Sperryville Riverwalk

Rappahannock County

I caught a glimpse of this mural as I was driving down U.S. 211. I made a turn into the town of Sperryville and went back to find it. I guessed that it was behind the coffee shop, and there it was, overlooking Thornton River.

There is a nice walking trail along the river. Sperryville is a small town but a popular spot for tourists because it is one of the gateway towns to Shenandoah National Park

Mosaic Monday / Murals
An Earlier Post with Thornton River

Bright Red Caboose

Seen Last Month in Haymarket, VA

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Annual Art Show in The Plains

The Plains is a charming small town in Fauquier County. I've been to the art show at Grace Church before and found it delightful, so yesterday I invited Deborah and Frank to go with me. She and I took turns watching Charlie.

Collage of Paintings that caught my eye.

I walked Charlie around the back of the stone church building. The clerestory windows light up the upstairs room. 

A Montessori preschool meets in the church building and they have a playground. A bright floral mural is there.

Monday Murals / Garden Affair

A Walk Through Hillsboro

Loudoun County, VA

Population 114

See Yesterday’s Post: Hope’s Garden.

Also: Wordless / Tuesday Treasures

Virginia Garden Week

Four Seasons of Rappahannock

Last week I was driving on Route 211 and I glimpsed this colorful mural in Rappahannock County Park. I turned around and went back to photograph it.

 It covers a long section of fence and I can’t do justice to it in a single photo so I’ll show some highlights. 

It helps to make the park look cheerful and welcoming. This is near Sperryville and “Little Washington.”

Mosaic Monday / Murals

Chimney, Middleburg

National Sporting Library

Rokeby Stables

Upperville, VA

“Paul Mellon established Rokeby Stables near here on property purchased in 1931 by his father, Andrew W. Mellon, financier and U.S. secretary of the treasury. Paul Mellon bred and raised champion racehorses, including American Way, Grand National Steeplechase winner in 1948; Arts and Letters and Fort Marcy, Horses of the Year in 1969 and 1970, respectively; Mill Reef, winner of Europe’s most prestigious races in 1971; and Sea Hero, Kentucky Derby winner in 1993. Mellon twice won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder. He collected equine art and donated many pieces to the National Gallery of Art, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Yale Center for British Art, which he founded.”

This marker was erected on Rokeby Road in 2019. I happened to visit Rokeby on a garden tour this spring and it is a lot more than stables. It includes several homes and barns, and a lovely garden designed by Paul’s wife, Bunny Mellon. 

Tuesday Treasures 

Discovering Sweet Run State Park

Loudoun County

I read that a new state park was open near Purcellville, so a week ago I went to check it out. I ran into heavy traffic on Route 9 because it is the detour for 340 in Harpers Ferry, which is closed for rock slide repairs.  Other than that, the ride was pleasant. 

I came to the Sawmill Road entrance first. It is basically access for horse trailers, but the road looked splendid in fall colors.

I drove back out to Harpers Ferry Road and found the main entrance to the park. The property was obviously a farm at one time. There is a restored farmhouse among other farm buildings.

I was a little puzzled by some things that were new. Our local state park was basically undeveloped when it opened, but this one is farther along than ours already.  Then I saw a sign that explained it.

The property was improved by the Robert and Dee Leggett foundation as the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship. 

Sweet Run State Park