If spring in Northern Virginia has a signature event, this is it. Each spring, Historic Garden Week offers a rare invitation to step inside Virginia’s most beautiful private homes and gardens. From April 18 through 25, the nation’s only statewide house and garden tour opens nearly 130 properties across the commonwealth. Many are accessible to the public for the first time.
This year’s tours coincide with the nation’s 250th birthday, offering a significant opportunity to explore landscapes connected to early Virginians who helped shape American history. Proceeds support the restoration of historic public gardens across the state.
Northern Virginia’s lineup is especially rich. Check out these vibrant gardens that bring our communities to life.
Old Town Alexandria
April 18
Old Town is the ideal spot for a walking garden tour. Five private rowhouses open their doors, revealing secluded gardens and layered histories. One Prince Street residence traces its land to George Washington. On Queen Street, a copy of a 1752 deed bears one of Washington’s earliest known signatures. A Captain’s Row home built in 1783 pairs maritime history with camellia- and azalea-filled courtyard gardens.
Also on view: A restored 18th-century “flounder” house, a former home of Treasury Secretary Henry Fowler, and properties tied to Fleet Admiral William “Bull” Halsey and diplomat George Kennan.
Tour tickets also include access to the grounds of Mount Vernon that day, where Historic Garden Week funding has supported restoration of the historic bowling green and landscape.
Leesburg
April 19 and 20
The tour moves west to Leesburg, where five private homes showcase Victorian, English Country, and contemporary styles framed by abundant spring gardens. Dodona Manor, former home of Nobel Peace Prize laureate George C. Marshall is also open, offering restored grounds and 20th-century history.
Fairfax County
April 21
Celebrating the host club’s centennial, Fairfax County’s tour highlights interiors filled with art and collected treasures alongside mature landscaping and native plantings, blending historic reverence with modern Northern Virginia living.
Preservation in Focus
April 22
Midweek spotlights restoration sites supported by tour proceeds, including Mount Vernon, Burwell-Morgan Mill, and Belle Grove Plantation.
Upperville and Winchester
April 23–25
Upperville’s Little Oak Spring offers rolling hunt-country landscapes and estate gardens, while Winchester closes the week with Shenandoah Valley architecture framed by peak spring bloom.
Feature image courtesy Donna Moulton/Historic Garden Week
