This spring, visitors can step through the gates of more than 250 of Virginias most beautiful gardens, homes, and historic landmarks during Americas Largest Open House. Three dozen Historic Garden Week tours present a rich mosaic of some of the countrys finest properties at the peak of Virginias springtime color. Here are a few nearby tours courtesy of Nancy Olson and her website, www.housetoursdc.com.
April 24
The Georgetown House Tour – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This years tour features ten of Georgetowns most beautiful homes and their impressive gardens. www.georgetownhousetour.com.
Eastern Shore of Virginia House and Garden Tour -9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vast expanses of planted fields border the Maryland houses and gardens open for the 2010 tour, most of which are also near the waterways that served as travel routes in earlier times. The homes, located in Capetown, Cape Charles, Cheriton, Machipongo and Franktown, may be visited in any order. www.esgardentours.com.
May 1
Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour – Noon to 6 p.m.
The 2010 Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour will showcase stunning examples of mid-century modern architecture, furnishings and a unique landscape style in which interior spaces flow into exteriors and the grounds of one home merge with the next all in a park-like setting. The communitys award-winning design by midcentury master Charles Goodman features large expanses of glass, sleek lines and unusual settings that have earned the neighborhood national recognition since the 1950s.
May 2
Takoma Park House and Garden Tour – 1 to 5 p.m.
Homes in the once rural Hodges Heights neighborhood are featured. Tour departs from 101 Philadelphia Ave., Takoma Park, Md. www.historictakoma.org.
May 8-9
Capitol Hill Restoration Society 4 to 8 p.m. (Sat.)11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sun.)
This years theme is Community Experiences/Cosmopolitan Stories and the footprint is the area bordered by Pennsylvania Avenue and East Capitol Street between 3rd and 8th streets SE. As always, featuring a wide variety of styles of houses from the most traditional to the fabulously renovated. www.chrs.org/index.html.
May 9
Lake Barcroft Womens Club House Tour
Homes on a beautiful wooded lake near Falls Church. More information when it is available. www.lakebarcroft.org.
May 16
Historic Hyattsville House Tour 1 to 5 p.m.
Featuring a large Queen Anne house, bungalows with restored interiors, an 1897 home and more. www.preservehyattsville.org.
May 20 (Thurs). 9:30-3:30. Clifton Charity Homes Tour and Marketplace. Featuring four homes and a garden, and art show. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/eve/1661653254.html
May 22 (Sat). 12:00-5:00. Tuckahoe Home and Garden Tour. Six homes and three gardens in the Arlington. Tickets at Tuckahoe Elementary School, 6550 N. 26th St., Arlington, VA. http://www.apsva.us/tuckahoe/site/default.asp
May 22-23 (Sat-Sun). Midcity Artists Spring Open Studios. Dupont Circle/Logan area of DC. Forty local artists have carved out niches in unexpected ways. The twice-yearly open studios allows visitors to see where the artists create and get first-hand look at their most current work. http://www.midcityartists.com/
Courtesy www.housetoursdc.com and Nancy Olson
