Chelsea Flower Show

Date: Friday 25th - Monday 28th May, 2012

Cost: €755 per person sharing

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH GARDEN MAGAZINE

Itinerary:

Enjoy a day at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show– something every gardener should experience at least once. Although there are now many horticultural shows, Chelsea is still at the forefront – show gardens from new and established designers, the wonderful new airy marquee full with colourful displays of plants from the best nurseries plus an array of tools, books and items of interest to the gardener in the surrounding areas; special displays of Floral Art and endless information on every aspect of horticulture. There are plenty of places to eat at Chelsea as well as banking and postal facilities. You can also relax and listen to the band. No plants can be purchased but they can be ordered for delivery to Ireland.

Is it too crowded? Will we be able to cover it all in one day? These are our most frequently asked questions and although we cannot promise that you will see everything during your time there, it is never as busy as most people expect it to be. We are based in Chiswick for this tour, ideally positioned for exploring and shopping in Central London

Friday 25 May
Frances MacDonald will meet you at Dublin airport for your early morning Aer Lingus flight.. Luxury coach will transfer the group directly to the Chelsea Flower Show. (Luggage is left on the coach). During this journey, Frances will provide you with all the information you need to make the best use of your day. We are based in the 4* Chiswick Moran Hotel, nestled in tree lined Chiswick High Road. Free time to relax before dining together as a group in the hotel. www.moranhotels.com/chiswick-moran-hotel

Saturday 26 May
Depart after breakfast for Hampton Court where we spend the morning viewing the magnificently restored gardens and the palace of Henry VIII. Return to the hotel at lunchtime. Free afternoon and evening for shopping and exploring the local area or Central London.

Sunday 27 May
Depart after breakfast for a visit to the historic and enchanting Chenies Manor. The surrounding gardens are the creation of Alistair and Elizabeth MacLeod Matthews and are divided into a series of compartments, with various colour themes and structural forms, combining imaginative plantings and beautiful plant associations. We then travel to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew where there will be free time for lunch before a guided tour. Return to the hotel. Evening free to try out one of the many local restaurants.

Monday 28 May
Check out of hotel after a leisurely breakfast and transfer by coach for our final garden of the tour- the flagship of the RHS, Wisley captures the imagination with richly planted areas, luscious rose gardens and the state-of-the-art new Glasshouse flanked by the exciting Piet Oudolf borders. There is also an excellent plant centre and restaurant. Our early evening flight to Dublin arrives at 20.25.

GUIDES: Frances MacDonald, a qualified and experienced gardener and guide, escorts this tour; she will be available at all times to help and advise you.

HOTEL: We are based in the 4* Chiswick Moran Hotel, nestled in tree lined Chiswick High Road. Free time to relax before dining together as a group in the hotel. www.moranhotels.com/chiswick-moran-hotel

Further details from: Frances MacDonald (tours@thebaygarden.com)

Cost includes ...

• Return airfare
  
• Private coach transfers
  
• Hotel with breakfast
  
• Dinner on first day
  
• Entrances to all gardens and Chelsea show
  
• Guide fees

COST: €755.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: €45.00

Deposit: €250.00 – Cheque or bank draft payable to Bay Garden Tours.

All of our tours have a final booking date but as our numbers are limited, they tend to book out before those dates (particularly single rooms) so we would recommend early booking.

Itinerary subject to change