Gardens Dot Tours

08/09/2024

Appreciative gardeners visiting Oregon - many of these folks live central Canada in Zone 2. They are in awe of what we can grow in Oregon. We visited the usual as well as some unknown gems.

01/09/2024

Coming soon - details on my tour of Glorious English Gardens & The Chelsea Flower Show. May 20-29, 2025. I lived in London after college, have been fascinated with all things British for decades and have been to England at least 20 times. I recently went specifically to look at hotels, restaurants and gardens for this tour. It will be 2 nights in London, 5 nights in Cirencester in the heart of the Cotswolds and 2 nights in the charming town of Guildford. Staying in the same hotel mid-tour leaves options for independent time incase someone wants to hike, cycle, bird watch, go antiquing or whatnot. I'm partnering with author Jana Milbocker, so this tour will probably sell out quickly.

24/07/2024

Wrap

24/07/2024

Had a great tour with some Colorado folks! They came for Butchart Gardens but left with a greater appreciation of the Pacific NW. Over four days, we visited 4 private gardens, 5 public gardens, a botanic conservancy, lavender fields, 2 ferries and more. Started in Seattle, ended in Victoria and everything went like clockwork.

19/05/2024

England next spring?

28/04/2024

Before the tour starts, a few visited Jeronimos Monastery, had a custard tart and settled it. I had luxurious workspace. Tomorrow, it's showtime!

26/04/2024

In London on my way to a tour that starts in Lisbon. I'm checking that all is in place for a tour I created but won't be on. Private dining room for the welcome dinner looks gorgeous. I've created mini-videos showing guests how to navigate the airport, what they'll see as they exit the Tube for the 3-minute walk to the hotel, I've befriended the hotel staff and hopefully the 18 people on Sue Goetz's tour will get special treatment. Plus I visited The Garden Museum, John Singer Sargent exhibit at The Tate, Chelsea Physic Garden, saw a play starring Brian Cox and much more.

09/04/2024

Exuberant joy at Portland's Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The gardens are beginning to pop!

23/02/2024

Glorious English gardens in late May, the PERFECT time! Small group of only 15 people, escorted by author, speaker and British gardens expert Sue Goetz. You'll experience private gardens, tours by locals, behind-the-scenes, dinner in a garden and so much more. Only 3 places remaining. Full itinerary here:

We visit the Royal Horticulture Society’s Chelsea Flower Show on Members Day, followed by glorious gardens in the countryside and RHS Wisley Gardens. The tour will be escorted by garden expert , speaker and author Sue Goetz. Sue Goetz is a garden designer, writer and speaker. Her work has earned g...

11/02/2024

Just finished listening to an extraordinary book. It's about life's lessons and cultural experiences more than gardening and it has changed me. My friend Claire Jones recommended it. I'll be listening to it again while puttering in the garden. Consider adding it to your library if you're a gardener, a traveller, an independent woman or someone interested in Japanese culture.

04/11/2023

Garden tourism conference in Victoria, British Columbia. So many great ideas and connections! From well-known gardens like Kew in London and Gardens in the Bay in Singapore to lesser-known-yet-extraordinary like Whistling Gardens near-ish Toronto. Followed by gin at the airport colored by sweet pea flowers.

30/09/2023

Time to plant! Fall event, including select vendors selling until 2:30pm Saturday Sept 30. Open to the public so come out and get great plants! Portland Community College Rock Creek campus

23/09/2023

On a tour in the Philadelphia area. A number of others on the tour are authors. Fascinating!

22/09/2023

Checking out gardens in the Philadelphia area for a future tour. Mt Cuba Center is a former private estate garden that's now open to the public. They have formal gardens plus they specialize in trials and natives. We'll be having a dinner here.

09/09/2023

Exploring for a tour group of Canadians who are visiting Oregon next year. Rex Hill Vineyards is gorgeous, friendly, tasty, convenient, has a garden and it's a B-Corp 🍷🌸

17/07/2023

This woman is such a dynamo! I brought a tour group to her magnificent garden, admired a tree. Within moments, she had tools and dug a sapling for me to take home! Thank you for sharing your garden and for the incredible joy you give to the many many people whose lives you impact.

17/06/2023

Taking the long way from Portland to Vancouver BC for the bi-annual gathering of Pacific NW gardeners to Study Weekend. If you happen to be along Hood Canal, there's a terrific heritage nursery with a lovely display garden and an interesting variety of unusual trees and shrubs

06/06/2023

Docent volunteering at Portland International Test Rose Garden which is looking stunning! Thought I was picking up a piece of litter and it turned out to be a dollar bill. I have ridiculous karma.

05/03/2023

Many months ago, I stumbled onto ridiculously inexpensive airfare to Japan. The cherry blossom forecast has lined up perfectly with when I'll be there. I'm working on a tour for November 2024, so this will be a check-out-gardens-and-hotels trip

16/02/2023

In Seattle for Northwest Flower and Garden Festival - returning with renewed enthusiasm, new vendors, smiling faces and sparkle!

05/09/2022

My last docent tour of the season at . This one has been gorgeous for the last 3 months!

05/07/2022

2 spots left. Aug 24-28. Small group plus a full-time concierge with us. Expert guides at most of our stops to give you insider experiences and knowledge. Gardens and horticulture treasures in San Francisco and Berkeley. 5 days / 4 nights in a great hotel. Pricing includes a tax-deductible contribution to Pacific Horticulture. Come see places you didn’t know existed, haven’t visited for years or maybe even took for granted.

05/07/2022

2 spots left. Aug 24-28. Gardens and horticulture treasures in San Francisco and Berkeley. Small group plus a full-time concierge with us. Expert guides at most of our stops to give you insider experiences and knowledge. 5 days / 4 nights in a great hotel. Pricing includes a tax-deductible contribution to Pacific Horticulture. Come see places you didn’t know existed, haven’t visited for years or maybe even took for granted.

31/05/2022

Cycling along the Loire River in France. Day 1 was spectacular weather. They have luggage transfer services and we opted for e-bikes. Magnificent!

29/05/2022

French creativity using joyful, playful objects outdoors. This trip was twice postponed and I try to take nothing and no one for granted.

18/05/2022

Visited the desert with a dear friend and came home with a new appreciation for spiky plants. If you’re similarly intrigued, get the new book “Fearless Gardening” by Loree Bohl.

18/05/2022

Visited the desert with a dear friend and came home with a new appreciation for spiky plants. If you’re similarly intrigued, check out the new book “Fearless Gardening” by Loree Bohl

30/04/2022

Monterey, California coastline. Join a small group on a 5-day tour of gardens, horticulture, nurseries, historic places and more. We stay in the same hotel all 4 nights, so there’s more time to enjoy and explore. Special surprises like lunch under the loggia in the garden of a private estate. Sept 14-18 https://www.pacifichorticulture.org/regional-tours/

30/04/2022

Hidden gardens in San Francisco. Come explore with us and see more. Pacific Horticulture tour Aug 24-28. We have many surprises including dinner in a renowned private garden, behind-the-scenes experiences plus expert local guides. https://www.pacifichorticulture.org/regional-tours/

22/04/2022

Guests on the Pacific Horticulture tour August 24-28 will have a private tour of Salesforce Gardens with a guide from San Francisco Botanical Garden plus many other unique experiences. Sign up before May 31 and you’ll get a crisp $100 bill when you check-in at our fabulous hotel. https://www.pacifichorticulture.org/regional-tours/