Garden Day 2017: The Woodstock, 2934 Rivermont Avenue, Unit 20 – Lynchburg News and Advance

The Woodstock was built in 1917, when Rivermont Avenue would have been considered suburbia.

The 10-unit apartment house was designed by Lynchburg architect Stanhope Johnson and later featured in S. Allen Chambers book, Lynchburg: An Architectural History.

In describing what now is the Timmons living room, Chambers writes it was done in a Tudor vein, with high, paneled wainscoting and with bookcases on the fireplace wall and the focal point of the room is the bold chimney breast, with its Tudor-arched firebox and mantle. Above the chimney breast has three panels framed by pilasters with stylized Ionic capitals.

Homeowner Susan Timmons said, We just love this place. I love the architecture here. Its fabulous.

In the spacious apartment, visitors will find items from around the world. Timmons and her husband, Tim, have traveled extensively so extensively, in fact, Timmons, a master gardener, gives a 15-lecture series titled, Gardens of the World.

Artwork is displayed salon style throughout the home. Artists include, among others, Randolph-Macon Womans College alumna Harriet Fitzgerald; Timmons mother, the Richmond artist Elizabeth Thompson; and Timmons herself, who also is an artist.

The walls are covered, Timmons said of the collection.

In addition to her globetrotting, Timmons lived in Korea for several years. That said, shes obviously fond of Asian-style decor. In the living room, theres an array of Asian figurines, and Persian and Indian rugs are used throughout the home. Visitors also will see antique Korean and Chinese cabinets and chests.

Also, at Timmons home and at all of the homes on the Lynchburg Garden Day tour, there will be an ikebana flower arrangement. Ikebana pronounced ee kay bah nah is literally Japanese for arranging flowers. In addition to fresh flowers, ikebana arrangements also might incorporate dried twigs, rocks, driftwood or manmade items.

One of the most unique items in the home is a dining room set with Hollywood roots. The octagonal, glass-and-rattan set once belonged to actress Elizabeth Taylor and then-husband John Warner.

Timmons became acquainted with Taylor and Warner in the 1970s, when Warner was running for U.S. Senate. In fact, the couple stayed overnight at Timmons home in Danvilles historic district. When the table became available, Timmons acquired it. It now resides in the sunroom at The Woodstock.

The Woodstocks garden, tucked behind the building, is what Timmons described as a lovely little communal garden, full of perennials, camellias, lilacs, roses, quince, wisteria and other plants.

These people have been gardening in it since the beginning of time, 100 years ago, Timmons said of The Woodstocks residents, past and present. The garden ... has grown over time as people who have lived here have planted what they loved and [did] things they wanted to do out there. So, we all just make room for the next.

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Garden Day 2017: The Woodstock, 2934 Rivermont Avenue, Unit 20 - Lynchburg News and Advance