxing place to "smell the roses" and do some bird watching. We even were treated to a redheaded woodpecker and we occasionally see different varieties of fox along the pathways. The grounds are very well maintained by the all-volunteer staff and local community groups. The flowerbeds and red barn areas are well maintained in pristine condition.

Come to the Chesapeake Arboretum to relax and enjoy nature for a while.