Join Garden and Nature Tours with C. Colston Burrell, The Minnesota State Horticultural Society and local guide Vernon Campos in San Jose, Costa Rica to explore a tropical paradise. Though scarcely larger than West Virginia, this friendly country is a magnet for gardeners, birders, natural history enthusiasts and adventurers. For its size, Costa Rica has more preserved land than any other country in the world, nearly 1/4 of its landmass.

Costa Ricans, like most gardeners, are drawn to a wealth of plants from around the world. Gardens here are as variable as their owners but are often set within a nurturing envelope of native trees. Colorful foliage is favored as a foil for the deep green palms, philodendrons and elephant ears that are commonly grown. Gingers, heliconias, birds of paradise, gardenias and succulents provide long seasons of bloom, augmented by orchids and tropical bulbs in season.

In these gardens, parks, and lodges, an unbelievable array of tropical ornamentals and edibles awaits discovery. Costa Rica boasts over 9,000 species of flowering plants and 800 species of ferns. The 876 species or birds, including flamboyant toucans and tanagers, are sure to seduce even the casual birder. Parrots, hummingbirds, tanagers and honeycreepers flock to the blazing orange coral trees that set the countryside awash with spring color. This diversity of plants and animals is due to incredible variation in topography, vegetation and rainfall patterns.

We plan to tour the private garden of and Randall Obsney and enjoy lunch in his garden. As a special treat, we visit the private garden and extensive orchid collection of Ileana de Terán, and enjoy dinner in her garden with stunning views of the Central Valley We visit Green Ark Foundation to learn about sustainable agriculture, and enjoy lunch in their farm-to-table restaurant. We have three days to explore the preserves and gardens in Monteverde, perhaps the best known destination in Costa Rica. Additional stops include Rincon de la Vieja National Park - the Yellowstone of Costa Rica, as well as Santa Rosa National Park, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Join us for this unforgettable journey to explore bucolic scenery, gardens and wild landscapes of Costa Rica, with exciting opportunities for exploration and relaxation.