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NELLY HOUGH MEMORIAL GARDENING COURSE 2026

- Five Classes - Tuesdays, September 22, 29, October 6, 13 & Wednesday October 21  

- Beginning at 10 AM until approximately 12 PM 

- Adults only - Space is limited - Early registration is recommended 
- Registration fee of $175 is non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration or your registration fee can be made as a charitable contribtuion to Albemarle Garden Club.

Albemarle Garden Club will present, as it has for over seventy years, the Nelly Hough Memorial  Gardening Course, named in memory of one of Charlottesville’s most renowned and beloved garden designers. Mrs. Hough taught an annual gardening course during the 1940s and ’50s that started many of our area’s next gardeners on their way. Mrs. Hough believed that Fall is the best time to plan and prepare for the next year’s work in the garden. 

The Nelly Hough Course draws its inspiration from Mrs. Hough’s work and is designed for participants of  all levels of experience who wish to gain and to share insights into the rewards and challenges of gardening. Topics  will include trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers, as well as general horticulture and garden design. Programs are  held weekly at homes and locations in the Charlottesville area. 

A registration fee of $175.00 to the Albemarle Garden Club goes directly to our Community Projects  Fund. Each year Albemarle Garden Club presents civic grants based on the club’s stated purpose to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening and to restore, improve and protect the quality of the environment through  programs and actions in the fields of conservation, civic improvement and education. Some of the recent and/or  ongoing projects funded by proceeds from the course include support for the Bog Garden at Booker T. Washington Park, the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, James River Association and Piedmont Environmental Council. 

DATES AND PROGRAMS:

^{SEPT.  22               How to Lure More Butterflies to your Garden}

^{Spend the morning at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont with Amy Lowell, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. Amy's knowledge and wit will make for a fun gathering as we learn about our native butterflies and the plants and strategies you can use to draw generations of butterflies to your garden, year after year. A brief tour of the Garden, with an update on construction and design, will follow.}

^{SPEAKER:  Amy Lowell, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist}

^{LOCATION: Botanical Garden of the Piedmont , 950 Melbourne Road, Charlottesville VA  22901}

^{SEPTEMBER 29            Southfield: from Blank Canvas to Living Landscape}

^{Set on 20 acres overlooking fields and woods toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, we will explore Southfield, the private gardens of Cathy Kramer. Starting with virtually no gardens, Cathy transformed the property into a landscape woven with stone structures, fountains, gardens, and pots. Paths beneath the tall overstory lead through woodland gardens, perennial plantings, and a mix of native and Asiatic plants and trees. Cathy is also a beekeeper, and she and the bees welcome you.}

^{SPEAKER:  Cathy Kramer, Gardener}

^{LOCATION:  Southfield, the home of Cathy Kramer, 1650 Garth Gate Lane, Charlottesville VA  22901}

^{OCTOBER 6            The Secret Life of Bees (and other Pollinators)}

^{Join us at Ivy Creek Natural Area as we explore the butterfly and pollinator gardens with Heidi James. Heidi, a member of the Lynchburg Garden Club, was instrumental in bringing the Bee City USA movement to Virginia. She will share her expertise on the importance of bees and other pollinators, as well as native plants, in creating healthy landscapes.}

^{SPEAKER:  Heidi James}

^{LOCATION:  Ivy Creek Foundation, 1780 Earlysville Rd., Charlottesville VA 22901}

^{OCTOBER 13            Elements of Garden Design} 

^{Discover the principles behind creating beautiful, timeless gardens with Brooke Spencer.  Brooke has practiced classical architecture and landscape design in and around Charlottesville for over 30 years.  We will benefit from her expertise as she explores the essential elements of garden design – from developing a clear vision to using water, structure and plantings to create inviting, functional landscapes that connect people with nature.}

^{SPEAKER:  Brooke Spencer}

^{LOCATION:  Upper Bundoran, the home of Tracey Hedrick, 1701 Bundoran Dr., North Garden VA  22959}

^{OCTOBER  21              Fall Color in the Landscape}

^{Join us for a short lecture on the landscape trees and shrubs that provide the most stunning autumn color in Central Virginia. We’ll discuss their seasonal displays, peak timing, and how to incorporate them into your own landscape for maximum fall beauty. Great for gardeners, homeowners, and nature lovers. Afterward, enjoy lunch and shopping at the Market at Grelen!
SPEAKER:  Darren Marsh, Grelen Nursery Plant Manager}

^{LOCATION:  The Market at Grelen, 15091 Yager Rd., Somerset VA 22972}