I'd go to Costa Rica for starters, they have bromeliads, orchids and begonias growing in the wild and then I'd go to Thailand where there are a lot of orchid nurseries and I'd probably have to stop off at Hawaii for their orchid nurseries. Then I'd buy the book '1000 Places to See Before You Die'-in the index it has quite a few gardens listed.
Barb

My dream vacation is traveling the United States by motorchome along the road less traveled. I'd visit every nook and cranny and visit every fabric store (as well as gardens) along the way.

Spain. My mother's family is from Asturias and the Spanish/Moorish gardens and architecture are "just" fancy enough for me. I've been to Portugal and it was fabulous so I have to think Spain will be, too. I just have to eat beans a few more years and...

Julie

Hmmm.... msmarion has me wondering if she meant motorchrome (Harley) or motorhome (Winnebago)

For me, I wish I could just do the backpack thing until I ran out of dry land

I'd go back to Saint Martin/St. Maarten in a HEART-BEAT! I toured a 300-year old mango grove with hummingbirds, wild orchids and flora/fauna out of this world. Reasonable rates, friendly people and beautiful sunsets.

Our 'trip of a lifetime' was to Antarctica - no gardens there though. The most beautiful tropical garden I have ever seen was the Mandai Water Garden in Singapore - small but exquisite. I also loved Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town - fabulous proteas, clivias etc.

Everywhere wet. I'm not terribly interested in desert, but everything else...I'm on my way!

Having been to quite a few places in the world, I will tell you this: don't plan your trip exclusively around a garden tour. Despite our somewhat ravenous desire for plants, there's much more that any country you visit has to offer than just their gardens.

That having been said let me offer you some pointers on the places Ive been to already and those I am planning to visit.

North America - If you live in Florida, youÂve already had a heavy dose of tropical and subtropical flora so go north. I grew up in New Jersey, a very rural part of the state, and had the joy of seeing the tall, deciduous trees in all their glory when the seasons changed. Having also spent several years at school in Boston, I was privy to a show of color that was twice as impressive at that same time. I also lived in Arizona for seven months - if youÂve never seen the desert in bloom, you will be shocked by the sudden onslaught of color as it changes from beige to rainbow almost overnight. IÂve been to Northern California and seen the majestic redwoods, but hey, a tall tree is a tall tree and thatÂs that.

Central America - Despite the beauty of the rainforest, almost every plant I saw in Costa Rica was something I had in my own garden her in Boca Raton. Nonetheless, I would go back several times just for the canopy tours, the whitewater rafting, and the volcano.

Japan - There is an elegance and simplicity to the Japanese garden that is impossible for most Westerners to appreciate. After youÂve been to all the temples, shrines, and monuments, you will find yourself drifting away with each new garden you visit. When you can take three boulders, one tree, and a handful of shrubs on top of some raked gravel and amaze someone who thrives on color, depth, and plants per square foot you have to bow your head in reverence.

Europe - This summerÂs trip was to Scotland and Amsterdam where the glass house rules the day. But the most impressive gardens I saw were outdoors! Scotland is the northern end of the Gulf Stream and the climate is not what youÂd expect (yes itÂs cold and rainy, but not all the time.) England, of course has cottage gardens - the forerunner to every American garden thatÂs ever been dug - and every house has one and ever homeowner tries to best their neighbor. The French gardens are heavily statued and the plants seemed to be more of an afterthought than the stars of the show. Versailles was at one time opulent, graffiti has changed all that. Italy follows a similar form as France, but go there for the food.

Africa - I went for the jungle, but ended up in the dry plains of Kenya and Tanzania - the animals have eaten most of whatÂs worth seeing, but the animals are why most travelers go in the first place.

The Caribbean - I go to Jamaica twice a year. Same plants as Florida, but the illegal one here is tolerated there and much cheaper. IÂve been to the Bahamas and St. Maarten, both wonderful vacations, but again - I live in South Florida, itÂs pretty much the same.

My dream vacations? Put Australia and New Zealand on the list and all of Southeast Asia. Until the political climate stabilizes in South America, IÂll pass. But at the very top of the list, in capital letters and underlined several times is the Seychelles. Many years ago I had a friend whose mother was a travel agent. She told me that if she had unlimited funds and two weeks vacation, she would go to the Seychelles. And if she had unlimited funds and three weeks vacation, she would go to the Seychelles and never come back - she was an avid gardener, by the way.

Hi

Where are the world travelers when you need them lol.
Have been to Costa Rica 4 times . Only place I have not visited is Armistad. the one that straddles the border between CR and Panama. It is difficult to get to and would definitely require at least some mountain climbing skills.
i don't think I'd be comfortable without a guide. Generally what can be seen there is not important enough to justify the expense. Have no desire to go above frost line anyway.
On the other hand much of what can be seen there exists in Colombia,Venezuela plus the addition of glaciers and alpine forest. Apparently MUCH easier travel Going from country to country is very limited and probably not woth the hassle, So I think the best would be pick one and go there confine travels within borders of that country. Distances are MUCh greater so expenses would be higher also. To me , the most interesting to see would be the Tapuis so unique in the world.
Further south would be Peru ,Ecuador and lets not forget the Amazon basin Travel is VERY easy and trips are easily arranged . Again looks like it would be necessary to stay within borders and arrange before going.
On the other hand
Madagascar
New Calidonia
Tropical Australia
Solomons
An d finally that which would definitely be FABULOUS from a biology standpoint
New Guinea ,Irian Jaya,Bismarks. New Britain ,New Ireland.
Ground transportation seems limited BUT available.. Again don't think I'd be interested in areas above frost line anyway.
Somehow a trip to the Georgia aquarium does not seem like a "Trip of a lifetime" lol
Any other suggestions??? thanks gary

Germany in late Spring
Norway in Summer
Korea in Fall
Japan in Winter (awesome!)

Evelyn

Well I'm not a world traveler yet. I even had to google some of the places that you listed :-> but I will be going back to Hawaii for sure. It looks like S FL on steroids. I pulled out my camera and started taking pictures of plants in the airport believe it or not. It was beautiful to me even if the vegetation is so similar to FL. I would go from island to island if I could. Heck, I would move there if I could. Might not be exotic enough for a trip of a lifetime though.

Japan is on my list of places to see. After Ricky's description it went higher on the list.

Hi
Thanks for the suggestions .What I primarily would like to see is widerness lol. Way off the beaten path lol.
As to the stability in SA. It won't be long before they're all living in Florida anyway lol Problem solved
One advantage I have is I have friends in both Venezuela and Colombia.. A local guide is always great no matter where you go .As to wildlife there is no other destination
in both the Ameericas. Panama for birds, Colombia for plants and Venezuela for scenery. A list of Biota in that location is mind boggling lol.3500 species of Orchids alone!!2700 trees. about 115,000 known species of plants!
Isn't it funny that after all these years it's not only possible to get to these places it's relatively easy. But you shouldn't do it because of politics lol.
I feel rather sure that the natives might shoot rob or beat me to death but they will not eat me lol. Civilization marches on!!! thanks gary

Interesting topic, Gary! I have enjoyed reading about others dreams and adventures. Let's see,,,,once I got my first car, I had no problem traveling the USA It used to freak my Mom out, but I wanted to see everything! Grew up in Michigan and we had wonderful state parks that were fab for hiking and cycling. Went to Canada often. Where else have I been, well Outside the U.S. for example, I taught scuba diving for 10 years and the Caribbean had my name on a few beaches. St Maarten and St Barths- 2 of my favs, would definitely go again. Did live-aboards all over the Virgin Gorda and Tortugas. Been to Bimini, Bahamas, Anguilla, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Rico, and a bunch of Islands in between.

I have been to England/Scotland twice. Loved the people and their English Gardens. They take so much pride in their gardens and they are so different from SW Florida gardens. When traveling I always try to visit botanical gardens. I love the one in Philadelphia (or near Philly) and the one in Saint Louis. Both stand out in my mind. San Diego's gardens and their Zoo is a must see. As far as dreaming, I have 2 destinations at the top of my list: an Alaskan cruise and a trip to Italy where my fathers's Addessi ancestors still have a large commune in a the village of Itri. ahhh dreams DO come true! Get these hips finxed and watch me GO!!

How about a trip to the Amazon before it is gone forever?

Didn't see Mexico for the Monarch migration.

hi
Amazon seems interesting which part and what method. ??
Have been to Mexico several times but never ito the tropical parts. The Monarch migration would definitely be a sight to behold.
one of the things that interested me about N Guniea is butterflies. Worlds largest rarest.,most number of species.
Then the Birds of Paradise. Of the 42 species only one person has seen more than 35. Several may not exist anymore.
Of course you can see 28 species in the Jurong Birdpark in Singapore. and would have good chance of seeing the males in full color. Atlanta has the most in the US. but only 10.
By sheer luck I saw a male Resplendent Quetzal in full color in Costa Rica.!! Got a wonderful pic. of the limb where he used to be lol. Also got to see 3 species of Morpho butterflies two with no damage at all.
A Cattleya orchid that I could get close enough to actually touch.. Funny about this because I have seen thousands of orchids mostly in collections. But this one seems the most important and it was not in flower and have no idea which species.
The Bismarks and New Calidonia seem inviting due to the rarity of the species and of course can you imagine SCUBA diving!!!! in the Coral sea??? gary

My daughter just came back from 15 days in Fiji, and she loved it. They did kayaking, snorkeling, birding and hiking, and saw what she thought were wonderful plants and gardens, jungles and rivers. She is NOT a gardener, so perhaps the plants wouldn't be unusual to someone growing tropical stuff, but the islands were gorgeous and the water, too, apparently. I'd love to go there, myself.

Scotland is my dream trip, but not because of gardens. I'm attracted to all things Scottish...from the lovely accents of the Scots people to the humor of the raconteurs in Glasgow to the Celtic music to the numerous standing stones and other historical places. Bogs and lochs and moors and highlands and castles! And let's not forget...tada!...MEN IN KILTS! Woohooo! Oh, wait. I forgot...this is Gary's post. That's probably not something he'd be excited about!

After Scotland, I'd hit all the rest of Great Britain, and then I'd head to the Seychelles & the Maldives. Just the sight of those huge, smooth rocks in the clear water is enough reason for me to want to go those islands. Don't know anything about the plants in either place, but I'd sure like to visit both.

Of course, I've never been ANYWHERE, so it would all be new and exciting to me!

In the U.S., there's not one thing about the Blue Ridge mountains that I don't love, especially in the fall.

Okay, enough dreaming for myself. I'm sure this is not where you were going with this topic, Gary, but it made me feel good to think about these places for awhile! Thanks!

Marcia

As a former Delawarean I can highly recommend Longwood Gardens near Wilmington DE and since it's nearby go to Winterthur (pronounced Winter-toor), smaller gardens but more personal size (if you're a millionaire). People from Europe come to both.
Growing up in WPB I loved the Society of the Four Arts garden in Palm Beach.