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PHS Travels to Westchester County, New York
MAY 18 – 21, 2009
ITINERARY & INFORMATION
(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
MONDAY, MAY 18
 There will be two or three locations to board the bus this morning, as we make an early start for New York. (We’ll determine the departure points after the passenger list is complete.) After crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge into Westchester County, we’ll stop at a restaurant for lunch before visiting our first garden and meeting the amazing garden owner. She has tended this thirteen-acre property for over 50 years. She and her husband bought the property as a week-end home and moved here year-round in the late 70’s. The very hilly site is primarily a spring garden known for azaleas and rhododendrons, including some from Exbury in England. A collection of magnolias, some from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, includes yellow varieties. There is much to see –– spring bulbs, tree peonies, waterfalls, a woodland fern garden, and a pebble border featuring drought-tolerant plants.
Next we’ll drive to Tarrytown to check into the Doubletree Hotel. The evening is at leisure. (L)
TUESDAY, MAY 19
The Bronx is the northernmost borough in New York City. When we think of the Bronx, beautiful gardens are not the first image that comes to mind, so today will be a day of surprises. South of Tarrytown in the Bronx is the garden of a noted horticulturist. On a long, narrow lot he has created a beautiful shade garden, with many native plants of the northeast as well as hostas and spring flowering shrubs. On a relatively small lot he has created a great sense of privacy, with interesting placement of trees and fences.
Our next stop is at nearby Wave Hill. This 28 acre garden, once the estate of George Perkins, a partner of J. P. Morgan, was given to New York City in 1960, and a public garden was created. We will divide into groups for a guided tour of the various garden areas—herb, flower, wild, dry, aquatic gardens. On the great lawn, we’ll linger at the pergola, which frames the spectacular view of the New Jersey Palisades across the Hudson River.
After lunch at Wave Hill, we’ll visit a nearby property where two magnificent trees—an oak and a copper beech—lead the way to the gardens. This large estate has a series of terraced lawns with wide stone steps. The lawn at the bottom has a long border, which is interesting throughout the growing seasons. Outdoor sculptures are placed throughout the garden areas including the shade gardens.
We’ll return to Tarrytown to see the garden of a landscape designer. On a very steep site behind his home, his garden has four levels connected by stone paths. The top level has a lovely view of the Tappan Zee Bridge, which serves as an axis for the garden layout. The steep banks are planted with thousands of bulbs; plants in containers and troughs decorate each level.
We’ll return to the hotel, and the evening is free. (B, L)
WEDNESDAY. MAY 20
This morning we’ll drive into northern Westchester County to visit a large estate, once the home of Theodore Dreiser. The hilly 54-acre property has many garden areas devoted to specific types of plants — alpines, ferns, conifers, and a large collection of Japanese maples, as well as perennial and annual flowers in abundance. The staff horticulturist will guide us through the property, which also has a miniature zoo ––with an aviary for hundreds of different birds and water fowl and fields for unusual animals including zonkeys—a cross between a zebra and a donkey.
We’ll enjoy a box lunch at our next garden before exploring multiple garden rooms –– perennial gardens, water gardens with streams flowing over boulders, a shade garden, and a wildflower garden. There is also a croquet court. The owner is especially proud of the reclamation project in marshland behind their property: a stream clogged with various weeds is being cleared to make the stream passable again for canoeing. The owner is installing native plants on islands in the stream.
We’ll return to the hotel before driving to Irvington for dinner in a restored warehouse on the Hudson River. (B, L, D)
THURSDAY, MAY 21
After we leave the Doubletree, we’ll cross the Tappan Zee Bridge to visit the Storm King Art Center. The 500-acre property is an outdoor museum with massive modern sculptures dotted around the landscape. Artists represented include Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson and Isamu Noguchi. Our guided walking tour includes works near the museum building before our tram ride around the property.
After lunch at a nearby country restaurant, we’ll head back to the Philadelphia area. Light snacks will be served en route. (B, L)
NOTE: Some of the gardens we will visit are on hillsides and some have rock steps without hand rails connecting the garden areas.
Private gardens are open by the kind permission of the owners. Although they make every effort to keep dates arranged for visits, particular visits may not always be possible due to personal commitments, changes of ownership, or other reasons. Every effort will be made to substitute gardens of equal interest.
RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE
JL Tours and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society act only as agents for the passenger with respect to all transportation, hotels, and all matters of reservations and tour operation. We and our agents accept no responsibility for loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or irregularity, expense or liability caused by the defect of any vehicle or negligence or default of any independent contractors, their employees, agents, or representatives. Nor do we accept responsibility for losses or delays arising from sickness, pilferage, labor disputes, machinery breakdown, quarantine, government restraints, war, acts of terrorism, weather conditions, or acts of God. All such losses or expenses shall be borne by the tour participant, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated and as described in this brochure.
We reserve the right to substitute services, features, and hotels of similar quality without notice. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. We likewise reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any tour participant at any time without being under any obligation to assign any reason therefore. In the event of the exercise of this right, we shall be under no liability to such person(s) except to refund such amount as our absolute discretion deems reasonable to attribute to the uncompleted portion of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely.
It is understood that air, ship, or train tickets when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and carrier concerned. The airlines and all other transportation companies involved in this tour are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. All services are subject to the laws of the country in which they are rendered.
The tour participant agrees, on behalf of himself, his dependents, heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, to abide by the above conditions and to release and hold harmless JL Tours., the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and any of their representatives from any and all liability for any delays, damage, loss, injury, or death occurring in relation to this tour.
Any payment constitutes agreement by the individual tour participant with the terms and conditions contained in this brochure.
TOUR CONDITIONS
LAND ARRANGEMENTS: $1,169.00 per person, based on two people sharing a room with two queen-sized beds and a private bath at the Doubletree Hotel. Price includes full breakfast daily, lunch or dinner as noted (L or D); guide fees, entrance fees, transportation by private motor coach throughout trip; hotel porterage, taxes; tip to coach driver; services of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and JL Tours escorts. Price based on 25 paying participants.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $260.00.
DONATION: A voluntary tax-deductible donation of $150.00 per person (payable to PHS) is requested. A reminder will be included with your final bill. PHS is grateful for your contribution, which will be used to further the goals of the Society, including Philadelphia Green.
REGISTRATION: A $300.00 deposit check payable to JL Tours is required to hold a reservation. The balance and the $150.00 donation to PHS are due March 18, 2009.
REFUNDS, CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations of confirmed reservations are subject to a $100.00 cancellation fee. After March 18, 2009, no refunds will be made unless a substitute participant is found.
INSURANCE: Travel insurance is available through JL Tours and is highly recommended. Trip cancellation insurance purchased at the time of deposit covers pre-existing conditions. If purchased after the initial deposit is made, pre-existing conditions are not covered.
INFORMATION:
Betsy Gullan Jean Lenehan
PHS JL Tours
100 North 20th St., 5th Fl. 725 Hollow Road
Philadelphia, PA 19103 Radnor, PA 19087
215-988-8778 610-688-0307
FAX: 215-988-8810 FAX: 610-688-1829
email: bgullan@pennhort.org
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