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estimated the property's value as between $ 18 million and $ 30 million. Mount Vernon
District Supervisor Daniel G. Storck and Paul Gilbert of NOVA Parks, among others, worked to put together a purchase offer that could meet both AHS’s objectives and those of the Alexandria community, which hoped to see the privately-owned land purchased by local entities and transformed into a public park. On September 29, 2021, the interim executive director, CFO and all 5 of the board members who wanted to sell River Farm all resigned in defeat after a year of a stalemate. The remaining 5 Board members removed River Farm from the real estate market. They reiterated their commitment to keeping AHS at River Farm and ensuring that it is open to the public in perpetuity, as Enid Annenberg Haupt always intended.
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Landmark features include vistas stretching down to the
Potomac River as well as its artful blend of naturalistic and formal gardens that offer year-round delight to visitors of all ages. In addition, there are extensive and creative play areas for children, demonstration gardens for both edible and ornamental plants, a four-acre meadow, and scenic resting places for picnickers, artists, and romantics. Other highlights include two small buildings with planted "living" roofs, one of the largest Osage-orange trees in the nation, an orchard, a grove of rare
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108:, philanthropist, gardener, and member of the AHS board of directors took interest in the property. AHS purchased the property in the 1970s and Haupt donated funds over several years to help AHS pay off the mortgage. While under the ownership of AHS, she expressed a desire to see the grounds kept open to the public. In 1973, AHS relocated its headquarters from the city of Alexandria to nearby River Farm. The property was renamed River Farm in honor of President George Washington, one of the many land owners.
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tribe. Brent received a grant of 1,800 acres (7.3 km) named
Piscataway Neck. In 1739 his successor George Brent transferred the property to his brother-in-law William Clifton, who renamed the property Clifton's Neck. In 1757 Clifton completed the brick house that now serves as AHS headquarters.
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In 2004, River Farm was designated a
Horticultural Landmark by the American Society for Horticultural Science. This recognition was due to the ability to retain its historic character while at the same time showcasing the best and most environmentally responsible gardening practices. Horticultural
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On
September 4, 2020, the board of AHS announced that it was putting the property up for sale, supposedly to ensure the viability of their small national nonprofit, hit hard financially because of COVID-19 and the major expense of maintaining and operating River Farm. The real estate listing
96:." The property was home to numerous owners including Malcolm Matheson, who bought the property in 1919. Matheson placed the property on the market in 1971 and received an offer from the Soviet Embassy who planned to use the land as a retreat or dacha for its staff.
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Today's smaller River Farm is located on the northernmost division of
Washington's original property. River Farm features a 1920s estate house with naturalistic and formal garden areas. It still preserves several historical associations with Washington. Its
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River Farm was passed down through two immediate generations of
Washingtons and later sold with 652 acres of Washington's original land to the Snowden brothers of New Jersey. This included the houses known as "Wellington,"
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84:, who obtained the property for £1,210 through a bankruptcy sale in 1760. Washington changed the name of Clifton's Neck to River Farm and leased the property to tenant farmers.
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After
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trees, and frequent sightings of bald eagles, bluebirds, foxes, wild turkeys and other wildlife.
33:(AHS) headquarters, is a (27 acres (11 ha)) landscape located at 7931 East Boulevard Drive,
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species, varieties, and cultivars, plus small ornamental trees including river birch (
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Estate House plantings – native shrubs and trees, including
Allegheny serviceberry (
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Garden Calm – shrubs, trees, and perennials for shade, with the large Osage-orange.
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The River Farm property was established in 1653–54 by Giles Brent and his wife,
412:"River Farm fight shows struggle of nonprofit governance - The Washington Post"
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Perennial Border – plants selected for resistance to diseases and pests.
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André Bluemel Meadow (4 acres/1.6 ha) – naturalistic area with native
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Following financial difficulties, Clifton sold the land to neighbor,
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Children's Garden – more than a dozen small gardens for children.
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to the
Washington family, and grown from seedlings of the
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Map showing River Farm as part of George Washington's
446:"River Farm Declines Purchase Offer from NOVA Parks"
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George Harding Memorial Azalea Garden – hundreds of
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182:) probably date to George Washington's ownership.
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29:(25 acres (10 ha)), permanent home to the
858:George Washington Birthplace National Monument
362:List of botanical gardens in the United States
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125:upon Washington's return from surveys in the
121:are descendants of those first introduced to
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939:Protected areas of Fairfax County, Virginia
295:White House Gates – first installed at the
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258:Growing Connection Demonstration Garden –
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299:in 1819, in the reconstruction after the
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432:"River Farm Listed for $ 32.9 Million"
219:) with specimens nearly 100 years old.
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306:Wildlife Garden – a small pond with
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176:. Two large black walnut trees (
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31:American Horticultural Society
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934:Botanical gardens in Virginia
712:Lawrence Augustine Washington
944:Washington family residences
813:Washington family residences
774:Benjamin Franklin Washington
697:William Augustine Washington
246:Metasequoia glyptostroboides
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164:The farm's gardens include:
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764:Lawrence Berry Washington
717:George William Washington
707:George Steptoe Washington
656:John Augustine Washington
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748:Peter Grayson Washington
738:George Corbin Washington
636:Augustine Washington Jr.
112:Washington at River Farm
22:River Farm house in 2010
200:), dwarf fothergilla (
197:Chionanthus virginicus
147:Horticultural landmark
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878:Mary Washington House
779:William D. Washington
743:Bushrod C. Washington
676:Bailey Washington Jr.
486:38.74222°N 77.04472°W
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800:W. Selden Washington
610:Augustine Washington
434:. November 17, 2020.
203:Fothergilla gardenii
119:Kentucky coffeetrees
106:Enid Annenberg Haupt
69:, a princess of the
35:Alexandria, Virginia
913:Washington Old Hall
491:38.74222; -77.04472
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417:The Washington Post
347:River Farm for sale
252:Davidia involucrata
249:), and dove trees (
43:Mount Vernon estate
784:Eugenia Washington
726:Seventh generation
702:Bushrod Washington
671:William Washington
661:Charles Washington
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100:Acquisition by AHS
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898:Rising Sun Tavern
757:Eighth generation
651:Samuel Washington
641:George Washington
615:Bailey Washington
603:Fourth generation
571:Second generation
564:Washington family
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243:), dawn redwood (
127:Ohio River Valley
82:George Washington
67:Mary Kittamaquund
39:George Washington
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690:Sixth generation
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448:. March 2021.
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489: /
381:AHS website
301:War of 1812
297:White House
174:wildflowers
94:Collingwood
928:Categories
903:River Farm
853:Ferry Farm
838:Cedar Lawn
477:77°02′41″W
474:38°44′32″N
463:River Farm
368:References
269:Orchard –
260:vegetables
234:'Heritage'
154:Franklinia
71:Piscataway
27:River Farm
893:Ridgedale
848:Fairfield
828:Beall-Air
324:blueberry
90:Waynewood
908:Sulgrave
868:Harewood
833:Blakeley
818:Abingdon
356:See also
336:junipers
330:shrubs,
328:bayberry
312:goldfish
160:Features
123:Virginia
92:," and "
873:Kenmore
332:grasses
320:turtles
316:tilapia
170:grasses
49:History
562:of the
338:, and
289:trees.
285:, and
279:cherry
239:Cornus
227:azalea
61:estate
340:holly
308:frogs
271:apple
264:herbs
318:and
283:plum
275:pear
262:and
172:and
241:sp.
41:'s
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