New Zealand Summer Garden Tour
February
7-24, 2006
GCA
Visiting Gardens will explore New Zealand gardens in their summer glory
along with the majestic natural wonders of this dramatic land. We
journey to both the North and South islands to experience the diverse
culture of a fascinating country and its people.
We begin
our tour in
Auckland
hosted by the Remuera Garden Club, a GCA courtesy club, visiting member
private gardens. Day trips will take us to the garden of Barry Ferguson,
the noted Long Island horticulturist who has established a stunning
garden in his homeland, and to the naturalist island paradise of
Tiritiri Matangi.
We make a short trip to
Wellington,
the capital, to see its Botanical garden and the world famous Te Papa
Museum.
In
Christchurch
we visit a selection of traditional and contemporary gardens plus the
outstanding Botanical garden.
The
Glacier Express will take us to
Arthurs
Pass
for a sheep ranch adventure hosted by a noted New Zealand botanist.
We then
travel down the fabled West Coast (with a possible flight to Mt. Cook, a
thrilling and memorable experience), through the rain forests to Lake
Moeraki Wilderness Lodge where we are guided by naturalists on land and
water learning about the native wildlife and vegetation.
In
Queenstown we visit wineries and take a day trip to the fjord lands
visiting Milford Sound and flying back over the wilderness areas of the
Southland.
We
journey to Invercargill, the southernmost town on the mainland,
to visit Mapleglen – Frank Cabot’s strong recommendation of a garden
experience not to be missed.
Our last
stop is
Dunedin,
a harbor city of steep streets and Victorian architecture with roots in
Scotland. There we will see not only gardens but natural habitats of the
nesting royal albatross and the native yellow eyed penguin.
We return
to
Auckland
to fly home after bidding a fond farewell to the land of the kiwi.
The tour is being
organized by Dr. Graeme Hardie, an architect and anthropologist whose
own garden received a Gold Trowel Award from Garden Design Magazine
this year. He has arranged a number of exceptional tours for GCA during
past years.
The Tour Itinerary
for New
Zealand
will be published later this spring. This will include itinerary
information, tour cost, and sign up procedures.
Register on the New Zealand Tour
Interest List if you would like to receive the itinerary as soon as
it is available. Email Margaret Merrill at
MGMerrill@earthlink.net. After June 5, email
Patti Spaght instead at
pcspaght@hotmail.com. Please include the
following information:
-
Name
-
Address
-
Telephone
-
Email
(preferably) or fax
-
Tour name
Frank
Cabot's Quebec & Mount Dessert Maine
July 15-23, 2006
GCA
Visiting
Gardens
is planning a trip that will feature two fabulous garden experiences in
July 2006. Frank Cabot’s “Les Quatre Vents” in
Quebec
is legendary. His book, The Greater Perfection, details its many
wonders.
We will also
visit
Mount Desert,
Maine
to see a variety of gardens including private ones only on tour during
the Mount Desert Garden Club’s Open Day. This trip is in the early
planning stage.
The tour is being
organized by Dr. Graeme Hardie, an architect and anthropologist whose
own garden received a Gold Trowel Award from Garden Design Magazine
this year. He has arranged a number of exceptional tours for GCA during
past years.
The Tour
Itinerary for Frank Cabot’s Quebec and Mount Desert will be
published later this spring. This will include itinerary information,
tour cost, and sign up procedures.
Register on the Quebec & Mount Desert
Tour Interest List if you would like to receive the itinerary as
soon as it is available. Email Margaret Merrill at
MGMerrill@earthlink.net. After June 5, email
Patti Spaght instead at
pcspaght@hotmail.com. Please include the
following information:
-
Name
-
Address
-
Telephone
-
Email
(preferably) or fax
-
Tour name
