Garden Tour

Experience rich history, pristine coastlines, and endless creativity on the Eastern Shore.  Plan a day on Virginia’s portion of the Delmarva peninsula and view the sunrise on the Atlantic Ocean and the sunset over the Chesapeake Bay. This tour takes place in Accomack County and includes private properties just far enough off the beaten path to transport visitors a world away. Enjoy beautiful gardens and historic farms, and learn about coastal marine science. Of the total 1,310 square miles that make up this county, there is nearly twice as much water as there is land.

Oakwood Farm

24105 Oakwood Drive, Onancock, VA 23417 Oakwood Farm, located on the north side of Onancock Creek, occupies 22 acres of pasture and gardens including a large number of mature trees, especially magnolias. The land was originally part of a patent for 400 acres awarded to John Nicholls in 1655. The house was built in the 1950s and was designed to resemble late 18th and early 19th century Eastern Shore domestic structures. There are five additional buildings: a smoke house, storage house, and guest house, all of 18th century construction and moved from other locations, a stable, and one additional guest house. The paneling, fireplace mantels and flooring in the principal rooms of the main house were salvaged from the Clayton house, near Parksley, which was built in 1778 and no longer stands. The house has a collection of historic maps including the Smith map of Virginia published in 1633 and the Willem Blaeu map of Bermuda published in 1638. Gardens include an herb and cutting garden, a formal perennial garden and seasonal vegetable garden. The property features a lane leading to the house flanked by oak trees and daylilies. The welcoming entrance is marked by a white gate and holly trees. Mr. Conrad M. Hall, owner.

Vaux Hall

16165 Vaux Hall Lane, Melfa, VA 23410 Located on the Whitsapenny Cove of Pungoteague Creek that leads directly to the Chesapeake Bay, Vaux Hall enjoys unobstructed waterfront views. As the cornerstone of the farm, the Vaux Hall manor house was built c. 1710 for John and Agnes Revell on land that John’s grandfather Randall Revell patented in 1652. Once John Revell inherited the land from his father, he planned and executed the building of an estate home that shared the style and sophistication of the homes in Williamsburg, VA. Proximity to the creek allowed the merchant-farmer Revell’s family to transport goods by ship, right to their property. The Georgian style home was built with bricks laid in the Flemish bond pattern and remains one of the oldest two-story homes on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Two chimneys flank the hip-style roof, a rare design for the early 18th century. Today, the farm has renewed life and purpose, serving as a vacation, event, and wedding venue. The expansive 513 acres with many fully restored and newly constructed guest cottages offer waterfront accommodation for over 40 guests, along with an event pavilion. Vaux Hall Farm’s grounds include mature trees, pristine lawns and stunning water views. Mr. Eric Olson and Ms. Cat Kaisler, owners.

Chatham Flower Farm

31094 Boggs Road, Painter, VA 23420 An inviting escape for creatives and history lovers alike, Chatham Flower Farm occupies 3.5 acres in the center of the Eastern Shore peninsula. Originally owned by Rowland Savage, the larger farm known as Chatham was bequeathed to Frances Savage and her husband Salathiel Milby where it remained in the Milby family for many generations. The oldest part of the traditional Eastern Shore style home dates to c.1690, with the newest section added in 1820. Central to the working flower farm’s current day operation is the two-story barn, built in 1802. The barn’s first floor features a flower workroom, walk-in cooler and event space. Creativity abounds in the second-floor art studio. Predating the 1802 barn, the historic tobacco drying shed is used to dry herbs, flowers, and bridal bouquets. Committed to sustainable farming, Chatham Flower Farm practices no-till farming and their flowers and herbs are Certified Naturally Grown. They have an active CSA program and sell cut flowers at their farm stand and local markets. The owners are pleased to honor the rich history of this farm, while promoting Agritourism on the Eastern Shore and fulfilling their dream to grow beautiful flowers, perennials, and herbs. Kate and John Fitzpatrick, owners.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)

40 Atlantic Avenue, Wachapreague, VA 23480 The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) was founded as the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory in 1941 through the efforts of the College of William & Mary’s Dr. Donald W. Davis. From the main lab on the York River, VIMS established the Eastern Shore Lab (VIMS ESL) in 1941 in the seaside town of Wachapreague for aquaculture, fisheries, and marine science research. VIMS ESL accomplished the research and development that sparked Virginia’s multi-million-dollar clam industry, and today aquaculture remains a significant part of the Eastern Shore economy. VIMS seagrass restoration efforts are lauded as the most successful in the world with nearly 10,000 acres restored to Virginia’s coastal bays along the southern Eastern Shore. Visitors will have an opportunity to view displays focused on “marine gardens.” Marine algae (seaweeds) diversity, the art of producing archival mounts of algae and plant specimens, oyster gardens, seagrass meadows, and salt marsh and barrier island plants will be on display as well as information about the lab, its history, and current efforts in aquaculture and marine ecology of the Eastern Shore of Virginia seaside environment. The tour will include flower arrangements set to appropriately complement the marine science education.

Harbor Point Station

20252 Harbor Point Road, Quinby, VA 23423 Situated overlooking Quinby Harbor, Harbor Point Station’s design is based on the Parramore Island Life Saving Station which once stood five miles east on one the largest Eastern Shore of Virginia barrier islands. Constructed in 2005 as a guest cottage, the original ground floor included garage space with exposed block and rafters, and a second floor living area with one bedroom and a bath, all conservation easement compliant. When purchased by the current owners in 2021, invasive bamboo and overgrown wisteria were present due to a period of vacancy. However, admiring the historically correct architecture, the radiant floor heat under the concrete floors and the church doors among other details, the current owners brought Harbor Point Station back to life. To maximize guest space, the north garage was transformed into a bunk room for six, with a children’s crow’s nest via the ship’s ladder, plus an ensuite master bedroom. The main garage was converted into a large entertaining space with a bar and a pickleball court. Additional leisure features include the fishing pond and fire pit. Visitors to Harbor Point Station are sure to enjoy the home’s nod to maritime history and the tranquil seaside views. Laurie and Reid Pocock, owners.

Eyre Hall

3215 Eyre Hall Drive, Cheriton, VA 23316 Honored as a National Historic Landmark, this acclaimed ancestral property offers a rare picture of colonial plantation life. The key to Eyre Hall’s remarkable preservation lies in its descent through eight generations of the same family. The gambrelroofed manor was completed in 1758 by Littleton Eyre, who lavished his home with expansive spaces, superlative woodwork and handsome furnishings. Before the end of the century, Littleton’s son and grandson had, in their turn, inherited his masterwork, adding an eastern wing and laying out a grand rear garden. Happily for historians, the three early owners were succeeded by stewards who declined to gild their classic legacy with the passing fancies of later eras. The soft-spoken style of its creators remains wonderfully in place. The past also lives in the garden, where venerable crepe myrtles tower above parterres enclosed by ancient boxwood and set off by colorful mixed borders. On the west, the recently stabilized remaining walls of an early orangery add a hint of romance to the garden scene. Beyond the house and garden, broad stretches of open fields and long views over Cherrystone Creek complete the placid panorama awaiting visitors to this perennial centerpiece of the Eastern Shore tour. H. Furlong Baldwin, owner.