Pacific Horticulture | Travel Scrapbook

Travel Scrapbook & Memories

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Italian Lakes and the Veneto: Gardens, Villas & Cuisine

Northern Italy! Travelers visited charming hill towns including Asolo, magnificent countryside Palladian Villas, and the beautiful Italian Lakes with their crystal-clear water and lavish villas, surrounded by Alpine mountains. The tour explored grand palazzos, private and botanical gardens and enjoy tastings of wines, cheese and local specialties. Accommodations were in gracious Italian style first class hotels with authentic Italian cuisine.

September 15 – 22, 2023

Exploring Japan with Pacific Horticulture

Our group experienced an in-depth exploration of Japanese gardens, culture, and cuisine. Beginning in Tokyo, we ventured north and west to areas off the normal Western tourist route where they enjoyed the beautiful countryside, saw lovely gardens and experienced exotic cuisine. Guests also had the opportunity to experience Japanese-style accommodations and warmed up in one of several onsen (hot springs) along the way.

October 21 – November 3, 2022

Gardens of New Zealand with Pacific Horticulture

With its rich volcanic soil and temperate climate, New Zealand boasts a botanic diversity that’s matched by the Kiwis’ passion for gardening. In a land of superlatives, the collections at Ohinetahi, Ayrlies, and Hamilton Gardens stand out, but so do the national parks, wineries, and Maori cultural sites you’ll celebrate in “the Land of the Long White Cloud.” Delve into “The Story of Gardens” through five award-winning collections at Hamilton Gardens.

October 21 – November 8, 2023

ITALY 2023

JAPAN 2022

NEW ZEALAND 2023

Mexico Monarch Migration

Annually, millions of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) journey from North America to Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountains, to their winter home. The migration is one of nature’s most amazing phenomena. Stand amid the fir-covered mountains and witness this awe-inspiring spectacle firsthand as the monarchs flutter and swoop overhead. Our group saw countless butterflies roosting in the early morning, feeding on wildflowers, and drinking at streams.

January 19 – 24, 2023

Ecuadorian Cloud Forest & Galapagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands were Charles Darwin’s “Living Laboratory of Evolution,” named for the tortoises that roam the lush landscapes of the small archipelago. This active learning adventure was an opportunity to experience the islands’ highly specialized and endemic flora, fauna, & environments in a way that most visitors seldom do—with activities like snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and biking. The Ecuadorian Cloud Forest awaits; brimming with floral species of epiphytes, ferns, palms, and nearly 50 species of hummingbirds.

October 28 – November 6, 2022

Costa Rica | Public and Private Gardens, Reserves, and Rivers

The lush and varied ecosystems of Costa Rica are abundant with tropical plants, diverse wildlife, and colorful birds. Our group was immersed in the vibrant flora of cloud forests, rainforests, and rivers. Walked beneath towering 700-year-old trees and learned about innovative conservation projects. We visited world-renowned tropical research institutions with behind-the-scenes tours at botanical gardens, & guided trail hikes. Our tour took a multifaceted look at the country’s floristic heritage.

January 5 – 14, 2024

MEXICO 2023

ECUADOR 2022

COSTA RICA 2024

The Gardens of Ireland

Starting in Dublin, our tour incorporated many of Ireland’s famous sites whilst strongly focusing on local conservation, horticulture and numerous garden visits. Our bases of Wicklow, Cork, Kerry and Limerick allowed us to enjoy the Irish landscape as it came alive with the many colorful blooms of Spring. We explored such places as Mount Usher Gardens, Tourin House, Killarney National Park, & many other authentic Irish landmarks. Witnessed blossoming of flowers, such as daffodils, tulips, bluebells, painting the countryside with hues of yellow, red & blue.

May 22 – June 2, 2024

Sicily: Gardens, Culture, & Cuisine

Our tour began in Palermo, a city rich in history, art and full of exotic, lush plants. We continued to Agrigento to the Garden of Kolymbetra and Valley of the Temples. We saw small villages and UNESCO world heritage sites. Our group visited private gardens, enjoyed lunches made from local ingredients in a flour mill, an olive oil producer and herb farm. The trip ended in the lovely resort town of Taormina.

April 3 – April 14, 2023

Alaska Expedition: Wildflowers, Wildlife & Spectacular Landscapes

Alaska possesses a profusion of native plants from streamside to mountainside. There are more than 1,500 plant species in the 49th state, from sea level to just below the snow line. Summer is the bountiful time for flowering plants, their pollinators, and large mammals who feed on the nutritious flowers or bulbs. On this expedition, we traversed Alaska from Anchorage south to Seward, traveling along the scenic Cook Inlet and spectacular Chugach Mountains, and then ventured up the scenic Parks Highway to Denali National Park.

June 29 – July 9, 2023