This coming May, I will be taking a group of garden lovers to visit some of the most exotic and spectacular gardens in the world.  From the myterious Alhambra to the sublime Orange Tree Courtyard in Cordoba, our trip to Spain and Portugal offers a glimpse into the unique blend of traditional Spanish culture overlaid with its rich Moorish past.

We will be spending two weeks on the Iberian peninsula starting in Madrid, moving south to Toledo and Granada, venturing to Seville and Cordoba, before heading into Portugal and its capital, Lisbon. Along the way we'll see everything from ancient Roman ruins and the gardens if Islam, to modern Spanish and Portuguese gardens. It's been my dream to take a group there for years. And now we're going and it's your chance to be a part of the adventure.

The dates are May 14-28, 2008. The the cost per person is $3,950 (double occupancy). We will be seeing beautiful gardens, extraordinary cities, and scenery that will take your breath away. And as usual on our trips around the world, you will get a full dose of the culture of Spain and Portugal.

Our accommodations are first class with center city locations.  We will be flying out of and returning to Philadelphia International Airport.

I am your host for this fantastic journey. As a landscape architect and associate professor of horticulture at Virginia Tech, I have been teaching landscape design and lecturing on garden history for 29 years. I’ve planned every detail of this trip to make certain that it will be more than memorable. I would like to personally invite you to join me on this exciting study tour. 2008 marks my tenth year of taking groups abroad to visit gardens. 

We have limited space, so you are encouraged to register early. Check out the itinerary and details about the trip and please contact me if you have any questions.

Robert F. McDuffie
Landscape Architect and Associate Professor
Virginia Tech