Library plans trip to Longwood Gardens and Philadelphia

Monroe — Monroe Free Library has planned an overnight motorcoach excursion from Saturday, Oct. 22, to Sunday, Oct. 23, to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa., and Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. On Saturday, the group will check out the autumn colors at Longwood Gardens before checking into the nearby Hilton Garden Inn. Dinner at the Chadds Ford Inn is included. The conservatory showcases flowers such as bird-of-paradise, Brazilian-plumes, decorative mums and Egyptian star-clusters. On Sunday, the group will travel to Philadelphia Fairmount Park, the world’s largest landscaped city park. The tour of the park will include Mount Pleasant, Benedict Arnold’s Georgian home, just one of the 18th and 19th century mansions that line the park. After lunch at an area restaurant, there will be a tour of the Fairmount Waterworks, the Boat House Row, a hub of sculling boat races on the Schulkyll River, and the neoclassical landmark buildings, a symbol of Philadelphia. The excursion includes busfare to the attractions, admission, hotel, and three meals. The price for double occupancy is $289, triple is $279, and single is $369. Tickets are on sale now. Seats are limited. Register at the Monroe Free Library, 44 Millpond Parkway, Monroe. Another bus trip is planned for Wednesday, Nov. 2, to the Yale Center for British Art for the “cottage paintings” of Gainsborough, famed portrayer of “Blue Boy.” The gallery in New Haven, Conn., has works of artists from medieval Britain to today’s masterpieces. Of special note will be the animal, sporting and seascape works represented. Tickets are $20, and include motor coach fare and museum admission. Limited space. For more information, call 783-4411.