Spanning the mid-17th century to the early 21st,  Historic Garden Week in Virginia opens more than 200 of Virginia’s finest private homes and gardens on  tours across the Commonwealth April 18-25, 2009.

More than 30 outstanding tours are sponsored by member clubs of The Garden Club of Virginia, with proceeds benefiting the restoration of historic landscapes throughout the state.  Many of the lovely private houses and gardens are open to the public for the first time.  All periods of Virginia history are reflected in the styles of homes and landscapes featured, including the Colonial era, American Revolution, Civil War, Victorian period and recent decades.

Event locales range from the ocean to the mountains and include rural, urban and suburban settings at the peak of Virginia’s springtime color.  Tourists have a wide choice of places to visit for an inside peek, from Colonial plantations to Victorian farmhouses, suburban estates, city townhouses, hillside retreats and waterfront villas.  Beautiful gardens range from formal 18th century terraces to backyard habitats, boxwood mazes, walled city spaces, and cutting, water, herb and “secret” gardens.   

Historic Garden Week in Virginia, celebrating its 76th season, is the oldest and largest statewide house and garden tour event in the nation and is known as “America’s Largest Open House.”  Each event offers an engaging variety of five to six local houses and gardens. 

Garden Week tours have been held annually since 1929, except for a period during World War II when members of The Garden Club of Virginia took time off to tend their Victory Gardens.  More than 3,300 members of The Garden Club of Virginia, along with other friends and supporters, work to produce the tours during the last full week of April each year.  Over the past seven decades, Historic Garden Week ticket sales have exceeded $14.5 million.

For tour dates and details, access the Schedule page of the Garden Week web site www.VAGardenweek.org.  A comprehensive 220-page guidebook, available beginning in February, may be obtained by sending a $6 donation to Historic Garden Week, 12 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219.  The book provides descriptions of houses and gardens open, directions, ticket prices, and the names and telephone numbers of local tour organizers.  The Garden Week telephone number is (804) 644-7776 and e-mail address is gdnweek@verizon.net.

Prices for tour tickets range from $10 to $40 per event.  Tickets may be purchased on the day of the tour at any of the properties open, at designated information centers, and in advance from local tour chairmen or via the website.  It is not necessary to buy tickets in advance, although bus groups may wish to make earlier plans.  Tours will be held on their scheduled days, rain or shine.

Visitors typically drive to tour areas and then are greeted by hostess guides at properties open.  All houses will feature superb flower arrangements created by members of The Garden Club of Virginia, with emphasis on colorful seasonal flowers and plants native to the state.   

This year, a number of the house and garden tours will also feature special activities for Garden Week guests.  These include flower arranging demonstrations, discussions by Master Gardeners, interludes by local musical ensembles, delicious lunches homemade by church groups, and even fashion shows.  Discussions of Thomas Jefferson as gardener will be held at Monticello during the week.  Visitors will also enjoy guided tours of Jefferson’s beautiful Pavilion Gardens at the University of Virginia, the crown jewels of The Garden Club of Virginia’s restoration work with funding from Historic Garden Week tours. 

Tours Benefit Historic Preservation Programs
Historic Garden Week tours have restored the gardens and grounds of Virginia’s most prominent historic figures, including those of George Washington and his mother, Mary Ball Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James and Dolley Madison, Patrick Henry, George Mason, Robert E. Lee and Woodrow Wilson.  All of these fine historic properties are open to the public, along with dozens of other lovely Garden Club of Virginia restoration projects.  A description of The Club’s restored gardens is available on the Club’s website:  www.GCVirginia.org.