Belle Grove Plantation Christmas Tours “O Tannenbaum—A Festival of Trees”
For the 2016 holiday season, Belle Grove Plantation featured decorated trees in each room of the historic Manor House for “O Tannenbaum--A Festival of Trees.” In addition to the centerpiece 12-foot tree in the Parlor, area Garden Clubs adorned each room with Christmas trees totalling more than 30 large and small trees throughout the house. The decorated Manor House was on view from Friday, December 2 through Friday, December 30, 2016.
The theme was set on the Front Porch with garlands, greens, and potted trees from the Little Garden Club of Winchester. In the Front Hall, the Glen Burnie Garden Club decorated boxwood trees with rustic touches. In the Parlor was a 12-foot Norway Spruce Christmas tree donated by John and Judith Tole of Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm in Woodville, Virginia. The Valley Garden Club added smaller trees to further decorate the room. The Colonial Garden Club bedecked the Master Bedroom with gowns and their Christmas tree with gems. The tree and decorations in the Nursery were angelic thanks to the Middletown Garden Club. In the Library, the Warren County Garden Club placed Christmas trees and decorations that feature vintage photographs and items. In the Day Sitting Room, the Shenandoah Garden Club chose the lemons and limes to adorn their tree and as an accent color to the beautiful blue room. The tree in the Office sparkled with crystal arranged by the Winchester/Clarke County Garden Club. The Dining Room, decorated by Massanutten Garden Club, was been set for a “Golden Christmas.”
The lower level of the Manor House was also fully decorated. In the Kitchen the Hawthorne Garden Club used a theme of apples and cinnamon. The additional rooms have been filled with Winter Forest trees and creative natural decorations by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners.
Live holiday music on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons included John Tole on guitar, mandolin, banjo, and dulcimer and soprano Deborah Balcom and accompanist Colleen Miller, and Allen Dec on harp.