Earth, I Thank You: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer

Earth, I Thank You: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum in Lynchburg, VA. The 35-minute film traces the evolution of Spencer's beloved garden from a personal retreat to a nationally significant cultural landscape. It was an oasis where she wrote much of her poetry, drawing inspiration and insights from the natural beauty surrounding her. It was also a vibrant gathering place, welcoming luminaries and civil rights leaders including Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Thurgood Marshall, George Washington Carver, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The home and garden are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. The documentary is made possible by the Suzanne and Frederic Rheinstein Fund for Documentary Films, a groundbreaking Garden Conservancy initiative envisioned by the late Suzanne Rheinstein to use film to capture the essence of gardens and their historical significance. Garden Conservancy Board of Directors Member Kate Cordsen is Executive Producer of the documentary.

The garden's design blends original plants and sculptures with found objects that reflect both Anne and Edward Spencer's artistry and creative spirit. In the 1980s, the garden underwent a thoughtful restoration, initiated by Anne Spencer's son, Chauncey Spencer, led by the Hillside Garden Club, which worked to preserve its unique character and connection to Spencer's literary legacy. The second began in 2008, with the Garden Conservancy advising on preservation planning, including the rehabilitation of the pergola and pond, and a detailed study of the garden's history, condition and plantings.