Aila Boyd
Historic Garden Week in Salem, on April 25, drew more than 1,000 visitors this spring, contributing to an event that organizers say continues to strengthen tourism, preservation and Virginia’s economy.
The Salem “Broad in Bloom” tour was part of the statewide Historic Garden Week organized by the Garden Club of Virginia. According to organizers, the 2026 event attracted visitors from 49 states and 15 countries.
Garden tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry, according to the Garden Tourism Alliance, based in England. Organizers said Virginia has seen that trend reflected in the continued growth of Historic Garden Week, which has evolved into one of the nation’s largest statewide house and garden tours.
Since 1929, proceeds from Historic Garden Week have supported the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic public gardens and landscapes, along with a research fellowship program for landscape architecture students that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
The Garden Club of Virginia has completed 130 restoration projects statewide, including several connected to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.
Among the organization’s best known restoration efforts are projects at Mount Vernon, Monticello, Stratford Hall and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum.
“From Mount Vernon to Monticello, and from Stratford Hall to the Enchanted Garden at the Poe Museum, these projects are amongst the most visible pillars of the GCV’s mission,” Garden Club of Virginia President Kris Carbone said. “For garden enthusiasts and history buffs, the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week has few equals.”
Economic analysis firm Chmura Economics & Analytics has conducted three economic impact studies on Historic Garden Week during the past decade. According to the organization, the annual economic impact of the event is estimated at $13.3 million.
“These extraordinary results would not be possible without the tremendous contributions of our dedicated members, sponsors, advertisers and homeowners, whose combined efforts make the nation’s only statewide house and garden tour possible,” said Virginia Gillock, state chair of Historic Garden Week.
Gillock described Historic Garden Week as both a celebration of homes and gardens and an important contributor to Virginia’s visitor economy.
Each local tour is independently designed, but organizers said all tours emphasize landscape design and floral arrangements. In Salem, floral displays were created by members of the Mill Mountain Garden Club and the Roanoke Valley Garden Club.
“Historic Garden Week showcases a distinctly American version of garden culture at a time when global interest in horticulture, sustainability and outdoor living continues to grow,” Carbone said. “It is an opportunity to link past and present.”
Next year’s Historic Garden Week is scheduled for April 17-24, 2027.
