It’s one of Virginia’s biggest springtime bashes; one full of lush flowers, stunning art and fascinating history—and you’re invited.

Historic Garden Week, hosted by the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV), is an annual event spotlighting the commonwealth’s most unique gardens. Held statewide from April 26 to May 3, guests can explore exclusive homes and landscapes to help support an important mission.

“Since the very beginning, tour proceeds have funded the restoration and preservation of nearly 50 of the commonwealth’s significant historic public gardens,” says Karen Cauthen Ellsworth, Historic Garden Week director.

Richmond will host three neighborhood tours with two being unveiled for the first time, like Lower Tuckahoe, West which will kick things off in the city on Tuesday, April 29. Six sites will be on display, including Historic Tuckahoe, Thomas Jefferson’s childhood home, and 27 Lower Tuckahoe West, a recently built farmhouse featuring a grand staircase and large pond. This tour is hosted by Richmond’s garden clubs which are also running Thursday’s Chatham Hills tour.

Chatham Hills, situated in Henrico, will feature five properties, like Clear View, the former estate of local philanthropists Lora and E. Claiborne Robins, Jr. that was recently restored and 25 Bridgeway Road—originally a farmhouse built in 1832 overlooking the Kanawha Canal and filled with antiques.

But this is just a taste of what’s to come—there’s plenty more to uncover.

“Guests will see a 700-plus species hosta garden overlooking a beautiful duck pond, three recently renovated homes—two of which have some cool ‘she-spaces’ designed by the lady of the house, a beautiful outdoor living room and artist studio, a palatial chicken coop and more,” says Katherine Mitchell, chair of the Tuesday and Thursday tours.

And don’t forget about Pope Avenue’s debut on Wednesday. Nestled in the Bellevue neighborhood near Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, this tour is held in a special collaboration with Historic Richmond. Five properties are open for exploring—four being a home and garden tour and one a garden only.

Koi ponds, breathtaking perennials and trees, a pool house mural from a local artist and a craftsman-style home are just a few highlights. “That’s not usually a [house] style we have on tour,” says Ellie Lenhart, co-chair of the Wednesday tour. “We’re excited to show folks that.”

Be sure to also keep an eye out for plein-air artists while strolling and don’t forget to check out the iconic 1894 granite arch welcoming visitors to the neighborhood.

Unlike the other Richmond tours, Pope Avenue will offer both a morning (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) option as a way to help ease crowds. “We can have anywhere from 800 to 1,200 people on tour,” says Lenhart. “We want to try to make it a fun event and pleasant for everyone. We do ask to only visit each property once, just to allow everyone to have a chance to get in and see it.”

Parking is available at the nearby Acca Shriners Lodge for Pope Avenue, and for Chatham Hills and Lower Tuckahoe at their tour headquarters with a six-minute shuttle ride provided to the neighborhoods. Tickets for Lower Tuckahoe and Chatham Hills can be bought in advance online for $55 per person or purchased the day of for $65. Pope Avenue is $50 in advance or $60 day of.

If you’re unable to make it to one of these spectacular tours, don’t fret. The Executive Mansion and Kent-Valentine House (the Garden Club of Virginia’s headquarters) conclude the Richmond experience on Friday, May 2. These free options are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and allow guests to explore the interior and grounds.

Historic Garden Week is an almost century-old celebration. The event was inspired by a flower show fundraiser GCV members once held to help save Monticello’s notable trees. The club hosted the first Historic Garden Week a few years later in 1929 with members sending out handwritten cards inviting their friends to come view participating gardens.

Today, the tour has significantly grown and requires intricate planning often done two years in advance by local garden clubs and organizations that are always on the search for the quirky and wonderful.

“What we do is look for unique historic neighborhoods,” says Lenhart. “We want to highlight all the unique neighborhoods in the city of Richmond but also highlight revitalization and renovation and how these neighborhoods are flourishing.”

Details are then finalized ensuring participating homeowners know what to expect, that there are enough event volunteers and that there are adequate floral arrangements and photos. “It’s like getting ready for a big party,” says Lenhart.

Despite running for decades, each year is fresh and creative—always sparking new appreciation for these living, fragrant artworks, Virginia’s distinctive residences and how crucial it is to save historic landscapes.

“[As] the only statewide house and garden tour in the nation, this annual springtime ritual includes access to private properties in communities large and small, many open for the first time to the public,” says Ellsworth. “There is really nothing like it!”

Historic Garden Week will be held April 26 through May 3 at various locations. Tours are held rain or shine, except for inaccessible tours due to weather conditions; and they encourage buying advance tickets, which range in price. For more information, visit the Garden Club of Virginia’s website.