Road Trips Gardeners no doubt already have Historic Garden Week in Virginia on their travel calendars — this spring is the 77th anniversary tour. More than 250 of Virginia’s gardens, homes and historic landmarks will open their doors during “America’s Largest Open House” April 17-25, 2010. Included are formal gardens, walled gardens, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, annual and perennial gardens, herb gardens, water gardens, and even secret gardens.

Historic Garden Week is the oldest and largest statewide house and garden tour event in the nation. Sponsored by The Garden Club of Virginia, tours benefit the restoration of historic grounds and gardens throughout the state. The complete schedule is online. (The photo shows Morven Estate Gardens.)

Future dates for Historic Garden Week tours are April 16-24, 2011, and April 21-28, 2012. The Garden Club of Virginia is an active association of forty-seven garden clubs, whose members collectively form a group of more than 3,300 civic leaders from around the Commonwealth. Proceeds from the tour are used to fund garden restoration projects throughout Virginia. With over $14.5 million realized since its inception in 1929, the Garden Club of Virginia has restored the gardens at more than fifty properties.