I love spring in South Carolina. When I see the azaleas budding, daffodils pushing up through the earth, and blossom-covered trellises, I can’t help but think of my childhood in New York where I remember blizzards after Easter. Our lovely climate seems to grow lovely roses, lilies and butterfly bush, as well as master gardeners.

This spring, the Garden Club of South Carolina is offering visitors a special chance to peek inside a variety of gardens in small towns all over the state during the “Follow the Blooms Garden Tour,” which Southern Living named as one of the Best Garden Tours in the South.

The tours promise not only beautiful scenery but also great garden design ideas to bring home to your own patch of earth. Some of the gardens will showcase traditional Southern oaks covered in moss and old roses on historic properties, while others will highlight edible landscaping and vegetable gardens.

The first tour will be on Saturday, March 24, and will include looks at several gardens in Allendale, Holly Hill and Santee. Next up will be the Hilton Head Plantation tour on Sunday, April 1, followed by the Conway tour on Saturday, April 14. Finally on Friday, April 20, the public will have a chance to see gardens in Lake City and Bishopville, including the famous Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden.

Day tickets for “Follow the Blooms” are $20 each; a $50 ticket allows you to see the gardens on all four tours. Buy them here. Tickets also are available for the kick-off luncheon on March 24 and the finale luncheon on April 20 for $15 each.