Visitors' Comments
Comments
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Our favorite HH (Harvest Hosts) stay since we became members!
Tom & Lesley were amazing hosts, and we had the most peaceful and relaxing time.
Tom took us on a wonderful tour and taught us more about flowers, plants and trees than we've ever learned!
You can tell they have poured so much love into their gardens, they are breathtaking.
Some of our favorite things were the bonsai garden, lilac trees and Japanese Maples! This is a must stay!
We even had the field to ourselves so our dog could play and watch the sunset over the mountains!
Thanks for the best time!
- Tyler D -
Chasity Armentrout recommends Birdsong Pleasure Garden.
I visited yesterday and the garden and the hosts were amazing, I enjoyed it very much.
I look forward to going back with my husband and hopefully talk my mom into going as well.
Highly recommend visiting this beautiful place. -
A Harvest Host Comment-
www.harvesthosts.com
Nice place to Stay.
Tom and Lesley were great folks very hospitable and accommodating.
We didn’t have time for the garden tour but we had a very pleasant stay.
- Steve S -
Erica Xu
We had a wonderful visit with our dog!
Lesley is very knowledgeable about plants and wildlife - I gained lots of inspirations for my own garden.
This place is not only dog friendly, Lesley even has a smaller fenced garden for dogs to play free of leash. Tom was super nice and played fetch with my dog.
The doggie host, Moon, is welcoming and friendly to visitors too!
We will be back in another season as the garden has a lot more to explore. -
Melody Mendez
star star star star star
We enjoyed our tour very much.
Loved it from start to finish! -
Birdsong Pleasure Garden is the 3-decades work of Lesley and Tom, both Master Gardeners.
The variety of plant life, the focus on native species, and the layout of the three-acre botanical garden is stunning.
Take a tour with Tom or Lesley - I guarantee you'll enjoy it! As hosts, Lesley and Tom are welcoming and kind, and great on communication.
The RV area is simple and peaceful - a large flat field with lovely views of the mountains and beautiful sunsets, less than a mile off RT 211 and very near the National Forest, Luray Caverns, Luray Zoo and more. If you're visiting the Shenandoah area, do NOT miss this "hidden gem"!
Harvest Host Member
- Daphne C -
Lesley and Tom,
Thank you so much for sharing your garden with us today.
It was a true gift of beauty, serenity and intimacy walking through it.
Your garden really spoke to us, and you, the masters behind this hidden gem, are a true inspiration for our years ahead.
Happy Anniversary with the hope we meet again at a different season.
Keep blooming.
Warmly,
Luisa and Kevin - and Montey too
P.S.
From one teacher to another, I love the little touch of fun here and there for the pleasure of thechildren -
Thank you for showing us around your beautiful property! I dream of having something as lovely and peaceful one day.
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Thanks a wonderful tour or your gardens.
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Lesley & Tom
I am so thankful for the wonderful gift made by the supporters of Birdsong Pleasure Garden!
Keven and I spoke just yesterday about how fortunate we are to be thought of in such a way beyond the mission of acquiring hallowed ground.
Once saved, it must be properly cared for and your gift makes that possible!
All the best,
Franklin Van Valkenburg
Development Officer
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation -
We can't wait to come back in the Spring!
Thank you,
Elijah & Margaret -
A dear friend took me on a beautiful spring day for a tour of Birdsong Pleasure Garden. What a delightful treat!
Lesley and Tom welcomed us to their garden as if we were old friends. Lesley was the perfect tour guide. She shared the names, including the Latin of all plants. She identified the birds by their songs and explained how they planted everything in sight.
There are fabulous sculptures, a private bonsai garden, man made ponds and a deep love and respect for nature. They are sustainable gardeners and welcomed questions through out the tour.
Lesley and Tom have earned the recognition of “A Designated Virginia Treasure Site”.
We can’t wait to go back during another season.
Gioia Caiola Forman -
Dear Tom and Lesley,
This is a big THANK YOU from all the Alliance board & staff for your most generous gift of 2023. You not only help keep us in business- your energy and commitment to conserving and protecting our environment is an inspiration to us all. It's really wonderful to know that your creative garden is helping to keep the Valley at large green and healthy.
With admiration & gratitude, Christine Andreae -
Harvest Hosts Guests -
We are so thankful and appreciative that you shared your land with us so last minute. It was such a peaceful place to rest our heads. We hope to return when everything is in full bloom.
You are doing such a beautiful thing by preserving this land. We'll make sure to mention you to anyone heading this way. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. -
Hi Lesley,
You have received a new review from a Harvest Hosts member!
Wow what an awesome tour and stay. The spot was level with a beautiful view. The tour was beautiful and Tom was very informative and he and Leslie were very friendly. We highly recomend both the and over night stay.
- Herman “Buddy” M -
star star star star star
Provided educational info on photosynthesis with other community types for 3 busloads of local elementary youth. YEAH -
This property is loved & cultivated by amazing environmental advocates. The gardens they’ve created from scratch since 1992 are impressive, unique & absolutely beautiful and are home to a high percentage of native species. Tom’s knowledge & enthusiasm combined with Lesley’s creative & modern style have created the perfect place to find peace, joy & beauty off the beaten path. Even in October. Such a gem! Lovely locals. Former educators. Being an educator myself, I felt transported into their 3rd & 4th grade classrooms. Lucky students. I could imagine being a student benefitting from their experiential teaching. I hope their incredible legacy lives on! I look forward to going back in the spring. Their fees go to local conservation & historical land preservation nonprofits! GO! You won’t regret it! Thank you Tom & Lesley!
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Thank you so much for the beautiful tour. We are so inspired by all the work you have done.
Christine and Connie
Harvest Hosts RVers -
Dear Lesley,
Thank you for such a wonderful presentation on Bonsai, plus all the extra work it took to create the presentation. Yes, I would be interested in keeping up with how our Bonsai plant is doing! Your transformation of your land into such a beautiful garden always amazes me. All of our members who attended had a wonderful time!
Sincerely,
Anita Ostrander
Pres, RCGC -
Hi Lesley,
On behalf of the RCGC, I want to thank you for such a lovely afternoon! We learned a lot about bonsai or …bone sigh…I should say, and we were able to enjoy your beautiful gardens on a lovely fall day without high humidity or heat! Very lucky in that regard. Thanks so much for showing us around, and giving such an excellent presentation.
Best regards,
Nanette
Rappahannock County Garden Club -
Dear Tom and Lesley,
Thank you all for everything that you do to support the work at the Alliance. We really appreciate it. -
Google
by Ari Mack
star star star star star -
Sarah Snader
1 review
2 days ago NEW
We had a wonderful tour at the Birdsong Pleasure Garden!
Tom showed us around the beautiful gardens for 2 hours...so many different plants!
It was a bit buggy, but they had bug spray to use. I would suggest wearing a hat and lightweight long sleeves on hot summer days. -
Hi Lesley,
Thanks so much for sending us these pictures!
Donna and I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed seeing your lovely gardens and learning from you. I'm wondering if you could please take a moment to list the amendments you recommended. I remember the bonemeal, maybe worm casings?, not sure what else. I'm sorry we didn't take notes that day.
We hope to return in another season, and maybe meet Tom next time.
Best,
Joan -
"Better than Longwood Gardens". Intimate, well taken care of...a joy for nature.
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Dear Lesley and Tom,
Thanks, and we all thoroughly enjoyed your property, and above all, yours and Tom's efforts for our precious Earth. -
Dear Lesley and Tom,
We just wanted to thank you so much for the local recommendations, we enjoyed the garden tour and the talk about historic houses in Page county both and wouldn't have known about either without you alerting us to them.
Doug and Cecelia Kramer -
Really enjoyed your spring garden, just as magnificent as the fall.
I had fun introducing my gardener friend to your garden. She was just as impressed and amazed as I was.
Having a garden of my own I know the work, and love, and more work that goes into creating such a special place.
Sincerely,
Jacki -
To the Macks and the Hill & Valley Garden Club,
Thank you so much for the gift certificate that I won. I enjoyed my visit to Birdsong Pleasure Garden and the Club's "Garden Lover's Day, open house" It was lots of fun.
Thanks also to Tom who sent me home with a cabbage from his garden, after something ate everyone of my plants. It was so delicious!
I'm looking forward to coming again next year! -
This is a beautiful garden which far exceeded my expectations. The owners are also lovely. It would be hard to find a better Luray area activity. They will even welcome your dogs and help set up a picnic!
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Tom,
Thank you for fitting-in a last-minute tour for our family last week!
We enjoyed visiting your beautiful garden!
Thank you,
Mason -
Thank you for the tour!!!
It was a highlight of the trip! -
starstarstarstarstar
A very beautiful place with a couple who are so knowledgeable, hardworking and hospitable. So much to see! -
Thank you, Lesley and Tom for your gracious hospitality. Your knowledge and the work you all have put into these gardens is beyond belief! I am still in awe of the variety and incredible vitality of the trees, shrubs and flowers! No wonder the birds sing so loudly.
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I can’t get over how your land has gone from being treeless and flowerless in 30 years!
Even me as a gardener, can only fathom how much work you have done!
Plus sprinkling in the artistic touches. Wow!
Kathy -
Dear Lesley and Tom,
Again, many thanks for sharing your beautiful gardens with us last week.
All the best,
Trowel Garden Club -
Dear Macks,
On behalf of the Spotswood Garden Club, I'd like to express how much we all enjoyed the wonderful tour and garden.
So very beautiful. We enjoyed meeting Moon. Thank you for taking pictures.
I've shared already, five of the post cards to suggest others to visit Birdsong in Luray.
Many thanks,
SGC -
Dear Lesley,
Our visit to your Birdsong Pleasure Garden was unmistakably our best excursion in any venue in an indeterminate number of years.
Your "garden" was eloquent of the harvest of your 30 year efforts. Native plants tinged your garden down to the furthest reach of the soil; our eyes only saw color - our ears only heard the music of bird songs.
We easily adjusted to every path in Lea's rollater.
The few grass spots and well-mulched paths were freshened by past showers of rain. The little "crick" ran smooth and shining as a river in a dream. We had a splendid time in your gardens bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.
We appreciate the loving work you clearly expanded to create a native garden with emerald plants and trees permeated by the fragrance of spring blossoms.
Everything was graceful - and innocent. Thanks for sharing you life with us.
Simply, Mary and Lea -
Hi Lesley,
What a wonderful time we had meeting you and touring your gardens and arboretum!
The beauty and diversity you have created bringing things in pots into the pasture land is gratifying.
Thank you for the deluxe tour! -
Lesley and Tom--
Wow. Thank you for being such wonderful hosts and tour guides on Sunday.
Everyone that attended learned a few new things, thoroughly enjoyed the tour, and strengthened their ties to Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley.
We are grateful!
Many thanks for everything!
Kate Wofford
Executive Director
Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
PO Box 674
New Market VA 22844 -
Lovely tour today, thank you.
Maureen and I were both amazed at your beautiful creation, we were amazed and in awe.
Our lunch at the deli was delicious, and we found the greenhouses. Another jewel for the day.
The oregano made it in the ground on Saturday before the sun set. It will be a special remembrance of your magical garden!
Thank you,
Doris -
Good morning, Lesley,
On behalf of Trowel Garden Club, I want to thank you for a most enjoyable tour of your gardens.
You and Tom have done an amazing job with the property.
We will share our experience with other clubs.
Also, restaurant was perfect. Tell Tom thank you for the recommendation.
Again, many thanks.
Bonnie -
Lovely tour today, thank you.
Maureen and I were both amazed at your beautiful creation, we were amazed and in awe.
Our lunch at Market Street Deli was delicious, and we found the greenhouses.
Another jewel for the day. -
Dear Lesley and Tom,
Thank you for my private tour at Birdsong, yesterday.
Impressed by all the hard work over the decades. -
5 Star Review!
*****
Matthew Triolo -
Pleasant garden tour through shade and herb, cutting, and evergreen gardens.
Many things to see that interested me and my children from frogs in a pond, beautifully colored plants, and giant twisting trees.
Every turn has something beautiful to see or smell, and hidden wonders are everywhere to be found. Lesley is very knowledgeable and generous with sharing all the details about her gardens.
She lovingly tends to her gardens, and it shows in the way plants and trees are allowed to grow naturally and freely under the mountain sun.
There are even homes made for nature's pollinators! Bunnies and birds also enjoy the gardens and frequently cross your path along the tour.
If you share a love of flowers, gardening, and nature, be sure to check out Birdsong Pleasure Gardens. -
Ben Woods
5 STAR REVIEW! -
5 STAR REVIEW!!!
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Dear Lesley,
Thank you so much for the Zoom presentation to our Dominion Valley Garden Club on Tuesday, January, 10th, 2023.
All of our members enjoyed your presentation, especially showing us month by month what is blooming in your various gardens. You made everyone feel comfortable to as questions, too.
We all truly appreciated your time, sharing your history with us and all your knowledge! Most sincerely Cecelia Breazeale, Vice President -
Dear Lesley and Tom,
Thank you for hosting Business After Hours. We so appreciate it. Everyone was lovely. The food was wonderful! It was a great turn-out and the guests enjoyed your beautiful grounds and amazing flowers.
Lesley and Tom you are both such wonderful people and what you both have done with Birdsong Pleasure Garden is nothing short of amazing. Thank you so much.
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