Testimonials

Some of the many comments received from our previous tour guests...

• ‘I would recommend the tour. I saw parts of the gardens I would never have seen otherwise. The choice and variety of gardens were great. I got a good understanding of the gardening industry in the UK – so different from ours. I especially liked meeting the owners/head gardeners and staff. Thanks so much for your great organization and efforts in pulling this all together! Thanks for getting Sue and I together – a great roommate. I have not started to organize my pictures – when I do I will send the special ones on to you.’ Cathy, Blooms 2010
   
• ‘Hampton Court Flower Show This was a great experience. If you have done Philly and Chelsea - you have to do Hampton. Although very commercial, I found a plentitude of wonderful ideas to discuss at home - perhaps even to implement in my own garden. The tour was well balanced with free time and garden time. The accommodations were excellent and the food was equally so. (No bad English food anywhere to be had.) I would certainly recommend your trip Donna! I think that the details were well worked out - which is a huge component of a successful trip. Thank you for a wonderful trip Donna and as I said before, I would certainly recommend your trips to anyone. I have already passed some of your future trips along to my friends in the UK. Best of all - you were punctual and keep the other members of the group together when the need arose.’ Eva, Blooms 2010
   
• ‘It was a great trip. Fun folks, great sights and well planned. Hyde Hall and of course The Old Vicarage were fabulous. Loved the Angel hotel - great food, great staff, great rooms. Nice baths. The location was also great, Loved the ambiance. The NH Harrington Hall Hotel room was nice size-wise, as was the bathroom. The food was also great Loved the tour. Would recommend it to anyone.’ Blooms 2010, Nancy
   
• ‘The Angel Hotel - Wonderful. Very beautiful and centrally located for walking. Will Giles was an example of how diverse the climate is. However a variety of garden themes were well displayed everywhere. The sheer AGE of some of the architecture in and around the area was wonderfully apparent. Great photo ops. The courtyard gardens when we walked around... Gardening on every scale. England should be first on your list of places outside the US.’ Blooms 2010, Rita
   
• ‘I really liked everything about the tour. In particular I liked staying in just two hotels. The choice of gardens we visited was excellent. I was a little concerned about the fact that the participants would be mostly people with a professional interest in gardens, but I found the group very compatible. I enjoyed meeting you and hope to take part of another of your tours one day.’ Blooms 2010, Marion
   
• ‘Hotels were very comfortable - The Angel more than met my expectations (for England) Enjoyed all the gardens, however the visit to Bressingham was of particular interest to me because I work in the retail side of Hort. I was also pleased to see how successful Thompson Morgan has become ( we know that from sales but hearing their business goals/plans from the Director was more meaningful). Bus Drivers: Well you just have to take your hat off to them particularly dealing with London traffic. Hampton Court: You have to see it at least once - enjoyed it but for the heat - my preference is still Chelsea. I shall be watching the "Jack Dunkley" story with interest as it evolves.
  
  I found the tour well-organized. "Thank you" for an excellent tour. It met all my expectations in every regard. I will certainly recommend the tour to others and hope to take more of them myself.’ Blooms 2010, Margaret
   
• ‘The gardens were very nice with plenty of time at each. I specifically wanted to go to Hampton Court, Adrian Bloom's, and Beth Chatto's. Wisley was the best bonus. The highlights for me were the small restaurants in Bury St Edmunds, the vendor tent at Hampton court, meeting Beth Chatto and Will Giles, picking up rocks on the North Sea.’ Blooms 2010, Sharee
   
• ‘The Angel Hotel for me was a dream. I had one of those big Victorian rooms with the high ceilings. This was also the best meal I had the whole time I was in England. The meet and greet meal was sumptuous. I also loved the breaky and the ability to have a take away sandwich due to my hypoglycemia. I also loved the town of Bury. Cathy and I(another successful roommate!!) walked around, went to a great pub for supper and enjoyed it immensely. The gardens were phenomenal. I know you usually have a day for your break but I really appreciated the extra day of visiting gardens. Thank you. I really liked the break as well when we went on the punt to recharge my batteries. I would have liked to see the Claire gardens at Cambridge but I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed them because I was too tired. So good idea about the punt and looking at the gardens as we sailed by was enough. I found that Will Giles was so very personable. He was out in the garden the whole time with us. It was also great to have Beth Chatto talk to us and her Head Gardener taking us around. Isn’t she amazing. Her garden was unbelievable. What a joy to saunter around and her café was a nice spot as well. Of course Bressingham Gardens were wonderful. Walking around with Adrian Bloom, listening to the history of his garden was a real treat. He is so enthusiastic. Isn’t it great to love your work. I hope he can do it for another 20 years just like his Dad did. I was blown away by the Old Vicarage. The garden rooms around the house were so colorful and bold and I got some great ideas from the veggie garden too.(supports).
  I also got some great ideas about plant supports from RHS Wisley. I took pics of all of them. I also enjoyed the Botanical Gardens at Cambridge. I got some good ideas there, most of the flowers they grew in their perennial borders I could grow in my garden. I also loved their scent garden. I loved the long sweeping borders around the outskirts of RHS Hyde Hall. Thompson and Morgan are one of my favorite seed companies and I loved the tour of the plant and the trial gardens. Hampton Court Palace was very impressive. What a building. And the grounds gorgeous. The Flower Show was a lot like Chelsea, larger and with a lot more shopping, wish that I would have had more room in my bags. I really enjoyed meeting Jack and seeing his and all the gardens. All the people at the gardens were very talkative and informative. All in all Donna, I would say this tour has been another success for you and why I continue to go on your tours. I can say I enjoyed myself totally and I thank you again for the opportunity to attend with the garden writers and see a different side of the gardening world.’ Blooms 2010, Sue
   
• ‘Yes I would recommend it to other garden enthusiasts as you see many different types of gardens. I love not having to do so much planning and enjoy being driven around – it’s effortless!’ Blooms 2010 Judy
   
• ‘The Angel and NH Harrington Hotels were great and breakfast was delicious. I especially liked the Angel Hotel and setting across from the Abbey Gardens/Ruins. Coaches were much, much nicer and comfortable than expected! Drivers were very cordial, too, and did a good job in navigating the buses on narrow, busy streets. Meeting Jack Dunkley was the highlight of the show. His design and the work that went into the garden were amazing…and to think he is so young. Most of the other show gardens were impressive and innovative, too. Although focus at the show seemed to be more vendors than gardens. Thus, it was enjoyable to be able to tour the Hampton Court gardens and palace. The great vine is quite impressive to see in person. This may sound biased, but I thought the Bressingham Gardens looked the best – lush and fresh looking. Growth since my last visit 5 years ago was incredible and Adrian has made changes to the Foggy Bottom plantings, and the new connecting garden, Adrian’s Wood. It is interesting to note that about half a dozen people on the tour commented to me that they liked the Foggy Bottom garden better than the Dell garden because of the conifers and planting schemes with perennials. Beth Chatto’s garden looked good, too, and it was wonderful that she was able to meet with the group. RHS Wisley was also interesting because of the scope covered, from the mixed perennial borders to the model gardens, vegetable gardens and expansive trial site. Especially liked the Family model garden concept, the herb garden and the vegetable garden planting edged in flowers. Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained that some of the garden art and plantings were strategically placed to draw visitors in to explore somewhat “hidden” garden features, such as the large upside down roots at the entrance to the vegetable garden. Wisley’s approach as a learning/teaching facility with ever-changing attractions was very strong but in a subtle way. Another unique thing that our guide called out was the use of unobtrusive supports to keep tall plants from falling over, particularly the use of intertwined vine/twig structures , black poles and green wire grid frames that could be raised as plants grow. As the garden filled in, they disappeared…a neat trick! Will Giles exotic garden was a surprise in such a small area and with the remarkable tree house.’ ’ Blooms 2010, Chris
   
• ‘The Angel Hotel was lovely, the food delish and we appreciated taking a 'to go' breakfast sandwich on the road in the a.m. Most appreciated was the courtyard to sit and relax, bring our own wine and visit with others on the tour. We loved the dinner in the 'cave'. All food was fabulous which is really unusual for a hotel. Top drawer, go back there. We will, as we have already advised other travelers. Fabulous planning, packed in a lot and we enjoyed everything. Hampton Court - great job in getting us to Jack's garden, his intro and later distributing the tickets to the Privy Garden. That was not easy and you made it seamless.. Old Vicarage - not prepared for such a mind blowing garden. We were all blown away. Ruin gardens at Bury St. Edmund's Cathedral were lovely, touching and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening prayers. Also listening to the choir practice while we toured the gardens was unforgettable. Hyde Hall was surprising all the way through. It didn't appear to be what it ended up to be. WE LOVE THIS GARDEN. Many pix taken here. Beth Chatto - amazingly wonderful to meet Beth and hear her speak. She looks fabulous!!! Hampton Court Flower Show FABULOUS! What fun to participate. Very nice touch meeting Jack Dunckley. He seems like a genuinely nice fellow and as we see him grow into the future, we will have fond memories of that day. Well planned, and executed. Action packed! Bravo Donna! We had a great vacation. Thank you for all of your efforts.’ Blooms 2010, Eric and Julia
   
• ‘I did like meeting Jack - he's so young to have done what he has. I enjoyed the gardens and the palace. I was very glad the palace was included - I went around it -enjoyed the 2 different eras of it. Bury St Edmonds was a highlight. It was lovely to have the gardens and ruins to wander in, to get a feel of history and enjoy the beauty of the gardens and the cathedral. I would definitely recommend this tour to others.’ Blooms 2010, Barbara
   
• ‘Hi Donna, I had a terrific time….the best group trip I have ever been on!!! Absolutely wonderful!! I would not drop one garden. ? Yes, I most definitely would recommend this tour and I loved the schedule, how organized it was, the accommodations, and the people. Having several professional horticulturists/garden writers on the trip made for good networking for me. The Gardens are why I wanted to take this trip but adding some local items like punting and the pub was wonderful. I’d do it all again and would love to take another of your trips. You are very good at what you do Donna. Thank you for a terrific and memorable trip!’ Blooms 2010, Sue
   
• ‘Gardens - just amazing & so unlike those we see here. Liked RHS gardens the best - Hyde Hall & Wisley. Even better than what I'd hoped for. Hampton Court - total madness, but wouldn't have missed it for the world. Appreciated meeting Jack - and after seeing the other gardens - think he might have been done out of a deserved gold. Really enjoyed being able to run away to see the palace and take a speedy tour to get away from the mobs. Beth Chatto's garden (and for me meeting her was as good as meeting the Queen) was just lovely. Bought a couple of books from her store and am looking forward to getting into them. Old Vicarage - Loved every minute it of it - from the moment we couldn't get in, until they said so and we ended up at the beach, the flaming welcome complete with pink pointy boots, and a garden that was over-the-top crazy with a surprise a minute. Never seen anything quite like it, and I doubt I ever will again. We both loved the punting on the River Cam - our Captain was a real charmer - and so unlike any kind of water stuff I've ever done. (Beats the heck out of the Ottawa canal tour....) and the Eye was remarkable. Excellent tour - highly recommended!’ Blooms 2010, Barbara and Kevin
   
• ‘First, we wish to thank you for your efforts and attention to detail. It would have been daunting for us to attempt to see all that we did as solo tourists. Touring as a group added immensely to the enjoyment—everyone one was so friendly and kind. We are looking forward to taking another tour at some point in the near future.’ Blooms 2010, Jim and Patti
   
• ‘It was such fun getting to know everyone on the trip. That was a real plus. I enjoyed the trip and would not hesitate to recommend or go on another of your trips.’ Blooms 2010, Faye
   
• ‘I think visiting England at that time of year was magnificent. Everywhere one looked, the countryside, the villages, Chelsea and the English Gardens were at their best. Vibrant shades of green in the fields, flowering shrubs and trees and vines were dressed in their most brilliant attire. I'm sure even the Crown Jewels couldn't compare to what nature has given us. What an up-lifting adventure I had.’ Marg, 2010 Chelsea
   
• ‘Donna, just got my photos back from the garden tour! What great memories!! There were so many nice people on the tour. As far as on overall joyful thought........ As a very busy gardener I don't think I ever really stop take in everything around me. This week was one in which I could stop and smell the roses for the whole week!! The tour had so many beautiful views and lovely sights that I could sit and appreciate each and everyone, and then look forward to the next day’s beautiful gardens. You did a fabulous job, so many nice touches, the right number of free days with garden days. What a fabulous week to be a gardener! Donna, thanks for the memories!!’ Mark, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘I’m not a gardener, but I lived the trip and beauty of English flowers through Mark – very well planned, great job!‘ Debra, 2010 Chelsea

• ‘Just a quick email to tell you how much Gladys and I enjoyed our trip with you. It was just the right amount of preplanned activities mixed with the right amount of freedom to enjoy London on our own. Thanks Sincerely, Helen, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘I knew before the tour that I would see amazing gardens, but it was far better than anything my imagination had come up with. At the end of each day my "eyes were full", I had to download them for the next day. I am thankful that I had started using my treadmill a few months before the tour in order to get in shape for the walking I did. Thanks Donna for all the work you did for me. Hopefully I'll be able to tour at least once a year with you.’ Allison, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘If you can't find inspiration from all we saw, you must have not been awake! Although many of the plants may not grow in Texas, I still picked up design ideas that I can use. It was a great trip!’ Sandra, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘When you said pack light, you were correct. I really enjoyed seeing how growing conditions of plant varieties we grow in N.J. differ in the U.K. Loved meeting new people, making new friends. The itinerary was marvelous, stupendous! This was the first tour I had ever been on and what a glorious first experience, thank you!’ Sandy, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘It was an excellent visual tool for me expanding my current hort. Knowledge for the Judges course I am currently attending. Enjoyed all gardens, each had something different. Nice to have free days too! I really liked the fact that we stayed in one hotel and travelled out from there’ Marguerite, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘ Wonderful gardens, thanks Donna! Superb again!’ Bev, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘First tour I’ve ever done, you impress as being organized…and great name tags!’ Gwen, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘I appreciate the level of organization from a well planned daily agenda to all the ‘little’ things like keeping us up to date with email, nice gifts like lunch containers, upgraded name tags and all the rest. Excellent choice of gardens, and hotel location’ Kathy, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘Thoroughly enjoyed the tour, loved the hotel and area’ Dianne, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘Thank you so much for sharing your passion for travel and gardens, you’re a cool chick!!’ Donna, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘Hi Donna I really was happy with all aspects of the tour. Although it's hard to choose a highlight, I guess for me it would be Sissinghurst. Over the years I have read about that garden and have always planned to see it one day.I was afraid that it might not live up to all my expectations but it was all that I thought it would be and more. It was magical and I have to return sometime with Brian.Many thanks for a wonderful over-all experience.’ Dianne, 2010 Chelsea
  
  
• ‘The tour was a perfect length. We were able to do a lot, and to finish before we got too punch-drunk. Leisure time was about right; particularly welcome when it happened later in the day. In the mornings, when we were fresher, we could have gone on a short (maybe optional) expedition instead of having a whole morning to kill. But I suspect those free mornings were more necessary than we realized at the time. We never felt rushed, and the time was used well. The Taj Mahal, believe it or not, was more than expected. AS for the others, I deliberately came with no expectations one way or the other, and found it all interesting. If I had to name a favourite besides TM it would be the fort at Jodhpur. I liked the mix of modern and traditional hotels very much. Jaipur was perhaps the best overall (with Delhi a close second) but they were all in different ways good. Hemesh our guide was excellent. Clear, well-informed, and interesting. And his sense of humour helped. Overall impression: excellent. A fascinating sample of a fascinating (and sometimes disturbing) country. I'd certainly recommend it.’
  Sandy, India tour 2010
   
• ‘Both Dianne & I were very pleased with the experience & most happy we went. The hotels were superb, palatial indeed. The food was very good everywhere. The length of tour was probably right given our ages!! We appreciated the bus rides as it gave one a better look at the real India. The coaches were fine. Our "Bussy" & his co-pilot were excellent & it was nice to have them along throughout. The shopping, well what can I say? As the prize winners for amount & frequency of purchases!! We tended to view it as a contribution to the people in India who do not have what we do while at the same time getting something back. It happens to us in NA with artisans as well I must say. The trip to the farms/co-ops by jeep was a real treat & could even have included a couple more stops? Hemesh was very good, a real professional & quite accommodating. His personality does indeed fit his job! Our visits to the artisans were a positive as it gave us a wee glimpse of the vibrancy of the people. As indeed did the "hawkers" even if a bit intrusive at times. In sum, we had a super time & would not have missed it.’ Brian and Dianne, India tour 2010
   
• ‘I liked everything about the tour. I did miss having the chance to go to Connaught Circle in Delhi as there was a jewellery store there I wanted to visit. I realize that Delhi was in even more chaos than when I was last there.
  It was a great group and a perfect size. The food was fine and I have been making mango lassis. The leisure time was fine and we would have swum more often if there weren't pigeons in the pool. It was very interesting to have guest speakers. I thought the tour was long enough and the shopping opportunities just fine. The hotels were all good. Particularly enjoyed Shiv Niwas at the end. Hemesh was a good balance of entertainment and information. The driver, his assistant and the coach were all excellent. I never felt at risk. Thanks Donna for all your good planning. It was an entertaining and thought provoking trip.’ Jan, India tour 2010
   
• ‘I thought it was well thought out. The travel days when we flew, we had lots of time, but we were in interesting locations. I never felt rushed. I thought we had plenty of time at each spot except at the places where we were not allowed to stop because of traffic. My only expectation was about the Taj Mahal. It was much more than I expected. The others were always a pleasant surprise. Hemesh went way out of his way to make sure that we all found the things we wanted shopping. The hotels were great, very interesting. They all were clean, comfortable and had plenty of bottled water. The freedom to pick our own time and just have a light dinner or an "international dinner" was always appreciated when we had our free evenings. Having the luggage sent on ahead was a great convenience. Hemesh was a gem. He was easy to understand and had a delightful perspective on Indian life. This tour was beyond my expectations. India is a place I don't plan on going back to soon, so it was great doing it right the first time.’ Steve, India tour 2010
   
• I had an awesome time with everyone. I wish we could have stayed in Cuenca a little longer and explored. A very interesting city and one I will suggest that my daughter and grand-daughter stay in and indulge themselves in "Spanish culture and language" and orchids. The food was well thought out for us. Very good, interesting and tasteful. The meals at the plantations were outstanding. I had no idea that we would be served such unique food and treated like very important guests. It was very obvious that we all enjoyed the welcoming of each host with their unique setting and style, and love of what they do. It was a fast paced trip and we saw and enjoyed so very much. I would like to suggest maybe a free afternoon or morning added. Thank you for all the beautiful gardens, time organizing and planning and all the people involved in organizing such a remarkable trip. Peter, Sebastian, you and all the special guides did a wonderful job. It was wonderful.!!!!!! Joan, Ecuador 2010 tour
   
• ‘After a long flight back home to Margarita (spending Sunday all-night at the Caracas airport....) I arrived safe and sound Monday morning. I am still sort of in a daze.... as the last 10 days in Ecuador have been an incredible experience for me! I found the trip was very well organized (thanks Peter & Sebastian!) and the choices of places to visit and stay overnight were well thought-out! Even though I knew the itinerary beforehand, there were plenty pleasant surprises that showed up along the way! The private growers were excellent hosts, including their delectable lunches! This trip allowed me an inside look at a beautiful country and its proud and lovely people, that you would normally not get when traveling on your own. I would highly recommend this qualified and trusted team of garden tour organizers (ICanGarden & EcuadorTraveler) and would definitely consider a future tour!’ Tineke, Ecuador 2010 tour
   
• ‘The tour was fantastic and I'm home now with great memories (and a bad cold)! The food, tour leaders, educational experience, fellow travelers, weather and shopping were all wonderful As far as future tours, I want to be on the list for Morocco and Floriade. It was a pleasure meeting and traveling with you, Peter and everyone else.’ Rochelle, Ecuador 2010 tour
   
• ‘Donna, a sincere thank you for a wonderful tour of Ecuador. I have so many memories of the sites I saw, the people I met and the adventures we shared. The trip was better than I expected and the country of Ecuador blew me away. I have tons of ideas for quilt designs as a result of what I saw, and my "gardening" will consist of little pieces of coloured fabric sewn together to make a whole instead of little plants sunk into the earth to create a garden in the traditional sense. It's all Art, and if you appreciate design and colour and fulfill your creative urges, it does not matter which medium you choose to work in! I'll email you pictures of any quilts I make as a result of the tour! Thanks again for all your work to create a top-notch tour!’ Susan, Ecuador 2010 tour
   
• ‘Yes the tour was wonderful, just by looking at the photos on your website we knew it was going to be good. I really appreciated that we had guides everywhere we went and so much information! It’s hard to pick a favorite, we loved Pakakuna Gardens, the Rose Plantation and of course the Orchid Plantation was much more than we imagined. We enjoyed them all. The cruise was a nice surprise! Hotels were great with comfy beds. Nice variety of food for breakfast. The pineapple and melon was so-o-oo-good. I LOVE fruit and cheese!! The dinners (lunches) were much more than we expected. Pictures don't do justice. We really enjoyed the gardens . It’s amazing how big the plants grow that we only think of as house plants. We also enjoyed the markets! Donna, once more , a BIG THANK YOU for all the work you did in putting this tour together. Ecuador is a beautiful country with friendly people.’ Len & Clara, Ecuador tour 2010
   
• ‘Hi Donna, well... I’m still in recovery mode, and living on the high of such a fabulous trip. Every day was a new adventure!!! the flowers and the trips to the plantation were an obvious highlight, but the travel and the cultural exposure was also very well done. Peter was wonderful, but so were all the city and tour guides, as well as the plantation operators who welcomed us so warmly, and were so willing to share their knowledge and passion with us. Another day in Cuenca, would be my only request. I would like to be on your email address, to keep me posted on future trips. Thank you so much again for such a wonderful trip. Take good care in India. Best wishes.’ Deb
   
• ‘Donna, a sincere thank you for a wonderful tour of Ecuador. I have so many memories of the sites I saw, the people I met and the adventures we shared. The trip was better than I expected and the country of Ecuador blew me away. I have tons of ideas for quilt designs as a result of what I saw, and my "gardening" will consist of little pieces of coloured fabric sewn together to make a whole instead of little plants sunk into the earth to create a garden in the traditional sense. It's all Art, and if you appreciate design and colour and fulfill your creative urges, it does not matter which medium you choose to work in! I'll email you pictures of any quilts I make as a result of the tour! Thanks again for all your work to create a top-notch tour!’ Susan, Ecuador 2010
   
• The trip was the perfect length. All of the gardens were wonderful. I especially enjoyed Dixter and Sissinghurst. You were great. I loved how you planned so much for us to do. I feel like we really got a lot for the money we spent.’ Babs, 2009 Chelsea Tour
   
• We've been busy making changes and adding plants to our yard. Wonderful tour, got great ideas. Trying to track down a few plants we saw. Found a few substitutes that look similar but will grow here. Inspiring gardens, our favorites were the personal ones like Stevington Manor House, Great Dixter and Sissinghurst. My husband is thinking about building hypertufa sinks, he was intrigued by the stone sinks and alpines.’ John & Marilyn, Chelsea 2009
   
• I really enjoyed the tour. I liked the relaxed pace and the ability to see as much or as little of each garden as I desired. Even being a single participant worked well for me and I did not feel out of place or awkward. The direction that you offered was just right.’ Charlene, 2009 Chelsea
   
• the hotel was great – much better than I expected, being London!! Our room was just fine – for 2 people there was more than enough space. We did not find the waits for breakie long at all – once in a while, just a few minutes. It was central – to the tube and to nearby restaurants. I would recommend it to anyone. The gardens were wonderful. Thanks so much for the pleasure of the tour – it was wonderful to see the gardens that we only read about!’ Wendy, 2009 Chelsea
   
• Thank you again for organizing this tour. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hotel was very good. The location is good, and it is quiet. There are a lot of restaurants nearby and it is close to the tube. The rooms were clean and well-equipped. The gardens were all wonderful, and I liked that you included some smaller ones and they weren't all the big public ones. The time at the gardens was just about perfect. All in all, it was a wonderful trip. Sometime in the future, my husband and I will travel to India, and I was very interested to see that you have gone there. I don't know that I will be able to convince him that a garden tour is right for him, but maybe... If I can convince him of that, we will certainly consider any tour you offer when we are ready to go. Thanks again.’
  Susan, 2009 Chelsea
   
• The trip - it was fabulous Donna. I do believe that the location played a big part in the success. I arrived 6 days early and had an extensive list of London places to see - alone. I had never been in London before. The concierge team made it possible for me to achieve most everything I needed. The central location of the hotel was another great piece. The fact that the breakfast was included was a real gift. Because it was served buffet style one could slip in and out so quickly. I also found that with my extended stay I became known and was treated quickly and in a friendly manner. Shirley and I did encounter a problem one day of no towels in the room. The problem was remedied within 15 minutes of notification. The length of the tour was most appropriate. It sounded short but I was tired by the end. There was no garden that I would delete. I loved them all - and thank heaven for the bus drivers! The gift bags as name plates was such a lovely idea, and the food was excellent! You could not have failed to notice how well we connected by the last supper - the laughter was a good gauge. It is important for me to note too, just how much was included in the tour. In total, I could not have asked for a better trip. I have been watching your web site for years Donna and finally was able to participate. Thank you so much for such a wonderful time! Ann (2009 Chelsea)
   
• I thought the tour was great. I've stayed in this hotel before and I quite liked it. The location of the hotel is FABULOUS, as access to the tube is vital for our 'own' days. Liked that it was well located for walking to stores-esp. for food / take aways etc. The hotel was clean--a big plus and the staff always courteous and very helpful--esp. the staff manning the concierge desk. The tour was just the right mix of garden sizes-- from the very large to the well loved. Staying in London for the full time meant being a bit more grounded for me--I don't mind staying in different places but this meant much more time to explore the fantastic city that it is. Getting to Sir Richard Branson's roof top garden was a thrill! All in all it was wonderful. Next time how about Scotland? or Italy? or Spain? All places I'd like to visit. Cheers, Shirley (2009 Chelsea)
   
• Hi Donna, Loved the tour. Lots of variety in the gardens. Chelsea was even better than I had imagined. Thanks, too, for getting us there so early. It really let us see the gardens without massive crowds! The hotel was comfortable, the meals great, and centrally located, so close to the Circle Line. I would use it again. All the best, Sincerely Pat (2009 Chelsea)
   
• Donna, I thought that the hotel was a good one. We had no problems with wake up calls, the staff was most helpful with any questions we had and I thought that the location was quite central. I loved having Pret (for fresh and excellent soup, salads & sandwiches) so close and also M&S. The room was quite large enough compared to other hotel rooms I have stayed in on trips to Europe. Of course, the underground and bus just 5 minutes away. I would definitely not be disappointed if a tour was out of this hotel in the future. We actually managed our luggage on and off the underground to Heathrow. OK, Denise did help me up one flight of stairs coming and going! Thanks so much for all that you did to make this such a special trip for all. Everything seemed to run smoothly and Hilda (I think that was her name) was terrific at giving us a lot of history which I enjoy. Thanks once again for being such a terrific "leader and planner". I am sure that I just cannot imagine all that goes into putting something like this together. A job well done. Sincerely, Karen (2009 Chelsea)
   
• The post tour rate was great for London, the room was quiet and comfortable, the breakfasts were very hearty and kept us going well into the afternoon, and the location was dandy within easy walking distance of the tube, Hyde Park, groceries stores, shops, and restaurants, and the Natural History and V&A museums. I enjoyed the variety of gardens we visited. It would have been nicer to have more time at some (esp. Kew), but I realize that is sometimes difficult to do given the number we visited in a limited number of days. This was my mother's first trip to England, and I believe she enjoyed the experience very much. I know I did. Thanks for putting on such a great tour. Jim (2009 Chelsea)
   
• 'That was a wonderful trip to Chelsea and all those amazing gardens!!! Thanks for all the planning and care that went into it and all those thoughtful extras. I have many, many fond memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you so much' Barb (2009 Chelsea Tour)
   
• 'I thought the hotel was excellent. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The location was perfect...so close to tube station and food courts. The breakfast was also excellent..no waiting and lots of variety to suit all tastes. I enjoyed everything about the tour...the weather was a bonus! Thanks for everything' Barbara (2009 Chelsea Tour)
   
• 'Wonderful tour, Donna. I had never taken a tour before.. I so much appreciated having all the details taken care of by someone else! I will very likely be a repeat customer. The hotel was great. Staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. The beds were very comfortable. ( but I was so tired at the end of each day, I think I could have slept anywhere.) The breakfast was good, lots of variety. no waiting. The location of the hotel was also great. So near Hyde Park, good shopping, the V&A and science museums. (Whole Foods Restaurant was a fast and wholesome supper place and very close )The Chelsea show was a dream come true. I will recommend your tours to every one and forward some of my pictures of the trip to friends at Orchid society, the Cactus and Succulent society, and the Rock and Alpine garden society. They would probably all enjoy the tour.' Pat (2009 Chelsea Tour)
   
• 'Lots of great memories for us to enjoy and share as well as some great ideas. Thank you, once again, for another wonderful tour.' Sherry & Ron, (2009 Chelsea Tour) repeat guests
   
• 'Thanks again for the wonderful "memory in time" that you arranged for all of us. The gardens were amazing, and definitely the hotel added to the comfort of the trip.. The central London position allowed us to see many attractions and do some shopping in places we had only heard about. Service and food were also very good. I definitely liked your choice of gardens and this was the deciding factor to join you on this tour. I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed this adventure!' Marg (2009 Chelsea Tour)
   
• 'Truthfully I can state that the entire tour represented a longtime dream come true in every aspect; exceeding all my expectations!!!!! Certainly the ideal weather conditions served as a contributing factor!!!!! In short; tonight, I want to sincerely thank you for making such a trip so easy for all us travelers with no rushing; excellent organization; always affording us ample time for viewing every garden, and for all your much appreciated personal touches!!! I'm very very grateful to you for this most enjoyable experience, never to be forgotten!' Erdmute (2009 Chelsea Tour)
   
• 'Everything about the hotel was great. The tours were also enjoyable because they were each so different from the other. The times of touring them was also adequate. Thanks for a great week and wonderful memories.' Bettianne (2009 Chelsea Tour)
   
• I did have a good time with you all and so pleased in meeting you. (China 2009 tour) I was bragging over here all the beautiful gardens we visited. Hope I can go with you in October but we’ll see. Thank you for the opportunity and the experience for the trip. Lynda emailed me also and nice to hear from her. She’s a sweet, happy lady. Take care and hope to hear from you again. Keep in touch. Lydia, Baghdad
   
• China (2009) was gloriously beautiful with all their new plantings everywhere--and all the new roads! the gardens were exquisite-even I M Pei's overcrowded one! They are about 4 weeks back of our blooming cycles...I took 890 pictures to get thru-will keep working ...off to run errands. Blessings on your successful journey ! Marilyn, CA
   
• I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing (China 2009) The food, hotels, sightseeing, guides, shopping, everything. I’ve just spent the last hour on the phone with one of my friends telling her about it all. I could have talked longer but I have to get ready to go out this afternoon. Hopefully I will be able to go on one of your tours to the other parts of China. Keep in touch and thanks for everything, it was a thoroughly wonderful and enjoyable experience.
  Lynda, ON
   
• Chelsea- There is no way that I’ll ever forget any of you as wonderful and fun touring buddies . We packed an incredible amount of sites and wonders and fragrances into the time we were together touring. And Donna, you said you couldn’t do anything about the weather, but it was grand and then the day everyone leaves, Ann and I got the windy and rainy day, but we still enjoyed our day trip. As Ann said we got oodles of pictures and Marks & Spencer and Herrods have our mark in their stores; for that matter, so does every garden shop we visited on tour. I have a digital picture frame and as I watch my photos slide by, I get a rush of awesome wonder at the beauty of the places we’ve been and I’m glad that you were all there to be a part of my super holiday. Bouquets of roses to each of you. Great gardening for the year and I love my new gardening gloves from the Chelsea Flower Show ….. how did I do without them?
   
• Ecuador - it was a wonderful tour!! We thought it was a great privilege to go behind the scenes with the three growers. They were all such fine human beings, and, apparently, are doing business the way it should be done.
   
• We did love what we did do while in Ecuador and are grateful for the wonderful experiences we had. Many, many thanks.
   
• Great opportunities to take lots of photos. Guides and hosts very accommodating to those of us wanting to capture the experience on film or digital camera.
   
• Very good concern for participant enjoyment from the tour leaders while in Ecuador (rubber boots, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, bartering customs, what not to eat or drink, sharing bios before we arrived, etc.)
   
• Thanks to our Quayaquil local guide for his interest in birds and enthusiasm for sharing this information
   
• The generosity shown by Hans Peter in opening up his house, serving us breakfast, letting us tour his garden (and cave) and taking a full day to show us his BellaFlora operation.
   
• Ecuadorian food- loved the 5 star restaurant meals!
   
• Loved the mixture of artisan, cultural, historic, religious and horticulture. A great mix of diverse sights to see in Ecuador
   
• Wonderful to see the smaller villages and experience their traditional handicrafts. Lots of shopping opportunities too. Although I would have like a few more minutes in some destinations, but my wallet would have suffered more. It was a nice surprise to find more shops at the Quito airport to get more last, last minute scarves.
   
• I thought the trip to China was fantastic!
   
• The arrangements in China were well done, enjoyed the different meals and particularly the dim sum, the Silk factory and Jade factory.
   
• It's hard to pick a highlight as so many to choose from. For me, probably the great wall - especially with the spring flowering trees all around the site. A nice plus. Garden wise, the Peony Festival was wonderful.
   
• I really enjoyed the tour. Will look forward to hearing what you are organizing in the future.
   
• Every day was a highlight! There were so many "wow" moments; like seeing the wall in the distance -- absolutely phenomenal and amazing and of course actually walking in the same footsteps on the wall as millions before have done. "wow" ditto for the Terra Cotta Warriors, Shanghai Pudong skyline, the amount and size of building construction, the number and size of the Buddha temples and pagodas (very surprising for us), the grottos, etc. After the hectic days, I really enjoyed the tranquility of the 'sacred walk' of the Ming Tombs. Even though some of the temple/pagoda sights were crowded, I never got 'templed out'.
   
• The GARDENS of China - What an inspiration! When you consider the dense population of China, what a retreat and sanctuary these gardens would be for the people, of course, mostly the rich people. The Botanical gardens were beautiful and would be well used by the common people these days. I never tired of our visits to the gardens - they were all different. The peony show was certainly a highlight and has inspired me to grow more peonies.
   
• We found the arts and crafts factory demonstrations and tours very interesting and made the shopping experience so much more informed. Too bad the silk factory tour was so short! Tea Plantation was great.
   
• The food was a banquet three times a day. Every day was different and delicious.
   
• The Tang Dynasty show was excellent, as was the Shanghai Acrobatic show.
   
• The train trip was a nice experience, as was the canal boat ride in Suzhou, and the lake cruises were also pleasant. We enjoyed our bus rides as we were able to see the countryside and the local people.
   
• It was a trip of a lifetime. We saw a lot of world heritage sights, historical and modern China. We were inspired and encouraged by the magnitude of the Buddhist presence, the beautiful and peaceful gardens, scenery and cleanliness of the country, and felt very safe and welcome by the people of China. I certainly have much more respect and empathy for the hard life the people have had.
   
• It couldn't have happened without you Donna, Coco, our excellent local tour and bus guides, and of course Ricky Poon. . . . . . thank you very much. I would definitely recommend China travel to others, and would love to go again, perhaps to the southern areas.
   
• Your tour to China was very well done and I know we got to see a lot more than anyone. I also know that if you gave the tour, the accommodation and the food would be good as you did such a great job on my Chelsea tour. The train ride was great, surprisingly went by very quickly. Doing Thai Chi with the locals and the group was fun. We had a great group for chatting, very lucky that way. The evening Tang Dynasty show and dumpling supper was the best.
   
• I really liked dealing with Ricky, he was very prompt in answering all my questions. All the tour guides were great. Thanks again for a great tour!
   
• There was so much it is hard to "highlight". I enjoyed the food, even though I was expecting not to. The restaurants were well chosen. The dumpling dinner and show for Dorothy's birthday, Suzhou with its tree lined streets and canals and garden, and Shanghai museum are other highlights.
   
• For me the terra cotta warriors were the most interesting and not just because we had an amusing photo-op! I thought the arrangements in China were very well done with unexpected snags dealt with quickly. Friends have asked whether we would go to China again. Without hesitation, we say that we certainly would. We thought that the language barrier would inhibit meeting Chinese people but this was not the case. We found them friendly and eager to meet us and have photos of their kids and families. China is at the same time historically stunning and dynamically modern. It would take a lifetime to explore it in detail and by that time, it would likely have changed beyond recognition. We saw what we expected to see and a whole lot more. Having gardens as a principal focus was a great idea. There are simply too many diversions possible unless there is a meaningful focus such as we had on this tour. Overall value for time/money.... excellent. I enjoyed the cultural aspects (temples, tea plantation, crafts shops etc) as it helped me understand the gardens, why things are the way they are.
   
• I appreciated being paired up with an excellent roommate. I appreciated the optional evenings as I was able to pick and choose, depending on how I felt at the time.
   
• Coco was excellent, and the great local guides added specific knowledge. The drivers were impressive (!!!!)
   
• I have a new found respect and admiration for your capacity to travel so often as I must say the ``airport`` experience left me more tired than all the walking we did on our garden tours. I thought about our vacation in Florence and Nice and thought I should express my appreciation for all of the wonderful places we were able to see and the great guides you arranged for.
   
• Both Stephanie and Ria (I think this was her name) were great and gave lots of good background information which helped me understand and appreciate more of what we were seeing.
   
• The hotel in Nice was fabulous! What a thrill to be on the Mediterranean and certainly the service and attention to details was superb!
   
• I enjoyed the gardens at Eze and Menton, the most. The Boboli was fine, the view from the top terrace was lovely - Florence is such a beautiful city. Our suppers together were the best I have ever had on a tour. You really did a great job of making the meals a great experience, both from the food and the seating arrangements so we could ``visit`` each other.
   
• The size of the group made it easier to get to chat and get acquainted. I personally like smaller groups as there is less chance of having to wait while you `find the rest of the group who have not yet made it to the bus or whatever.
   
• Just wanted to let you know that Julie and I had a great time and really enjoyed our Mom/Daughter time together. The tour was really stress-free as all arrangements were taken care of, most meals provided and the pace was not too hectic! Believe me, my work life is so crazy that despite our daily outings, I came home feeling refreshed and relaxed. I certainly look forward to joining you again soon. Thanks for a lovely tour and keep up the great job!
   
• It was a great garden tour and I am enjoying my pictures. I know this is you by your new Italian bag!
   
• Hi Donna, just a little note to let you know Cobie and I are back home. We had a good time in Rome, but it felt kind of lonely without the group. We had a very good time in Nice and Florence, Loved the garden in Eze, Villa Rothchild and the private garden of William Waterfield..
   
• I thought the trip was just wonderful--I thoroughly enjoyed each and every day--the variety, the various climatic conditions the area enjoys, the variety of landscapes, towns and cities, and I was prepared from your emails for the change between Nice and Florence--I am not sure the whole group picked up on that one..I think some folks were expecting a lot more English color...I was not and thus held no such expectations. I truly think you go the second mile in organization, communication, and many other things! Many,many thanks.
   
• Hi Donna, sorry I have not been in touch sooner, did want you to know how much I enjoyed our wonderful trip. Thank you so much for all your planning and organization which made the tour work so well, thank you too for all those extra little gifts and attention to detail. Thanks again for everything...............have been reading "Under the Tuscan Sun" while recuperating and relieving many of the memories.
   
• I thought the choice of hotel in Nice was great - superb location, nice accomodations and excellent food. I enjoyed seeing the coast along the Cote d'Azur, most of the gardens and Eze.
   
• I think those of us who pay attention to our driving appreciated that extra sense of comfort one gets when riding with someone you recognize to be a safe, cautious and courteous driver.
   
• Would I go on another Donna Dawson Extravaganza ? In a heartbeat. I felt the time we were allotted at each garden was perfect (though I personally would have liked more time at Kew) , and I thought the garden selection could not have been better.
   
• Chelsea is in a class by itself. You have to see it to believe it. Your advice to get there early was the only way to go.
   
• The garden tour was everything we expected and more. It was so well organized and we had an opportunity to see so many beautiful gardens. The Chelsea Garden Show was a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you for all that you did to create a wonderful experience for us all.
   
• Donna, you do a topnotch job...the guides were good and Tony was just wonderful...and then it was up to the rest of us to be interested and to get along...which we did!
   
• I can't stop thinking about the garden tour and how wonderful it was in spite of the weather! Christine and I both felt that we should have added two days at the end as well as the two days we added at the very beginning, but, no doubt, we'd still have wanted more time!
   
• You have a nice, easy going presence that makes you ideal for what you do.
   
• I really loved it.....every bit of it. It just filled me up!
   
• Everything was perfect! Thanks Donna - Excellent job!
   
• Thank you so much! All the personal touches and gifts were so appreciated.
   
• I loved the garden in Eze, Villa Rothschild and the private garden of William Waterfield
   
• We totally enjoyed ourselves on this tour and will look for opportunities to join you again
   
• I truly think you go the second mile in organization, communication, and gift giving! Many, many thanks
   
• We enjoyed each and every garden, they were all unique in their own way, not always to my taste and my lack of knowledge but always informative and a great display of different influences, designs and teaching methods.
   
• Thank you so much for all your planning and organization which made the tour work so well, thank you too for all those extra little gifts and attention to detail
   
• I really enjoyed meeting you, and the group itself was a pleasure. I especially enjoyed getting to know Jan so thanks to you for finding me a room-mate
   
• As to our trip-fabulous, as to your leadership and organization-fabulous. We had a ball and even Michael, who is not a gardener, was inspired to be thinking up new landscaping ideas.
   
• Villa Ephrussi - both the villa and the gardens are a dream--we have never seen anything like them, and over the years we have seen a lot of gardens. We could return tomorrow, the aliveness of both gardens and design was exquisite. It really did feel like Paradise-and it smelled so good
   
• The trip could not have been better. We do look forward to being with you again.
   
• As Sherry told you earlier--we had a wonderful time on our France/Italy garden trip. In particular, the group was great fun--you Canadians are so witty and charming. Furthermore, the gardens were both interesting and beautiful.
   
• Donna, thank you so much for all of your organizing, gifts, hints, tips, fun, laughter, stories, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can safely say my mother did too. Absolutely topnotch, exceeded my expectations
   
• Beautifully balanced between gardens and London
   
• Each day got better but all days were wonderful!
   
• Well organized and most enjoyable
   
• Excellent in all respects
   
• I really had only the expectation of seeing flowers, so everything else was a bonus!
   
• Hilda gave me a new appreciation of all things English - she's a keeper!
• Everything went smoothly, which is a sign of good organization.
• Good balance, the two free days were a welcome break
• Liked the freedom at the gardens rather than being guided through, great garden selection
• Hilda was just excellent - nice combination of pleasant manner, informality and sense of humour
• Perfectly scheduled between free days and garden tour days
• I couldn't have been more pleased - it was a perfect Christmas present!
• Hotel location was wonderful and Hilda was excellent!
• Great gardens and side tours were the icing on the cake!
• Best tour I have taken, I will definitely recommend it to my friends
• I liked the itinerary and the two free days provides time on your own to relax or explore
• Excellent overview of some of the best gardens England has to offer
• Good balance between gardens visits, free time and extras
• Well done! Hilda was Great!
• Wonderful choice of gardens
• Excellent hotel, location, meals and service was great
• Haven't never taken a tour previously, I thoroughly enjoyed it
• Everything very well planned
• Thanks for a great trip!
• First garden tour I've been on like this and enjoyed it immensely
• We were well informed. I looked forward to each day
• Mafra, Ericeira, the Atlantic coast and Sintra were beautiful
• Rita was wonderful on the Portugal tour - Elaine just loved her and I thought she was very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly
• Bruce and I really enjoyed Portugal. It is a beautiful country and it has made me want to find out more about the history. Both Bruce and I enjoyed the architecture the most.
• We got to see quite a bit but also have free time to wander around
• 'Enjoyed all the gardens especially Sissinghurst & Scotney Castle'
• 'Well organized, lots of pre tour information'
• 'Thanks for ordering the great weather for our tour - had a great time'
• 'Week long tours are great...well done Donna!'
• 'Great bunch of people on this tour'
• 'Chelsea Flower Show exceeded expectations'
• 'Well organized and relaxed'
• 'Well organized and great guide'
• 'Hilda, our guide was great'
• 'Liked balance of free days and tour days'
• 'Hilda was very knowledgeable in English history, and very entertaining'
• 'My first tour, good variety of gardens with some of them breathtaking'
• 'I liked the opportunity of visiting the gardens on my own time and in areas that interested me'
• 'It was wonderful, no problems or glitches'
• 'Hilda was a gem'
• 'The two free days were spaced out just right!'
• 'It was a great trip. My first to England and you made it great!'
• 'I found a lot was put into it and yet still had time to see places for myself'
• 'We enjoyed it very, very much and must say that it clearly exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed the tour at your own pace at the gardens and the days off during the tour. We were able to contrast country visits with city visits and enjoyed some wonderful and entertaining visits.'
• 'Fun filled, enjoyed extra stops in villages'
• 'Excellent, restaurant service very pleasant, good mix of gardens and non garden visits'
• 'Excellent choice of gardens, Thanks Donna and everyone at Farlie - you did a great job'
• 'A delightful tour, with many off the beaten track surprises'
• 'Fabulous effort by all concerned - bravo!'
• 'Donna, thank you for your attention to detail and inexhaustible patience and good nature'
• 'Since I've never been on a trip like this, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it has been great'
• 'Excellent planning and gardens'
• 'Very nice tour, thank you for your time and energy
• 'The treatment and considerations shown to us were great, excellent coach and driver'
• 'Excellent garden selection'
• 'Enjoyable people, comfortable accommodations, good experiences..'
• 'Thank you for all of your efforts to make our trip memorable. It was a great opportunity for us to meet exciting people and visit exceptional gardens. Do you think that East Anglia will be the same after our diverse group of garden lovers left the area?'
• 'The trip was the greatest! Tom and I loved it all'
• 'Thanks again for such a great tour--Not only was it fun, it also provided all sorts of useful info and ideas that will be good fodder for future talks and stories. In fact, I've written a bit about the tour in my September editorial (accompanied by a shot of a terrified-looking me on a cherry picker at the Hampton Court show). Lorraine took the snap as I was being mercifully deposited back on the ground. Yikes.'
• 'We liked the self pace at the gardens, the size of the group was good'
• 'Excellent tour, enjoyed it'
• 'We enjoyed our tour very much. The people on the tour were great to be with and we made a lot of friends'
• 'All inclusive idea was good, good mix, not too much each day'
• 'My first tour, good variety of gardens with some of them breathtaking'
• 'I found a lot was put into it and yet still had time to see places for myself'
• 'I loved seeing the countryside and I think Hilda was a great guide. I was just thrilled to bits to be part of it all. I even got inspired to do some gardening! Thanks again.'
• 'I had a great time on the I Can Garden Chelsea Tour, from the beautiful gardens and manor homes we saw and the incredible floral displays at Chelsea, to all the wonderful people we met and the friends we made. It was everything I had hoped for and more!'
• 'I would recommend your tour to friends as I had a very good time. The coach driver, John, was a good, safe driver with a pleasant, friendly personality.
  As I said before, Hilda did a great job, not only with tour information, but was pleasant and friendly to the tour members. And your travel agent did a great job, arranging to include us in the transfers from London to the Posthouse and to Gatwick.
  Thanks for everything.'
• 'What did I like? I loved staying in the same hotel for the whole time. We have done the whirlwind tour where every day or two at most you are packing and moving on. It was wonderful to unpack on day 1 and not have to worry about it again until it was time to go home. I liked the idea of almost all meals and admissions being included -- again, not having to worry about how much extra cash you need to tote along is great. I'm not big on carrying a lot of money around.'
• 'Chelsea was, well Chelsea. The displays of flowers, the arrangements, the model gardens. I must admit I am glad to have the video so that I can see what I missed because of the numbers of people. The window box/hanging basket display was wonderful and of interest to me because Canada Blooms (the five day extravaganza put on by Gardens Clubs of Ontario and Landscape Ontario) has a window box class as well.'
• 'We all had a WONDERFUL time and the weather was with us for the whole trip. We all have more ideas than money but we did see some very special gardens and of course, the Chelsea Flower Show. Personally, I now want a small castle with courtyard gardens. Nothing too big of course ;-)'
• 'Just thought I would check in as requested and let you know that Mom and I are alive and well, if a little jetlagged at present. Already looking to see if I can afford the next Chelsea. Talk to you later, Donna and thanks again for the garden tour of a life time.'
• 'Don and I thoroughly enjoyed the garden tour and Don enjoyed it more than I thought he would . The time went by much too quickly though. We were completely happy with the tour, didn't find ourselves rushed, thought all the gardens were well worth the visit and thought Hilda was super.( a very lovely lady )Thank-you ever so much for such a well planned tour - would certainly recommend it and in fact would like to go again sometime.'
• 'I want to thank you for organizing the trip. It was the best vacation I have ever been on. Bruce isn't as gushy as I am, but I know he had a great time too.'
• 'The best thing about the tour was the fact that with no effort on our part we got to see a lot of places. The problem with us is we usually just wander around [which we enjoy] but in the end we feel a bit guilty for not seeing as much as we could have. This was the first tour we have been on and I can't think of anything that would have made it better. We had a great bunch of people, Hilda and John were great and the accommodations were very nice. Every garden we saw was different and interesting.'
• 'Hilda and John were great, the bus very comfortable and the hotel very pleasant. I particularly liked the idea of staying in one place. In fact that was one of the things that attracted me to the tour.
  Chelsea was great. No rain, no hay fever, great gardens and nice companions.'
• 'Many Thanks to you for a great job on the organizing etc. We so enjoyed meeting you and the other travelers, what a great group. We did not feel rushed nor did we feel we saw to many gardens at one time. It seemed pretty well perfect in that respect.'
• 'Thanks for knowing how much time is needed at each stop to have an unrushed good time!..'
• 'Loved the side trips.'
• 'Where do I sign up for next years tour!.'
• 'Thanks Donna for a memorable vacation ... you have been caring, helpful, knowledgeable and fun!'
• 'I look forward to many adventures with you.'
• 'The tour was well organized and run smoothly.'
• 'Had a wonderful time!.'
• 'It was truly one of, if not, the best tours I have ever taken.'
• 'Very, very good guides!.'
• 'We did so much, it was amazing ... I got to many places I never could have seen on my own.'
• 'Marvelous trip ... gardens were beyond expectation.'
• 'Very impressed with the itinerary and information supplied by the guides.'
• 'I liked the size of the group.'
• 'Paris was a wonderful surprise ... magnifique!'
• 'Having everything taken care of so well made it a really 'posh' time.'
• 'Hilda's city tour of London was tops!'
• 'I had an excellent relaxing vacation. With all the dreaded details taken care of by your staff, I could sample more of the countries and gardens than I could have on my own..'