The 700 acres of Blandy Experimental Farm were bequeathed to the University of Virginia by Graham F. Blandy in 1926. A plantation house built in 1833 is located just outside the farm property line. It stayed in the Blandy family but is now for sale. Only 5 million dollars!
The property was originally owned by Colonel Joseph Tuley, Jr. who made a fortune in the leather tanning business and bought the property to serve as his country estate. Upwards of sixty slaves cared for the grounds and fields and were housed in a two story brick building. The building is on the farm property and has been expanded three fold and used for student housing.
The research lab, greenhouse, and interior of the slave quarters are off limits to visitors. The main activity is walking the trails and roads - about 10 miles total. Pick up a map at the information kiosk.
Most of the wild flowers have gone to seed which attracted large flocks of birds.
We were happy to see a chestnut grove with many nuts littering the road. American chestnuts were almost all killed by blight in the early 1900s. The farm has been crossing American chestnut trees with blight resistant Chinese trees, then backcrossing and intercrossing to eliminate the genes that cause blight. American chestnut trees grow faster and straighter than Chinese trees and have sweeter nuts.
The trails and roads are gravel making rolling difficult. Driving along the 3 mile
Wilkins Lane Loop is an option.
The parking lot is large enough for RVs.
Farm 39.06428, -78.06439
Looks like a cool place to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt's great for short easy hikes!
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