garden tour roanoke va

Roanoke’s Historic Garden Week tour is coming

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The 90th Historic Garden Week tour in Virginia is coming to Roanoke April 21.

Bre Vassar and Carole Whittle, chairs of the event, came by 7@four to talk about the tour, in which six interiors and gardens in south Roanoke can be toured with purchase of a ticket.

Click VAGARDENWEEK.ORG for tickets, info, and a list of tours in addition to the Roanoke tour.

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Historic Garden Week tour happening in Roanoke Saturday

R OANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Are you ready to smell the roses, explore home interiors and outdoor spaces? Historic Garden Week returns to Virginia’s Blue Ridge Saturday.

Known as “America’s Largest Open House” for 91 years, The Garden Club of Virginia welcomes visitors to more than 100 private and public gardens, homes and historic landmarks throughout the Commonwealth.

“It was started by the Garden Club of Virginia to find ways to preserve and conserve gardens across the commonwealth. Five or six women in 1929 had the notion that they would open homes. That they would really put on “America’s biggest open house.” It has survived all these years as a state-wide tourist event to show off the diversity and beauty of the Commonwealth. We have the tour in Roanoke every year as well as 29 other tours around the state,” Historic Garden Week Chair with Mill Mountain Garden Club, Jeanne Fishwick.

The Roanoke tour is hosted by the Mill Mountain Garden Club and Roanoke Valley Garden Club . The tour starts at the Virginia Western Community College arboretum. Courtesy shuttles will transport guests to the Lakewood neighborhood, which has not been featured on a tour for over 40 years. Four homes and gardens will be showcased.

“It’s so fun every year to go to a different neighborhood to see a different kind of house. This neighborhood is in Roanoke city, but it feels like a beautiful oasis tucked away here off Brambleton. It’s fun to see what other people do in their home and gardens to either to get ideas of your own or admire what other people have done. It’s a great day to see a part of the community you have never see and support a great cause,” said Fishwick.

Guests will roam outdoor entertainment spaces with pools, spectacular flower arrangements, spring gardens and tour inside these private homes. Meredith Draper is a Lakewood homeowner. She said she hopes people enjoy touring the homes and gardens, as much as the families who live there. Draper said the key to gardening is taking care of it the best you can.

“It’s something the whole family can do. People who are gardeners love to help you, love to get you started. Also, we’re fortunate. We have a lot of good garden centers around here and they’re very helpful. They’ll come out and help you get started. I will say, pick what you love. Pick what you love, put it out there, enjoy it. Because you’re going to be the one most enjoying it,” said Lakewood Homeowner, Meredith Draper.

A Palooza will also be held for people to enjoy lunch, sweets and shop local vendors.

This is a rain or shine event that runs Saturday, April 27 from 10am to 4pm. All proceeds benefit the restoration of historic gardens and landmarks in Virginia.

Tickets may be purchased at Townside Gardens at 3614 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/historic-garden-week-roanoke-tour-tickets-767715165727

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Historic Garden Week

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Historic Garden Week in Virginia is sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia and held annually the last week of April. Visitors are welcomed to over 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes, and historic landmarks during ”America’s Largest Open House.” All Historic Garden Week proceeds are used for the restoration of historic gardens and landscapes throughout the Commonwealth. The Roanoke Tour is the Saturday of Garden Week and is sponsored jointly by the Mill Mountain & Roanoke Valley Garden Clubs.

Roanoke’s 2024 tour is Saturday, April 27th

For more information, please go to http://www.vagardenweek.org .

For Tickets, please click the link:  Historic Garden Week Roanoke Tickets

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Enewsletter, historic garden week 2024: the most stunning virginia gardens for spring flowers.

Historic Garden Week in Virginia , known as “America’s Largest Open House,” takes place from April 20-27, 2024, offering 32 tours of impressive gardens from the foothills of the Shenandoah Valley to the beaches of Tidewater.

“Gardens are symbols of hope and renewal. This spring in particular, people are ready to seek inspiration from gardens and spend more time outdoors,” says Missy Buckingham, president of the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV), which organizes Historic Garden Week with its 48 member clubs.

“We expect tours to sell out early, so don’t wait until the last minute to buy tickets,” advises Andrea Butler, GCV’s executive director.

Need some ideas for which Historic Garden Week events to check out? We've highlighted a few of the top attractions for this annual spring extravaganza below.

Eyre Hall on the Eastern Shore

Date: Saturday, April 27

Cost: $40 per person

The gardens at Eyre Hall were created at the turn of the 18th century by John Eyre and his wife Ann. He enclosed his two-acre garden with a brick and picket wall and developed extensive paths and parterres where all manner of entertainment and plantation activities took place. The current owner and eighth generation of the Eyre family to reside at Eyre Hall continues the extraordinary tradition of stewardship that began with his forefathers over 250 years ago. The gardens retain their historical significance while delighting present-day visitors with the addition of colorful and contemporary mixed borders. Beyond the house and gardens, broad stretches of open fields and long views over Cherrystone Creek complete the placid panorama awaiting visitors to this National Historic Landmark and perennial centerpiece of the Eastern Shore tour.  This year marks the 82nd anniversary of Eyre Hall’s participation in Historic Garden Week.

Fredericksburg's Historic Gardens

Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.

Date: Tuesday, April 23

This self-guided tour takes place within a 12-block radius in downtown Fredericksburg. In addition, three gardens at historic places near the tour area will be open for touring. The gardens at Historic Kenmore , the Mary Washington House and the Mary Washington Monument were restored by the Garden Club of Virginia with funds raised by Historic Garden Week. Kenmore was the first restoration project using funds raised from the first tours in 1929.

The James River Plantations Gardens

Date:  Monday, April 22

Cost: $60 per person

Open together, three historic properties and a church established in the early 1600s celebrate Historic Garden Week on three consecutive days. A special combo ticket allows access to the extensive grounds, gardens, numerous outbuildings and first floor interiors of all sites. In addition to touring, Westover Episcopal Church is offering lunch. All are located between scenic Route 5 and the James River in Charles City, a county with an expansive history over its 400 years, including the indigenous, the indentured, the enslaved, early European settlers, and generations of their descendants.

Berkeley Plantation’s Georgian mansion, built in 1726 of brick fired on the plantation, occupies a beautifully landscaped hilltop site overlooking the historic James River. The estate is the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Virginia. It is also the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, ninth United States president and ancestral home of his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, the twenty-third president. Berkeley’s gardens and lawn extend for a full quarter mile from the front door of the mansion to the riverbanks. Many 100-year-old trees grace the restored boxwood gardens offering breathtaking vistas of the James River.

Shirley Plantation stands as a testament to Colonial life and early American history of the indigenous, settlers, indentured and the enslaved. Established only six years after John Smith’s settlement at Jamestown in 1607, Shirley Plantation is the oldest family-owned business in North America, dating to 1638. The “Great House” is largely in its original state and home to the 11th and 12th generations of the Charles Hill Carter family, the current stewards of the property. The grounds at Shirley contain eight original outbuildings with exhibits, including a video focusing on the history of enslavement and those who were enslaved at Shirley. Notable landscape features consist of an oak tree alley entrance, sweeping pastoral views, boxwood gardens, vegetable and herb beds, native sun garden, grape arbor, stately trees, and commanding views of the James River.

A premier example of Georgian architecture in America, Westover Plantation’s charm lies in its elegant yet extremely simple form and perfect proportions, best viewed from the edge of the front lawn. Westover’s grounds include a large formal garden arranged around William Byrd II’s marble tomb, a rare iron clairvoyee punctuated by columns capped with icons of virtue, outbuildings such as a five-hole privy, escape tunnel and icehouse, and three English wrought-iron gates, among the finest from the 18th-century in this country.

The Historic Gardens of Lynchburg

Photo Credit: Emelyn Gwynn, @lynchburgva

Cost: $50 per person

Situated among classical gardens and terraces, an English Country estate in Lynchburg harmoniously balances stately architecture, refined design and the function of a working farm. There are bees and chickens, along with a large greenhouse, as well as kitchen, vegetable and floral cutting gardens. Tour goers will enjoy four private properties, three of which are being featured for the first time.

Another property showcases the homeowners’ commitment to sustainability and biodiversity. Pesticide and herbicide-free for over a decade, they actively continue to reduce areas of manicured lawn to support pollinators and wildlife. Garden beds include a mix of old and new varieties of favorite ornamentals, in addition to numerous native species. This attractive blend of established architectural and landscape design with 21st century, ecologically responsible, garden practices is sure to inspire.

Photo Credit: John Henley

Nearby sites offering free admission to Lynchburg ticket holders include the Anne Spencer House and Garden . This Queen Anne-style house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was the home of noted Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer (1889-1975). Her garden cottage, “Edankraal,” was a personal retreat and a source of inspiration for many of her poems.

Lynchburg Garden Club of Virginia restoration sites that have benefitted from proceeds from prior Historic Garden Week tours are also waiving admission to tour ticket-holders. Thomas Jefferson’s private retreat and plantation at Poplar Forest provided him with the perfect setting to pursue his passion for reading, writing, and gardening after retiring from public life in 1809. Free admission is to the garden only. The 19 th century Boxwood Garden and Daisy’s Garden at Sweet Briar College are located 12 miles north and also open for touring.

Touring Roanoke's Gardens

Cost: $30 per person

This garden-only tour includes eight private outdoor spaces. Visitors will walk through the ornate iron gate of a c. 1905 farmhouse and discover a feast for the eyes, and the tastebuds, with dozens of native cultivars and plants to attract pollinators at one featured garden. While it appears to be well-established and years in the making, the owner is a master gardener who recently transplanted the extensive collection from her previous garden. Raspberries, strawberries and blackberries mingle with old-fashioned daphne, lilacs and primroses.

Stone steps flanked with large oakleaf hydrangeas and skimmia japonica shrubs lead down into another garden that offers sweeping views of the city and mountains to the north. While the front of the property faces up towards the Mill Mountain Star, behind the house the lawn opens to a spacious backyard surrounded by mature oaks, dogwoods, maples and majestic evergreens. Cherry laurels, hostas, hellebores, ferns and nine varieties of hydrangeas bloom in this full-sun garden.

Fifty years ago, the members of the Mill Mountain Garden Club (MMGC) conceived of a plan to adorn the two acres of paths leading to Mill Mountain Zoo with a native wildflower garden. Today, the latest generation of MMGC members have undertaken the restoration of this community gift by reimagining the trail system, restoring the large pond and waterfall, removing the invasive, non-native species of plants that threaten to take over, and planting an infusion of native trees and plants. Visitors will appreciate the many plantings of daffodils, snowdrops and fragrant lily of the valley as they stroll through the newly designed ADA Compliant pathways. Lush with rhododendron and dogwood, garden club members hope this woodland garden will inspire horticultural education, conservation and an appreciation of the plants native to this beautiful part of Virginia.

The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg

Photo Credit: Rich Grant, @richgrantdenver

Spend the day walking through rarely opened gardens in Colonial Williamsburg . Ticket includes admission to seven sites. One small pleasure garden includes a brick path that crisscrosses four parterres planted with ferns and small springtime bulbs. The vertical scale of the garden is attained with flowering dogwoods and ancient crepe myrtles. Large, shoulder-high oakleaf hydrangeas encircle the charming space. A kitchen garden is positioned behind the pleasure garden and features period vegetables and herbs in an early version of “companion planting.”

Another small jewel of a garden was originally land owned by David Morton, a tailor, who purchased the property on this corner lot in 1777. The design was adapted from a 19th century garden in Charleston, South Carolina and features a well and a pump house as the central focal points. The muscadine grape vine arbor makes a dramatic backdrop to the overall garden scheme and is part of Colonial Williamsburg’s Arboretum collection.

As the Garden Club of Virginia’s largest fundraiser, Historic Garden Week proceeds underwrite the ongoing restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic public gardens and landscapes, as well as a research fellowship program for students in landscape architecture. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.vagardenweek.org . 

Karen Cauthen Ellsworth

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Historic Garden Week gives you the chance to see four breathtaking Lakewood homes

The tour kicks off saturday, april 27 at 10 a.m..

Keshia Lynn , Multimedia Journalist

ROANOKE, Va. – You can have the chance to tour four beautiful homes in the Lakewood neighborhood as part of Roanoke’s Historic Garden Week , which takes place tomorrow starting at 10 a.m.

The homes that are featured were built from 1913 to the 1950s. Chair of Historic Garden Week Jeanne Fishwick with the Roanoke tour said every house showcased differs from its interior styles and gardens.

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“I think I like something special in every home one of my favorite things is all the homes have beautiful color. I really love color and interior design and every one of these homes has art,” said Fishwick.

One of the homes on the tour is owned by Meredith Draper. She said she fell in love with the home and neighborhood the second she saw it more than 10 years ago.

“We added on to the house and made it what we needed for our family and it’s just it is a wonderful neighborhood. Kind of right in the middle of the city, but you don’t feel like you’re in the middle of the city,” said Draper.

The home was built in 1952, and it’s a traditional, white-brick colonial.

Draper said when they moved in, she had to build her garden from scratch. She said it’s taken her about 10 years to build it up. There’s everything you can think of too from lilacs, magnolias, peonies and boxwood. She even has her favorite, which are hydrangeas.

“I just love them when they’re in bloom, and unfortunately, they’re not in bloom until later summer,” said Draper.

There’s also a pool that has several flowers and bushes surrounding it. The best part is the pool overlooks the garden.

Roanoke’s Historic Garden Week, which has existed for 91 years, is sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia. The annual event allows visitors to tour private landscapes, public gardens and historic sites across Virginia, including Roanoke. This year, there are 29 tours across the Commonwealth. All proceeds from the event go toward raising money for the restoration and preservation of historic properties around the state.

“We’re always in Roanoke at the end of April,” said Fishwick.

The Lakewood neighborhood has not been featured in more than 50 years.

“I think it’s a beautiful little hidden gem of a neighborhood. The homes are absolutely gorgeous. The history of the neighborhood is very interesting. It was originally developed as a hunting lodge and property to escape downtown Roanoke,” said Fishwick.

If you come out on Saturday, you can even view the first floor of each house.

“I love peddling around in my home and the way I decorate our home is I truly buy what I love and just make it work. So, our home is very eclectic. I mix antiques and modern stuff. I have porcelain that I’ve collected. I have a Herend collection,” said Draper.

The event kicks off Saturday at 10 am at Virginia Western Community College. Shuttle buses are taking people to and from the Lakewood neighborhood until 4 pm. At the community college, you’ll have the chance to see the Community Arboretum and there are several vendors for you to enjoy.

Copyright 2024 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Keshia lynn.

Keshia Lynn is a Multimedia Journalist for WSLS. She was born and raised in Maryland and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society from American University and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.

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Guide to Historic Garden Week on Virginia’s Eastern Shore

• April 13, 2022
• ESVA History , ESVA Places to Go

Your guide to exploring during Historic Garden Week on Virginia’s Eastern Shore  

A warm spring day, wandering picturesque gardens in the Soutern countryside sounds like something straight out of a storybook. Gardens are a major part of Southern traditions and during historic garden week, we set aside time to celebrate that heritage.   

The Virginia Historic Garden Week has been around for almost 90 years. These tours across the Commonwealth are part of an effort by the Garden Club of Virginia to preserve our historic gardens for generations to enjoy.   

What is Historic Garden Week?

According to the Historic Garden Week website, “ Since 1920 the Garden Club of Virginia has grown from eight founding clubs to 48 clubs with over 3,500 members. It is the coordinated efforts of these talented volunteers, along with the generosity of nearly 150 private home owners across our Commonwealth, who make Historic Garden Week possible. The Garden Club of Virginia’s horticultural programming and flower shows inspire one of Historic Garden Week’s greatest attractions, the world-class floral arrangements created by club members featured on tours. We estimate over 2,300 will be created especially for Historic Garden Week this spring.” (read more at www.vagardenweek.org/about-us/ )  

Historic Garden Week on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is all about discovering the beauty and traditions of southern gardens that you will find scattered along our natural coast. With families here on the Eastern Shore dating back to the earliest days of America, the roots run deep in our sandy soil and you will find incredible landscaping that beautifies family estates that date back hundreds of years.

What can you explore during the tour?

While the annual garden tour locations are scattered around the Shore, a mainstay on the tour are the gardens on the grounds of the historic Eyre Hall estate.  

Kirk Mariner, in his book Off 13 , writes, “So strong is the tradition of hospitality here that the house is open every year at Garden Week, and its formal gardens are open to the public, free of charge, year round.”   

He goes on to tell the history and charm of the estate, which was constructed by Littleton Eyre in the mid-1700s. He describes the gardens as “extensively preserved formal garden… a geometrically arranged pattern of magnolia, yew, crepe myrtle, and boxwood… Adjacent to the [family] cemetery are the ruins of the “orangerie,” a substantial brick structure of 1819 which once served as a greenhouse for the estate. During the winters this building housed plants and trees which, during the summers, were moved out into the garden; large windows faced the south for sunlight, and two fireplaces, their remains still quite visible, kept the temperature warm enough to protect such tropical trees as oranges and lemons… It is half a mile from Route 13 up the tree-shaded lane to this plantation, and well worth the trip for those who are serious about seeing the real Eastern Shore.” (Read more from Kirk Mariner in his book Off 13: The Eastern Shore of Virginia Guidebook )  

As you are exploring during Historic Garden Week, take the turn off of highway 13 and head down this tree lined lane to discover Eyre Hall for yourself! Be sure to mosey and take in the beautiful landscaping at the entrance to the estate.   

You will be directed to park when you go during the garden tour. As you wander the gardens, you will see that the garden is divided into squares, as Kirk Mariner noted. Each one is put together differently than the rest and it is so much fun to see the creativity, time, and thought poured into each one. If you pay attention though, you will see plant varieties and designs repeated throughout, so that each piece fits into a greater design.  

As you leave the walled off portion of the garden, head down towards the water down a wide path. Even in late April, you will find a sprinkling of daffodils blooming along the edge of the walkway. Leave plenty of time in your schedule for wandering around and taking in the sites of the whole estate. You are sure to discover something beautiful of your own.   

Other locations on the tour this year include:

Tower Hill, 3018 Bowden Landing, Cape Charles – a historic home built in 1746 that overlooks King’s Creek

The Jeffrey at Shooting Point, 5243 Tickitank Way, Machipongo – a modern home with lush coastal gardens

Windingdale, 35344 Windingdale Drive, Belle Haven – a historic waterfront property dating to 1780

To learn more about each location, go to vagardenweek.org/tours/eastern-shore/

What do you love about the Historic Garden Week Tour here on Virginia’s Eastern Shore? Share it with us in a comment or tag us on social media as you share your garden tour photos!   

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Virginia Historic Garden Week 2023

STATEWIDE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2023 VIRGINIA HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK TOURS

words by Jennifer Waldera | photos courtesy of the Garden Club of Virginia

This year’s Historic Garden Week (HGW) in Virginia marks the 90th year of the springtime event that celebrates and supports Virginia’s public gardens all across the Commonwealth. The largest statewide event of its kind across the entire United States, Historic Garden Week is organized by the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV) whose mission since its inception just over a century ago, in 1920, has revolved around the restoration and preservation of historic landscapes as well as collaboration to share knowledge and spread passion about gardening.

Regional Garden Clubs of Virginia

North | South | East | West | Central

2023 Historic Garden Week Tour Schedule

• Old Town Alexandria
• Gloucester-Mathews
• Olde Towne Portsmouth
• Ashland-Hanover County

East/Central*

• Historic Berkeley, Shirley & Westover
• Albemarle County
• Williamsburg
• Petersburg: Prince George
• Fredricksburg: King George
• Richmond: Westhampton
• Martinsville
• Hampton News
• Virginia Beach
• Harrisonburg
• Northern Neck
• Richmond: West Avenue
• Little Oak Spring
• Danville-Chatham
• Richmond: Three Chopt
• Middle Peninsula
• Clarke County
• Eastern Shore

Garden Club of Virginia Restoration Projects

One of this year’s highlights is a showcase on the exceptional restoration work that GCV is supporting. Since the organization’s inception it has completed 129 restorations at 52 different public spaces in Virginia. Each project beautifying and preserving the history of the state. Its first restoration was at George Washington’s sister’s home in Fredericksburg in 1929 and the organization is committed to continuing its work throughout the Commonwealth with more recent restorations in 2022 at  Enchanted Garden at the Poe Museum , Reveley Garden at William & Mary and Second Terrace of the East Garden at Stratford Hall with its spectacular boxwood parterres installed by the GCV in the 1930’s originally.

“The work of the Garden Club of Virginia restores and preserves gardens and landscapes that might otherwise be forgotten. These sites provide a connection to our shared history and cultural heritage,” said Jean Gilpin, chairman of the GCV’s Restoration Committee.

The club’s inspiring restoration efforts involve collaborating with GCV’s landscape architect to ensure that gardens are authentically restored using documentation with historic details when it is available, that landscape settings are appropriate for the period and that specific features of the garden or landscape are accurately restored. Comprehensive research and planning are an integral part of the process.

“The work of the Garden Club of Virginia restores and preserves gardens and landscapes that might otherwise be forgotten. These sites provide a connection to our shared history and cultural heritage.”

Free Garden Tours at Restoration Sites

In anticipation of this year’s anniversary, GCV is putting a spotlight on historic restoration work, and in doing so, has garnered an additional incentive for visitors to tour these extra special garden restoration sites.

“The GCV restoration committee contacted our restoration partners this past summer and told them about this special anniversary year – and many are waiving admission to HGW ticket holders during the event,” said Karen Cauthen Ellsworth, Director of Historic Garden Week and Editor of the Guidebook.

There are restoration sites around the Commonwealth including Belle Grove in Middletown of the Shenandoah Valley, The Poe Museum in Richmond and Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton. HGW tourists can access the aforementioned Suggested Travel Itineraries by Region to see a larger list of the sites that will be featured.

“Proceeds from these statewide tours allow us to continue our mission of restoring important public spaces. Many of our restorations will be on view to the public free of charge during GCV’s Historic Garden Week. We are excited to showcase these important properties and their contributions to the history of the Commonwealth,” Debbie Lewis, GCV President, shared.

“Historic Garden Week has been held annually since 1929 except for a period during World War II  and in 2020 during the pandemic,” explained Fran Carden, the current chair of Historic Garden  Week. “Our members take pride in sharing warm hospitality and beautiful flower arrangements  through this popular springtime tradition.”

There are projects all over the Commonwealth and tours at a property are not always on the same days so to ease the organization of visits for tourists, GCV highlights five regions with various stopping points in each in their Suggested Travel Itineraries By Region . Region North includes Northern Virginia towns like Old Town Alexandria, Front Royal, Middleburg , and Warrenton while the South portion of the tour encompasses Danville and Chatham, Roanoke, and Martinsville. The West part of the tour ranges from Harrisonburg to Staunton and stretches over into Albemarle and down to Lynchburg and Lexington . Tourists in the Central region can visit Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Petersburg, among other towns and for those headed out toward the coast, the East region of the tour features stops in Williamsburg, Norfolk, Hampton, Virginia Beach, and more. GCV offers a map of suggested itineraries, too.

HGW will be offering a total of 29 tours throughout the week of Sunday, April 15 through Saturday, April 22. Since even the most enthusiastic tourist couldn’t possibly see every one, here is a list of some notable sites to put on your Garden Week bucket list.

Historic Garden Tours in Northern Virginia

Tourists visiting the north region have a multitude of destinations to choose from including Old Town Alexandria, Front Royal, Middleburg, Little Oak Spring, Warrenton, and Clarke County.

In Old Town Alexandria, the small town that overlooks the Potomac River, the tour features not only historic private townhomes and their courtyard gardens that date to the 1700’s and 1800’s — the tickets also allow tourists the opportunity to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Green Spring Gardens, a national historic park that boasts a museum and outdoor classroom. If you are an admirer of the beautiful hydrangeas on this tour, find garden advice on growing hydrangeas in Virginia . 

Meanwhile, tourists looking for a more rural tour may want to head to the rolling hills of Clarke County where manor homes and their courtyards are at the heart of the tour. From the historic vast mansion, The Tuleyries , to the antebellum Carter Hall and Apple Hill (built in 1937), the tour combines a wide range of history related to the homes, their original owners, and their gardens.

Tourists visiting the north region have a multitude of destinations to choose from including Old Town Alexandria, Front Royal, Middleburg, Little Oak Spring, Warrenton and Clarke County.

In Old Town Alexandria, the small town that overlooks the Potomac River, the tour features not only historic private townhomes and their courtyard gardens that date to the 1700’s and 1800’s — the tickets also allow tourists the opportunity to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Green Spring Gardens, a national historic park that boasts a museum and outdoor classroom.

The centerpiece of Front Royal’s tour is a walking exploration of various historic properties including a 19th century log cabin, Lucy Buck’s 1900’s home and the ancestral home (owned by her aunt) of Confederate spy Belle Boyd, among others. Then, the tour resumes after a drive to Bel Air Mansion, the home of Lucy Buck’s parents which was built in 1795.

Warrenton’s tour features four private properties in Flint Hill and Hume against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is the first time being showcased on the tour for all four properties.

Among the rolling hills of Clarke County, manor homes and their courtyards are at the heart of the tour. From the historic vast mansion, The Tuleyries, to the antebellum Carter Hall and Apple Hill (built in 1937), the tour combines a wide range of history related to the homes, their original owners and their gardens.

The tour of Little Oak Spring focuses solely on the singular property itself, part of the larger farm and estate that was once owned by Paul Mellon and Rachel “Bunny” Mellon . Meanwhile, in nearby Middleburg, tourists can visit three separate properties including Oak Spring (also owned by Paul Mellon), Claybrook (owned by George Washington) and Gum Tree Farm, a more contemporary home built in 1995, with sprawling land and gardens, and sculptures paying homage to the region’s equestrianism and its reputation as “hunt country”.

Historic Garden Tours in Southern Virginia

This region includes Martinsville, Danville-Chatham, and Roanoke.

Martinsville’s hybrid walking and driving tour includes a whopping seven properties including an art museum in Martinsville’s Arts and Historic District, the gardens of a 1909 built home that feature a pollinator garden, an art garden, and a 1968-built home turned Modern Farmhouse, among others.

With an eye towards the revitalization of the area, the Danville-Chatham tour has eight properties that tourists can visit. Stops include a service station-turned-cafe, an Italian stonemason-built granite home, a hotel that was once the home to two different newspapers, and the Sutherlin mansion which is now home to gorgeous art exhibits and more as the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History .

A tour of Roanoke’s southern district will feature three gardens and three homes. Homes range in age, built as early as 1914 to far more contemporary construction. The gardens feature a wide variety of trees, flowers, and vegetation from Meyer lemon trees to lavender as well as a Zen Garden with Japanese maples to a pool area surrounded by hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, and hosta.

Historic Garden Tours on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Region East will have tours through Gloucester Mathews, Olde Towne Plymouth, Historic Berkeley , Shirley, and Westover as well as Williamsburg, Hampton-Newport News, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Middle Peninsula, and the Eastern Shore.

From a National Historic Landmark to more recently constructed properties, a museum, and a property possibly named after a Native American Queen, the Roanoke tour offers a wide variety of homes and gardens, many with waterside views.

For other tours by the water, participants can take the Gloucester-Mathews tour with views of the Mobjack Bay or the Norfolk tour which winds through Edgewater. Virginia Beach and the maritime town of Olde Towne Portsmouth and Virgi are other notable waterside stops.

Meanwhile, in Williamsburg, tourists get the opportunity to visit 12 different sites including both private properties and gardens. From sculpture-filled gardens with Japanese snowbell trees and river birch to rose gardens and historical homes with storied antiques, there is no shortage of points of interest for garden lovers and history enthusiasts.

Region East will have tours through Gloucester Mathews, Olde Towne Pymouth, Historic Berkeley, Shirley and Westover as well as Williamsburg, Hampton-Newport News, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Middle Peninsula and the Eastern Shore.

From a National Historic Landmark to more recently constructed properties, a museum and a property possibly named after a Native American Queen, the Roanoke tour offers a wide variety of homes and gardens, many with waterside views.

The Gloucester-Mathews tour also offers a wide range of attractions from multiple historic churches and a plantation to a lighthouse and a contemporary home with views of the Mobjack Bay from every window in the home.

Hampton-Newport News’ tour includes five stops. One includes a garden that has a record-breaking Japanese Pagoda tree while several others are homes built in the mid 1900’s or were more recently remodeled. Four of the five properties or gardens are being featured for the first time on this tour.

Middle Peninsula will have six stops on its tour, including four homes and two churches. Both of the 18th century homes are being featured on the tour for the first time and there is modern architecture as well.

Tourists on the Norfolk tour will enjoy the waterfront neighborhood of Edgewater. From a Dutch Colonial home and another property whose history lies in its rebuilding to two private gardens, a botanical garden and a zoological park, this tour offers 10 different sites of interest.

Olde Towne Portsmouth is known as a maritime town and the four homes on the tour were built in the 19th and early 20th century. The properties feature lush gardens, and one has a 170 year old magnolia tree.

The Virginia Beach tour features four impressive waterfront or waterside properties with fairly contemporary building times from 1945 to 2021. Additionally, the tour features a garden created by community members to memorialize the memory of a friend lost to breast cancer.

Williamsburg tourists get the opportunity to visit 12 different sites including both private properties and gardens. From sculptured filled gardens with Japanese snowbell trees and River Birch to rose gardens and historical homes with storied antiques, there is no shortage of points of interest for garden lovers and history enthusiasts.

Historic Garden Tours of Western Virginia

Region West includes Staunton, Morven, Albemarle County, Monticello, the Pavilion Gardens at UVA, Lynchburg, Harrisonburg, Montpelier, Washington & Lee, and Lexington.

Morven was featured on the very first garden tour in 1929 and remains a top stop on the tour. Known for being the home that Thomas Jefferson purchased in 1795 for his adoptive son, the property now belongs to the University of Virginia and the impressive gardens feature myriad flowers, shrubs, and notable, mature trees. This tour is available every year and is a favorite for Historic Garden Tour regulars. The Albemarle-Charlottesville tour also highlights the beautiful homes of Bundoran  near the Pippin Hill Farm & Winery. 

Meanwhile, the Harrisonburg tour highlights the downtown district. A 1910-built Victorian home and its carriage house with a shade garden for pollinators and a 1920’s chalet-style bungalow are among the impressive properties on the tour.

Staunton is nestled in the Shenandoah Valley and is perfect for tourists looking for a mix of small town and rural ambience. This tour offers stops at six different properties, including one atop a 15 foot hilltop. Highlights include native trees, the gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Museum, and impeccable architecture.

Region West includes Staunton, Morven, Albemarle County, Monticello, the Pavilion Gardens at UVA, Lynchburg, Harrisonburg, Montpelier, Washington & Lee and Lexington.

Morven was featured on the very first garden tour in 1929 and remains a top stop on the tour. Known for being the home that Thomas Jefferson purchased in 1795 for his adoptive son, the property now belongs to the University of Virginia and the impressive gardens feature myriad flowers, shrubs and notable, mature trees.

Albemarle County’s tour features two properties in North Garden and one in Charlottesville. On the expansive land, owners grow various flowers, fruits and vegetables, while sprawling native trees lend shade.

University of Virginia is known for the beauty of its campus inspired by Thomas Jefferson, and this tour will showcase that, including two of the GCV’s renovation spots.

Four properties are included on the Harrisonburg tour, which highlights the downtown district. A 1910-built Victorian home and its carriage house with a shade garden for pollinators and a 1920’s chalet-style bungalow are among the impressive properties on the tour.

Lexington’s tour is a hybrid self-driven and shuttle tour that explores three private properties and a garden. The Gardens of Belfield will be a top draw for gardening enthusiasts with its rich history and multiple gardens.

The tour in Lynchburg boasts five private homes and gardens as well as an urban tree forest. Tudor Revivals as well as more modern construction and renovation are architectural highlights, while all of the homes have extensive gardens as well.

Staunton is nestled in the Shenandoah Valley. This tour offers stops at six different properties, including one atop a 15 foot hilltop. Highlights include native trees, the gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Museum and impeccable architecture.

Historic Garden Tours of Central Virginia

The tours included in this region are Ashland-Hanover Country, Historic Berkeley , Shirley and Westover, Petersburg: Prince George, Fredericksburg: King George, Richmond: Westhampton, Northern Neck, Richmond: West Avenue, Richmond: Three Chopt, and GVC restoration sites Executive Mansion and the Kent-Valentine .

Historic Berkeley, Shirley and Westover are located in Charles County near the James River. This tour, rich with history, offers the opportunity to visit three different properties whose land or home construction stories range as far back as 1607.

Meanwhile, Richmond tours are broken up into several districts from the Westhampton tour with a 1921-built home with an entirely restored garden as of 2000, to the Historic Fan District’s “The Crooked House,” a 1920 Victorian home that once was a church rectory, and has had interesting renovations. The Three Chopt tour takes an historical look at five properties that are shaded by Japanese maples, covered with climbing vines, or feature a koi pond surrounded by various plants and flowers.

Additionally, the Richmond Executive Mansion and the Kent-Valentine House are both restoration projects that tourists can explore. Admission to both is free and offers the opportunity to see astounding architecture, the Gillette Garden and to see GCV’s restoration work in action.

HGW’s tours are an unforgettable way to experience Virginia’s lush landscape in the midst of its flourish in the springtime but it’s also an incredible way to explore the historic gardens of the Commonwealth while getting an inside look into the future through the ongoing garden restoration work as well. Watch for stories coming soon in our next luxury print edition on Lynchburg’s incredible Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum .

Ticket purchases support the ongoing restoration and preservation work of GCV.  Links to purchase tickets for individual tours as well as purchase of the discounted FLOWER Magazine State Pass are available on the site as well. ~

JENNIFER WALDERA shares her hunger for, and curiosity about, food, travel and drinks as a freelance writer for numerous mid-Atlantic publications. Her storytelling spans from the importance and fundamentals of local farming to the intricacies of modern mixology. Read more of her work at jenniferwaldera.com.

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Virginia Wine & Country celebrates elevated living in Virginia Wine Country. Virginia Wine & Country Life is a semi-annual luxury print magazine with a full digital presence. The Virginia Wine & Country Gold Book is an annual guide to the top award-winning wines, wineries and experiences in Virginia Wine Country. The annual Virginia Wine & Country Wedding Planner is an art book of elegant Virginia weddings. Virginia Wine & Country tells the stories of Virginia wineries, the farm-to-table movement, luxury travel, entertaining, art and the elegant country lifestyle. Ivy Life & Style Media  also provides branding, web design and PR services for the wine industry.

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With a Grammy nomination (“The In-Between,” 2021), platinum and gold record sales, multiple Top 25 entries on the Billboard Top 200 (“Black Widow” and “Ritual”), hits including “Whore,” “Blood,” and ”Adrenalize” and career streams of more than 1.3 billion, you’d think In This Moment might rest on their laurels. Instead, they’ve created GODMODE, 10 dynamic songs that mark a new high for the quintet, further cementing their legacy in the heavy music world. Proof positive is in GODMODE’s first single, the industrial-heavy yet ultra-melodic “THE PURGE,” and its darkly cinematic video directed by Jensen Noen (Bring Me The Horizon, Demi Lovato). From the portentous start of the ‘90s-tinged “GODMODE” with Maria Brink’s powerful primal scream to the pitch-perfect cover of Bjork’s 1995 “Army of Me” to the impassioned pain to partnership in “EVERYTHING STARTS AND ENDS WITH YOU,” GODMODE is a cut above.

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