Nesselrod Bed and Breakfast Gardens and Guesthouse hosts weddings and other formal celebrations, both indoor and outdoor parties at the guesthouse and in the formal gardens.

Nesselrod offers...

"Sheer indulgence at reasonable rates"

"An experience of pitch perfect luxury"

August 26, 2005

Nesselrod on the New Tel. (540)731-4970

P.O. Box 417
7535 Lee Highway
Radford, Virginia
24143-0417

Coming into the garden is always a delightful respite for the present owners, especially Cheryl Gillespie, who bought the house to rescue the gardens.

Formal Garden

Restoration of the formal boxwood and hemlock gardens is now complete, following the construction of an outdoor gazebo, chapel-like in its appearance with ten gothic arches. Containing the estate's original American and English box-woods, roses, day lilies and herbs, this garden runs 232 feet with seating for two hundred guests for weddings or outdoor concerts. The central aisle, is over one hundred feet in length and is lined with Provence Lavendar, Korean Boxwood, Shasta Daisies and many white annuals. The focal point for both nuptials and night concerts is the arched gazebo, installed in 1997, outfitted with music and lights, and topped by an arrow-less bronze Cupid.

Sunken Garden

For sheer drama, however, nothing here touches the vast sunken garden, built in the grounds' natural depression on its east border. The four semicircle retaining rock walls were constructed from stone out of the old Radford train depot. Surviving plants and shrubs include English boxwood, Lilies of the Valley, Dogwoods, Daffodils, Trillium, Oriental Iris and Tiger Lilies. This historic terraced garden was the original site for weddings, including the Thomas' daughter in 1954. The white pine columns wrapped with ivy transform the sunken garden into a "cathedral".

The Riverwalk

The Riverwalk Garden is the most hidden garden but offers the splendor and charm Mrs. Thomas intended for this place. In April, English Bluebells abound and was the first place Hal and Cheryl Gillespie spent time here at Nesselrod with a bottle of Champagne and a picnic blanket, overlooking the New River. With the closure of Madison Street, the Gillespie's are looking forward to restoring this garden and creating a wonderful place to spend time on the banks of the New River.

Garden Tours

The gardens are open for special occasions as well as public tours. A list of seasonal flowers and blooming times are available. Nesselrod is at its best in the spring with the blooming in late April of bulbs, notably Scilla nonscripta or the traditional English bluebell, and lily of the valley followed by hybrid lilacs and peonies. The gardens were also the planting site of a famous iris breeder, some of which still make their debut in late spring. Due to its location, Nesselrod is a microclimate protected by the warmth of the river. Crepe myrtle blooms well and spring arrives two weeks earlier than other gardens merely blocks away, thus inviting the guest to "come into the garden".