![]() The ultimate in horsey-luxe, this grand, sprawling resort on 340 acres (no one in this nook of horse country messes around with anything less than 100 acres) is walking distance to the adorable town of Middleburg (or hotel drivers will chauffeur you there). The staff have also made a concerted effort to acknowledge slavery as part of the site’s complicated history, a welcome refusal to omit this aspect of the South’s heritage. The Oatlands grounds are spectacular and include a boxwood parterre, reflecting pool, abundance of native plants and charming sculptural vignettes spread throughout the garden, from a Virgin Mary to a nymph in the all-together who is the delight of giggling visiting schoolchildren. He’s played a part in restoring the 260 acres of farmland and garden to their original splendor, honoring the horticultural traditions of the past, including maintaining what is considered the South’s oldest standing greenhouse. ![]() If you are ever in the vicinity, you must do everything within your power to wrangle a garden tour with the resident head gardener Mark Schroeter, who is a font of historical and plant wisdom and who has an irreverent sense of humor and can tell you some toe-curling ghost stories. ![]() At this National Historic Site and 1803 Greek Revival plantation Oatlands I was treated to an outdoor lunch in the garden’s tea house featuring a cold asparagus soup, nicoise salad and local Virginia wine created by Oatlands’ dynamic executive director Bonnie LePard.
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