October Garden Tour to Missouri and Arkansas Planned
After a busy summer of activities, are you looking for a fun getaway to enjoy beautiful fall foliage and gardens? Come join the McLean County Master Gardeners on their three day "October Garden Odyssey" tour scheduled for October 20-22, 2015. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as we travel south to Missouri and Arkansas.
The University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners invite you and your family and friends to join us later this fall to visit some outstanding gardens, homes and museums on this fun filled tour. Our first stop will be outside Little Rock, Arkansas as we tour Marlsgate Plantation, a stately 19th century mansion and gardens in the Arkansas Delta. A delicious dinner will be served by the mansion staff that evening.
Day two begins with a visit to the Heifer Project Learning Center and Gardens. The Heifer Village is a unique museum-like experience and hands-on global education facility. We will enjoy a guided tour of the wetlands area and gardens around the campus. Our main attraction will be our next stop near Roland, Arkansas at the Garden Home Retreat of P. Allen Smith, award winning designer, gardener and lifestyle expert. A guided tour of the home and terraced garden will be followed by lunch in the lecture hall/barn. Our second day will end with a stop at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum's 120 acres of picturesque Ozark countryside includes walking trails, sculptures and gardens.
Our last day of travel will take our passengers to the picture-perfect German village of Hermann, Missouri, where they are known for their winemaking. A typical German lunch will be followed by a tour of the city. Our last stop before leaving Hermann and heading back to the "Land of Lincoln" will be a stop at "Topiaries," a garden shop specializing in garden décor, both vintage and new.
Join us on our "October Garden Odyssey" tour October 20-22! The cost is $500 for double occupancy and $600 for a single occupancy. Tour cost includes transportation, eight meals, admissions and tour fees, and all gratuities. To learn more about the tour and/or register please go to web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/register/ or call the University of Illinois Extension-McLean County at (309) 663 8306. Seats are limited and registration will close on September 15.