| Gardens of the Philadelphia Region A Pacific Horticulture Tour May 20-26, 2013 Escorted by Greg Graves, President of Pacific Horticulture Society Tour Manager Scott Borden This tour is currently sold out. To join the Waiting List, please click here Join us as we visit some of the most outstanding gardens in America. Our tour includes estate Photo: Andrew Bunting, Fine Garden Creations gardens founded on fabulous wealth, a historic garden pre-dating American Independence, exceptional nurseries and delightful private gardens. Space is limited---sign up now as this tour is sure to sell out early. Monday May 20 Make your way to Philadelphia and then to the Radnor Hotel, our hotel for the next 6 nights. Rooms feature flat screen TV, free WiFi, and in-room coffee maker. Join Scott Borden and Greg Graves for a welcome wine and cheese reception at 630pm followed by a 7pm welcome dinner and orientation where you will learn more about the exciting days ahead and meet the other guests Reception, Dinner Tuesday May 21 Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we depart by private motorcoach for the state of Delaware and Mt. Cuba Center. Located on nearly 600 acres, Mt. Cuba is dedicated to the study, conservation and appreciation of plants native to the Appalachian Piedmont Region through garden display, education, and research. Their woodland wildflower gardens are recognized as the region’s finest. We'll have a guided tour and spend the morning here before departing for Winterthur. Founded by Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur (pronounced “winter-tour”) is the premier museum of American decorative arts, reflecting both early America and the du Pont family’s life here. Its 60-acre naturalistic garden is among the country’s best, and its research library serves scholars from around the world. We'll have lunch before our guided tour of the gardens and house, followed by time to stroll the garden and browse the gift shop. Late afternoon return to our hotel, evening at leisure. Breakfast, Lunch Wednesday May 22 After breakfast at the hotel, our day begins with a visit to Scott Arboretum, spread over 110 acres at Swarthmore College. Founded by Arthur Hoyt Scott, whose vision was to further horticulture by visual demonstration. He believed that the dream can be best realized by the planting in a public place of such trees, shrubs, and flowers as can be used by people of average means living in the Philadelphia suburban area. The balance of our day will be devoted to private garden visits---we are working on some real treats, so stay tuned for details. Picnic lunch along the way as we tour. Return to the hotel late this afternoon, evening at leisure. Breakfast, Lunch Thursday May 23 After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. More than 13,000 labeled plants of over 2,500 types are growing in the Arboretum’s living collection. These include representatives of the temperate floras of North America, Asia, and Europe. This historic collection traces its foundation to John Morris’s interest in plants from around the world, and includes plants collected in China by E.H. Wilson at the turn of the century. Many of the Delaware Valley’s "trees-of-record" (the largest of their kind) are found in the Arboretum We continue to an exclusive visit to a private garden (details to follow). After lunch, we are in for a real treat when we visit Chanticleer, a Pleasure Garden. Chanticleer has been called the most romantic, imaginative, and exciting public garden in America. The garden is a study of textures and forms, where foliage trumps flowers, the gardeners lead the design, and even the drinking fountains are sculptural. It is a garden of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home. There are seven Horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit. Breakfast, Lunch Friday May 24 After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Meadowbrook Farm. Lovingly designed and created by J. Liddon Pennock, Jr. (1913-2003), Meadowbrook Farm remains his garden legacy. Sited on 25 acres to the north of Philadelphia, Meadowbrook Farm allowed Liddon to hone his gift for garden design. He spent decades perfecting the gardens on the property, which have been featured in many books and magazines. Our next stop is Hortulus Farm Garden & Nursery. The gardens are composed of twenty separate, formal gardens, including pastoral walks, idyllic ponds and streams, intriguing follies, and dramatic vistas. In spring, the property is ablaze with over 200,000 daffodils, narcissus, bluebells, native dogwoods, and Delaware Valley white azaleas. The historic barns and outbuildings at Hortulus Farm are home to a colorfully diverse family of farm animals, including horses, sheep, chickens, ducks, swans, guinea fowl, and pheasants. We'll enjoy lunch and a guided tour, then have time to browse the nursery. We then head for the Barnes Foundation, arriving in time for an optional ($20 additional cost) 4pm group reservation. Our motorcoach will then depart for the hotel at 545pm, arriving 615pm. Guests are welcome to stay on at the museum--it's open until 10pm on Friday. There is a cafe and musical entertainment is planned for the evening. Or you may wish to make your way into Philadelphia for dinner downtown. Guests staying on at the museum or downtown would need to take a taxi back to the hotel (about 25 mins). . Breakfast, Lunch Saturday May 25 After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Bartram's Garden. Dating from 1728, this National Historic Landmark is the historic home and garden of John Bartram, America's first botanist. He was endlessly curious and wanted to learn everything about the world around him. His explorations of wild American landscapes were deeply influential to Europeans who were hungry for any and all information about the New World. We'll tour the house and garden, then enjoy lunch in one of the historic buildings. We then depart for one of the world's premier horticulture showcases, Longwood Gardens. The living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont, the gardens are sure to delight anyone who loves exquisite flowers, majestic trees, and opulent architecture. Here, amid 1,077 acres with 20 indoor and 20 outdoor gardens, you’ll find beauty at every turn. Pierre du Pont built his first conservatory so he could have oranges in the winter. Although his experiment was not successful, it defines Longwood’s horticultural spirit even today--to make the impossible possible. We'll have a private guided tour followed by ample time for independent touring then enjoy Longwood's famous summer BBQ dinner and then the year's first performance of the "Fountains and Fireworks," a fitting end to our marvelous tour of the great gardens of the Philadelphia region. Return to the hotel late evening. (Note: BBQ and Fireworks/Fountains are weather permitting) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Sunday May 26 Enjoy one last breakfast at the hotel, then independent departures to return home or perhaps continue touring in the northeast. We suggest flight departures be scheduled noon and later as we will not be returning to the hotel until late the night before Farewell! Breakfast. Tour Price: $1865 per person based on double occupancy, $595 single supplement. Including:
Not included:
To print a copy of the itinerary, click HERE To view Terms and Conditions for this tour, click HERE For more Information, Contact Sterling Tours, Ltd 2907 Shelter Island Drive Suite #105-262 San Diego, CA 92106 Tel: 619 299-3010 800-976-9497 CST2023849-40 |
Sterling Tours, Ltd
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