|
Copper Beech Garden Tours emphasizing design, history and horticulture
in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Holland, Italy and Europe. |
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
|
About the tours |
2008 Hampton Court Flower Show with an In-depth Look at the Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll 2009 Gardens of France with The Courson Flower Show & The Chaumont Flower Show |
|||||||||||||
|
My garden tours are unique, one-time events (not pre-packaged tours that are repeated time after time). Only one, possibly two, custom garden tours are planned each year. I love to explore gardens and villages, try new foods, visit local establishments, and mingle with locals. If you enjoy this, too, call and ask about the tours - don't miss a great opportunity - the itineraries are NOT repeated! |
||||||||||||||
|
Our tour format is unique, fun and educational: Planning Each garden is selected specifically in order to see outstanding gardens in horticulture, design and history. A mix of the best-known public gardens, gardens that demonstrate unusual qualities, and small, private gardens are included. Daily Schedule Typically, we visit one garden in the morning and then have lunch in a cafeteria in the garden, or in a village pub, deli or grocery store en route. The lunch breaks are on your own, (we do not call ahead to reserve restaurants) because we enjoy exploring! Restrooms are usually available at most, but not all, of the gardens. We see a second garden in the afternoon and are often at our hotel by 6:00 pm. Once in a while, there is time to fit in another garden or nursery. Dinner is around 7:00 pm. Wake-up calls are generally at 7:00 am; breakfast at 8:00 am. We depart for the gardens at 9:00 am. Pace You explore the gardens at your own pace, based on your interests. Occasionally, we arrange to go around the gardens with a head gardener or garden representative. The amount of time we spend at each garden depends on our daily schedule and the amount of driving we expect to do. We try to stay as long as possible based on our schedule. If you have seen certain gardens before, you are welcome to skip those gardens and plan your own activities. If so, you will need to arrange your transportation. Be sure you know the next day's schedule and agenda for the group. Also, please be certain to notify the tour hosts of your plans if you do not accompany us so that you do not delay the group. Lectures/discussion We do not provide "formal" lectures although we have lively discussions on the coach, covering a wide range of topics. If we have visited the garden previously, we will share with you what we know. However, we try to visit at least 75% new gardens each tour. We love to discuss anything to do with gardens and plants, so if you have ANY questions while on the coach or in the gardens, please speak up! Many participants have their own expertise and are willing to share. There are often professionals among us. We encourage you to bring a few of your photos to show the others - trading ideas is what these tours are all about! |
 |
|||||||||||||
| Welcome! I am Linda McHam (left) with Dr. Michael Dirr (author of "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants") and Linda Cobb, grower of David Austin English Roses, two of my favorite plant people. Plant people are the best kind! I am the owner and sole employee of Copper Beech Garden Tours. I spend over 600 hours planning each tour so that I can see the best gardens the world has to offer. I am not a professional tour guide or travel agent. If you would like to join me in exploring the nooks and crannies of fabulous gardens in Europe, sign up now! Don't wait! photo: Mark Olencki, Olencki Graphics, 11/02 |
||||||||||||||
|
The Tours: History, Horticulture & more: |
||||||||||||||
|
Guides/shopping We use a driver/guide and our itinerary has been nearly a year in advance. Sometimes, there is time to wander through small towns and shop, but we cannot miss our scheduled appointments. Consider arriving a few days early or staying a few days after the tour to enjoy additional sights and shopping. Hotels We use typically use 4-star and 5-star hotels, but this varies depending on our location. There are links to the hotels on the itinerary page. If you would like a detailed itinerary, please e-mail and ask for the PDF file for the current tour. The hotels include a mix of quaint accommodations, modern box hotels, to the luxurious. My preferred location is near the center of towns and villages for evening walks and shopping, if possible. Please note that many European hotels do NOT have air-conditioning, and in London the rooms are generally small and the rates are exhorbitant. Each room features twin beds, a telephone and television, and private bath facilities. We prefer to spend several nights in the same hotel to minimize packing and unpacking, but this is not always feasible. It depends on the location of the gardens we are seeing. See the itinerary for this information. Transportation Travel is in a executive coach which is air-conditioned and seats 16 plus the driver/guide. The current tours are limited to 15 participants, not including the host and driver. The driver may occasionally miss a turn. We hope that you enjoy the detours, and that you will be gracious when this happens. Travel abroad is not like traveling at home. The driver is required by British labor laws to have a rest day every seventh day for a minimum of 24 hours. This usually coincides with our "free" day, if one is included. The driver will not be available on that day. A typical touring day can last a maximum of nine hours, with a minimum of 11 hours rest overnight. We enjoy trading gardening tips, anecdotes, and tall tales while on the coach. If you are easy-going and want a relaxing vacation with a group of off-beat gardeners, this could be the trip you are looking for. Facts of life Please read these details carefully. Also, read "Booking and Cancellation Conditions" on the Registration Form page. These tours are for people who like to explore and to experience life with minimal assistance. No refunds or discounts of any kind will be given within 30 days of the date the trip commences or after it is completed. Please be sure that this is the trip you want. If you have other concerns, or ANY questions about the tour, and would like more information, please call and I will be happy to give you more details. If you have read this far, you might enjoy reading "Frequently Asked Questions". |
||||||||||||||
|
All landscape photography, illustration, design, and layout © Linda T. McHam. |
||||||||||||||