Selecting Homes for Historic Garden Tours of Virginia

[Post Updated 2023]

Virginia Historic Garden Tours will be held April 15 through 22nd in 2023.

Continuing with Part 2 of 4 in our series “Behind-the-Scenes at Virginia’s Historic Garden Week” today we’ll find out how the homes are selected for the historic garden tours. If you missed the first post, you’ll find it here:

If you missed Part 1 – All You Need to Know About Historic Garden Week

For a wonderful introduction to the tours each year, watch for the release of the Historic Garden Tour HGW Guidebook. It provides detailed previews about each tour, listing homes that will be open and a bit of history about the area and each site. The Guidebook is usually available in mid-February and is offered for free around the state of Virginia at local businesses, Visitor Centers, and AAA locations. You can also purchase it or view it online here after that date.

As mentioned in Part 1 of the series, the Chairwomen of the Garden Club of Middle Peninsula, Adele, was so helpful in giving me a glimpse behind the workings of their tours. Many of the answers in these posts were provided directly by her, so you’ll see her name, like this [Adele] next to the information in those cases.

I hope this 4-part series will help to answer ALL your questions about the annual Historic Garden Tours and all the good things that the Garden Club of Virginia is doing. So let’s dive in!

How are the Neighborhoods Selected?

[Adele] This is the decision of each club’s HGW committee. In the case of the Garden Club of Middle Peninsula (GCMP), we know which county will be hosting and since that county is in charge, they know the houses and homeowners in their county.  We usually try to find homes that are close to each other, so that our guests aren’t spending more time in their cars than on the historic garden tours.  There aren’t many towns in the four counties, so walking tours are a rarity for us at GCMP.

More densely populated areas, like Richmond, Alexandria, Virginia Beach, or Norfolk are often able to plan walkable tours. Some Clubs may also provide a shuttle from one home to another, so visitors need not worry about finding each location or dealing with parking at the homes. As in all cases, each tour is a unique experience.

What are the Clubs Looking for in a Home for the Tour?

[Adele] This varies by the Garden Club hosting the tour. The Middle Peninsula area is blessed to have so many Colonial period homes, so we try to feature historic homes with a modern home for contrast and interest, since we’re trying to appeal to a broad range of people. With each house, we tell the history of the home and area, while telling about the interior décor. We also love to find homes that have something as an added interest for a wider audience– antique cars or tractors, baseball memorabilia collections, train sets, etc.

It’s not a requirement that a home be large. If it’s interesting, attractive, and provides easy walkways to various rooms, it may be considered for the tour. Some homes may only open up a portion of the house or only their lovely garden to visitors as well. An outdoor garden isn’t a requirement either but is always a welcome bonus.

How are the Historic Garden Tour Homes Selected and Procured?

[Adele] When the HGW committee meets for the first time, they decide the area they want to cover with their tour. Then homes are mentioned and recorded. The Chairperson then rides around the area locating the homes and the feasibility of having a tour and finding a venue for the headquarters.  At that point, if all works out, she starts asking homeowners if they’re willing to open their homes for one day and she answers any questions. 

Since HGW has been around so long, many people in our area know what’s involved – many of their friends have already been on tour or even hosted.  We sometimes have more houses on our list than we can offer on a tour, as in the case of West Point. In that case, if the first few people we contact don’t want to participate, then there are others we can approach.

As before, other clubs may handle this process differently – in a way that works better for them.

What if I’d Like to Volunteer my Home for the Historic Garden Tour?

[Adele] Oh, it would be lovely to have people standing in line to offer their homes! We welcome any offers of appropriate homes in the area. If we get an offer, we consider:

• If the house fits the location/neighborhood of the tour for the upcoming year
• If it fits the theme that’s been chosen
• If it will appeal to those coming for the tour

In a previous year, we had an offer of a lovely house that would have been a great addition to our tour. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the historic area and couldn’t be reached on foot. Since we were advertising a walking tour that year, we had to decline the house for that tour. That doesn’t mean that we won’t go back and approach the owner at another time, though.

As mentioned before, any offers or questions are best directed to the local Garden Club or Chairperson. They’ll be more than happy to help.

Are Homeowners Compensated for Opening their House?

[Adele] There’s no monetary compensation. We do give small appreciation gifts. GCV also gives the homeowner a complimentary week-long state-wide pass to all Historic Garden Week tours for the following year. They also get to enjoy many of the floral arrangements that are used in their home after the tour.

By the way, State-wide passes are also available for purchase. If you plan to attend multiple HGW tours, this may be a money-saver for you.

What if I’d Like to Offer my Venue for the Headquarters?

What a generous idea! Generally, each headquarters site is located near the neighborhood where the tour is held that year. Feel free to contact your local Garden Club to find out if your location will meet their needs.

If you don’t have contact information for your local Garden Club, you can get in touch with GCV Headquarters in Richmond. You can either call or contact them through the GCV website. Ask for the closest HGW tour in your area. They will either give you the name of a chairperson or take your name and have them call you.

Next in the Series:

Part 3 – Preparing for Virginia’s Historic Garden Week

Part 4 – How You Can Participate in Historic Garden Week

In Case You Missed it:

Part 1 – What You Don’t Know About Historic Garden Week

Want to know more of the secrets behind these amazing tours? Are you getting your questions answered about Virginia Historic Garden Tours? If not, please let me know in the comments below and I’ll do my best to find the answer.

Other Posts About Specific Historic Garden Week of Virginia Tours