From Ginkgo Groves to Holiday Wreaths: Seasonal Delights at Blandy

The Valley Today

In this episode of Valley Today, host Janet Michael talks with Melanie Mullinax, the Communications and Event Manager for the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm. The conversation kicks off with discussions around the highly anticipated “Ginkgo Gold Weekends,” during the last weekend of October and the first weekend of November. This period sees thousands of visitors flocking to witness the vibrant golden foliage of Blandy's ginkgo trees.

Melanie explains that the grove of 300+ ginkgo trees bursts into glorious golden color, attracting visitors from across the region. This phenomenon is so popular that Blandy has to provide extra restrooms and food vendors during these weekends to accommodate the influx of tourists. Blandy also offers a unique opportunity to sponsor a ginkgo tree for $100, valid for a five-year period, with the donor’s name tagged to the tree.

Janet and Melanie discuss the arboretum’s user-friendly initiatives, like providing real-time updates on the tree colors on their website to help visitors plan their trip. They also talk about Blandy's wide variety of trees and how it's a perfect spot for photographers and families alike. Photographers, whether amateur or professional, often choose Blandy for family photos, engagement pictures, and even wedding photos.

Janet expresses her admiration for Blandy's programs and mentions the popular holiday wreath-making workshops that take place in early December. These workshops are a community favorite and represent one of many benefits of Blandy membership.

Melanie also elaborates on how the arboretum is a year-round attraction, free to the public, and details several initiatives to improve the visitor experience, including accessible parking and special events. The conversation wraps up with Melanie sharing that more information can be found on the Blandy website: https://blandy.virginia.edu/ and social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where they frequently update followers on upcoming events, educational posts, and behind-the-scenes insights.