Garden Tour and Saplings

The Hill House Museum is giving out free trees during the Doors, Porches, and Gardens tour on Saturday (May 15) 10:00-4:00.  The varieties available are:  (see links for size, planting, etc.)

Trident maple – Acer beurgerianum

https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/acebuea.pdf

Red Buckeye – Aesculus pavia

http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/aespava.pdf

Shumard Oak – Quercus shumardii

http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/QUESHUA.pdf

Muhly Grass – Muhlenbergia capillaris

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/FP/FP41500.pdf

A big thank you goes out to Bobby Nance with Bartlett Tree Experts for donating the tree saplings.  Stop by the Hill House on Saturday for a free tree(s).  If you have questions, call 757-714-3223.  

First Day of Spring 2021 and May Tour!

It’s the vernal equinox, the first day of spring! The Hill House Museum is excited to be part of the Olde Towne Civic League's Doors, Porches, and Gardens Tour on May 15th! A self-guided tour of the hidden gems of Olde Towne! Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online, at select High Street locations, or the day of the event.

Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 10 AM EDT – 4 PM EDT

Tickets

otpcl.org/doors-porches-and-gardens-tour

Tour changes and update

The Hill House Museum will be closed for tours until May 15th. However, if anyone reaches out via email or Facebook and wants a tour, we will accommodate the request. Thanks and be safe.

Shop Local for unique holiday gifts

The Hill House Museum is open Wednesday, December 9th noon-3:00. Stop by and check out our unique holiday shop, and also take a tour. Our unique glass ornaments and holiday tea bags have been a hit. Also, we have our famous box of "Five Sisters" blend tea available, and 19th Century shard china ornaments.

Can't make it Wednesday? We are open again Saturday noon-3:00 or by appointment on other days. Call (757-714-3226) Facebook message, or email.

Great Holiday Gift!!!

Looking for a unique Christmas gift?

This one of a kind gift will surely put a smile on anyone's face. This already wrapped gift contains the following:

1 box of Five Sisters Blend tea

1Tea-cup, saucer, and spoon

Cloth Napkin

German Glass ornament (Inge-Glas)

Handmade Ornament

Olde Towne book

1 spoon

All for $25. You can avoid crowds by just stopping by the Hill House Museum and picking up this one-of-a-kind special gift for you or someone special.

Call 757-714-3226, email us at info@thehillhousemuseum.org or Facebook message to arrange pick-up.

Olde Towne Ghost Stories book

Ghost Stories of Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia book

Halloween is next week and this book would make a great gift or addition to your library collection. There is no Ghost Walk this year however ,this book keeps the stories alive......Boo!

Open Wednesdays and Saturdays noon-3:00. Pop in and grab a copy while they last. $10 each

Re-opening of the Museum

The Hill House Museum is

Opening for tours

Starting Wednesday, October 7th

(Wednesdays only)

Noon-3:00

Here is what you can expect…

ü  No more than 6 in a group can tour at one time

ü Masks must be worn at all times by staff and visitors

ü Social Distancing guidelines will be followed

ü $5 per person

ü Due to limited staffing tours are available, for now, only on Wednesdays

Acrophobia????

You have to admit members of the Hill Family were not afraid of heights. As you can see from the attached picture, the main staircase view from the fourth floor looking down to the second does not help those who suffer from Acrophobia, the fear of heights. In-turn this amazing architectural feature allows visitors of the museum the opportunity to be connected to each floor by this main artery of the home, the staircase.

The Flower Closet

What is one area of the Hill House Museum guests always marvel at and sometimes wish they had one in their house?  

The Flower Closet!  

Since the Hill sisters loved horticulture and gardening the flower closet was a place that was well utilized this time of year.  In the past when the gardens were blooming the colorful fragrant flowers would have been brought inside, arranged in the flower closet, and placed throughout the Hill House.   There is a working sink in the flower closet and many shelves on which colorful and ornate vases sit reminiscent of the glory days of the past.  The Hill sisters won many International Flower Show awards and many of those accolades sit on those shelves with the vases.   In fact, many of the awards are “First Place” due to their unique contributions to the horticulture world.   

Flowers can make a bad day brighter and more colorful!   So, enjoy the attached pictures of the Hill House Flower Closet virtually, and maybe be inspired during these pandemic times to bring some color into your home just like the Hill sisters once did.   

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Each year the Hill House Museum celebrates Mother’s Day by hosting a tea.  So, with this year’s tea cancelled we decided to post pictures of past Mother’s Day teas.       

It is always a great day when we host this special tea, and we hope to continue the tradition next year. 

Our wish to you is…May you always have a warm pot of tea on the table and someone you love to share it with..Happy Mother’s Day!!!