September 16th - September 21st, 2026
The Grand Gardens of The Brandywine Valley
The scenic Brandywine Valley in late summer offers a garden full of art, beauty, and inspiration. We will visit the grand American estates of Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, and Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library, which feature stunning views of hills, meadows, and wildflowers, as well as impressive interior conservatories and rare botanical collections. Other notable stops include the first American garden of John Bartram, the French formal gardens of the Nemours Estate, and the whimsical private gardens of Northview, home of renowned garden author Jenny Rose Carey.
Do you love Brandywine Valley and want to join us? Send an email to artinbloomgardentours@gmail.com, and we'll notify you first as soon as the itinerary is available.
6 days – 5 nights
Maximum Capacity: 20 People
The Grand Gardens of The Brandywine Valley Itinerary
6 Days and 5 Nights
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16 – Welcome to the heart of “America’s Garden Capital”, Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley. Over this extended weekend, we will visit some of the premier horticultural venues in the country. Set your flight arrangements so that you arrive after 12 noon. Transportation has been arranged to get you from Philadelphia International Airport (airport code PHL) to our residence for the tour, the Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge. Meet guides Teresa Watkins and Tony DeSormier at the 5:30 p.m. reception in Embassy Suites’ The Tavern before sitting down to the included welcoming dinner at Cool River. Afterwards, you’ll be treated to a presentation by the father of landscape architecture in the United States, Frederick Law Olmstead (performed by the celebrated Kirk Brown). (Reception, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
THURSDAY, SEPT. 17 – Each day starts with an included breakfast at the Embassy Suites featuring made-to-order omelets. Then it’s on our chartered coach to visit the renowned Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library where a docent-led tour has been arranged. We’ll enjoy a provided box lunch before heading out to the magnificent “pleasure garden” of Chanticleer where we will enjoy another docent-led group tour. This evening’s provided dinner is a three-course plated affair at the Black Powder Tavern (B, L, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 – After the provided breakfast at the hotel, it’s on the coach to “America’s oldest preserved botanic garden”, Bartram’s Garden. Arrangements have been made for the materials for a self-guided tour. We’re on our own for lunch before heading out to Longwood Garden. Our visit has been timed so that we will be there for the Illuminated Fountain Festival performance. Each guest will receive a Longwood Dining Dollars card for use at your discretion at the any of the Longwood Gardens’ three dining facilities. (B, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 – This morning, enjoy a hot breakfast at the hotel. Then we’re on the coach to visit the Mount Cuba Center, “a home for conservation and preservation since the 1930s”. We’re on our own for lunch today before traveling to the Nemours Estate, a 77-room mansion, chauffeur’s garage with rare vintage cars, and 200 acres of French formal gardens, Tonight’s provided dinner is a plated three-course meal at Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill. (B, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
SUNDAY, SEPT. 20 – Today will be spent in the company of internationally acclaimed gardener/author Jenny Rose Carey. A visit is planned to her Northview Gardens where we will enjoy a tour and presentation by Jenny herself. On the way back to the hotel, we’ll stop and celebrate our tour-closing meal with a provided plated dinner at Founding Farmers. (B, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
MONDAY, SEPT. 21 – Once we’ve had our final breakfast together, we’ll gather for one last coach ride, this time back to the Philadelphia International Airport to catch our flights home, inspired by our visit to “America’s Garden Capital”. (B) Overnight: Home
