If you have questions, please email us.
If you have questions, please email us.
2007 Trip Reports
Gardens
and Art of Long Island and New York City
The IMA Horticultural
Society journeyed east in June for a seven day visit to some of the most exquisite
and dynamic Country Place Era estates, botanical gardens, and private gardens
that Long Island and New York City have to offer. Featured
stops included Old Westbury Gardens, Planting Fields Arboretum, LongHouse Reserve,
Wave Hill, Central Park, and the New York Botanical Garden.
2006 Trip Reports
Springtime
in Historic Charleston
With its
rich Colonial history and southern charm, Charleston provided a gorgeous backdrop
for the many gardens, homes, and plantations we visited in the spring. Taking
advantage of the city's 59th annual Festival of Houses & Gardens, we toured
intimate private gardens and sublimely beautiful riverfront plantations. The
region's annual spring display of azaleas, magnolias, and dogwoods were at their
peak. Our visit included a private tour of downtown Charleston; a lecture by
Robert Chestnut followed by a walking tour of six private gardens; Middleton
Place, a National Historic Landmark and our country's oldest landscaped gardens
with breathtaking views to the Ashley River; an oyster roast at Drayton Hall
plantation; and a personal tour of the former rice plantation and outdoor sculpture
collection at Brookgreen Gardens.
Historic
New Harmony, Indiana
Our fall trip was an invigorating, thought-provoking visit to New Harmony. Tucked
away peacefully in the southwest corner of Indiana, New Harmony features a uniquemix
of tranquility and sophistication. Its unusual heritage began with Father George
Rapp nearly two centuries ago as a spiritual sanctuary, and shortly afterwards
as an attempt at a secular Utopia led by Scottish social reformer Robert Owen.
Today New Harmony retains a remarkable collection of structures from the Rappite
and Owenite eras, as well as outstanding new buildings such as Richard Meier's
Athenaeum and intriguing gardens, labyrinths and other outdoor spaces.
We delved into the history of two fascinating groups: The Rappites, a religious separatist group that settled in New Harmony in 1814 and turned the community into a manufacturing and commercial center; and Robert Owen and his followers, who purchased the town from the Harmonists in 1825 and sought to conduct a great social experiment that would create a Utopian society led by scientists, scholars and intellectuals pursuing a dream of equality.
Arriving in time for lunch, we toured the Richard Meier-designed Athenaeum and saw a film on New Harmony's history, then proceeded on to tours of David Lenz House, the Log Cabins and Solomon Wolf House. We had time to shop in The Mews (six rooms of antiques and books) and Arbor House before a reception at The Hoosier Salon Art Gallery. An elegant dinner at The Red Geranium was next. We completed the day with a special treat, a performance by Henry Ryder, an Indianapolis attorney who interprets Indiana's legendary poet, James Whitcomb Riley. Accommodations were at the lovely New Harmony Inn.
Our Sunday began with a light breakfast in the historic home of HortSoc members Peggy and George Rapp. Tours to the Granary, Carol's Garden and Phillip Johnson's 'Roofless Church' followed. After a pasta buffet overlooking Tillich Park, it was on to the Workingman's Institute and a viewing of the fabulous collection of Karl Bodmer's etchings and aquatints documenting the 1832-34 expedition of Prince Maximilian to the western territories.
Cincinnati
Flower Show
Our half-day visit to the only flower show in North America sanctioned
by the Royal Horticultural Society featured more than thirty landscaped gardens,
dozens of container and window box displays, and numerous floral arrangements.
The day concluded with a driving tour of historic Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum,
which features 1,200 species of trees and shrubs.
Pacific Northwest
Our journey to the lush garden paradise of the Pacific Northwes included
stays in both the Seattle and British Columbia regions. Ringed by blue Pacific
waters, Vancouver is a city well endowed with wonderful gardens. Stops included
VanDusen Botanical Garden, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and
Stanley Park, in addition to many special private gardens. We traveled by ferry
to picturesque Victoria, featuring the world-famous Butchart Gardens, which
were carefully crafted from an abandoned quarry. In Seattle we toured the magnificent
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island and stopped at the marvelous Heronswood
Nursery.
In 1997, the first trip planned by the newly formed Horticultural Society Travel Committee was to northeastern Ohio. From May 12-15, 2004, thirty six members returned to Ohio, adding Cleveland and surrounding garden sites to Akron and Mansfield.
At our first stop, Kingwood Center, we were greeted by director Chuck Gleaves, former IMA Director of Horticulture. Over lunch, Mark Zelonis updated Chuck on the exciting changes occurring at the IMA.
In Akron, we visited Stan Hywet Hall, one of the finest examples of Tudor Revival architecture in America. The 65-room mansion, built between 1912-1915, sits on more than 70 acres of gardens and grounds. The gardens were created by Warren Manning. The charming walled English garden, our favorite, has been restored to the original design intent of Ellen Biddle Shipman.
The next morning we toured the Gwinn estate and gardens overlooking Lake Erie. These gardens were also designed by Charles Platt, Warren Manning and Ellen Biddle Shipman. Gwinn and Stan Hywet are two of seven early 20th century estates featured in the "A Genius For Place" exhibit currently on view at the Lilly House.
A highlight of our tour was dinner and the symphony at Cleveland's Severance Hall. The ornate silver and cream walls in a trailing vine and circle design must be what the view is like inside a wedding cake. Beautiful!
The two private gardens we visited were quite different. The more structured garden designed by Russell Page featured pleached lindens lining the drive leading to a broad graveled courtyard. The house, a former stable, surrounds a pool and has a view almost to Cleveland. Eight gardens surrounded the house, each different in character. The other garden took advantage of a rolling site and was designed by a true plantswoman. She welcomed us with tea and homemade breads, described the garden with its collections of unusual plants and trees, and then turned us over to her head gardener and the three summer staff for tours. Our hostess answered all our questions and welcomed us to return any time.
We visited the Cleveland Botanical Garden to see its new Costa Rican and Madagascan biomes. At the Holden Arboretum, the candelabra primulas in shades of pink to deep red were a photographer's dream. We need more bogs in Indianapolis! Eliott Paine, the director, pointed out several of the arboretum's attractions and joined us for lunch at Lantern Court. This was an action-packed trip, but we couldn't have omitted a thing. Some of our members bought so many plants at our last stop, Quailcrest Gardens, that the plants had to share seats with us on the bus. But what's a good trip without some serious shopping?
—Patty Wilkins Back to top
Our June 21 - July 5, 2004, travel itinerary to the region of northern England, the midlands and London was a great success. From the letters, notes and comments of many of the participants, the results far exceeded the expectations. We wish that all our members could have shared the experience.
The combination of art, architecture, decorative arts and gardens, parks and landscapes in historical context was quite overwhelming. To add to this we had the fortunate opportunity to dine in several great houses with the lord and lady of the properties. These memorable experiences to learn, exchange views and make new friends made for a once in a lifetime trip.
We started in the Manchester, England, Cheshire area with a visit to Arley House where we had coffee and tea with Patrick, the head gardener followed by Tatton Park house and landscape, then on to the Cavendish Hotel owned by the Duchess of Devonshire (the PBS "Duchess of Duke Street"). Then to Chatsworth for a day of gardens, house tour and special visit to the greenhouses and a lecture on the designer, Joseph Paxton. This was an awesome place and a great place for shopping.
Haddon Hall was not to be missed for the medieval house and terraced rose gardens. We were in the right area for the peak of rose season. On the way we stopped in Sheffield for a garden and house tour and luncheon with Sir Reresby and Lady Sitwell including a wonderful chicken and curry rice dish and Australian wines—great gardens, too!
Our next stop was York and a visit to Hardwick House and gardens and Harwood House and gardens. Both are large, steeped in history and containing fabulous collections of art and furniture. Castle Howard House and Gardens were especially memorable for the delphinium garden room and the rose gardens. In York, we had a special opening of Fairfax, a Georgian house with a wine and cheese reception and a lecture tour by the director. Afterwards, we had an evening tour of the gardens at Hovingham Hall followed by drinks and dinner with Mr. And Mrs, William Worsley. For this charming young couple, this was their first event after inheriting the property and its restoration. We were very honored!
The next day we started at the Thorp-Perrow Arboretum where our visit was made most memorable by the silver-haired owner stopping his motor bike to say hello. The trees were amazing with the featured kousa dogwood, silver fir, katsura tree, oak, beech, hornbeam, oak, horse chestnut and many others. A brief visit to Fountains Abbey, the largest ruin of its type, was followed by a stop at Newby House and Gardens, one of my favorites. The flower borders have been copied by others, but they are still the longest and the best. Also, the sunken garden, the fabulous kousa dogwoods and the perfect Georgian house are lovely in their setting. Harrowgate, a Victorian spa and a center for antiques also featured floral parks and the Royal Horticultural Society Harlow Carr Botanic Garden. Just in time we returned to York to freshen up for an evening visit to the gardens of Sutton Park and drinks and dinner with Sir Reginald and Lady Sheffield.
The Midlands were our next stop with accommodations at Fawsley Hall Hotel, Daventry a restored medieval country house. This day we had drinks and a buffet lunch at Drayton House with Mr. And Mrs. Lionel Stafford Sackville. This Tudor property has an 18th century facade and 17th century gardens. Afterwards we visited Broughton House, property of the Duke of Buccleuch, and Cottesbrooke Hall and Gardens through the courtesy of Captain and Mrs. Macdonald Buchanan. In the Guilsborough area we had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Ian Pasley-Taylor. The house and gardens there were just perfect.
The next stop was the Old Rectory gardens in Sudborough by arrangement with Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Huntington. She is a real hands-on gardener and even teaches classes on garden design and horticulture. Our last day was spent with a visit to Waddesdon Manor, a newly restored garden in the French manner. Our final stop was at the Stowe, a National Trust Property maintained as an 18th century time-warp with its landscape setting and follies. We celebrated our journey with a farewell party that included drinks, dinner and prizes for all. In closing, a heartfelt thanks to those who attended our garden gate trip and helped to make it a success.
—Helen Dickinson Back to top
The host for this fall foliage tour was Louisville, a city whose name honors King Louis XVI of France in gratitude for French aid in the American Revolution. Our tour featured Yew Dell Gardens, former estate and nursery of noted plant expert Theodore Klein; 150-year-old Cave Hill Cemetery with its diverse array of woody plants; Bernheim Arboretum's great collection of trees and brand-new "green" visitor's center; and a special exhibit at Speed Museum. The tour included private garden visits, fine dining, and knowledgable guides. Back to top