The Very English Roots of Our American Garden Tour

The Very English Roots of Our American Garden
May 16-24, 2009

The ancestry of America is tied as closely to Britain as the English roots of our plants and gardens. We journey across the ocean to visit our English heritage as spring breathes itself into the palette of the English gardens and the warmth of the British culture. Highlighting our visit is the magnificent Chelsea Flower Show, the yearly flagship event of the Royal Horticultural Society. We begin in Bath, a cultural, elegant and historic city, classified asa World Heritage City. Here Stonehenge, one of the ancient wonders of the world stands as evidence of a culture dating back to 3000 BC to 1600 BC. The ancient Romans have left their mark here as well with their Roman baths which still pump spa waters. Of course, a visit to England must include a stay in London which boasts the greatest concentration of major attractionsin Britain including four World Heritage Sites, and is renowned throughout the world for its shops,museums, parks and cosmopolitan life. There will be much to see here with time to explore on your own andattend a performance at one of the fabled West End theatres.

Leading this journey is Justin Stelter, head gardener at Historic Carnton Plantation. This garden is reconstructed from the bones of the original 1847 kitchen/ornamental garden andits evolution from 1847 through 1869. While head gardener, Justin has installed one of the largest historic daffodil displays in the country, a species hosta collection, and is currently installing an heirloom peony collection consisting of varieties available prior to 1869. He is a member of The American Horticultural Society, Southern Garden History Society, American Rose Society, Middle Tennessee Daffodil Society, Middle Tennessee Daylily Society, Middle Tennessee Hosta Society, Nashville Rose Society and the Tennessee Native Plant Society. During the summer of 2006, he had the privilege of working with Peter Hatch, the Director of Gardens and Grounds of Monticello, at the Historic Landscape Institute. Currently, he is editing a guide to historic gardens in North America.

Accompanying Justin is Robert Hicks, NY Times best-selling author of The Widow of theSouth, a book born out of many years of work at Carnton and his passion for the preservationof the remaining fragments of the battlefield and the historic sites tied to that story. His pas-sion for Southern life and our historical past as well as his friendship and professional rela-tionship with Justin as co-editors of their latest publication, A Guitar and a Pen will provide a unique collaboration of talents that will enhance your experience by blending historic elements and horticultural roots of England and America.

Tour Price Per Person Double Occupancy: $3350Singles Add: $750 To Make Your Reservation Contact: Charlene Corris CUSTOM TRAVEL CONCEPTS TOLL-FREE: 866-956-4440 Email: histours@aol.com


Sat/May 16 We depart on our transatlantic flight to London. Meals on board

Sun/May 17 Arrive in London where our escort will meet us andtransfer to Windsor. Less than thirty miles west of London, the town of Windsor combines history and heritage with a sophisticated lifestyle thatoffers an enormous choice of fine restaurants, stylish shops, and theatre.Moreover, it lies on the doorstep of the historic sights of Eton and Runneymede and has out-standing countryside with over 1,000 acres of National Trust land in the north and 4,800 acres of Crown Estate to the south. Visit Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and verymuch a working royal palace as one of the official residences of Her Majesty, The Queen. The mag-nificent State Rooms are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection.Queen Mary's Dolls' House is a masterpiece in miniature and visit St George's Chapel, in the castleprecincts, which is one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England where 10 monarchsare buried. Tonight we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner.

Mon/May 18 In the morning we depart for Bath. On the way we stop tomarvel at the great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge, one of the an-cient wonders of the world. Today we see the substantial remnants of thelast in a sequence of such monuments erected between circa 3000BC and1600BC. Each monument was a circular structure, aligned with the rising of the sun at the midsum-mer solstice. We continue to Lacock Village that dates back to the 13th-century and remains largelyunchanged over the centuries with many limewashed, half-timbered and stone houses. During theMiddle Ages Lacock became a prosperous and thriving town through its wool industry. The villagewas well placed for communications, sited as it was on the 'cloth road' from London and the RiverAvon, which gave access to the sea at Avonmouth near Bristol. The lovely medieval village of Lacock,now protected by the National Trust, is the location of picturesque 13th-century Lacock Abbey. Ahistoric manor house, Lacock Abbey retains its medieval cloisters as well as later Tudor features. Itwas the home of William Fox-Talbot, one of the inventors of photography. The Abbey was the settingfor various interior scenes at Hogwarts School.

Tue/May 19 Bath is one of England's most beautiful, elegant, historic cities, and is classed as aWorld Heritage City. The Roman's were captivated by the area of Bath over 2,000 yearsago, when Bath was a vast green valley with a miraculous stream of endless hot water.More recently, Bath became a fashionable health resort in the eighteenth century andtoday the remains of the Roman Baths and graceful Georgian architecture combine tomake Bath one of Britain's most popular attractions. In Bath, enjoy a visit to theRoman Baths. Perhaps the best preserved Roman religious spa from the ancient world,there are four main features: The Sacred Spring, The Roman Temple, The Roman BathHouse and finds from Roman Bath. We'll also see the Georgian Pump Room.This afternoon we visit Stourhead Garden, created in the 1740s. The River Stour was dammed to forma great lake around which the landscape garden was created with stunning views. As the gardendeveloped, classical features were added, such as the Temple of Flora, the Pantheon, the Temple of Apollo and Gothic ruins. Enjoy a traditional afternoon or Cream Tea, before returning to Bath.


Wed/May 20 This morning we head into Gloucestershire and visit Stancombe Park beforecontinuing into London. Midway between Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge, Stancombe Park lies atthe head of a valley below Stinchcombe Hill, a famous landmark of south Gloucestershire. The parkcomes up to the house and is separated from the upper garden by a sweeping drive. The garden isclearly divided into two parts. The upper garden nearest to the house, has been created out of theexisting parkland, and a row of sweet chestnuts and a few more trees which indicate a planting for other purposes than purely ornamental. The second garden - the historic Folly Garden, is a very different proposition. The garden is accessed by a romantic path that drops past two small lakes tothe main one.

And now to London. London remains one of the world's greatest urban areas. People have flocked tothe city for pleasure and business alike for over two thousand years. Today London has the greatestconcentration of major attractions in Britain, boasts four World Heritage Sites, and is renownedthroughout the world for its shops, museums, parks and cosmopolitan life.

Thu/May 21 This morning we head out of London to visit two spectacular gardens. The woodland gardens at Ramster, laid out at the beginning of thelast century by Gauntlett Nurseries of Chiddingfold have been owned by thesame family for 80 years. Now a mature flowering shrub garden of over 20acres, it is full of unusual and interesting plants that flourish under the can-opy of oaks and larches. Visit the Royal Horticultural Society's splendidWisley Garden. Begun in 1870 on 60 acres, it has blossomed into 250 acres of wild daffodils, rhododendrons, azaleas, rock gardens, reflecting ponds andwooded slopes. Wisley is a real enthusiasts' garden offering ideas on design, innovation andcultivation techniques. For many, the RHS Gardens at Wisley are great gardens of tranquillity, for others an exciting garden that makes your mind restless!

Tonight we will attend a performance at one of London's famous West End theatres.

Fri/May 22 - The highlight of our tour is our visit to the Royal Horticultural Society’s ChelseaFlower Show—the ultimate event in the gardening year. It sets the latest gardening trends, featuresthe newest and most desirable gardening products and creates an explosion of colours and scents.

Sat/May 23 Depart for Kent to visit the celebrated gardens of Scotney Castle, designed around theruins of a 14th-century moated castle. It features spectacular displays of rhododendrons, azaleas andkalmias in May and June, wisteria and roses rambling over the ruins in sum-mer, and trees and ferns providing rich colour in autumn.Visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden, one of the world's most celebrated gardens.The creation of Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson,Sissinghurst enjoys an intimate setting in the grounds of an Elizabethanmansion. It is a sophisticated garden where rare plants are neighbours totraditional cottage garden flowers in romantic little compartments filled withcolourful floral displays. This evening we’ll fondly bid farewell to London withdinner at a local pub.

Sun/May 24 We transfer from London to the airport for our flight home or stay longer in London.

Tour Includes: Seven nights accommodations in first-class hotels , breakfast daily, welcome & farewelldinners and teas as indicated, visits as indicated in the itinerary , services of a tour manager except inLondon, services of Justin Stelter and Robert Hicks throughout, reading list, gratuities to driver and tour manager. Airfare is additional.