Daily Archives: April 12, 2015


Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm – 25th Anniversary Celebration of The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America

Join The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America for a celebration of 25 years of community service to the City of Boston and its neighborhoods on Wednesday, May 6, from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm at the Governor Shirley-Eustis Estate, 33 Shirley Street in Boston.  There will be an auction to benefit the  “Windermere Garden” project of the Boston Natural Areas Network, a division of the Trustees of Reservations.  Free parking is available directly across the street.  Boston Committee club members will receive invitations.  For more information visit www.bostoncommittee.org.


Tuesday, June 2 – Friday, June 5 – Gardens of the Brandywine Valley

Travel with Tower Hill Botanic Garden by deluxe motor coach to the beautiful late spring gardens of the Brandywine River Valley. Highlights include Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, the Brandywine River Museum, Nemours Mansion and Winterthur.

Day 1: Depart aboard a deluxe motor coach to tour the beautiful late spring gardens of Wilmington, DE and the Brandywine River Valley. We begin with a GUIDED GALLERY TOUR of the BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM, home to one of the largest collections of works by three generations of Wyeths. Outdoors, wildflower gardens surround the museum, featuring plants native to the Brandywine Valley. Enjoy 3 nights accommodations in the heart of downtown West Chester at the HOTEL WARNER with comfortable guestrooms, indoor pool, fitness center and within walking distance to many shops and restaurants. A Welcome Dinner marks our arrival.

Day 2: This morning enjoy NEMOURS MANSION, built by Alfred du Pont, a spectacular restoration of an incredible 18th century French Style estate showing both French opulence and American ingenuity. Tour the grandest residence ever constructed in Delaware and the largest formal French garden in North America. Visit to WINTERTHUR to see the exquisite home in which Henry Francis du Pont entertained family & friends in grand style. The 175 rooms, many of them with historical architecture, are furnished with his outstanding collection of antiques. These masterfully designed spaces promise to inspire, enlighten, and delight. Then visit the gardens! Winterthur’s 1,000 acres encompass rolling hills, streams, meadows, and forests. Du Pont developed an appreciation of nature as a boy that served as the basis for his life’s work in the garden. Evening at leisure.

Day 3: Today we spend the day exploring LONGWOOD GARDENS. Explore one of the great gardens of the world, from a 4 acre Conservatory to the splendor of 20 outdoor gardens. See dazzling displays that elevate the art of horticulture, relax and reconnect with nature. Discover the heritage and indelible mark of founder, Pierre S. du Pont. A Farewell dinner tonight.

Day 4: This morning visit CHANTICLEER GARDEN, the estate of the wealthy Rosengarten family. This 35 acre estate is an elegant pleasure garden. Our guided tour highlights courtyards framing unusual combinations of perennials, punctuated by pots of tropical plants. Vines ramble exuberantly in nooks and crannies, a ‘sculpture’ of wheat and boulders undulates… Head towards home with memories of all the beautiful spring gardens.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If a passenger cancels from deposit to April 21, 2015 fee of $100 pp; April 22 to May 18, 2015 fee of $250 pp; no refunds if cancelled on May 19, 2015 or later unless a substitute is provided.

TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE through the National Tour Association Protection Plan is strongly recommended and is handled by the individual passenger. As per the application, pre-existing conditions and default are covered, only if the application is received by NTA Protection Plan and postmarked within 14 DAYS of initial deposit. Please review the NTA Protection Plan brochure carefully for details of coverage and call them at 1-800-388-1470 if you have any questions. $695 THBG members, $760 nonmembers, per person, double occupancy, with a $220 single supplement available. To register visit www.towerhillbg.org. Chanticleer image from www.gardenersusan.com.


Thursday, April 23, 6:00 pm – Islands: Natural Laboratories of Evolution

Tahiti, Bermuda, Madeira, Bali. Everyone loves islands, but no one loves them more than an evolutionary biologist. From the dwarf elephants of Crete to the carnivorous caterpillars of Hawaii and the snaggly-fingered aye-aye of Madagascar, islands present a cornucopia of biodiversity. Darwin drew much of his inspiration from island stopovers on his fabled Beagle voyage, as did Alfred Russel Wallace on his own perambulations through the East Indies. Ever since Darwin and Wallace jointly proposed their theory of evolution by natural selection, biologists have returned to islands to gain fresh insights. Jonathan Losos, Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin America, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Curator in Herpetology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, will discuss the relevance of islands to our understanding of evolution and its processes on Thursday, April 23 at 6 pm at the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street. Free and open to the public. Free parking is also available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.