Reserve a Date with Nature

Posted in Programs and Events on April 20 2010, by Plant Talk

Groups Pampered with Private Tour, Luxurious Lunch

Suzanne Flanagan is Group Tours Coordinator.

When groups of 20 or more visit the Garden, they generally like to make a day of it. Who wouldn’t want to spend time relaxing in this beautiful National Historic Landmark? Reserve a Date with Nature allows you to combine a private tour of your choice with a delicious catered lunch.

This premier, all-inclusive package is a favorite among groups, many of which come back year after year and keep things fresh by trying different tours and menus. We handle everything for you, which makes the planning process a cinch.

Private catered lunches are held in an exclusive area in one of our on-site dining locations, the modern Visitor Center Cafe or the historic Stone Mill (which will reopen in September), eliminating all worry of seating and schedules. Menu options are specifically designed for group dining and range from assorted sandwiches to grilled buffet entrées with gourmet salads and hearty grain sides. This is no plain-Jane spread. Group members will leave smiling and satisfied, especially once they notice the dessert tray!

Guided tours are also tailored to each group’s needs. For example, if your garden club has a special interest in woodland trees, we can provide an expert-led walking tour of the Botanical Garden’s impressive 50-acre Native Forest. If you have a group of first-time visitors looking for an escape from the office, we will arrange a tour focusing on the highlights of the Garden, either on foot or via private Tram. With all that the Garden has to offer, there are endless options from season to season.

Our wonderful docents—with decades of accumulated plant knowledge and experience—present amazing, in-depth tours. Each docent has a unique style, which is matched accordingly with a group’s interests. For instance, one of our docents, a retired physician, gave a tour for a group of medical doctors who thoroughly enjoyed his knowledge of medicinal plants.

An added bonus to Reserve a Date with Nature, as with all our group packages, is that the All-Garden Pass is included in the group ticket. This means that along with your guided tour and lunch, you can access everything at the Garden, including programs and special gardens and exhibitions. We recommend allowing extra time in your schedule so that members of your group may explore the grounds on their own—they might want to stop by Shop in the Garden or just enjoy the sunshine among the flowers in one of our many stunning collections.

For more information, visit the Group Tours Web page or call 718.817.TOUR (8687).