Spring Heralds Garden Tours
March 3, 2007. With spring approaching this month, now is the time to reserve a luxury vacation rental and tour one of the nation's great gardens. To help you decide when and where to go, USA Today featured an article on "The USA's Most Beautiful Gardens." In addition to the many public grounds open year-round, the story also highlights some private estates that offer tours during this season only.
In Charleston, S.C., several special events will allow you to take in several private gardens per tour. Because of Charleston's location in the South, these tours begin in mid-March and last through April. If you've never been to "The Palmetto City," this is your chance to see not only some beautiful backyards, but some of the country's oldest and most charming homes.
Out West, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif., also show their best early in the season. The former specializes in unique desert species, while the latter offers a variety that includes subtropical and Australian specimens.
If you want to see some blossoms later in the season, simply adjust your itinerary northward. The Garden in the Woods, in Framingham, Mass., is best enjoyed in April or later.
For those who wish to enjoy the ultimate garden experience, visit Willow Winds Woodland Gardens in Asheville, NC, the only luxury vacation rental development that is actually in a woodland garden. The gardens at Willow Winds burst into full bloom in March and continue through May. From this location you can enjoy the fabulous gardens of the nearby Biltmore Estate, which features the festival of flowers in April and May.
