Woods Garden  Club
Hedgesville, WV

Woods Garden Club Bus Trip

(Non-members welcome!)

Longwood Gardens, PA --

June 21, 2023

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Itinerary:  Self-tour and box lunch at Brandywine Museum of Art, self-tour at Longwood Gardens, and dinner break at MacGregor's Restaurant in Havre de Grace,  MD. 

 

What’s Included:  Coach bus transportation to and from The Woods, lunch, admission fees at Brandywine Museum of Art and Longwood Gardens, dinner, tips for driver and restaurant wait staff, and traveling convenience gift.

 

Optional Extras:  Alcohol or additional food items purchased at meals that are not included with our group pre-arrangements are your responsibility.  Both museums have a variety of interesting items for purchase in their gift shops.  Longwood Gardens has many electric scooters available for use (donation optional).

 

Cost:  $155 for members; $165 for non-members.  No reservations will be taken after May 30.  Full-payment needed at that time.

 

Deadline for Full Payment:  May 30.    

 

Cancellation Policy:  If you cancel after May 30, there will be no refund. It will be your responsibility to find a replacement to take over your reservation and they must accept the choices of food you designated for your reservation.   

 

Brandywine Museum of Art  -- American Art in a Spectacular Setting

 

The Brandywine Museum of Art is located within an old grist mill which has been lovingly restored and preserved.  Renowned for its holdings of the Wyeth family of artists, the Museum features galleries dedicated to the work of N. C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth and Jamie Wyeth. The Museum’s outstanding Heritage Collection is a cross section of American art, with a special focus on artistic practice in the Brandywine Valley. Nineteenth- and twentieth-century landscape paintings testify to the beauty which drew well-known artists to the area. Important portraits, still life paintings and notable holdings in American illustration add diversity and breadth to this unique collection.

 

The Millstone Café features a seasonally-inspired and locally-sourced menu, complemented by a range of artisanal drinks and snacks. The café features floor-to-ceiling windows and showcases food grown and produced by artisans the fertile Brandywine Valley.  A box lunch will be provided for you to eat inside with a picturesque river view or go outside to enjoy the gardens and grounds.  Our lunch choices of sandwiches are:  

• Chicken Salad with Mixed Greens on Croissant

• Black Forest Ham, Muenster Cheese on Sesame Wheat,  Wholegrain Mustard and Mixed Greens

• Mozzarella Cheese, Sliced Tomatoes on Ciabatta with Spring Mix, Balsamic, Basil Aioli. 

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Also included:   Bag of Chips; Clementine, Apple, or Banana; Chocolate Chip Cookie; and Beverage – Iced Tea or Lemonade.  You will need to tell us your sandwich choice at the time of registration. 

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For more information:   www.brandywine.org

 

Longwood Gardens  -- Beauty in the Making

 

 Longwood Gardens are a living expression of all that their founder, Pierre S. du Pont, found inspiring, meaningful, and beautiful. From the intricate fountain systems to the meticulous gardens to the architectural grandeur, awe-inspiring discoverie s await at every turn.  It consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, PA in the Brandywine Valley.  It is one of the premier horticultural display gardens in the United States and is open to visitors year-round to enjoy the varied outdoor gardens, ranging from formal to naturalistic in their landscape design, and 20 indoor gardens within a group of heated greenhouses.  Longwood's Conservatory contains 4,600 different types of plants and trees, as well as fountains.

 

Years before it was a public garden, the land on which Longwood Gardens stands was home to the native Lenni Lenape tribe and Quaker farmers. Since then, the land has undergone significant transformation to become the magnificent property that is enjoyed by more than a million guests each year.  In July 1906, 36-year-old Pierre du Pont purchased the farm primarily to preserve the trees, but it soon grew into much more. He followed no grand plan; rather, he built the gardens piecemeal, beginning with the “old- fashioned” Flower Garden Walk. His later gardens would draw heavily on Italian and French forms.  Many generations helped create Longwood Gardens, but Pierre du Pont – industrialist, conservationist, farmer, designer, impresario, and philanthropist – was to make the most enduring contribution.  Today, sustainability is a key initiative and the gardens are undergoing a significant transformation.  If you haven't been there recently, you need to visit again. 

 

The size of the gardens should not be a deterrent for anyone.  When we check in, you will be able to get your own electric scooter to enjoy the accessible pathways without overexerting.  There is no charge to use the scooters or regular wheelchairs but a donation of an amount of your choosing would be appreciated.  Everyone will get an illustrated map of the gardens with accessible paths marked.  From someone who has tried it out -- it is a very doable, enjoyable way to spend your afternoon. 

 

For more information:  www.longwoodgardens.org. 

History of the gardens: www.longwoodgardens.org/history. 

What’s in bloom:  https://longwoodgardens.org/gardens/highlights

 

MacGregor's Restaurant, Havre de Grace, MD

 

We will break up the drive home with a stop for a nice plated dinner.  Established in 1987, MacGregor's Restaurant has been serving upscale-casual American and "fish-focused fare" for over 30 years.  It is located right on the waterfront of the Susquehanna River in historic Havre de Grace and we will be seated on the accessible second floor to enjoy the wonderful view. 

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Entrée choices will be:  

• Chicken Marsala -- Seared chicken breast in a rich mushroom marsala wine sauce

 • Stuffed Flounder -- Broiled flounder stuffed with house crab imperial

• Flat Iron Steak -- (a well-marbled shoulder cut, with the tenderness of a fillet)

• Vegetarian Lasagna

  

Or you may wish to order two Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes instead, with an added upcharge of $23, Inc. tax and gratuity. You will need to tell us your entrée choice at the time of registration.    

 

Included in your tour price will be your choice of iced tea, soft drink or coffee; classic house salad; dinner roll with butter; your choice of entrée; mashed potatoes and the vegetable du jour; plus tax and gratuity for this portion of your meal. If you wish to add something alcoholic from the drink menu or a dessert, you will pay for these items separately plus associated tax and gratuity for the server.  

 

For more information:  https://www.macgregorsrestaurant.com

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Approximate Timeline:

 

6:30 am - Depart from behind sports center – Stretch break taken mid-way

10:30 am - Self-tour and lunch at Brandywine Museum of Art 

12:45 - 4:00 pm - Visit to Longwood Gardens

5:00 pm - Dinner and rest stop at MacGregor's

9:30 pm – Arrive sports center

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Reservations are now closed.  These details have been retained so you can see the typical format for our trips and what is included.  We will announce the destination for 2024 as soon as it is available.

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Questions?  Contact us for answers. 

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