Senator Justin Morrill

In this watercolor workshop, we will emphasize painting the beautiful flowers blooming in the Morrill Homestead Gardens. The focus will be to follow in the tradition of observing and painting botanicals with lots of encouragement for embracing your own original style. This class is an introduction to a longer series. A suggested materials list will be provided upon registration.

Jennifer teaches watercolor classes at the Morrill Homestead and at AVA Gallery in Lebanon. She is a member of the Vermont Watercolor Society and exhibits her paintings at the Matt Brown Fine Art Gallery in Lyme, N.H.

Class fee: $35

For more information and to register

Sponsored by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead and Bonnie Bergeron at Martha Diebold Real Estate.

Explore the nature and architecture of the Morrill Homestead through drawing, nature journaling, and watercolor painting. Make your own handmade books for sketching and finished work. Drawing will include direct observation of nature, drawing games, and techniques to improve your skills.

Children will be inspired by the natural surroundings of the gardens, trails, and stream. Each child will learn new painting methods and practice watercolors of the buildings, forests, and pond. Students will have time to complete finished drawings and paintings. Instruction will be tailored to children’s experience and interests.

Instructor Jennifer Brown is a longstanding illustrator for Stave Puzzles and has taught art at Sharon Academy. Jennifer teaches watercolor classes at the Morrill Homestead and at AVA Gallery in Lebanon. She is a member of the Vermont Watercolor Society and exhibits her paintings at the Matt Brown Fine Art Gallery in Lyme.

This week-long camp runs Monday July 25 through Friday, July 29, 9:00 a.m. - noon.

$125 per child

For more information and to register

Sponsored by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead and Martha Diebold Real Estate.

Learning photography is a great way for young people to explore the outdoors and become immersed in the beauty of nature.  World Story Exchange teacher Scott McClure Miller has taught photography to children in 11 countries for the past decade.  Join Scott this summer on the lovely grounds of the Morrill Homestead.  Each day will be a fun mixture of learning and practicing new skills while enjoying the outdoors.  The week will culminate with a photo exhibit of campers’ work in the Strafford Post Office. Cameras are provided.

This week-long camp runs from Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22, 9:00 a.m. - noon.

$150 per child

For more information and to register

Sponsored by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead, Kumon Math & Reading, and Bushway Insurance Agency.

Come learn the art of basketry with Dona Nazarenko of Country Spirit Baskets. Choose between two baskets popular in the 19th century: the Kitchen Helper Basket or the Traditional Market Basket.  The Kitchen basket shows off a stylish graceful woven handle. The Market basket has a wooden handle woven into it.  They both have many uses for storage and organizing or can be a valuable catch-all for every table. Option of adding colors if you would like. The workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Workshop fee: $55 (materials included)

For more information and to register

Sponsored by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead and Kate Cassidy at Four Seasons – Sotheby’s Realty.

The Friends of the Morrill Homestead’s annual Gallery in the Garden art show and online auction is a highlight of the Upper Valley art season. The 2022 edition features works created in an array of styles by fine artists from the Strafford community, the Upper Valley, and beyond. Seventeen artists present their unique perspectives on the theme The Other American Dream in ways that are moving, playful, profound, and inspiring.

5 p.m.- Reception for the art show opening in the Carriage Barn. Matt Brown and Jo Levasseur are the featured artists and inspiration for The Other American Dream exhibit.

“Minis for Morrill” paintings on view in the Education Center - magnificent 4″x4″ mini paintings by artists of regional and national reputation to be auctioned online.

Guided tours of Justin Morrill’s Gothic Revival-style house until 6:00 p.m.

Sponsored by ECFiber and underwritten by Mascoma Bank.

Historical tour of Strafford village which remains much the same as in Morrill’s time. Tours include Morrill’s birthplace, his father’s blacksmith shop, two libraries, the Strafford Town House, and the mausoleum where Morrill is buried. Tour begins at the Sen. Justin Morrill State Historic Site. 

Adults: $5.00      Children under 15: Free

Sponsored by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead.

Come join naturalist and bryophyte-lover Micki Colbeck for a short tutorial followed by a walk around the homestead to see some mosses, liverworts, and Selaginella and to learn the difference between them. Hand lenses are helpful but not necessary. Hiking will be easy. For kids and adults. Learn some Latin names and the easy mnemonics to help remember them.

Participation fee: $5.00

For more information and to register

Sponsored by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead.

Work with the Homestead’s Master Gardener to prepare the Victorian gardens for the 2021 season. This is the first of several projects designed to nurture the colorful annual beds in the pleasure ground and expand the kitchen garden—Morrill’s laboratory for experimenting with plant hardiness that contains a variety of roses, perennials, berry bushes, herbs.

Come join us from 9:00 AM to noon and become a part of Vermont’s history as we care for the historic landscape of this very influential American. You can earn all of your Master Gardener outreach hours with us.

This is a free event organized and hosted by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information, or to register call (802) 649-2940.

A walking tour of Strafford Village which remains much the same as in Morrill’s time. Tours include Morrill’s birthplace, his father’s blacksmith shop, two libraries, the Strafford Town House, and the mausoleum where Morrill is buried.

Fee: Adults $6 (Children under 15 free)

For more information, please visit morrillhomestead.org, or call (802) 765-4288.

This program is offered in collaboration with the Friends of the Morrill Homestead. 

A walking tour of Strafford Village which remains much the same as in Morrill’s time. Tours include Morrill’s birthplace, his father’s blacksmith shop, two libraries, the Strafford Town House, and the mausoleum where Morrill is buried.

Fee: Adults $6 (Children under 15 free)

For more information, please visit morrillhomestead.org, or call (802) 765-4288.

This program is offered in collaboration with the Friends of the Morrill Homestead.