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Historic Garden Week is coming up, and we hope all who are able will support the goings-on in Suffolk.

Lest you dismiss the Garden Week events as just fluff, you would do well to remember that these events promote ecological friendly practices, environmentalism, local businesses, and the arts, and show off our beautiful city and its enterprising residents. Statewide, proceeds also fund restoration of historic public gardens in our state, a research fellowship program and grants to Virginia state parks. Those are some important initiatives that we hope will do well this year after the year we’ve had.

The Suffolk events will feature tours at six North Suffolk properties from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 17. Participants will have the chance to view private gardens and other outdoor spaces as well as flower arrangements created by Garden Club of Virginia members. Gardening activities and demonstrations will be on hand, and artists from the Suffolk Plein Air Society will be demonstrating their work for onlookers.

Tickets are $35 and available online only at vagardenweek.org.

Also taking place in conjunction is the Tea Tasting & Spring Plant Sale at the Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, 524 N. Main St., a partnership of the Suffolk Farmers’ Market and Stillwater Tea House. This event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 24 and is free, with various items for sale. You can learn more about that event at SuffolkVaFarmersMarket.com.