Historic Garden Week

Make Monticello a part your visit when more than 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes, and historic landmarks celebrate Historic Garden Week in Virginia, described as “America’s Largest Open House.”

Monticello’s annual observance of Historic Garden Week in Virginia will include:

• Monday, April 22, 6 p.m., André Viette • Gardens: Tips for the Modern Gardener, Plants Jefferson Knew - Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Garden Club of Virginia by joining  us for an elegant garden party with horticulturist, author, and lecturer André Viette on the West Lawn of Monticello from 6 to 8 p .m. Viette is a graduate of Cornell’s School of Floriculture and a recipient of the Garden Club of America’s Medal of Honor for his outstanding service to horticulture. He will speak about the changes in gardening from Jefferson’s time to the present. Enjoy informal tours of Monticello and the gardens, fine Virginia wine, and heavy hors d’oeuvres. $65 per person, West Lawn.
• Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m.: “Restoring Monticello’s Historic Landscape”  This lecture by Will Rieley, widely known for his work for the Garden Club of Virginia, will  be followed by a walking tour of the restored landscape with Gabriele Rausse, Monticello’s Director of Garden and Grounds. Learn about the history of the restoration of Jefferson’s mountaintop landscape and the Garden Club of Virginia’s involvement. Convene at Monticello's Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center. Free; advanced registration required.
• Tuesday, April 23, 2 p.m.: The Restoration of the Flower Gardens at Monticello - This illustrated lecture by Peggy Cornett, Monticello's Curator of Plants, is followed by a tour of the gardens and nursery at Tufton Farm.   The talk will describe the restoration of the flower gardens by the Garden Club of Virginia, 1939-41,  and continued efforts to more fully understand and perfect the content of Jefferson’s gardens. Discover the plants that define our horticultural heritage. Convene at Monticello's Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center. Free; advanced registration required.
• Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants Open House. Celebrate Historic Garden Week with a visit to Monticello’s nursery set within our historic plant display gardens at Jefferson’s beautiful Tufton Farm.  Shop hundreds of varieties of rare heritage and native perennials, trees, and shrubs.  A diverse selection of heirloom vegetables and seeds will also be available.  Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.  This daylong event will feature free workshops, guided garden tours, and more!

Receive a 10% discount on all purchases with a Historic Garden Week ticket stub.