(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.

(14-Adult) Learn about the history and importance of marigolds to different cultures and celebrations, including the joyful Mexican celebration, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Craft a marigold flower crown or a garland using blooms grown at Green Spring to take home. Afterwards enjoy horchata and other traditional Mexican treats as you socialize in the Historic House.

(4-Adult) Learn about Green Spring’s past as an apple orchard and farm. Go for a walk around the gardens on a scavenger hunt before heading to the historic house for apple-themed tea. Taste different local apple varieties and other apple flavored treats. All participants, including accompanying adults, must register and pay for the program.

(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.

(14-Adult) A uniquely American symbol, the apple pie is really a medley of ingredients from far away and pie-making traditions from long ago. Explore the culinary roots of apple pie to discover an all-American dish that perfectly reflects this “melting-pot” nation. Hear about the historical importance of apple orchards in American agriculture and on Green Spring Farm. Afterwards, stay for apple pie and socializing. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(14-Adult) Hear hair-raising stories of hauntings and ghost hunters that pose dilemmas for caretakers of the past. Learn why historic sites with supernatural reputations can become haunted by ghost stories that misrepresent historical fact and reduce historical figures to mere spooks and specters. Hear how Green Spring’s Historic House and other local historic properties handle the question “are you haunted?” Afterwards, stay for some spooky refreshments and socializing.

(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.

(14-Adult) Contributions of the Scots are woven into our local history and the nation’s founding. Discover historical ties between Scotland and Green Spring’s surrounding communities. Hear how Scottish immigrants brought with them a tradition of revolution to America that reflected their own struggles for autonomy. Explore the connection between Scotland’s dramatic 14th century declaration of independence, the Treaty of Arbroath and America’s Declaration of Independence more than 450 years later. Afterwards, stay for refreshments and socializing.

(14-Adult) Enjoy a social and educational experience as you strike a blow for “libertea!” The Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773, became a symbol of resistance against all things British, including taxes on tea. Hear about the colonists’ boycott of the “baneful herb” and how American patriots turned to their gardens to make their own “liberty teas” from a wide range of plants, fruits, flowers and herbs. Enjoy some authentic samples of these delicious tea-free infusions and exchange opinions in a relaxed setting. Linger, sip and enjoy the company as much as the tea. All-American accompaniments served. Meet at the Historic House.

(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.

(14-Adult) Enjoy a sociable crafting workshop to create an all-season centerpiece that combines two of our favorite things: flowers and teacups. Gather at the Historic House to make a beautiful teacup topiary that will grace a table or mantle for years to come. All materials supplied, including fine china teacup and saucer. Meet at the Historic House. Refreshments served.