Our Mission
The Wharton Memorial Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to honor and continue the gardening legacies of Mrs. Louise Bibb Wharton and Mrs. Eloise Gregory, to encourage interest in horticulture through the creation and maintenance of public gardens, and to promote the development of North Bridge Street as a cultural and historic area through gardening, restoring historic structures and supporting the programs of the Bedford Central Library, the Bedford Historic Society and other neighboring institutions.
Our Volunteers
Included in the list below of the many community volunteers are the current members of The Wharton Memorial Foundation Board of Directors: Fred Duis - co-founder of the organization and current President, Susan Dixon - Vice-President, Kathy Graham - Recording Secretary, Robin Wood - Treasurer, Libby Berry, Jenny Novalis, Emilie Temeles, Shearer Rumsey, Jeanette Cole. Horticultural Consultant is Clare Jackson, New Leaf Farms
GARDEN AND COTTAGE VOLUNTEERS: 2016-2024
LIBBY BERRY
WILL BERRY
ROBIN WOOD
SUSAN DIXON
SHEARER RUMSEY
EMILIE TEMELES
JEANETTE COLE
JENNY NOVALIS
KATHY GRAHAM
FAOLYNN GRAHAM
WAYNE HUTCHISON
RON BRENTS
JAY JOHNSON
BEN WITT
DES BLACK
ADAM SPONTARELLI
SUE CADEIRO
CATHY BYRNE
PAUL AND JILL HARDESTY
LIBERTYH.S. HORT. CLASS
JESSICA BONDURANT
MARY MILES w/LINDA AND DIANE
RAY ENLUND
GARY SNYDER
CHRIS GARBARINI
MARK GARBARINI
SCOTT CAMPBELL
BRANDON CAMPBELL
JARED O’BRIEN
PETER MAXWELL
MICHAEL MAXWELL
HELEN MAXWELL
CHARLOTTE MAXWELL
PHIL JONES
DON JONES
BETTY GEREAU
ANN ZUDEKOFF
MAC DUIS
WILL DUIS
ELI THOMASSON
GREG THOMASSON
SARAH THOMASSON
BOB PRATT
GENE LOWE
DE DE RUBIN
HAKKIM RUBIN
JOHN WILCHER
DAVE SPERRAZA
JAYNE COMPTON
VERONICA JACKSON
RUSTY MANSEL
SHELLEY STARR
JIM FERGUSON
JIM JOHANSEN
LINDA JOHANSEN
LYN COPPEDGE
IVAN KIRBY
BEDFORDVOL. FIRE DEPT.
CHERIE WHITEHURST
RHETTA WATKINS
GARY LOWRY
PHIL WALLACE
BEDFORDWATER AUTHORITY
BEDFORDTOWN PUB. WORKS
JEFF AND CHERYL THOMPSON
BEDFORDCENTRAL LIB. STAFF
WITT MECHANICAL
FRED DUIS
CHARLOTTE DUIS
CLARE ROBERTSON
NEW LEAF FARMS
TED TSOLEAS
WE WELCOME HELP! LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE INTERESTED!
About the Property
The Wharton Garden
The Wharton Garden is located in the town of Bedford, Virginia between the Bedford Central Library and The Bower Center for the Arts. It includes the Children's Literacy Garden, made up of several vignettes with an Alice in Wonderland theme , the Reading Walk, the Pollinator Garden, the Playhouse, a pergola and performance stage.
The Wharton Cottage
The Wharton Cottage is located at 309 N. Bridge Street in the small town of Bedford, Virginia. Built in 1848 in the Carpenter Gothic style, the home has been lovingly restored and maintained and is now Town Kitchen & Provisions restaurant.
Our Gratitude
We are very grateful for the wonderful support of the many people who donate to our efforts, helping to make all of this possible. Thank you!
We are very grateful for the following grantors: Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation, Nora Roberts Foundation, Schumann Foundation, the Town of Bedford and The Easley Trust
We are very grateful for the endless hours put in by our volunteers, those who physically work in the garden and those behind-the-scenes who do their part to make this garden what it is!