The Talbot County Garden Club recently kicked off planning for its 2026 Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage / Talbot County Tour. The Tour, which invites visitors to explore notable private properties in the area, will take place the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend – May 9, 2026. Camille Massie and Louise Peterson co-chair the event.
“This Tour is being designed to deliver an extraordinary experience in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary, showcasing the many significant historic sites in our county,” says Peterson. “We’ll feature an array of houses, gardens and grounds that are rarely open to the public. At each property, visitors can expect to see incredible floral displays creatively fashioned by the club’s talented designers – a hallmark of this biennial event.”
“To add to the day’s experience, we will also direct visitors to drive by and discover the many historic landmarks in Oxford and St. Michaels (towns that were influential during the Revolutionary War) that tie together the day’s route of discovery,” says Massie. “Ultimately, the Club will be honored to use the proceeds generated by the Tour to help preserve the Talbot Historical Society’s Neall House (ca 1804) in Easton.”
“There is truly something for everyone on this tour,” adds Peterson.
Waterfront homes open to tour include Wye House (where Frederick Douglas lived in his youth) and Plimhimmon (where Anna Maria Tilghman, widow of Revolutionary War hero Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman, entertained the Marquis de Lafayette), plus Emerson Point (on the Miles River). The spectacular grounds of Harleigh Farm (on Trippe Creek) will also welcome visitors.
Tours and lunch will be available at Third Haven Friends (Quaker) Meeting House (1684) in Easton
Chairs of Tour Sub-committees include:
MHGP Senior Consultant to the Co-Chairs: Caroline Benson
House Selection: Caroline Benson, Bob Shannahan
Advertising: Marjory Sheldon, Hatsie Long
Flowers: Ingrid Blanton
Homeowners’ Party: Kim Eckert
Hostesses: Paige Connelly, Jan Cullen
Lunch: Nancy Thompson, Laura Cassidy
Parking: Alden Firth, Cherie Carroll
Patron & Benefactor Outreach: Pat Lewers
Photography: Laura Carney, Marjory Sheldon
Publicity: Rita Mhley
Publicity Design: Rebecca Gaffney, Margaret Benghauser
Road Marking: Juliette Fry, Carol Harrison
Scripts: Madeleine Cohen, Dana Vlk
Site Leaders: Myra Gons, Joyce Doehler, Sara Walker, Mary Helen Cobb
Tour Bells: Chloe Pitard, Tracy Garrett
Treasurer & Cashier: Colleen Doremus, Fran Jenkins, Virginia Sappington, Maxine Millar
Tour details as well as ticket information will be available soon.
“Mark your calendar for this highly anticipated event,” says Eleanor Denegre, club president. “Talbot County is home to some of the most exquisite estates and historic properties in Maryland and is always a popular part of the statewide Pilgrimage. We feel truly grateful to the generous property owners who open their gates and enable us to share our rich history and beautiful landscapes with the many visitors who are sure to come and ‘tour’.”
About the Talbot County Garden Club
The Talbot County Garden Club is known for its “good and green works” that benefit the Talbot County community. The club was established in 1917 to enhance the natural beauty of the local environment by sharing knowledge of gardening, maintaining civic gardens, supporting civic greening projects, encouraging the conservation of natural resources, and fostering the art of flower arranging. Noteworthy projects include grounds maintenance at the Talbot Historical Society, Talbot County Free Library (Easton), and the Fountain and Children’s Gardens in Idlewild Park; greenery installations for Easton’s Rail Trail, U.S. Post Office and Christ Church (Easton); plus an ever-growing number of outreach activities serving youths, seniors and persons living with disabilities. There are currently 112 active, associate and honorary members.
The Tour is well-supported by the local community, with well over 300 volunteer docents on hand to guide visitors throughout the Tour day.
