Chicago

October 12th - 17th, 2009

Join us on a memorable six-day urban trip with opportunities to see gardens and prairies, architecture and art. Celebrate with Chicago as it commemorates the first 100 years of architect Daniel Burnham’s magnificent 1909 Chicago City Plan.

1st Day- Monday, October 12th

Arrive at the Palmer House Hilton in the afternoon for check-in. After settling in, stroll through the award-winning Millennium Park featuring the prairie-style Lurie Garden. Meander along Frank Gehry’s sculptural bridge with dramatic views of a canyon of skyscrapers. Experience the Pritzker Pavilion, the interactive Crown Fountain and Anish Kapoor’s popular sculpture Cloud Gate. Dinner followed by and Evening Chat.

2nd Day- Tuesday, October 13th

After breakfast, our bus will take us to the Chicago suburb of Oak Park to visit the home and studio of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Take a stroll in his immediate neighborhood to see the Unity Temple and over 20 other homes designed by Wright. After lunch we will visit Columbus Park and Garfield Conservatory, remnant landscapes of Jens Jensen, the prairie-style landscape architect. Dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. Evening Chat together at our hotel.

3rd Day- Wednesday, October 14th

Following breakfast we will take a bus tour of the public sculpture and architecture of Chicago. This will introduce you to places you might want to visit in the afternoon. Enjoy lunch and walk the Magnificent Mile on your own with block after block of beautiful and innovative street gardens in front of world-class shopping. Get a view of the whole city from the Hancock Observatory. A short taxi ride would get you to the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, Navy Pier or the Sears Tower. We will meet for dinner together at the renowned Walnut Room on the Magnificent Mile. Evening Chat at our hotel.

4th Day- Thursday, October 15th

We begin our day with breakfast at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in the charming suburb of Glencoe. Discover the beauty and diversity of the native grasslands of Illinois in The Prairie, stroll through Evening Island with expansive views of gardens and shorelines, and enjoy the old-world intimacy of the English Walled Garden. Vegetable and fruit gardens have spectacular concepts for the home garden. Lunch at the Gardens will allow us to stay into the afternoon. In the evening we will dine at one of Chicago’s newest and finest restaurants, Terzo Piano, at the Chicago Art Institute. See the Intitute’s world-class art including its signature piece American Gothic, by Grant Wood. Also at the Art Institute, visit the new Modern Wing with its ultra-modern Pritzker Garden, and the walking bridge from the Modern Wing to Millennium Park.

5th Day- Friday, October 16th

Breakfast on the way to Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Robie House on the campus of the University of Chicago. Nearby in Hyde Park is the Museum of Science and Industry where we will visit the “Smart Home”, a real, three-story sustainable “green” home and cutting-edge gardens full of ideas for the modern homeowner in the Museum’s backyard. Down the street we will visit the Midway Plaisance, the site of the influential 1893 Columbian World Exposition. Architectural river cruise in the afternoon. The Chicago River is the heart of the city. This river cruise reveals the story of the city’s growth and its architectural legacy. Dinner at Trattoria No. 10 followed by an Evening Chat at our hotel.

6th Day- Saturday, October 17th

Check out of the hotel early and board our bus to Mies van der Rohe’s serene steel and glass masterpiece, The Farnsworth House, perfectly suited to its natural setting. Then on to Morton Arboreum where we will stroll through the inspiring Schulenberg Prairie. This is also the home of a collection of magnificent trees and is where Arbor Day had its beginnings.

We will arrive at the airport by 4:00 p.m. and fly home this evening.

GardenTours by Shared Canopy
Email: contact@sharedcanopy.com
Website: http://sharedcanopy.com
Phone: Sue Thornton (801) 582-1289

Philadelphia & The Brandywine Valley

April 27th - May 2nd 2009

Join us on an unforgettable six-day journey through the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley, home to magnificent gardens, grand estates, historic art museums, and some of the most scenic horticultural landscapes in America.

1st Day- Monday, April 27th

We will fly from Salt Lake City (SLC) in the morning arriving at the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) late in the afternoon. A bus will then take us to the Homewood Suites in Wilmington, Delaware where we'll have dinner followed by an evening chat with Peter.

2nd Day- Tuesday, April 28th

After breakfast at the hotel, our bus will take us to Hagley Museum and Gardens. The story of the famous du Pont family and their gunpowder works begins here along the banks of the Brandywine. We will get a glimpse of early American industry and see elegant flower and vegetable gardens with espaliered fruit trees. Don't miss the lovely views of the Brandywine River. Lunch is included here at Hagley. Our next stop is Mt. Cuba, which is known for the region's finest woodland and wildflower gardens. As we meander on a guided tour through formal gardens, woodland areas and a meadow, we will discover what makes Mt. Cuba unique. Then, a short drive will bring us to two smaller gardens just across the street from each other. Gibralter is a formal garden designed by Marian Coffin, one of the first and most accomplished female landscape architects in the United States. You will be inspired by the timeless elegance of this old patriarch of a garden. The second garden, Goodstay House and Garden, is a Tudor style garden complete with boxwood lined garden rooms, a magnolia alle and a reflecting pool. The natural woodlawn garden beside the stream will be perfect for an afternoon stroll. Return to the hotel for dinner and an evening chat.

3rd Day-Wednesday, April 29th

Dan Hinckley, the modern plant explorer, rates Chanticleer as his favorite garden in the world. Majestic trees, verdant lawns and an ever-changing palette of color and texture will warm us this morning at Chanticleer. Escape the outside world as we wander through expertly designed courtyards full of hardy tropical plants and woodland gardens with their carpets of Asian groundcovers. We will change our pace as we visit historic downtown Philadelphia. Reading Terminal should be a perfect place for a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich (on your own) and for shopping and browsing Amish stands and shops. Within a few blocks we will be able to see the Liberty Bell Pavilion, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Declaration House, Benjamin Franklin's property, and the apartment where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. We will dine at The City Tavern, famous for its traditional Philadelphia fare served by costumed waiters. Return to the hotel.

4th Day- Thursday, April 30th

Perched on Rocky Hill in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, we'll see the home and studio of the late N.C. Wyeth. Three generations of artists came from this remarkable family. The Brandywine River Museum was a nineteenth century grist mill. It is now a gallery which displays Wyeth paintings including the much loved illustrations for Treasure Island and Kidnapped. Wildflowers, trees and shrubs in their natural woodland, wetland, floodplain and meadow settings grace the grounds. Our next stop is Longwood Gardens which is sure to delight and captivate. After our lunch (included) we will find treasures and beauty at every turn in the indoor and outdoor gardens. Opulent architecture, exquisite flowers and extraordinary fountains will lift and inspire. Peter considers Longwood to be one of the best, well-sited, perfectly proportioned and joyful gardens in the Untied States. Dinner at the hotel with an evening chat.

5th Day- Friday, May 1st

We will begin our day at Winterthur. A garden tram will help us explore this American country estate. We'll see an unparalleled collection of Americana and antiques as well as 60 acres of beautiful, magical gardens. Lunch (on your own) in its full service cafeteria. Make sure to visit the truly wonderful gift shop! We will then see Nemours which re-opened its gates to the public in 2008 after a $39,000,000 restoration! The 102 room mansion exemplifies a a Louis XVI French chateau and is furnished with period antiques, tapestries and paintings. (Don't miss the bowling alley). A guided tour will take us through the house, the formal French gardens and natural woodlands. Dinner at the hotel and our last evening chat.

6th Day- Saturday, May 2nd

Pack, eat breakfast, check out of our hotel and be ready to board our bus by 9:00 a.m. On our way to the airport, we'll make the last stop of our tour at one of Brandywine Valley's beautiful private gardens. Lunch and snacks at the airport on your own before your flight leaves. (Our estimated time of arrival at the airport will be 1:00 p.m)