Paradise Gardens

A CULTURAL TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA IN THE FOOTSTEPS
OF ROBERTO BURLE MARX

Chile, Brazil and Buenos Aires: October 2012

This general cultural tour has an emphasis upon the gardens and landscapes of Roberto Burle Marx in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Juan Grimm in Chile and Cristina Le Mehauté in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Burle Marx, who always saw himself as an artist who ‘painted with plants’, has been the dramatic and dominant force in landscape design in South America and we will visit his own Sitio (‘Garden of Wonders’) his nurserystudio- garden and home, gardens for offi ce complexes and a range of fabulous private gardens not normally accessible. These gave him space, dramatic landscapes and free rein to compose with his sinuous lines and exuberant planting.

We will stay near his famous Copacabana beach promenade and visit historic districts, the architecture of Oscar Niemeyer (who often worked with Marx) and visit a favela which gave birth to the famous Carnival—an echo of the sensuous landscapes of Rio.

Similarly in Chile, we visit gardens designed by leading landscape architect Juan Grimm who followed in Marx’s footsteps, carving his own niche with his wonderful gardens set among mountains, streams and dams of Chile
— an extraordinarily beautiful country.

We explore Pablo Neruda’s immortal verse and visit two of his homes where we will enjoy the passions and eccentricities of this Nobel Laureate. We tour the bohemian Bellavista precinct, the historic estancias and the famous vineyard Santa Rita with its stunning arboretum, lake and chapel. We also visit a range of inspiring gardens, landscapes and villages including Zapallar, arguably the most picturesque seaside village in South America and Valparaiso, an historic port inhabited by artisans, artists and their painted houses.

En route to Buenos Aires we visit the Iguazu Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world for a well earned break, with a view of the world’s biggest falls from our rooms.

In Buenos Aires, the tango replaces the samba and we enjoy the historic architecture of this very European city—with its cafes, antique markets, boulevards, museums, gardens and porteno nostalgia.

The tour features personal contact with leading designers and garden owners with access to their properties.
It is led by Warwick and Sue Forge, Juan Grimm, Rudolf Thomann (eminent biologist), Isabela Ono (daughter of Haruyoshi Ono, (partner with Burle Marx for nearly 30 years) and Clara Billoch—garden expert and author in Buenos Aires.

For details of this 20 day tour contact Warwick Forge warwick@bloomings.com.au t: 03 9819 1335.