Gardening Tours by Donna Dawson

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that when I started ICanGarden.com back in 1995 that my world would change so much….at that time there was nothing on the internet about gardening in Canada, for Canadians.  I had just started taking my master gardener program with the University of Alberta at Devonian Botanic Garden too.  Many hours spent on lessons and many hours spent in those gardens and how I loved being in the quiet peace of that garden learning about plants both there and in my class rooms.  Many hours spent on my new site too with Tom even learning code so he could put it together for me.  Over the years the site was given many awards and I was blessed to receive some as well.  I spoke at events including Canada Blooms, Victoria in Bloom and others… being a member of the Garden Writers Association for many years was such an inspiring experience… so many talented writers, speakers and I even helped put together a regional meeting in Edmonton, Alberta.  So many incredible memories…

“The time has come, ” the Walrus said, “To talk of many things….

I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing so many of you over the years, of growing with you and helping you grow, of introducing new writers to you, of hosting Garden Clubs to help you find local places where you could go and learn about plants in your own area, of letting you know about new books that guided you along, of shops and stores where you could find garden products and on and on, but mostly I have met you through email and grown with you over 26 years of having ICanGarden.com. Simply put a Legacy to me is something that is passed on….be it reputation, what you have contributed, who you have touched…and I like to think some have benefited from knowing me over the years.

When this site was created 26 years ago there was nothing out there like it. Yes, we were a trailblazer in so many ways and it was so exciting for me as I searched and researched and the more I did, the more I found and then gardeners and writers found us and off we set and the site grew to one huge resource for so many.

I started working on the site at the time I was taking my master gardener program so you can imagine the whirlwind of knowledge I was surrounded with and by. Creating it was never about the money, it was sheer pleasure at growing myself and sharing it with others and to this day that has remained true.

Through my membership with the Garden Writers Association it grew even more as I met such amazing writers and suppliers of garden products and plants that would benefit you where you live.

I visited gardens that took my breath away and could not wait to share with you…and that led me to start up my own unique garden tours in 1998 with my very first tour to England and Ireland in 1999. I was so very nervous and excited…29 Guests!!

…this is where I will focus my time now as www.gardeningtours.com continues after 23 years to bring not only me immense pleasure but those who travel with me…so many have become such wonderful friends and travel buddies that I wait for each tour to happen so we can meet and travel together again.

….I do know that I will be leaving behind a glorious and memorable past…but will never forget those who have made it so very special over the many years we have been together.

On completion and getting my mg certificate in 1996 I celebrated by going to my very first Chelsea Flower Show with my sister in law. This was also the time that my site went ‘live’.  It was also my very first ‘big’ flight.  We were so excited and looking forward to this tour.  The gardens on the tour were exceptional but I was sad that so little time was actually spent in them.  On the plane ride home I remember thinking that if I would have done it I would have made much more time available to be in the moment in each.  That plane ride home again gave me time to think and that is when gardeningtours.com was born…

This is a very short summation of both I know but those who loved the garden site know the history.  I am very proud of what was done to further gardening in Canada and the joy of meeting so many inspiring writers along the way and those who have travelled with me over the years know how much I love doing those tours and meeting them again.

And oh, the gardens and sights we have seen over these past 26 years of touring… many of them multiple times!

Chelsea Flower Show tours including Highgrove, South Africa, Portugal tours to Lisbon, Sintra, Madeira, Douro Valley, Porto, Ecuador, Belgium Fleuramour, Holland Floriade 2002. 2012 and 2022, France, Spain tours Granada, Seville, Barcelona, China Peony Festival tours, Singapore, Bali, Malaysia, Ireland tour WAFA, Belfast, Dublin, Turkey, Argentina, Greece, India, Morocco, Italy, Taiwan and Thailand.  These are all precious to me as the people I met along the way became frequent guests then friends.  On top of all the above, I had the opportunity to travel to other countries as well like Slovenia, Bulgaria, Israel, Grenada, Australia, Mexico, Scotland, Wales, Colombia,  Costa Rica, Japan, Norway and I am sure others that I have forgotten…

My very last tour before retiring is Spain 2025 – I could not be more pleased or happy to end with one of my very favourite tours.  It is filled with past guests/friends who will make it that much more joyful!

I will over the course be updating and revising…

https://www.facebook.com/donna.dawson.1069 – This is my FB page which I will keep

https://www.gardeningtours.com – This is the Garden Tours website which I will update the home page and leave for the next little while

https://www.instagram.com/donnadawson9982/ – This is my Instagram page which I will keep

My email address is donna@gardeningtours.com which I will keep

I have had the supreme pleasure of doing what I love and loving what I do…of meeting and travel with such incredible people from many parts of the world,..of participating in the production of three books related to plants in Alberta, of writing articles for magazines.  On and on, and joyfully a very fulfilling life and now….I do realize and appreciate that…

– Donna Dawson