Autumn - the time of New England colors, not the time people think of visiting gardens in Old England. But it is a great time - fewer crowds, lesser known plants, and harvest time.

Jim Fox and Bruce Bond have teamed up to lead horticultural tours. The first is to England this Autumn - October 11th through 22nd, 2009. Limited to 10 people, it starts in London with day trips out of the city to gardens, orchards, arboretum, and some visits within the City of London.

Then it's on to East Anglia to visit private gardens, the Beth Chatto Nursery and Gardens, East Ruston Old Vicarage, and a vineyard.

The third leg of the journey goes through Bedfordshire looking at a garden or two on our way to the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire to visit - among others - the iconic Hidcote (serene in Autumn), private gardens including that of an internationally known designer and author, the National Collection of asters, an organic vegetable garden, along with stops for perry and cider tastings.

We will stay at three hotels during the trip, and free time at each location allows exploration of the city or town's attractions. All breakfasts, some lunches and dinners are included in the tour package. Cost will be based on double occupancy.

If you are interested contact us at bruce@vertumni.com or 206-371 -7746. Tour cost will be available by the end of April. Itinerary is subject to change.

Our mission - designing horticultural tours to show all aspects of horticulture, stimulate conversation, provoke thought about what makes a garden and what does a garden do for us. These are accomplished by visiting a wide range of gardens: historic and modern, public and private, naturalistic and formal; seeing plants in the wild; visiting nurseries; stopping to see and taste produce from the garden; visiting museums to examine art and artifacts relating to horticulture.

We design our tours to include visits with garden owners, gardeners, and designers, often with tea or lunch in the garden with our host, and talks with local botanists and plant authorities.

Small groups allow for a more intimate experience as well as entry into many small gardens not open to larger groups.

Jim Fox, a Seattle area horticulturalist and life long student of plants, gardens and gardeners, writes and lectures nationally. He was seminar coordinator for the Northwest Flower and Garden Show and has led garden and wild flower tours in Alaska as well as in Seattle area private gardens. In 2006 he organized and led a tour to England visiting nurseries, gardens, and collecting plants.

Bruce Bond, owner of Vertumni Fine Landscaping and Gardening has been a professional horticulturalist for over twenty years, fifteen of those in Seattle. He studied at the Edmonds Community College Ornamental Horticulture Program and has a background in the Classics from St. John's College, Santa Fe. An abiding passion for the natural world and the love of the visual arts come together in his dedication to the garden. A life-long travel and polyglot, he brings a robust knowledge of art history, language, and food to the tour.

Price:
Cost is $4,495.00, based on double occupancy. Included is accommodation for 11 nights, all breakfasts, some lunches and evening meals per itinerary, hotel tips and porterage for one bag per person into and out of the hotel, entrance fees to gardens and sites per itinerary, cost of guided tours by owners, gardeners, and designers per itinerary, several teas in gardens, as well as a bus and driver for transfers and sightseeing per itinerary. Airfare is not included.

Single Supplements:
A very limited number is available - for $500.00 on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Payment:
A deposit of $150.00 is due by June 10, 2009, with final payment due by August 10, 2009. Both the deposit and final payment become nonrefundable after August 10, 2009. We strongly recommend that you purchase Travel Insurance in case of a cancellation.