Ignore today’s snow, surely the last gasp of winter, because Garden Touring Season is almost here! Nothing gets gardeners as inspired and excited about their own gardens as strolling in other people’s beautiful gardens, so I recommend garden-touring for new and seasoned gardeners alike and try to catch all of them myself. If you’re anything like me, you’ll come home jazzed up ideas.
Coming up in April are two nearby tours that are part of the multi-county Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage, now in its 76th year. The Pilgrimage cultivates awareness of Maryland’s rich architectural and cultural heritage, from historic to contemporary settings. To date, the Pilgrimage has raised well over a million dollars for the preservation and restoration of architecturally significant properties throughout the State of Maryland while entertaining and informing many thousands of tour-goers.
Annapolis/Anne Arundel County
A Walking Tour of Wardour will be held Saturday, April 20 from 10 to 5. The tour is approximately 1 mile long on paved roadway along a route that is flat with the exception of one rolling hillside. Click here for more about the homes and gardens on tour.
Proceeds will benefit the Charles Carroll House and Gardens in downtown Annapolis. This remarkable urban, waterfront landscape and Georgian mansion is the birthplace of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Signer of the Declaration of Independence. The specific project will assist with the underwriting of a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) that will be used to guide preservation and restoration plans for Carroll’s 18th century garden that still features his original terraced garden design, seawall and boxwood dating from 1770 plantings.
Baltimore
On Sunday April 28 don’t miss the tour of Baltimore’s Guilford Neighborhood, which is celebrating its Centennial this year. The tour features homes never before presented to the public, including the former home of celebrated poet & lyricist Ogden Nash and noted Baltimore artist Grace Hill Turnbull, the restored Palmer-designed Sanctuary at second Presbyterian Church, and Sherwood Gardens at the peak of its springtime tulip display. House tour tickets are now available for sale.
The commemorative poster below, inspired by historic photographs of Sherwood Gardens, was created just for this event and 700 of them will be given out at no charge to tour-goers. The famed tulip garden was created by Mr. John W. Sherwood and it’s included on the Guilford Tour.
Details: The tour runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Rain or Shine) and begins at 3701 St. Paul Street. Attendance will be high for the Centennial Edition Guilford Tour. Purchase Advance Tickets ($30), make Lunch Reservations ($15). Mail a check payable to Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage to: The Guilford Association, 4200 St. Paul Street, Suite 100, Baltimore MD 21218. Tickets are also available here for an additional fee. Tickets are $35 each if purchased at the door the day of the Tour. Tour proceeds will benefit historic Sherwood Gardens,
