Threat

Margaret Thomas is 84 years old and wants to retire from the daily task of keeping the gardens and selling the iris, peonies and daylilies. She would like to see her work maintained for the better good of the community. She is not in a financial position to donate her land to Fairfax County; neither has the County awoken to the urgent need to secure this site, which has become such an integral part of the area's history and the life of the community.

Margaret Thomas' Gardens has been maintained for 30 years with one full time gardener and an assistant gardener. Neighborhood volunteer weeding parties are scheduled during the pre-garden opening time. Once the land is saved in a conservation easement, the garden will be capable of operating on the revenue from the sale of the plants, historic preservation and conservation grant funding, and from income and grants generated by some of its environmental education programs.

Many local groups and citizens support the initiative to save Margaret Thomas' Gardens. These include the Friends of Margaret's Gardens, Sustainable Living Educational Group, Fairfax ReLeaf, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Lands and Waters, Earth Sangha, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, The Potomac Conservancy, the Vale Arts Group, and the many citizens of Northern Virginia who have signed petitions and otherwise endorsed this effort.

The multi-year effort to procure Fairfax County support and funding to acquire and preserve Margaret Thomas' Gardens is nearing fruition. Various Fairfax County agencies are collaborating to ensure continued public enjoyment of these gardens and open space. A final decision is expected this summer.