August is a spectacular month in the garden, with myriad flowers blooming. Mother Nature similarly provides for a dazzling display of wildflowers this final month of summer, including these colorful blossoms bursting forth along Skyline Drive at sunset Sunday.

Nearly 60 people gathered at the Rappahannock County Park last Saturday evening to hear an informative presentation from James Granahan (Northern Virginia Astronomy Club–NOVAC) about the planets and what the public can do to preserve our view of the star-filled skies. 

Scenic Virginia’s annual Virginia Vistas Photo Contest, which showcases the amazing breadth of beauty in the Commonwealth, has announced its 2019 statewide contest winners, which this year includes Rappahannock County. Scenic Virginia received 1,000-plus entries, and in the Farms & Open …

“My real belief is that government shouldn’t be involved in marriage at all, but if it is, everybody has to be treated equally before the law. That is part of our Republican creed. And it also comes down to love is love. I’m happy to join two people together who obviously love each other.”

A Businesses of Rappahannock-Rappahannock News seminar on Tuesday surrounding successful advertising and marketing tips and tricks drew a crowd of three dozen to the Rappahannock County Library.

“When butterflies fall in love, do they feel people in their stomachs?” a Shenandoah National Park ranger wondered when posting a news release this week on the brightly colored insects. This pair of butterflies — love birds for all we know — was photographed Sunday above the park’s Little De…

Janet Kerig (far left) and Kitty Keyser (far right) conduct a Summer Arts & Crafts Camp at Sperryville’s Hearthstone School. The Waldorf-inspired camp includes storytelling, watercolor painting, rhythmic movement and dance, water play, drumming, beadwork and nature walks among its many a…

Gray Ghost, the oldest winery in Rappahannock County, celebrated 25 years of winemaking this past Saturday morning by welcoming hundreds of friends and local dignitaries to its vineyards. Virginia’s 18th District Del.

The Culpeper-Madison-Rappahannock Farm Show took place in Culpeper July 11-15, where regional 4-H and FFA Youth Livestock Program members, including several seen here from Rappahannock County.

Etched in stone atop the 100-foot Franklin Cliffs in Shenandoah National Park is “Lade 1959.” An old Norse name, Lade was given to one who lived next to a barn or worked in one. The rocky perch, which affords a spectacular view of the Shenandoah Valley, was obviously a special place for Lade…

Unfazed by heights, Chris Rinehart of Boston climbed through the heat and humidity to reach the top of the shady side of the Sperryville Schoolhouse and entrance to RappU. Among Rappahannock’s most recognized landmarks, the schoolhouse is getting a fresh coat of red paint, courtesy of Woodvi…

Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue, established in 1952, welcomed several thousand parade-goers and participants to its 2019 Carnival Parade Thursday evening, capped off with thrilling amusement rides and games for children and adults alike. Visit here for more photos from the event.

No better prelude to Independence Day than the annual Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Carnival Parade. Where else, after all, does a hometown pageant like this one, presenting all the bells and whistles, wind its way to a spectacular carnival?

Summer has officially arrived in Rappahannock County, if you haven’t noticed. Temperatures this week have reached into the 90s, with a humidity-driven heat index approaching triple digits. The sweltering weather is expected to last through the weekend. This flock of sheep is cooling their wo…

It was a beautiful Friday evening on Red Oak Mountain for Rapp at Home’s Summer Solstice Potluck Picnic, celebrating the longest day — and shortest night — of the year from one of the most scenic summits in Rappahannock County.

Recipients of the Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community’s 2019 Claudia Mitchell Arts Fund grants pose in front of the set of this fall’s RAAC production of “Waiting for Godot” after they were presented with their awards ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 at a Sunday ceremony at the RAAC…

Butch and Jan Zindel with Seri Blair, who drove the Lunch Bunch car at last Saturday’s annual Piedmont Area Soap Box Derby, one of 10 Rappahannock County drivers who participated. “I’m so proud of the activity we have in Rappahannock County with all of our drivers,” said longtime committee m…

Rappahannock had its share of visitors — dads included — over Father’s Day weekend, and the weather cooperated fully. Local mountaintops were similarly teeming with hikers — and their four-legged companions — including Mary’s Rock above Sperryville, seen here Saturday morning when temperatur…

Sperryville’s Happy Camper Equipment Co. celebrated its first year in business Saturday as an outdoorsy outpost for hiking, camping and cabin living goods. As part of the celebration, proprietor Robert Archer paid tribute to Lucky — seen here with his donuts in 2007 — and Eileen Yilmaz, who …

Internationally renowned pianist Michael Recchiuti and soprano Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs (on each end), along with Lorin Maazel Castleton Institute artists Cameron Schutza and Marie Masters Webb, receive a standing ovation after performing “Musical Journey in Celebration of Castleton” at the T…

The business name Antique Tables Made Daily “has been really good to me for 35 years,” says company founder Tom Van Fange, but as he puts it younger people today have an aversion to the word “antique.” Instead, he explains, “they want that modern ‘Ikea’ look.”

The new edition of county map “The Roads of Rappahannock County” is out and the new version now includes the county’s rivers and streams.

Kitty Keyser, the popular Certified Waldorf Teacher who for several decades has taught nursery/kindergarten students at Hearthstone School in Sperryville, is retiring (so to speak). “Miss Kitty has been with us for twenty-five years, and you have led many children,” a tearful admissions dire…

The inaugural Rappahannock County Farmers’ Market opened Saturday, attracting large crowds that spilled into surrounding Sperryville’s River District businesses. Supported by regular vendors and agricultural producers who will rotate in monthly, the market will be held every Saturday, 11 a.m…

It was a dozen years ago, Memorial Day 2007, that local VFW Post 1150 dedicated the Veterans Memorial at Sperryville Cemetery before a gathering of over 100, including many veterans. “It was a grand but somber dedication with speakers, color guard and a solitary bugler playing taps honoring …

More than 50 Rappahannock ladies enjoyed a fabulous fashion show at Washington’s Quievremont Winery, courtesy of Charlotte’s Clothing Store of Culpeper. The models were all from the Ladies Lunch Bunch, a group in excess of 300 and growing — farmers, stay-at-home moms, shopkeepers, retirees, …

“Looky what’s popping in the mountains right now,” writes Jimmie DeBergh of Harris Hollow, referring of course to these beautiful Pink Lady’s Slippers. “Since first discovering them years ago, I now have seven that greet me around the 10th [of May] every year. They are very delicate, and I d…

Gallery 3, Sperryville’s newest fine art gallery, has officially opened its doors. Businesses of Rappahannock (BOR) held a ribbon cutting ceremony to introduce Gallery 3 and its artists Kate Anderson, Marilyn Armor and Mary Allen. Along with County Administrator Garrey Curry and Wakefield Di…

Rain has fallen for all or part of the last six weekends in Rappahannock County, and more wet weather is in the forecast for this weekend. The silver lining with all this moisture is the myriad shades of green, as seen here surrounding Shiloh Baptist Church in Woodville early Sunday evening …

President Trump, who doesn’t hide his disdain for a free press, snubbed the White House Correspondents Association’s dinner Saturday night for the third straight year — this time instructing administration officials and aides to also stay home.

When your grandfather is “Bogey” — the top finishing Samoyed in Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show history — you understandably get to ride around in style. Meet “Grits,” 13-week-old grand puppy of Bogey, who took Sperryville by storm last Saturday.

“The sun was shining, people were smiling . . . an enormous success,” is how Kerry Sutten of Sperryville’s Before & After summed up the 1st Annual Sperryfest, which drew tremendous crowds Saturday to historic Main Street and the banks of the Thornton River, site of 2019’s Great Duck Race.

Virginia Delegate Michael J. Webert paid a visit to Rappahannock County High School last week, where he was greeted by principal Jimmy Swindler (left) and Dr. Shannon Grimsley, RCPS superintendent. Besides visiting classrooms, Webert had an opportunity to try out the glider desk in the “neur…

The 18th Annual Spring Plant Sale (read “tradition”), hosted by Waterpenny Farm in Sperryville this past Saturday, featured among vendors Blue Ridge Botanicals, Morningside Farm & Nursery, Hill House Farm & Nursery, Rappahannock Nature Camp, Rappahannock County High School Farm to Ta…

The beautiful birth of a foal was a wonderful Easter surprise as the breeding season comes to life at Equine Reproduction Concepts in Amissville.

“Wow! Is that the Milky Way?”

Christian faithful attending Easter Sunday sunrise services in Rappahannock County actually witnessed a sunrise for a change, including here at Greenwood Farm in Gid Brown Hollow, where Trinity Episcopal Church Rector Rev. H. Miller Hunter leads worshipers in prayer.

“The rain kind of cleaned out the river for us!” organizer Kerry Sutten announced to the army of 75 volunteers banding together under emerging sunshine Saturday morning for the second annual Thornton River Clean-up in Sperryville.

Amissville resident Joy Foscato positions herself in the Rose Hill Veterinary Practice sponsored Super Stock derby car, which she will drive in the upcoming Piedmont Area Soap Box Derby scheduled for June 15 (behind Joy are Copper Fox Antiques and Rappahannock Lunch Bunch cars, driven by sis…

April is sexual assault awareness month, reads a sign tied to a tree in front of the Rappahannock County Courthouse. “This teal ribbon is tied here as a visual effort to bring public awareness to sexual assault” and to remind that “community services are available to those affected by sexual…

Peter Baldwin this past weekend was the first member in years of the Rappahannock County 4-H Livestock Club to attend the Glenwood Livestock Exposition at the Loudoun Fairgrounds. And talk about performing.