Playhouse Garden Dedication!
On May 12, 2023, the Wharton Garden was the site of a lovely gathering hosted by Roslyn Reynolds. Pictured here with her daughter, Rose Marie Reynolds, and surrounded by her family and friends, Roslyn officially dedicated the gift of the Playhouse Garden in loving memory of her parents, Mabel Padgett Cave and Virgil Benton Cave. This plaque on the playhouse lamp post bears their names, along with this quote "The joy it brings to see children playing in the garden".
Town Kitchen & Provisions catered and Terrace Blooms created the stunning floral arrangements.
New Tables Added to the Garden!
What an ingenious design by Des Black who crafted these darling tables for The Learning Terrace. They are sturdy, child-sized and wheelchair accessible!
Garden Clean Up!
The Wharton Garden is constantly being worked on but the Board recently spent a day Spring cleaning. Along with new coats of paint, scrubbing the chess pieces, wooden repairs and grooming the landscape, the hard-to-read bricks along the pathway were carefully pressure washed.
In the News!
Children's Literacy Garden Party
Children's Literacy Garden Party
Children's Literacy Garden Party
Fall 2022 The Wharton Memorial Foundation is delighted that both the garden AND the weather could not have been more beautiful for the recent Children's Literacy Garden Celebration! About 70 of the invited donors, supporters, neighbors and volunteers of the garden gathered for an evening of community and appreciation on September 23rd. The WMF board is also very grateful for Melanie Srsic and her staff at TKP, who ensured there were plenty of wonderful things to eat and drink; for Kristin Szandzik who played the harp and Medley Lovelace who played the flute in the garden; and for Petal Ridge's gorgeous flower arrangements!
GLCF Grant Awarded
Children's Literacy Garden Party
Children's Literacy Garden Party
Fall 2022 Considering its location, between the Bedford Central Library and the Bower Center for the Arts, one of The Wharton Memorial Foundation’s objectives in the Garden is to provide a wholesome, safe, attractive area in which children can benefit from the rich literary, artistic and cultural opportunities at both neighboring institutions. The WMF feels it’s essential to expose the children to the beauty of our natural surroundings in the hope that their experiences can be even more pleasant and meaningful. Toward the realization of this goal, the board and volunteers of the WMF are very honored and grateful to have been recently awarded a $4,000 grant from the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation in order to add a Children’s Outdoor Learning Terrace.
This Learning Terrace will be located in a rock garden setting that already features native varieties of flora such as Rhododendron, American Holly, Elm, Crabapples, and Itea along with our resident squirrels, neighborhood crows, regular Robins, Starlings, Mockingbirds, and Cedar Waxwings. Large, rounded stones from Bedford County were installed this summer as a natural border and the terrace area has been leveled in preparation for it to be paved with bricks to match those used in our walk system and circular patio. We are collaborating with the Agriculture Program at Liberty High School on a design for tables and seating and with the LHS Horticulture Class for assistance in installation.
Keep Bedford Beautiful
Children's Literacy Garden Party
Keep Bedford Beautiful
Summer 2019 Photo: Teresa Hailey presents the “Keep Bedford Beautiful Award” to representatives of the Wharton Foundation, Fred Duis, Libby Berry, Emilie Temeles, and Robin Wood.
The following is an exerpt from and article written by Sherry Revel for the Bedford Bulletin on August 21, 2019. The complete article is available to read online or download as a PDF.
"Wharton Foundation's The Storybook Garden won the first Keep Bedford Beautiful Commission (KBBC) Beautification Award recognizing an exterior business project that adds to the beauty of the business or landscaping and Town of Bedford."