Spring Garden Market

SHOP, STROLL, AND SAVOR AT THE 2025 SPRING GARDEN MARKET

Get ready for a blooming good time at the 2025 Spring Garden Market! Join us on April 11 & 12, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the beautiful River Farm, headquarters of the American Horticultural Society (AHS). With more than 2,000 attendees, the event is one of the largest fundraisers for River Farm, a neighborhood treasure of historical and horticultural relevance. Part of George Washington’s farmland, River Farm showcases AHS’s mission to promote the art, science and joy of growing plants.

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spring wild flowers against the blue sky

We are excited to welcome author David Culp at this year’s Spring Garden Market. He will be talking about his books and his work at the Brandywine Cottage. Read below for the presentation schedule.

Presentation Schedule

Friday, April 11th, 1:00 p.m.
A Bountiful Year: Six Seasons of Beauty from Brandywine Cottage

Based on his most recent book of the same name, this talk digs deeper into David Culp’s celebrated garden Brandywine Cottage, featuring a focus for each month, including recipes, a garden to-do list, flower arrangements and practical information. Favorite mail order sources, gardening for biodiversity and wildlife habitat, the creation of the meadow at Brandywine Cottage, recommended plants for dry places, and even favorite weeds will also be discussed. This lecture and book are about lifestyle, and blurring the lines of indoor and outdoor living.

Saturday, April 12th, 10:00 a.m.
The Layered Garden

David Culp will show us how to recreate the majestic display of his beloved two-acre Pennsylvania garden, Brandywine Cottage. It contains a basic lesson in layering—how to choose the correct plants by understanding how they grow and change throughout the seasons, how to design a layered garden, and tips on maintaining it. To illustrate how layering works, David will take you on a virtual tour through each part of his celebrated garden. The lecture culminates with his signature plants for all four seasons.

Brandywine Cottage Plants will be available for sale at the Cavano’s Perennials tent. Read more about David Culp and his incredible work.

What to Expect

Shop for natives, specialty plants, herbs, and much more
Browse garden-themed art, books, tools and garden accessories
View nature-inspired paintings by local artists on display in the Manor House
Explore River Farm’s 27 acres of formal and naturalistic gardens, including a Children’s Garden, wildlife garden, and Virginia native garden
Purchase tasty bites and beverages from our food vendors and enjoy a picnic overlooking the Potomac River

Ticket Information

Entry Fees

$5 per individual (walkers, cyclists)
$20 per car (includes event entry for driver and passengers)

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Special Admissions

AHS members are FREE (including parking) and do not need to register online. Just bring your membership ID or the March/April 2025 issue of The American Gardener magazine to the event for free entry.
Children six and under are FREE.

Additional Event Details

Cash and credit card also accepted event day.
No refunds, rain or shine.
Parking on East Boulevard Drive is prohibited by Fairfax County.
BYOW (Bring Your Own Wagon) to carry your purchases. A limited number will be available for use.

Opportunities to Get Involved

Vendor Applications
Reach a large audience of over 2,000 local gardeners, plant lovers, and nature enthusiasts with a platform to promote and sell your products. Become a vendor today! Register

Sponsorship Applications
Demonstrate your stewardship for horticulture and gain visibility of a targeted audience of over 2,000 plant enthusiasts. Your sponsorship will directly contribute to the maintenance, beautification, increased accessibility, and preservation of River Farm. Register

Volunteering
Volunteer to connect with like-minded individuals and give back to the community. Whether a few hours or the full day, we are seeking volunteers to support day-of event activities: parking and traffic control, registration, maintenance and more! For more details or to sign-up, email ptajat@ahsgardening.org.