September 16th to 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.
Maximum Capacity: 20 People per Trip
The Grand Gardens of The Brandywine Valley Itinerary
6 Days and 5 Nights
Wednesday, September 16 - Welcome to the heart of “America’s Garden Capital”, Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley. Over this extended weekend, we will visit some of the country's premier horticultural venues. Set your flight arrangements so that you arrive after 12 noon. Transportation has been arranged to take you from Philadelphia International Airport (airport code PHL) to our tour residence, 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 Olmsted (performed by the celebrated Kirk Brown).
(Reception, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
Thursday, September 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 dinner is a three-course plated affair at the Black Powder Tavern.
(B, L, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
Friday, September 18 - After the provided breakfast at the hotel, it’s on the coach to “America’s oldest preserved botanic garden”, Bartram’s Garden. Lunch has been arranged at Il Granaio before heading out to Longwood Gardens. 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 their discretion at any of Longwood Gardens’ three dining facilities.
(B, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
Saturday, September 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, a chauffeur’s garage with rare vintage cars, and 200 acres of French formal gardens. Tonight’s dinner is a plated three-course meal at Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill.
(B, D) Overnight: Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge
Sunday, September 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, September 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
Key to Included Meals: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D – Dinner
Tour Package Includes:
5 Nights’ Accommodation
5 Breakfasts
2 Lunches
5 Dinners
Private Motor Coach Transportation throughout the Tour Presentation by Kirk Brown as Frederick Law Olmstead
Admission and Docent-led Tour at Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library
Admission and Docent-led Tour at Chanticleer Garden
Self-guided Tour Materials at Bartram’s Garden
Admission to Longwood Gaden including Illuminated Fountain Festival
Admission and Docent-led Tour at Nemours Estate
Admission to Jenny Rose Carey’s Northview Gardens
Admissions and Group Meals for the Coach Driver
Taxes and Gratuities: Gratuities for the coach driver and tour manager are not included and are at your discretion based on service.
Please note that travel insurance is not included on this tour. See the bottom of the Our Tours page for more information.
Pricing Information (Per Person):
Double Occupancy - $2,865.00
Single Occupancy - $3,450.00
$1000.00 Deposit for all Registrations
Costs and the itinerary may be adjusted due to circumstances beyond our control or operational requirements.
Cost will not change once a deposit is received.
Do you plan to join us for this tour? If so, please fill out the Participant Agreement by clicking the button below. Once you are finished, please send the form to:
PO Box 547091 Orlando, FL 32854
*One Agreement for each Participant
Questions About the Tour
You can reach us through the contact information below or by completing the contact form.
Tony DeSomier and Teresa Watkins
Artinbloomgardentours@gmail.com
(321) 210-3613
PO Box 547091
Orlando, FL 32854