Have you been to the National Arboretum in NE Washington, DC? 10 minutes from the capitol. We were just there three weeks ago. An amazing collection of many bonsai, penjing, suiseki. When we were there, there was a juried show of ikebana. The extrordinary bonsai (several are gifts from heads of state from their personal collections) are in a series of pavillions and gardens, including a Japanese stroll garden, a walled Chinese garden, a Chinese scholar's room and an exhibition hall and open-air display areas for the bonsai. Have a wonderful trip! PS - You might get more responses if you post this in the discussions side of the forum.

Ginger I'd be out in a minute... sadly I live in Michigan. I'm a UH Grad and used to live in Hawaii Kai 74-78. I'm planning on moving back for good within the next few years. I can't stand this State I live in... Michigan. Its got nothing to look forward to. Aloha Nui Loa !!!!

Hi Betty - I assume that you are now in Kenosha. Are you interested in public gardens and/or nurseries? Just outside of Milwaukee in Hales Corner, the Boerner Botanic Gardens are lovely. We were just there early last month and enjoyed it immensely. They have trial gardens for perennials, annuals and vegetables. It was very peaceful. Mitchell Domes in Milwaukee is OK, but not my favorite. The CHicago Botanic is nice too (though a bit more crowded than Boerner). This summer they have a great model railroad/garden exhibit that is worth the extra $3. Just hop onto 94 or 41 and head south to Lake Cook Road. In Madison, I have heard the University Arboretum is good, but can not attest to it personally. The Olbrich Botanic is a little small, but very well laid out and fun to explore. My favorite nursery is just south of Madison in rural Oregon/Stoughton. Take highway 14 south out of Madison to county road A and take a left to the Flower Factory. If you like perennials you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Nice display gardens too. If you get close to Janesville, the Rotary Gardens are worth a stop. If you like Japanese gardens you may want to continue on to Rockford to see the Anderson Japanese Garden. It is a regular on the annual Garden Glory Tour and is open to the public year round for a nominal charge. If you would like to see private gardens on a normal city lot, I live in Woodstock IL (just south of Lake Geneva) and you sure can come tour mine, weary as it is in August. I will even supply the mosquito spray (we have a lot of shade and it has been wet this year...) I could probably convince my friend Linda to open hers up too. We are both primarily perennial gardeners with a special interest in hosta. Here are some addresses according to my book, the Garden Tourist 2000 Boerner: 5879 South 92nd Street in Whitnall Park, Hales Corners, WI free entrance, parking fee Mitchell Park Conservatory: 524 South Layton Blvd, Milwaukee WI $4, children $2.50 Chicago Botanic: 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL Free admission, $7 parking ($5 on Tues for seniors) Olbrich Botanic Gardens: 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison admission to the grounds: free, conservatory $1 University of WI Madison Arboretum: 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison WI,free admission, donations welcome Janesville Rotary Gardens: 1355 Palmer Drive (Exit 175A off I-90, left on Palmer Drive) Admission free, donations encouraged Anderson Gardens: 318 Spring Creek Road Admission $4, seniors and students $3 The Paine Art Center and Arboretum are described in this book too. This 15 acre arboertum in is Oshkosh WI and is free, open Tues - Sun. I have not been there. Hope this has been of some help!

Netla, the first book that came to mind, though an old classic was Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life by Mrs Gaskell, written in the time of those 'dark satanic mills'. Modern writers from that area include Val McDermid, popular crime writer and Jeanette Winterson Oranges are Not the Only Fruit; she has become an increasing angry lesbian so don't know about her other work. ;-( You will love both Durham and York, both small enough to easily walk around and with beautiful church and other buildings. There is The Story of Durham by Douglas Pocock which looks interesting (though pricey). The site below gives some eg's of books set in/about York. Loads of history . . . Roman, Viking, railways, chocolate-making etc. Whitby is also interesting. Look out for anything from Saint Hilda to Captain Cook . .. and Dracula! Hope this helps a bit. Here is a link that might be useful: Books Set in York