The Hermitage Museums and Gardens plus six more private homes and gardens will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 26, 2012, for the Norfolk Home and Garden Tour — part of Historic Garden Week in Virginia. Tour tickets are $35.

At the Hermitage, Peter Hatch will speak about his new book, A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello — he’s Monticello’s Director of Gardens and Grounds.

Conservation experts will discuss environmental issues, followed by tours of the Hermitage’s newly created wetlands garden, rain garden and oyster bed. There will be flower arranging demonstrations, bird walks at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., pottery demonstrations and an artists’ open house. A Virginia Arts Festival Concert by Town Mountain is set for 6:30 p.m..

The Norfolk Home and Garden Tour is organized by the Garden Club of Norfolk and Harborfront Garden Club.

(Photo courtesy of the Hermitage Museum & Gardens)