A landscape architect with almost 30 years of experience in the Central Virginia area, Jill Trischman-Marks now serves as the Executive Director of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont. She is working to make the Garden site more welcoming and accessible, and inviting public input into the features and programming of the future Garden to ensure it is the best it can be to serve the community. CharlottesvilleFamily recently caught up with Jill to learn about what the Garden is working on, and how it is benefiting local kids and families. We’re especially excited about the new Botanical Art Festival & Art Show.
Meet the Director of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont
How did you first get involved in the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, and why is it such an important site?
I joined the Board of Directors in July 2017 because I believed in the efforts to build a public Garden for the Charlottesville community. At that time, we were focused mostly on the educational, recreational and aesthetic benefits a botanical garden would offer residents. After the events of August 12, 2017, it became obvious the Garden could also be a place where people of all ages and backgrounds could come to grow and heal together. As a result, healing and connection became central themes in the resulting Schematic Master Plan for the Garden–which won a national award from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2019.
Tell us about the trails and areas the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont currently offers.
The Garden covers about 15 acres next to Charlottesville High School and today offers a myriad of mulch-lined paths, benches for quiet reflection, areas for kids to play and discover, and an assortment of native trees and plants. We have also added low to no cost amenities such as our mini amphitheater, a labyrinth, and other rustic infrastructure to welcome visitors and support our current programs. It is a wonderful place for artists to create.
We also try to incorporate the design and construction of the Botanical Garden of the PIedmont into a learning opportunity. The stream that runs through the Garden has been fully restored to create a healthy place for aquatic life and a safe place for visitors.
What kind of educational classes and other programming for kids does the Charlottesville Botanical Garden offer?
The Botanical Garden of the Piedmont is a great place to grow and not just for plants. Our educational coordinator, Bruce Gatling-Austin, has developed our events and programs for children of all ages and interests. A few examples are the popular Explore to Read program where children explore trails looking for the next page in a story about nature and our Create With Nature is an arts program led by local artists. We have offered birdhouse building and of course the ever-popular butterfly walks. All are free and open to the public.
What does the future look like for the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont?
We are finishing the final design phase for our landscape and buildings that will house our offices, classrooms, event spaces, and other amenities. In addition, now that the stream restoration is complete , the City will build a bridge which will connect both sides of the Garden, as well as the Garden to the Rivanna Trail and the greater Central Virginia trail network.
The one thing it’s important to be clear about is while the City of Charlottesville has designated the land for the Garden—that is where the taxpayers’ burden ends. We are responsible for raising the funds to design, construct and maintain the Garden.
Listen In: Sage Mother Podcast
Our Publisher Jen had the joy of joining the Sage Mother Podcast for a heartfelt conversation about some of her favorite topics—gardening with kids, raising backyard chickens, and nurturing a love of the outdoors. She talked with Andrea and Kristin about simple ways families can slow down and reconnect through nature, engaging all five senses and savoring the everyday magic found right outside our doors.
Tune in here to listen: Sage Mother Podcast – Episode with Jennifer Bryerton
It’s a conversation full of encouragement for parents who want to cultivate wonder, togetherness, and a little more dirt under their fingernails.
Botanical Art Festival
The Botanical Garden of the Piedmont is excited to announce the inaugural Botanical Art Festival taking place September 7–12, 2024. This Festival will celebrate art in the community by offering free art programming for all ages, botanically themed workshops, and collaborations with regional artists and organizations. Special programs will include a nature scavenger hunt, art demonstrations, a Chinese calligraphy class, a paper flower workshop, a sculpture class, a photography lesson and so much more. The event will culminate in a ticketed Botanical Art Show supporting local artists and the Garden. Get the full festival schedule here. CharlottesvilleFamily is proud to sponsor this inaugural event! Read about local mom and botanical artist, Lara Call Gastinger, who will be featured at the festival.
Kids Programs at Charlottesville’s Botanical Garden
Butterfly Tour
This guided tour teaches about different types of native butterflies and the plants that go with them. Terrain is gentle but requires sturdy, waterproof footwear.
Super Saturdays
This open house style event at the Botanical Garden of the PIedmont is a chance for the community to gather in the Garden and explore the various programs, steward the site, join a tour, or just spend time in nature with family.
Storytimes
From time to time, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library offers special outdoor story times in the Garden featuring nature-focused books and activities.
Explore Charlottesville’s Botanical Garden of the Piedmont
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of things to find in the Botanical Garden of the PIedmont, and check off your discoveries as you find them. A list of plants that can be found in the Garden is on the website here. Other items to hunt could be birds, worms, rocks, butterflies, etc. Consider having prizes for completing a full sheet of scavenger hunt discoveries!
Drawings & Leaf Rubbings
There are leaves galore in the Garden! Have kids pick their favorites and show them how to do a leaf rubbing, or have them draw their discoveries. When you get home, find a special place to display their nature artwork.
Trails
Families and their furry friends are invited to explore the trails at the Garden. There is a green mowed trail loop that takes about 30 minutes to walk, and a mulched trail loop that makes for about a 20 minute stroll. With benches and gathering areas along he way, it an excellent peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle. Learn about more Kid-Friendly Hikes Near Charlottesville.
Programs for Student Groups at the Botanical Garden
The Garden offers special educational programming for school groups and clubs. These events are best for groups of 10–15 students.
Create With Nature
This program gives children from K–6th grade the opportunity to engage with new nature topics in a hands-on way through art and music. Students begin with story time in the Garden featuring a book on nature. Kids then join a local artist to complete an art or performing arts project that features some aspect of the book they read.
Turtle Time at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont:
A Hands-On Learning Experience with Turtles
Join us for a fun and educational turtle encounter with turtle enthusiast Jennifer Bryerton, co-founder and publisher of CharlottesvilleFamily Magazine. A few times each year, Jen and a special turtle friend will meet and greet turtle fans of all ages!
During Turtle Time, you’ll get to:
- Meet a young Eastern Box Turtle and a Three-Toed Box Turtle
- Touch a turtle shell and learn what makes it so special
- Get free turtle coloring and activity sheets to take home
- Play fun, interactive games that teach how turtles use camouflage, what they eat, and where they live
Don’t miss this chance to learn about these fascinating creatures in a fun, family-friendly setting.
Watch our calendar for upcoming Turtle Time events!
Explore to Read
During this special time children journey along the Garden trails searching for the enlarged pages of a book about nature. They have to find the pages to finish the story! It is perfect for ages K–3rd grade.
Cultivating Conservationists
Kids ages K–5th grade learn about specific native host plants and the pollinators that support them during this program. They also see the pollinators in action on the Garden’s flowering plants while learning ways to support the health of pollinators and native plants alike.
Read about the benefits of Gardening With Kids.
Adult Garden Programs
The Garden Guardians programs offers adults the chance to volunteer their time cleaning up the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont by weeding existing beds, identifying and managing invasive plants, maintaining paths, and more. The Garden also hosts special events like Garden Pilates and Meditation & Sound Baths.
Learn more about these and other happenings at the Garden on our Events Calendar. Looking for science fun at home? Read At-Home Science Experiments for Kids for ideas.
Enjoy a lot more family-friendly fun in Central Virginia! See our Family Fun section for day trip and activity ideas. We also feature plenty of Educational outings and project ideas for kids of all ages, like Favorite Science Museums for Kids, and Top 13 Charlottesville Museums and Attractions for Kids. Know someone new to the area? Our Newcomers Guide to Charlottesville is an incredibly helpful local resource. If you have a budding gardener on your hands, try some easy winter sowing projects. See our popular Events Calendar for family-friendly happenings in and around Charlottesville.
ELLEN SEWELL is our associate editor. With a degree in Communications and Media Studies and a gift for the written word, she especially enjoys interviewing local people making a positive difference and sharing events with other parents. Passionate about hands-on-learning and being active, she loves to explore museums, playgrounds and outdoor attractions of all kinds with her three amazing children.