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Guide to House and Garden Tours

Washington’s gardens come back to life in April. These tours give you the chance to buy fresh flowers, step through the doors of historic homes, and stroll around Washington’s most beautiful gardens.

April Shower of Flowers
Rance Goff, flower designer at Georgetown’s Ultra Violet Flowers, offers tips on floral arranging. In addition to hearing about the newest trends in floral design, you can create an arrangement to take home.
Tuesday, April 15, 7 PM. $35. 1644 31st Street, NW

The Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week
The oldest and largest garden tour in the country celebrates its 75th anniversary this month by opening more than 250 gardens, homes, and historic landmarks to the public. The 36 tours include a visit to the stunning gardens of Richmond’s Tuckahoe Plantation, where Thomas Jefferson spent his childhood, and an Old Town Alexandria home where Robert E. Lee is said to have accepted command of the Confederate Army. April 19 through 27; tickets are $10 to $35 per tour.

Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival
More than 110 vendors sell gardening supplies, plants, flowers, and herbs as well as offer advice about how to spruce up the backyard. There’s also live music, face painting, and crafts.
Saturday, April 19, 10 to 6, and Sunday, April 20, 10 to 5. Free. Intersection of South King Street and West Market Street.Towson Garden Tour
 A landscape architect takes visitors through the Towson Courthouse Garden, which was designed by renowned Washington-based landscape architect Wolfgang Oehme of Oehme van Sweden.  You can also take a peak at Towson’s “secret garden,” a walled-in garden that’s open to the public once a year.
Thursday, April 24, 10 to 3 (rain date Friday, April 25). Free; secret garden tour is $1. Courthouse Fountain Square, West Pennsylvania and Baltimore Avenues.

Georgetown House Tour
During this annual spring tour, visitors explore the soaring ceilings, sweeping staircases, and manicured gardens of Georgetown’s historic homes. Enjoy afternoon tea with sandwiches and sweets in the Parish Hall of St. John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O Street, NW). Saturday, April 26, 11 to 5. Tickets are $45 ($40 in advance).

Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage
On weekends April 26 through May 18, more than 50 homes and gardens throughout Maryland will be on display. Check out a former dairy or textile mill, tour historic churches, or meander through monuments and parks in Baltimore. Saturdays from April 26 through May 18 (and Sunday, May 4), 10 to 4. Tickets are $35 ($30 in advance) a day.

National Arboretum Garden Fair Plant Sale
This popular plant sale, in its 17th year, will offer green thumbs the chance to browse through thousands of varieties of flowers.
Saturday, April 26, 9  to 4. Free. 3501 New York Avenue, NE.

Franciscan Monastery Plant Sale
Wake up and smell the roses with the Franciscan Monastery Plant sale, where romantic flowers such as roses are the focus.
Saturday, April 27, 9:30 to 6 and Sunday, April 28, 8 to 3. Free. 1400 Quincy Street, NE.

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