BEHIND THE GARDEN GATE SAVANNAH and CHARLESTON with Eve Rickenbaker of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and Susan McLeod Epstein of the Preservation Society of Charleston March 19-26, 2017 Join University of Washington Botanic Gardens host Eve Rickenbaker and Susan McLeod Epstein of the Preservation Society of Charleston for a one week garden connoisseur s tour to historic Savannah and charming Charleston. Sense the enchantment of secret gardens, elegant homes, magnificent plantations, hidden alleys, and quaint, picturesque cobblestone streets. See some of the oldest churches, homes and gardens in America and stroll through 330 years of fascinating history and rich culture. Don t miss out, space is limited. TRIP AT A GLANCE 3 Nights in Savannah 4 Nights in Charleston GARDEN AND TOUR HIGHLIGHTS In-depth walks with local guides in Savannah, Charleston and Beaufort Exclusive visits to top private gardens in both Charleston and Savannah The Scarborough House of Ships Museum Wormsloe Historic Site Magnolia Plantation and Gardens A visit to the Ashley River Plantation Drayton Hall, property of the National Trust Middleton Place gardens A small group of fellow garden lovers Multi-course meals highlighting Southern cuisine
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. Alfred Austin IT S INCLUDED Hosted by Eve Rickenbaker of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens Guided by Susan McLeod Epstein of the Preservation Society of Charleston Interesting expert local guides Four and superior three star hotel accommodations Wine and cheese evening gatherings and talks Visits to private home gardens and plantations All transport by private, air-conditioned motor coach Breakfast daily plus four lunches and two multi-course dinners All entrances as listed in your itinerary Future alumni discounts applied towards future garden trips A small group of soon-to-be friends NOT INCLUDED Travel insurance Roundtrip air Any items not mentioned in your University of Washington Botanic Garden journey TRIP FACTS 8 days/ 7 nights *$2,899 per person double occupancy (based on 21-27 garden lovers) *$3,099 per person double occupancy (based on 15-20 garden lovers) $975 Single Supplement (waived if a roommate match is found) Trip begins at 6:00pm on March 19, 2017 Trip concludes after breakfast on March 26 * $300 tax-deductible donation to UW Botanic Gardens is in addition to the tour cost listed above and required to confirm your participation. SAVE UP TO $150 Reserve by December 31 st, and pay your final balance by check to save $50 Travel Alumni save an additional $100
YOUR GARDEN ADVENTURE BEGINS! DAY 1: Sunday, March 19 - Arrive in Savannah A welcome dinner featuring Southern cuisine will be hosted by Eve Rickenbaker and Susan McLeod Epstein. Sleep in Savannah DAY 2: Monday, March 20 - Discover the Gardens and History of Savannah Our day begins with a walking tour of historic Savannah and the numerous squares that James Oglethorpe laid out in the 1740 s. We stop along the way and visit the gardens of several historic houses, such as Andrew Low House and the Green-Meldrin house. The Green-Meldrin house was General William Tecumseh Sherman s headquarters when the Federal army occupied Savannah during the Civil War. Along the way, we will hear about the enlightened work of one of the first practicing female landscape architects in the U.S., Clermont Lee. Without Clermont s pioneering ways, many of Savannah s squares may have been lost or fallen into a state of disrepair. No visit to Savannah is complete without a stop at Forsyth Park. We ll have lunch along the way. In the afternoon, visit the garden of the Scarborough House Ships of the Sea Museum. It was built in 1819 for one of the owners of the Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic. The building was designed by William Jay and is one of the earliest examples of Greek revival architecture in the South. The main garden is typical of a nineteenth century parlor garden. The newest garden, the North Garden, was awarded the 2013 Merit Garden Award by the American Institute of Architects/Georgia. The garden is set up for events and features a citrus grove, a naturalistic garden, a maple grove, vine-covered pergola and a belvedere. We stay in Savannah for the afternoon. You may wish to visit the Historic District and the Riverfront District. Sleep in Savannah DAY 3: Tuesday, March 21 - The Wormsloe Plantation We board our coach this morning for the historic Wormsloe Plantation. The elegant home once belonged to Noble Jones, one of the first settlers of Savannah, who came over from England with General Oglethorpe to establish the Georgia colony in 1733. In 1973, the family deeded the majority of the property to the Georgia Heritage Trust Program. It is considered one of the most significant in the history of conservation in America. This afternoon we will have a private garden tour. Gather for an included multi-course dinner this evening. Sleep in Savannah
DAY 4: Wednesday, March 22 - Charleston via Charming Beaufort Today, we discover the sophisticated charm of Beaufort, South Carolina. Nestled in the curve of a beautiful bay along the Intra-Coastal Waterway, this historic town offers a unique Lowcountry experience that will leave you with lasting memories of Southern hospitality. We ll also be visiting one of this town s outstanding gardens. We arrive in Charleston in the late afternoon. After checking into our hotel, meet your host and fellow travelers for a multi-course feast at a nearby restaurant. Sleep in Charleston DAY 5: Thursday, March 23 - The Gardens and History of Charleston : After breakfast, meet your guide and host in the hotel lobby for a walking history tour of Charleston, visiting a few of the town s outstanding private gardens along the way. After an independent lunch, board our motor coach for a tour of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. A representative will greet us and offer us an overview. Return to Charleston in the late afternoon. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own out on the town. Sleep in Charleston DAY 6: Friday, March 24 - The Ashley River Historic Plantations: This morning, we set out to discover the historic Ashley River Plantation District. Our first stop will be Drayton Hall, a property of the National Trust. One of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in America, Drayton Hall was built in 1738 and is the oldest preserved plantation house that is open to the public. Following seven generations of Drayton family ownership, the house remains in nearly original condition and has never been modernized, providing an unmatched look at colonial living and its builders' creative craftsmanship. We will depart in time for a Lowcountry buffet at Middleton Place and a guided tour of the gardens. Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark. It is a carefully preserved 18 th century plantation that has survived revolution, the Civil War, and earthquake. It was also the home of four important generations of Middleton s, beginning with Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress; Arthur, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Henry, Governor of South Carolina and an American Minister to Russia; and Williams, a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. Visitors are invited to tour the gardens, the house museum, and the plantation stable yards. Return to Charleston. Dinner is on your own this evening. Sleep in Charleston
DAY 7: Saturday, March 25 - The Nathaniel Russell House and Private Gardens: The Nathaniel Russell House is an historic house located in downtown Charleston. It belonged to Nathaniel Russell, a Rhode Island merchant who spent $80,000 on this Adamesque building before 1809. He and his wife Sarah lived in the house during the early 19 th century. The house is widely recognized as one of America's most important Neo-classical houses. After our visit we ll set off to discover several rarely seen private gardens. In the early evening, meet your hosts for a farewell feast. Sleep in Charleston DAY 8: Sunday, March 26 - Your Garden Journey Concludes Tour concludes after breakfast. Return home with a lifetime of memories! Itinerary Subject to Change RESERVATIONS AND QUESTIONS 800 723 8454
MEET YOUR HOST EVE RICKENBAKER Eve Rickenbaker, University of Washington Botanic Gardens Herbarium Manager, is a graduate student at UW pursuing her PhD in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. She received her master s degree from the University of Washington and a B.S. in horticulture from the University of Georgia. Upon graduating from UGA, Eve completed an internship at Filoli in California and then a year-long fellowship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as the Garden Club of America Interchange Fellow in 1997. She moved to South Africa after her time in the UK in order to learn about conservation education at Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden, and has also traveled to Peru to volunteer at the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research. A Georgia native, Eve was a member of the Savannah Trustees Garden Club. Now a member of the Seattle Garden Club, Eve also enjoys photography, climbing the peaks of Washington and caring for her four-pawed friends. She is eager to share the garden treasures of Savannah and Charleston with you. MEET YOUR GUIDE SUSAN MCLEOD EPSTEIN Susan McLeod Epstein, Tours Manager for the Preservation Society, is steeped in the Lowcountry s historic and contemporary gardens and knows the gardeners, designers and landscape architects as well as local history. She is married to David, an engineer by degree but architect at heart, and together they have two adult children. When not working she can be found either in her garden, someone else s garden, or managing the family farm in Camden, SC. She is an experienced gardener herself, has worked in the tour industry for nearly two decades and is a licensed City of Charleston Tour Guide. Susan was formally educated in horticulture, earning a Bachelor of Science in the field from Clemson University and is a South Carolina Certified Nurseryman. In April, Susan rotated off of the board of the Southern Garden History Society and most recently hosted the Southern Garden History Society s Annual Meeting in Charleston. She teaches a 25 hour docent training program through the Charleston Horticultural Society each February. She has also been documenting historic landscapes and gardens in the Lowcountry as well as throughout the state. Susan has toured gardens extensively in the US and Europe and is always looking forward to the next trip.