I took an American Horticulture garden tour (summer 1999)to England and I loved it. I just got back from travelling alone to visit gardens in New Zealand so I've now done both.

The 10 day tour in England was very expensive and the pace was hectic (two gardens every day), but it was wonderful to have an expert along, to be with other gardeners, and to have a guided tour by the owner/head gardener.

Traveling at my own pace (I joined a garden epal in Christchurch) was much more relaxing. I took halfday garden tours in Auckland and Christchurch and I highly recommend them. I met more locals when I was on my own, and I didn't feel bad if I passed up a garden because the weather was lousy or I wanted to do something else.

Here is a link that might be useful: my garden tour photos

Wow, Daphne, your Daphne,s World is very, very well done. Congratulations on many hours spent with the computer. A great outcome.

If you are age 55 or older (or have a friend who is,) you can take Elderhostel garden tours. These are very reasonably priced and you get to meet super nice people from all over. I took a two week Elderhostel wildflower tour of England several years ago. We spent the first week in the north of England in the lake region. Our instructor was a botanist from one of the universities. We stayed in one of the famous English Field Centres. Everyday we went out into the highways, byways, moors, etc. and we also visited some public gardens. The second week we spent in the south of England near the White Cliffs of Dover. We also had some time on our own and visited Wisley Gardens which is spectacular. (and they have a wonderful gourmet restaurant.) This was a wildflower tour but they do have strictly garden tours. I later took Elderhostel wildflower tours of southern Arizona, the rocky mountains and Grand Manan Island. I highly recommend Elderhostel. It is also a very worthy cause.