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.

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 Volunteers

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! 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!

Our Donors

We are very grateful for the wonderful support of the many people who donate to our efforts,

In Honor of or In Memory of someone, helping to make this garden a beneficial asset to our community. Thank you!

2016 ~ 2024

Alice & Randy Bradshaw In Honor of Charlie & Sara Oliver

Dr. John D. Bower In Memory of Jack Coleman

Anita Braun In Honor of Fred & Charlotte Duis

Sydney Graff In Memory of Jeanne Johnson

Robert Lambeth, Jr. In Memory of Clara Lambeth

Marie Powers In Honor of Fred Duis

Cathy C. Byrne In Memory of Sue Cadiero

Charlotte and Fred Duis In Memory of Sue Cadiero

Sally Counts In Memory of Sue Cadiero

Jan D. Wright In Memory of Sue Cadiero

Shepherd's Table In Memory of Sue Cadeiro

Jim & Dott Stroud In Honor of Fred Duis

Steve & Judy Schulz In Honor of Ann & Morgan Cryster, Phil & Kay Schulz & Family and Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Greer

Sara Joyner In Honor of George E. Joyner and In Memory of Ann L. Jones

Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Fred Duis & Libby Berry

Stephen & Louise Duis Cary In Memory of William H. and Sarah P. Duis

Duis Family Properties LLC# In Memory of William H. & Sarah P. Duis

Peter D. Jennings In Memory of Joan E. Jennings

Phil & Mary Jones In Memory of John Norcross

Dr. John D. Bower In Memory Mitch & Minnie Bower

Diana Merelman & James Esselman In Memory of William H. & Sarah P. Duis

Yolanda Y. Adams In Memory of Maura Cordova

Jacqueline Wente In Memory of Lynne Hutchison

Traci & Mikael Blido In Honor of Patrick & Mitchell 10 yrs

Julie Stanley In Honor of Doris Stanley

Rebecca Mays In Memory of Bill Mays-Feb. 2017

Stephen Merelman & Shannon Case In Memory of Sarah P. Duis

Case & Coby Pieterman In Honor of Fred Duis

Jim & Sherry Revell In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. James Revell Sr

Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Fred Duis, Board and Volunteers

Betsy G. McCrodden In Honor of Libby Berry and Fred Duis

Rebecca Mays In Honor of Fred Duis

Ann J. Vest In Memory of Nina & Harold Jarvis

Sara Braaten & Bruce Johannessen In Honor of Charlotte Duis

Jeff & Laura Hubbard In Memory of Robert T. Oates

Jacqueline A Wente In Memory of Dr. John Wente

Charlotte and Fred Duis In Memory of William H. & Sarah P. Duis

Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Kaye Lipscomb

M F Moorman Family Foundation In Honor of Fred Duis and Libby Berry

Kaye Lipscomb In Honor of Michelle & Lloyd Goode and "Pete"

Eileen Garbarini In Honor of Kathy Graham

Shelley & Jason O'Brien In Memory of Peter Maxwell

Gail F. Brown In Memory of Michael Lambka

Duis Family Properties LLC# In Memory of Peter Maxwell

Susan L. Chappelle In Honor of Wharton Garden

William Childress & Jeanette Cole In Memory of Mary Francis Childress

Faye Ferguson In Memory of James (Jimmy) Ferguson

Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Mary Jean Garrett

Frank & Anita Spaulding In Honor of Pax & Marley Spaulding

Carl & Ora Dale Wells In Honor of Those Who Set This Up!

Penelope & T. Henry Clarke In Honor of Charlotte & Fred Duis

Sandra Boyes In Memory of David Boyes

Diana Merelman & James Esselman In Honor of Louise Duis Cary

Mary S. Garrett In Memory of Doris Rich (Mother of Michelle Goode)

Michelle R. Goode In Memory of Doris H. Rich

Rosylyn C. Reynolds In Memory of Mother and Father-Mabel Padgett Cave and Virgil Benton Cave

Gail Thomas In Honor of Fred Duis

Bill & Jennie Allman In Memory of Hallie & Leo Teass

Howard Lambka In Memory of Jo and Michael Lambka

Debbie & H. Paul Rhodes In Honor of Fred Duis

Anita Braun In Honor of Bedford Town & County Volunteers

Robin C. Wood In Memory of Wood & Clark Families

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory In Memory of Sadie Jane Walker Tharp

Sarah Duis Thomasson In Memory of Penny Hinton

Charlotte and Fred Duis In Memory of Penny Hinton

Julie Cooper In Memory of Penny Hinton

John & Judy Chesson In Honor of Thomas Chesson's Birthday

Will & Libby Berry In Honor of Michelle Goode's Birthday

John & Judy Chesson In Honor of Andrea Plamondon's Birthday

Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Libby Berry's Birthday

Jo Kissenberth In Memory of Danny King and Tanya Woolridge

John & Judy Chesson In Honor of John P. Chesson

Ann J. Vest In Memory of Ann M. Cauthorn

Sara B. Braaten & Bruce Johannessen In Honor of Zoe Dillon

Anita Braun In Honor of Composers, Musicians & Artists Who Provide Musical Creativity

M F Moorman Family Foundation In Honor of Fred Duis

Michelle R. Goode In Honor of Wharton Board

Please see our DONATE page if you'd like to donate in this special way.