(14-Adult) Challenge yourself with what you thought you knew about our nation’s past with an entertaining history quiz while enjoying afternoon tea. Discover fascinating facts and unexpected truths about our nation’s history, symbols, events and notable figures - including some former Green Spring residents.

(6-Adult) Learn about the artifacts that tell us about Green Spring’s past. Do a hands-on artifact assembly with pottery shards using archaeology tools and tips. Decorate your own teacup based on historical styles before having tea and treats as you discuss what your cup’s patterns can tell you about the past. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in the program.

(16-Adult) Beatrix Farrand’s small-scale landscape at Green Spring is one of the few surviving gardens of this acknowledged master of twentieth century American landscape design. Hear about her unconventional life and brilliant career, why she designed a garden at Green Spring, and how we continue to protect her important legacy. Refreshments served. Meet at the Historic House.

(Adults) Enjoy a docent-led tour of the vibrant summer demonstration gardens. Finish at the Historic House lawn to enjoy delicious ices, served with toppings and garnishes.

(16-Adult) View the interior of the 1784 Historic House to discover fascinating ways it was adapted over time, reflecting changing needs, lifestyles and technologies spanning 3 centuries. A hidden doorway, a rotated staircase, repurposed historic woodwork and a major mid-20th century renovation all reveal how much a home can tell us about human history.

(All Ages) Learn about the history and process of making this sweet treat while you tour Historic Green Spring. Try your hand at making a batch the old way before sampling the fruits of your labor. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in the program.

(16-Adult) The emergence of the Colonial Revival dates to the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which inspired a powerful national movement to connect with America’s past. Discover why this collective nostalgia took hold and the different ways it was expressed. In architecture, the movement peaked from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, when Green Spring’s Historic House received an extensive Colonial Revival-style rehabilitation. A brief guided tour of the exterior and interior of the house follows the presentation. Refreshments served. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(16-Adult) Explore the surprising origins and botany of the strawberry, the quintessential summer fruit that’s perfect for garden parties. Learn how strawberries got their name, why they’re red, how to grow them and how to eat them. Hear about the “garden room” behind Green Spring’s Historic House, designed in 1942 as an entertainment space for distinguished guests. Then walk over to the house to be our guests and enjoy a bowl of the classic summer dessert - strawberries and fresh cream – garden party-style.

(16-Adult) Throughout history, collective storytelling has sometimes blurred the lines between reality and folklore. Hear about popular historical fictions in Virginia’s history, how some have been debunked by historians and others endure. Close to home, discover some historical myths of Fairfax County, and a few that we’ve discovered and corrected at Historic Green Spring. Refreshments served. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(16-Adult) Historic inventories reveal that tea was enjoyed by residents of Green Spring from the early 1800s to the mid-20th century. Learn about the historical shift from green to black teas in America during this time as you sample a range of both tea types. Learn about their geographic origins, cultivation and history, how to brew them to perfection and why black and green teas are still the most widely consumed by Americans today. Accompaniments served. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.