Boston Flora

Tag: UNESCO

  • Friday, April 10 – Tuesday, April 21 – Musical Journey of Historical Gardens from Lisbon to Rome

    The American Horticultural Society is planning a Mediterranean Cruise April 10 – 21, 2015. Enjoy a rare voyage that combines sublime chamber music with the pleasure of cruising to some of the finest gardens in the Mediterranean Sea. This glorious spring cruise features exclusive recitals in historic venues on several islands and in coastal towns of this fabled region. As we sail the coast of Iberia, to the islands of Mallorca, Sardinia, and Sicily, and on to Southern Italy, we encounter lush, beautifully landscaped gardens in spectacular Mediterranean settings. We will visit the Generalife Gardens near the Alhambra (below); the oasis of Palmeral of Elche, a UNESCO World Heritage site; Valencia’s Jardin Botanico; and the Orto Botanico Cagliari –which will open its doors on Saturday exclusively for the American Horticultural Society group.  Katy Moss Warner, President Emeritus of AHS, will be your host in this musical journey of historical gardens from Lisbon to Rome aboard the 100 guest, all suite Corinthian. Also accompanying the guests will be John Stewart, Senior Preceptor in Music at Harvard University, Emeritus, a composer and music theorist. Complete itinerary and costs may be viewed at http://www.ahs.org/uploads/pdfs/2015_Mediterranean_Brochure_Final.pdf.

  • Saturday, April 14 – Tuesday, April 24 – Mallorca & Menorca: Gardens, Art, and Cuisine

    A trip to the Mediterranean is planned by the Pacific Horticulture Society and the Northwest Horticultural Society April 14 – 24, led by Sofia Barroso, and escorted by Katherine Greenberg. Join them for a spring tour of Mallorca, where you have invitations to visit spectacular private gardens and art collections.
    The tour will take you from the lovely patios of Palma to elegant country estates and charming seaside villages. You will also explore the island of Menorca, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with fascinating archaeological sites and distinctive architecture. Along the way, experience the generous hospitality, regional cuisine, and scenic beauty of the Balearic Islands.

    Tour escort Katherine Greenberg is a garden designer with a special interest in Mediterranean gardens. She is a past president of Pacific Horticulture Society and the Mediterranean Garden Society (MGS). Katherine studied at the University of Madrid, and she has led a number of tours to Spain with a focus on gardens, culture, and cuisine. During her term as president of the MGS, she started a branch of the Society in Mallorca.  This tour is planned for a small group. Early reservations are encouraged.  Image of a garden in Palma shown below is from the excellent website www.onbotanicalphotography.blogspot.com. The complete trip itinerary is available online: http://www.sterlingtoursltd.com/Mallorca2012.html.

  • May 14 – May 29, 2011 – Secrets of Sichuan: A Journey to Jiuzhaigou

    The New England Wild Flower Society, with the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture, announce the upcoming tour The Secrets of Sichuan, to take place May 14 – 29, 2011.  This unique expedition to explore the flora, fauna, and culture of Sichuan will be led by Ted Elliman, leader of NEWFS botanical forays to China for many years.

    The rhododendron will be in flower during this visit.  This is good news because China, a global center of diversity for many plant groups, supports more than 400 endemic species of rhododendron. Most of these grow in the Hengduan Mountain region, where the tour will be based.  You may not see them all, but if this is your first trip to southwest China, you will probably see more than you ever have before.  Wild mountain nature reserves are the focus of the journey.  Natural areas on the itinerary include Emei Shan, a revered and sacred 10,000 foot mountain with spectacular flora, Tanghiahe Nature Reserve, with dense broadleaved forests and a rich bird fauna, and Wanglang Nature Reserve, where subalpine conifer forests of spruce, larch and juniper grow up through understories of tall rhododendron and a sparkling array of forest wildflowers.  In Wanglang, at 11,000 feet elevation, the high elevation wildflowers will be blooming at and above timberline.  Tangjiahe and Wanglang are also home to wild populations of giant panda.

    A major highlight will be a two day visit to Jiuzhaigou National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of incomparable beauty, that is another great place to view and photograph spring wildflowers.  Jiuzhaigou is a valley complex of crystalline lakes and streams, connected by a superbly designed network of boardwalk trails.  Accessible parts range in elevation from 7,000 to 11,000 feet, and it is an ideal place to explore on foot.  Frequent shuttle buses provide ready access to the boardwalk trails.  Other stops will be Leshan, where a seated Buddha image 200 feet tall, carved from red sandstone, overlooks an auspicious river confluence, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and Sanxingdui Museum.  For a complete itinerary, log on to  http://www.wellesley.edu/WCFH/Courses/Sichuan%20Brochure.pdf.  Trip fee is $3,945 per person, double occupancy, plus air fair of $1,195 from New York, round trip, through Betchart Expeditions, Inc.  Call Renee Apostolou at 800-252-4910 for additional information.