Anyone who wants to explore Loudoun's flourishing rural economy has a good excuse the weekend of May 21-22: Loudoun's 2005 Spring Farm Tour.
Twenty-two farms and wineries will open their gates free of charge to visitors, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., each day. Each venue provides a unique farm experience for visitors.
A cornucopia of annuals and perennials are the highlight at Layng's Flower Farm near Brambleton. Another family-run business, Layng's is one of Northern Virginia's largest flower-growing facilities.
Tarara Winery Bed & Breakfast in Lucketts is one of Loudoun's most popular local wineries, but it also offers you-pick asparagus and picnics by the lake. Tour the 6,000-square foot wine maker's cave.
At the family-run DeBaggio's Herb Farm and Nursery near South Riding, over 100,000 herbs are grown annually, providing a wide variety for cooks. This year is the farm's 30th anniversary.
At Blue Ridge Center's Mountain View Farm near Lovettsville, everything is grown naturally on a 900-acre nature preserve. Grass-fed and hormone-free meat, eggs and vegetables are available for purchase.
The farm tour lures thousands of visitors from across the region every year. Self-guided tour maps and more information about participating farms are available at www.loudounfarms.org.
— Suzannah Evans