Autumn landscape tour planned at Grey Towers

MILFORD — If Mother Nature cooperates, the landscape at Grey Towers National Historic Site should be ablaze with fall’s brilliant red, yellow and orange leaves in time for a special autumn landscape tour planned for Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1:30 p.m. Visitors also could be treated to the European Copper Beeches, planted by Governor Gifford Pinchot in the 1920s, as they tower over the landscape and the mansion with their beautiful copper-colored foliage. Another historic Maple tree planted by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman in the early 1800’s should be a dazzling hue. “Evolution of the Grey Towers Landscape; Autumn in Cornelia Pinchot’s Gardens,” will focus on how some of the landscape plants, trees and buildings were incorporated into the design of the 1886-French Chateauesque mansion estate by the Pinchot family. Where else can you see an outdoor dining table made of water or a meeting room that used to be a child’s playhouse? The landscape tour differs from regular public tours because the entire program is focused on the exterior grounds of the estate. Participants who also want to take a regular tour can do so at half price. Group size is limited and pre-registration is suggested. Regular tour fees apply. Participants should meet in the visitor pavilion in the parking lot to begin the walking tour through the grounds. Comfortable shoes are suggested. For more information or to pre-register, call 570-296-9630 or send an e-mail to greytowers@fs.fed.us. Grey Towers, donated to the public in 1963, currently is administered by the USDA Forest Service as a museum and natural resource education, conference and leadership development center.