Historic Garden Week returns

Published 5:51 pm Friday, April 9, 2021

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Historic Garden Week is coming to Suffolk on April 17, with its headquarters based at Vintage Tavern, 1900 Governors Pointe Drive.

For one week each April, the Historic Garden Week takes place across various Virginia areas April 17-24. Participants will tour private landscapes and floral arrangements created by Garden Club of Virginia members to enhance tour properties.

For the Suffolk area, tours will occur from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to visit six North Suffolk properties in Governor’s Pointe.

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“Each home we visit has its own unique and cool outdoor space,” said Kim Butler, a tour chair for Portsmouth, Suffolk and Franklin. “With water located nearby, it really makes for beautiful scenery.”

There will be a garden party on a veranda, a golf party on a miniature golf course and a pool party by a swimming pool. Three of the featured locations are on the water by the Nansemond River. The homes are located on Governors Pointe Drive, Wentworth Court and Torrington Circle. This tour will cover some uneven ground, so participants are encouraged to wear appropriate flat-heeled shoes.

Not only will folks be able to look at the beautiful landscapes, but they will be able to get in on the gardening as well. There will be a chance to do various gardening activities, including flower demonstrations and outdoor container gardening.

Artists from the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts’ Plein Air Society will be attending to paint a first-hand look at Virginia’s spring blooms throughout the day.

“The nice thing is that we can have it outside with COVID,” said Butler. “We’ll be following all of the restrictions, and we’ll have plenty of room. Hoping for beautiful weather.”

Tickets are $35 a person. The money raised will fund the restoration of Virginia’s historic public gardens, a research fellowship program and grants to Virginia state parks. This event is hosted by the Nansemond River, Franklin and Elizabeth River Garden Clubs.

Only 300 tickets are available to keep gathering numbers down. Tickets are available online only at vagardenweek.org.

Also taking place is a Tea Tasting & Spring Plant Sale at the Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion in honor of Historic Garden Week in Virginia, a Suffolk Farmers’ Market production in partnership with Stillwater Tea House. The event will last from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 24. The event is free, with various items for sale and free music. Learn more at SuffolkVaFarmersMarket.com.