The Special Events Committee & Bayard Taylor Home and Garden Day Tour

The Library’s Special Events Committee was organized in 1991 to raise funds for library projects. The Committee’s major event is the very popular Bayard Taylor Home & Garden Tour, held annually on the first Saturday in June. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Programs and Adult Literacy.

Planning for this event starts in early fall when the committee selects a variety of homes and gardens in a particular area of southern Chester County. The self- guided tour showcases unique homes representing a mix of styles from historic homes and estates to charming cottages to sleek modern residences. Gardens range from large, lush professionally maintained to pocket sized patches of brilliant flowers some with sculptural accents, from the simple, but endearing, to the elaborate and extravagant.

In addition to visits to these fascinating settings, tour-goers enjoy food tastings from local restaurants and fabulous flower arrangements from
local florists. Visitors also get to watch the area’s finest plein air artists in some of the gardens. Every detail is attended to, leading to a beautiful, carefree day of explorations into homes and neighborhoods seldom seen by the public. Thanks to the generosity of homeowners, local merchants and artists and especially the visitors, over $600,000 has been raised since the tour’s inception. These funds have greatly enhanced and enriched the experiences and lives of Kennett Square area children.