England
The Art of Country Living
Thank you once again for a trip of a lifetime. Our trip to the gardens and manor houses in the Devon countryside was magical. Kaye
Art of Travel designs unique travel experience for individuals and small groups. We shape your days to include off-the-beaten path neighborhoods in big cities, or colorful markets and antique fairs in the country. Whether following in the footsteps of painters or visiting great art museums, with Art of Travel you will experience a level and depth of travel experience unlike any other. Also visit: website: www.art-of-travel.com
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England Trips - May/June 2016
London & the Chelsea Flower Show
Art of Country Living
What a glorious trip we had to England, replete with fine weather! The Chelsea Flower Show, now 140 years old, was our anchor and how it has changed over the years. Garden designers came from all over the world, as well as manufacturers of garden supplies. New garden displays took on new themes including a "Slave Garden" giving a visual of human trafficking and domestic slaves.
Another important
visit close by and giving perspective on Chelsea was the Chelsea Physic
Garden. Those gardeners called the physic garden the "real garden" as
contrasted to the Chelsea "fake gardens". Originally an apothecaries
garden, it is the second oldest botanic garden in England. I enjoyed
learning that the tobacco plant was used to treat swine flu. It was
there we heard the Chelsea designer gardens had plantings from various
zones all blooming simultaneously none of which would ever bloom at the
same time or in a similar clime. That bit of information made those
designer gardens at the Chelsea Show more "fantastastical"! As one head
gardener said, "plants are like guests invited to a party. You don't
put some with others..."
Susie
England Trips - May/June 2016
London & the Chelsea Flower Show
Art of Country Living
Off to Chelsea Flower Show Gala
What a glorious trip we had to England, replete with fine weather! The Chelsea Flower Show, now 140 years old, was our anchor and how it has changed over the years. Garden designers came from all over the world, as well as manufacturers of garden supplies. New garden displays took on new themes including a "Slave Garden" giving a visual of human trafficking and domestic slaves.
On the countryside trip to
Kent and Devon, the top choice was Pashley Manor Garden, privately owned
by the Selleck Family. There were 800 years of gardens here and a
showcase for David Austin Roses in the walled garden. What I found
interesting was the history of the Pashley sheep. They fed on the roots
of the trees (Pashley is actually an arboretum too) and as a result
produced a very high quality of lanolin. The sheep wool made for
wonderful birds nests as well. So everything is thriving at Pashley!
Then
there were the private visits! Minnie Churchill, Liz and Johnny Astor,
the Cliffords and the Arrans. Oh I can't forget Sir Benji Slade who
hosted a fabulous lunch in his garden with so many of his eccentric
friends. Be sure and notice the fabulous hat on the table in the photo
with Kaye and Sandra with Benji.
The Arran's,
Castle Hill, a palladian country house, was the best. 5500 acres of
parkland and gardens all with fabulous vistas from the patio. (Be sure
and note that photo below.) And their dining table was exquisite. We
enjoyed formal dinners, beautifully served by Robert and Garry, footman
of the old world. I couldn't help but notice their perfect deportment
in service to Lady and Lord Arran.
The Art of
Country Living unfolded in spontaneous moments...the pets at each
household, the portraits of the pets, pets at the tables! The passion
for gardens...creating new birthday gardens for milestone birthdays!
Neighbors bringing shrubs, and other plant material to place in the new
birthday gardens...the art of the picnic...champagne served in the
beautiful garden follies, and, much much more.
This
was not a cookie cutter trip, or even a custom trip. It was a
discovery trip where something new unfolded every minute! It took a
cast of characters to make it happen!
Pashley Manor House and gardens,
a favorite for everyone, including Patti
Curt giving scale of a huge oak at Pashley Manor.
Linda with Minnie Churchill at Chartwell.
Sir Winston Churchill.
Lunch at Astor Estate--note wisteria in background.
Susie at Sir Benjamin Slade's Maunsel House, Devon
The Art of English Living includes special pets.
Nancy & Page in Castle Hill dining room.
Caroline--Best guide in England
in the gravel garden at Beth Chatto's Garden
Beth Chatto's Garden, Essex.
Kaye & Sandra at Ben's surprise luncheon.
Sandra:
I just want to share that I read "1000 Places to See Before You Die" and there were THREE on the list which we had just visited in the past seven days! It listed the White Gardens at Sissinghurst, the Lake at Stourhead with its pavilion, grottos and folies, as well as the seaside walk through the Valley of Rocks to Lynton in Devon. For those who did Chelsea flower Show, that was on the list as well. What was not included (but would be for anyone fortunate enough to have stayed there), I would add our fabulous stay at Castle Hill with Lord and Lady Arran. It was the true PRINCESS experience if there ever was one. You have provided life's memorable moments once again. Thank you so much for organizing these wonderful opportunities, We are so lucky to be your friends.
Susie at iron gate.
Private lunch at medieval gatehouse in East Anglia.
Kaye in a world of rhodies.
Lady Nell in her garden.
Nothing like an English garden in Devon.
Patti in the world"s smallest elevator in London's largest museum.
Ceramic or glass installation for a show at Royal Hospital.
Tea for three at a lovely private home in London.
Nancy and Page with surprise guest.
Sue, Curt and Vicki with the Queen at Pettifers' party.
Sue:
What was not to love about this trip?/ London is a most-engaging and fascinating city and visiting it in the spring for the Chelsea Flower Show and tour of gardens in/around the city was a wonderful experience! As has been true for me with Art of Travel trips, three times now, I can only be awed by and applaud Susie for finding her travelers THE BEST guides and experiences and helping us wend our way around new environments in as comfortable a manner as possible. Caroline was a font of knowledge about her country, city and historic, and current personages, and I especially enjoyed her version of the TOP 10 at the British Museum, an add-on that several of us enjoyed before the actual tour began on Monday, the 23rd,...how else to start contemplating that daunting institution? I left the tour half-way through, but can say that visiting the flower show and seven gardens was enough stimulation to last for quite some time. Prince Charles' country estate, Highgrove, and the Chelsea Physic Garden were my personal favorites, though all was GREAT! Fun to be with congenial fellow travelers and the Kensington Hotel at the corner of Queen's Gate and Brompton Road, was a lovely small hotel. There was not enough down time to even write postcards, but would rather be experiencing and enjoying at the end of the day! I had a perfect return from the black cab, Heathrow Express and the flight back. Very great way to get to/from Heathrow.
Tommy Clifford at his private Ugbrook Chapel.
Curt and Vicki.
Curt and Vicki with designer of Harrods' garden.
Which way smartie boy?
Finale on Devon coast with naturalist guide,
Richard--notice Wales faintly on the horizon.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Newport, Rhode Island--A Colonial & Gilded Age Journey
Art of Travel Group Trip
May 2016
Comments and Photos
Susie Mammel: What a pleasure to work with a small, private, adventuresome group and watch them engage with such high caliber gentlemen from Newport, Rhode Island. Dan, author, lecturer, preservationist, is one of those. His wealth of knowledge is layered by historic architecture, religious freedom and the wild stories from the "Gilded Age." On the other hand, Paul, curator of the Newport mansions, led us through a plethora of decorative arts to build the layers even higher. Gilded Age Newport is one of a kind in the world!
Dan Snydacker: Susie: What a great time we had! This was a wonderful group of very accomplished, intelligent, energetic women. Your prompting to dig deeper into the meaning of what we had seen was really stimulating.
Sandra: As you know, I read "Gilded" on the way home from Newport and finished the book as we landed. One advantage of reading later is that I recognized people in the book I never would have thought about until visiting their homes. Let the group know that there is reference to Laurence and Judith on page 254 and the opposition to their museum being in the neighborhood. Neighbors showed up to oppose their use in zoning hearings. They may not feel welcome yet! Also, on page 264 is a reference to Ronald. We missed a wonderful intellectual by not meeting him. He hosts wonderful dinner parties and is a well known part of the community! So sorry we missed meeting him personally, but we did get to experience his surroundings! What a fun trip! Looking forward to continuing my education in the wonderful estates and gardens on England! Thank you so much for arranging both of these memorable experiences!
Newport caviar at high tide
Margo: I thought the trip was fabulous...really top guides and Inn. Meals were great (prefer apples at lunch, but I can be flexible...). You really aced the weather! Could not have added one more sentence with more information. But, for my back, I thought the ratio of walking to bus rides, etc. was good and the special touches were really wonderful--Ron's visit, the art gallery, etc., even your reading list was spot-on. Seriously, reading "Gilded" was a terrific introduction. Thanks for such an excellent experience.
Janis: I loved the trip.
Janie:
This is a very interesting article about Touro Synagogue. I thought
you might like to read it since we were just there. What history that
place had and what a wonderful trip we had. Susie, thanks for all you
did to make the trip so special for us all.
Dan Snydacker, tour guide: These are the headlines in this morning's paper (May 17). The boxed quote is from Bea Ross. Thought the folks in the tour might be interested. Update: ...the Touro Synagogue will remain with its congregation and not become a museum only.
Art of Travel Group Trip
May 2016
Comments and Photos
Susie Mammel: What a pleasure to work with a small, private, adventuresome group and watch them engage with such high caliber gentlemen from Newport, Rhode Island. Dan, author, lecturer, preservationist, is one of those. His wealth of knowledge is layered by historic architecture, religious freedom and the wild stories from the "Gilded Age." On the other hand, Paul, curator of the Newport mansions, led us through a plethora of decorative arts to build the layers even higher. Gilded Age Newport is one of a kind in the world!
Dan Snydacker: Author and preservationist
of all things Newport, our connoisseur guide
at Kingscote.
Dan Snydacker: Susie: What a great time we had! This was a wonderful group of very accomplished, intelligent, energetic women. Your prompting to dig deeper into the meaning of what we had seen was really stimulating.
Paul Miller, Chief Curator, Newport Preservation
Society in kitchen of Marble House
A folly" in the beautifully
landscaped garden.
Sandra: As you know, I read "Gilded" on the way home from Newport and finished the book as we landed. One advantage of reading later is that I recognized people in the book I never would have thought about until visiting their homes. Let the group know that there is reference to Laurence and Judith on page 254 and the opposition to their museum being in the neighborhood. Neighbors showed up to oppose their use in zoning hearings. They may not feel welcome yet! Also, on page 264 is a reference to Ronald. We missed a wonderful intellectual by not meeting him. He hosts wonderful dinner parties and is a well known part of the community! So sorry we missed meeting him personally, but we did get to experience his surroundings! What a fun trip! Looking forward to continuing my education in the wonderful estates and gardens on England! Thank you so much for arranging both of these memorable experiences!
Janie in the Ogden Codman garden.
High tide
Newport caviar at high tide
Famous Newport Private Beach by Artist, Childe Hassam
The Breakers, Vanderbilt Museum, Newport
Margo at The Breakers
Margo: I thought the trip was fabulous...really top guides and Inn. Meals were great (prefer apples at lunch, but I can be flexible...). You really aced the weather! Could not have added one more sentence with more information. But, for my back, I thought the ratio of walking to bus rides, etc. was good and the special touches were really wonderful--Ron's visit, the art gallery, etc., even your reading list was spot-on. Seriously, reading "Gilded" was a terrific introduction. Thanks for such an excellent experience.
George Washington pew--Trinity Church, Newport
Kathy, Nancy, Kaye, Janie, Janis at Francis Malbone Inn, Newport
Janis: I loved the trip.
Nancy, Kathy and Margo, enjoying girlfriends in Newport
Hunter House and Townsend Goddard furniture
makers. One of the rarest examples of a slab
table that survives today.
Shirley at the home of Doris Duke.
Our 1960s Doris Duke look.
Kaye at the Clark Cook House, Newport
Sandra--lunch on the run in Newport.
Dan Snydacker, tour guide: These are the headlines in this morning's paper (May 17). The boxed quote is from Bea Ross. Thought the folks in the tour might be interested. Update: ...the Touro Synagogue will remain with its congregation and not become a museum only.
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