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A Photographic Tour of Great Gardens of the United Kingdom (Queens County)

In the cold and dark of winter let's spend a few weeks visiting the great gardens of the United Kingdom. This area of the world enjoys several unique microclimates which allow for a very diverse population of gardens and gardening techniques. From the 200 year old Tresco Abbey garden through to the recently established environmentally innovative Old Allengrange. We will tour large 200 acre arboretums with 300 year old trees and small .5 acre urban gardens with unique perspectives. Plants will cross the spectrum from the 80 foot Rhododendrons of Scotland to the Orchids of the Channel Islands. As we enjoy 100s of photos of these diverse gardens I will discuss travel tips for getting the most out of a garden tour. I will share the pros and cons of travelling with a group vs creating your own itinerary. Although not a professional photographer I can give you ideas on how to maximize your photographic memories of these types of locations. Each week we will concentrate on a different geographical area; Gardens of Scotland, Gardens of Southwest England and Wales, Great Gardens of the SouthEast and finally the Channel Islands and Givernay.

Course Locations and Times

	Offering Period & Time	Location	Status
Fall
Winter	01/12/2026 - 02/02/2026 Monday 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM	Stratford Emergency Services Centre 4 Georgetown Rd STRATFORD C1B 2S6	Open
Spring

Requirements	An interest in enjoying looking at flowers. No knowledge of gardening is required.
Objectives	To spend a cold winter afternoon virtually walking through some of the world's most beautiful gardens. Appreciate the influence of regional climate on plant choice and landscaping design. Pick up tips you can use to become a more knowledgeable garden tourist whether you want to plan a whole tour around gardens or just want to add one or two to your travel itinerary.
Teaching Process	Each presentation will be an hour of photographs of various gardens around the United Kingdom area both macrophotography and landscape views, then a chance for discussion. As we tour through the gardens we will discuss various travel topics.
UPEI Parking Pass Required?	No
Additional Costs?	No
Additional Costs or Information

Course Facilitator

Allyson MacDonald

Allyson is an avid and chaotic gardener who has spent the last 25 years visiting some of the world's most astounding gardens. A frequent speaker at Horticultural meetings in Ontario I would like to continue to share my experiences with others. There is a true joy to be found in wandering through someone else's creative space. I hope to share some of the joy of adding gardens to your travel itineraries.