AHS’s River Farm Unveils Its Newest Upgrade: a Renovated Brick Walkway

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the national nonprofit American Horticultural Society’s (AHS) River Farm headquarters in Alexandria now has an upgraded 180-foot brick walkway connecting the River Farm manor house with the wedding allee in the formal gardens.

Since the 1970s, hundreds of couples have made their way down the brick walkway to the gardens to celebrate their wedding vows. Over the years, weather, age, and roots extending from nearby trees took their toll on the bricks, prompting AHS’s decision to replace them after the 2019 wedding season. The renovation project was completed in February 2020.

Since 2018, the entire outdoor event space at River Farm has been upgraded with new walkways, a releveled stone patio, and a brand new canopy tent with billowy tent liner, removable sides, palladium windows, crystal chandeliers, fans, and perimeter bistro lighting.  The event tent is erected in-season over the stone patio adjacent to the manor house and the outside entrance to the ballroom. 

The renovation projects were undertaken to enhance guest comfort and safety.

“We’re thrilled to have a beautiful new walkway with Potomac River views for our soon-to-be-married couples, guests at special events, and the general public visiting River Farm,” said AHS’s director of development and engagement Susan Klejst. “As a 501(c)(3) organization, AHS relies on philanthropic support to maintain its historic buildings and grounds here in the Mount Vernon district of Fairfax County, so we deeply appreciate the public’s generous contributions.”

AHS’s River Farm facility can be rented for weddings and other special occasions, meetings and retreats, workshops, and children’s birthday parties in the Children’s Garden. AHS’s horticultural staff also offers guided tours of the property for school classes, gardens clubs, and other interested groups.

Renovation Process in Pictures:

AHS Promotes Soil Sustainability at River Farm Headquarters

In line with its focus on sustainable gardening, the American Horticultural Society (AHS) is employing Earth-friendly gardening practices at its River Farm headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

This winter, AHS’s horticultural team is applying Bloom — a locally produced sustainable soil amendment that enhances soil and plant health — as a soil building material and top dressing for River Farm’s gardens, including the Certified Wildlife Garden, children’s garden, shade garden, and beds containing various annual and perennial plants. Bloom is designed to add organic material to soil, increasing its water retention capacity and slowly releasing nitrogen and micro-nutrients back into the soil.

“There are many excellent soil amendments available to gardeners, including homemade compost and mass-produced commercial products,” noted AHS’s associate director for horticulture and River Farm, Dan Scott. “At the American Horticultural Society’s River Farm, we produce our own compost from material collected onsite, but the volume isn’t great enough to fulfill all our needs. Bloom is an ideal supplement,” he added.

This year, AHS’s River Farm is expanding its on-site composting capability with the addition of a three-bin compost system to its nearly completed Teaching Garden. The Teaching Garden also features a keyhole garden built around a compost bin whose contents will provide nutrients to the vegetables grown there.