Virginia Celebrates 75th Historic Garden Week

Virginia invites all garden fanatics and history buffs to live passionately this spring during the 75th anniversary Historic Garden Week (http://www.virginia.org/site/features.aspFeatureID=439). Perennial passions bloom April 19-27, 2008 with nearly 40 regional tours at more than 200 private homes and gardens and iconic historic sites such as Monticello, Mount Vernon, Montpelier and others. Historic Garden Week is the oldest and largest statewide home and garden tour event in the country.

"Historic Garden Week is a beautiful time to visit Virginia," said Alisa Bailey, president & CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "It's the ultimate experience for people who are passionate about history and gardens and is a rare opportunity to step inside some of Virginia's most prestigious private homes."

Beginning April 19, regions across Virginia will host garden tours throughout the week. Each tour features four to seven sites, including private homes and public attractions, exquisite flower arrangements, and gracious hostesses. Tours will showcase formal gardens, walled gardens, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, annual and perennial gardens, herb gardens, water gardens, and even secret gardens.

Stunning architecture from the mid-1600s to the 21st century will star along-side the flowers and manicured landscapes of Virginia's historic gardens. Homes and attractions are filled with exceptional artwork and antiques, adding to the style and grace of Historic Garden Week tours. Many houses have interesting family histories intertwined with the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the Victorian era.

Special events, such as wine tasting and touring at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, make Historic Garden week a must for those with a green thumb. In Martinsville in Southern Virginia, garden week visitors can enjoy a special lunch at the Martinsville Speedway and a tour of the track. In Charlottesville, Monticello's horticulturists will give special lectures on Thomas Jefferson's gardening techniques.

The Garden Club of Virginia organizes Historic Garden Week, with proceeds going towards the preservation of historic gardens across the state. The Garden Club of Virginia has restored more than 40 gardens including the Annie DuPont Gardens at Montpelier, Monticello, and the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson in Staunton.

Several of Virginia's historic B&Bs and hotels are offering special Garden Week Travel Packages in honor of the 75th anniversary event and are available at www.Virginia.org.

Tickets for Historic Garden Week tours range from $10 - $40. To begin planning a trip to Live Passionately in Virginia for Historic Garden Week and learn more about Garden Week travel packages, go to www.Virginia.org or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a Live Passionately - Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide.

Media Only:

Tamra Talmadge-Anderson

Public Relations Director

TEL (804) 545-5573

EML ttanderson @ virginia.org

Virginia Tourism Corporation

901 East Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219-4048 USA

TEL (804) 545-5500

FAX (804) 545-5501

www.virginia.org (consumer)

www.vatc.org (industry)