They say April showers bring May flowers, so put some spring in your step and find out what’s in bloom in Anne Arundel County this month. Here are five gardens and arboretums to add to your family’s bucket list. Plan a day trip without ever leaving the Chesapeake region.
Historic London Town and Gardens
Edgewater, MD
Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
Bright fuchsia azaleas bloom by the creek at Historic London Town and Gardens, a certified Level II Arboretum by ArbNet, which is an international community of arboreta and tree-focused professionals. In the shade of towering native trees, see the Woodland Garden’s array of magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, viburnums, wildflowers and perennials. Children of all ages will enjoy connecting with nature through the sound and sensory garden.
historiclondontown.org
Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
Solomons, MD
Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Since 1997, volunteer gardeners have planted more than 500 shrubs of Glenn Dale azaleas at Annmarie Garden, ranging in color from white to pink and red to purple. Some shrubs are as large as 8 feet! Take the family for a walking tour along this “explosion of color” or watch insects flit around the Butterfly Garden’s many species of pollinator plants. annmariegarden.org
William Paca House & Garden
Annapolis, MD
Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday
It’s no wonder that locals host weddings and receptions at the William Paca Garden, a space resplendent with native and heirloom plants in its arrangements of flower beds and a kitchen garden. Take a winding path through beds of roses, perennials and annuals that illustrate what would have bloomed in the 18th century. Educational programs are available for kids and adults.
annapolis.org
Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden
Annapolis, MD
Open sunrise to dusk
Tour the entire state of Maryland, from a western Maryland forest to a streamside area and an Eastern Shore peninsula, in this barrier-free, 5-acre public garden. Flowers bloom around serene ponds. Tactile learners will appreciate a raised planter containing plants of many different textures, tastes and smells. Reserve a free guided tour or go at your own pace.
dnr.maryland.gov
Hancock’s Resolution
Pasadena, MD
Open 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Hancock’s Resolution is awash with color, from its vibrant pink and orange flowers to the bright yellow of the goldfinches that perch among its three gardens. Take a tour through marigolds, bluebells and zinnia, and perhaps even the lavender-colored “false dragonhead,” known as an obedient plant because a flower pushed to one side will often stay in that position.
historichancocksresolution.org
