Category: Pennsylvania

Main Line Gardens

8/2/2014

The gardens in the Main Line continue to astound me. Dodo Hamilton's 10 acre estate is tucked away behind a busy commercial section, you would never know it existed. There are seven full time gardeners who assure the plethora of yew, box and berberis topiaries and hedges are kept immaculately clipped. The greenhouse complex ensures there are fresh flowers daily for the house. Straight axis, great statures, perennial, rose and grass gardens, annuals galore, a fabulous pool and pool house, vegetable and cutting gardens, chicken palace, and touches of whimsy that made the garden very unique.

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Mt Airy Hidden Gardens

6/15/2014

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The Mt. Airy Learning Tree (MALT) has organized an Annual Hidden Gardens Tour for 20 years. This year they showcased 13 homes that have never been featured on the tour — two in Chestnut Hill, three in Germantown and eight in Mt. Airy.

We met Eric Sternfels, the organizer and local gardener and artist, at the first gardens, a row of homes on McCallum Street. A European feel with a great sense of community and gardens with obscurely placed sculptures and other pieces of art. Sternfels selected the sites by scouring the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s City Gardens Contest winners, leaning on his local gardening network and the old-fashioned method of revisiting gardens he liked, with the hope he might run into someone. “It’s really astonishing the amount of knowledge you’ll find is available if you get involved in this little local garden community, it’s amazing how much these spaces have filled in since I saw them the beginning of May. When you’re a gardener, you’re always just missing something. Something’s always just coming into season or just going.”

The next Mt. Airy garden we visited was built in the 1950s by a colleague of renowned modern architect Louis Kahn. Gardeners are friendly people, the host offered us cookies and told us his wife had planned the central feature, a 5,000 gallon garden pond stocked with Koi with an upper bog area that biologically filtered the water without the use of mechanical skimmers.

Only one garden on the tour really stood out, but what was special was the passion evident in the gardeners and the friendship and reciprocity emanating between them. No wine this time but we had a great crepes and coffee at a Mt. Airy cafe we discovered last year on another garden tour.

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Bryn Mawr

6/7/2014

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My favorite home, and one I've always wanted to explore. It was built in the early 1900s in a Quaker style but with an Italianate terrace to the side. Originally there were 17 acres, now reduced to a couple and the formal garden this pergola connected to has disappeared. Wonderful old wisteria vines wrap around the columns and provide shade in the seating area around what is now a pool. Looking at the house plans that were framed inside this was once the site of a formal garden, with spectacular views over rolling countryside and terraces down to a formal garden and more terraces below. Now unfortunately it looks down on the roof of neighboring houses.

There were wonderful details throughout the house, light airy rooms, bookshelves and a wonderful small fireplace complete with ash and damper that went nowhere -- the current owner said when he finally found the house plans he discovered that in the 1920s when they added a pool room and porch they just knocked down the chimney to make room but left the fireplace. I loved the thick stone walls and the chunkiness of these supporting brackets. Everything on a grand but simple scale.

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Fox Hollow

5/19/2014

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To paraphrase Samuel Johnson, when you are tired of Fox Hollow, you are tired of gardens; for there is in Fox Hollow all that gardening can offer. Inta Krombolz’s garden is a plant addicts’ garden with personality and great design flair, a rare thing indeed. These three gorgeous acres are just outside West Chester, with mature trees, a cornucopia of unusual plants and the natural drama of contrasting elements of color, texture and form. Scattered through the gardens are whimsical sculptures Inta welds from old pieces of agricultural equipment that she finds in Amish machine shops, discarded buggy and machine parts are transformed into vines, arches and flowers and garden reeds. She delights in taking old utilitarian parts and putting them out to pasture in an aesthetic sense.

A once problem damp shady area was so overgrown with brambles, nettles and skunk cabbage when Inta and her husband bought the property they could not walk through it. Over the decades she has transformed into a moist shade garden layered with hostas, ferns, astilbes, iris and waves of chartreuse and purple leaved plants drifiting to a large rock-edged pond that Inta dug herself one mild winter to handle run-off water from the road and underground springs. She said when she started gardening the heavy clay soil was like cheese, so dense you could cut it with a knife, and she had to work in leaf mold and compost form the wooded areas so her plantings could thrive. The informality of the woods she inherited are reflected in the plantings, with large natural drifts of bold leaved hostas, Filipendula ulmaria ‘Aurea’(golden meadowsweet), Perilla frutescens ‘Autropurpurea’ and Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ with contrasting feathery ferns and fine sedges.

Chris Woods, the director of Chanticleer, says that good gardens are the expression of an individual heart and should make one laugh and express the joy of living. For me, Fox Hollow does just this.

Partial list of Perennials
Perennials in the garden
Astilboides tabularis
Actaea pachypoda 'Misty Blue'
Adiantum pedaling Maidenhair Fern- Native
Arisaema trifhyllum Jack in the Pulpit- Native
Asarum canadenses wild Ginger- Native
Aster divericatus white woodland aster- Native
Athyrium filix-femina Lady Fern-Native
Amorphophallus konjac Voodoo lily
Arisaema sikokianum , ringens
Astilboides Tabularis
Beesia deltophylla
Bergenia Edens Magic Giant(by basement)
Boehmeria nipononivea Kogane Mushi yellow leaves, fuzzy
Cardamine trifoliate
Cacalia delfinifolia from Wayne
Cloranthus serratus
Chelone Glabra white title head native
Chiastophyllum oppositifolium succulent with arching yell flws
Cypripedium japonicum from Wayne
Cryptotonia red poison ivy
Cypripedium reginae
Deinanthe bifida
Darmera peltatum
Dicentra spectabilis Gold Heart
Eupatorium fistulosum Tall Joe Pye Weed - Native
Eupatorium coelestinum Hardy agiretum blue- Native
Echinacea purpurea Purple cone flower-Native
Fargesia Anceps,Robusta bamboo
Gentiana andrewsii Bottle Gentian -Native
Geranium maculatum wild geranium-Native
Gautheria procumbens wintergreen -Native
Heuchera villosa var. Atropurpurea Maple leaf -Native
Leucosceptrum jap Gold Angel near leather leaf viburnum
Leucosceptrum October Moon
Lobelia siphilitica Blue lobelia-Native
Mertensis virginica Virginia Bluebells-Native
Michela repens partridge berry on rocky berm
Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern-Native invasive
Osmunda regalis Royal Fern-Native
Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple -Native
Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas Fern-Native
Polygonum cuspidatum variegatum
Sedum ternatum shade sedum-Native
Silphium terebinthinaceum. Prairie Dock
Rohdea japonica
Sarcococca x confusa
Saruma henryi
Sedum kamtschaticum 'Sweet and Sour'
Selaginella braunii Arbovitae fern
Silphium perfoliatum-Native
Silphium terebinthinaceum-Native
Silphium laciniatum
Smilacina racemosa Solomon's Plume-Native
Sinecio Aurea native yellow multiple daisies
Speirantha convallarioides from Wayne
Spigelia marilandica Indian pink-Native
Spiranthes cernua Chadds Ford
Syneilesis aconitifolium
Tiarella cordifolia foam flower-Native
Tovara(new name-Persicaria) Brushstrokes by acer Shaina
Tovara lance coporal
Tradescantia Sweet Kate
Iris leavigata Variegata. In bog
Trillium erectum
Tricyrtis hirta Golden gleam by chimney
Veronicastrum virginicum -Culvers root-Native
Impatiens omeiana
Disporum flavens. Yellow fairy bells
Disporum cantonienses 'night heron'
Gentian aucules. Very short   Blue
Aralia Cordata Sun King
Baptisia arachnifera. Silver leaves
Phuopsis. From Joanna Reed
Amsonia Hubrichtii
Baptisia australis Purple Smoke
Caryopteris divaricata Snow Fairy.
Chelone glabra Hot Lips
Geranium Rozanne
Lillium fomosanum
Symphytum uplandicum
Axminster Gold
Actaea pachypoda. White Dolls Eyes
Adiantum pedatum. Northern Maidenhair Fern
Amsonia Blue Ice
Anemonopsis macrophylla (by Rhodos. Lavander)
Arisaema Ringens
Arusaema Sikokianum
Bletilla striata alba   Orchid
Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost
Brunnera Variegata
Campanula latifolia. White.and blue
Cypripedium. Lady Slipper Orchid
Cypripedium Pubescens
Cypripedium Gisela
Darmera peltata pink flw in Spring
Disporopsis pernyi. Under CCV
Glaucidium palmatum Purple flws in Spring. By Rhodos
Primrose kisoana.
Phyteuma scheuchzeri. Horned
Polystichum Setiferum 'Herrenhausen'.   By Blue Bunny
Rampion lavender Pom Pima near upside down fern
Podophyllum pleianthum. Chinese Mayapple
Persicaria virginiana Painters Palette
Primula kisoana fuzzy leaf
Primula japonica in bog
Kirengeshoma palmata. Yellow waxbells
Koreana
Ligularia Dentata Britt Marie Crawford
Musa basjoo
Polygonatum. Solomon Seal
Commutatum. Giant
Humile. Dwarf
Kingianuum. Willow leaves
Odoratum Variegatum
Saruma henryi
Spigelia marilandica
Syneilesis aconitifolia
Trachystemon orientalis big green leaves under s maple
Tradescantia Sweet Kate yellow leaves
Tricyrtis macronthopsis. Big yellow bells
Viola labradorica dark leaves-Native
Waldsteinia ternata. Barren Stawberry
Vernonia lettermannii. Short purple flws
Zantedeschia aethiopica Herculis Calla Lily in bog
Clematis Kasparov. Very large purple
Tinantia. Pringlei. Purplish wandering Jew
Yucca Golden Sword. Near big mill wheel
Yuca Rostrata 'Sapphire Skies'. In rock garden
Yucca aloifolia Variegata by garden house

Shrubs
Abelia mosanensis. Fragrant abelia
Yuca elate very fine
Buxus sempervirens
Cephalotaxus harringtonia Duke Gardens
Cephalanthus occidentalis button bush.
Buxus Elegantissima
Buxux Graham Blandy
Buxus sinica var. insularis. Korean boxwood
Buxus hybrid Golden Dream. Gold edge on leaf
Buxus Kingsville
Buxus Compacta. Both minis
Cryptomeria japonica Elegans Nana in front of garage
Deinanthe bifida
Illicium parviflorum Florida Sunshine. Yellow leaves
Lonicera nitida Baggescens Gold
Lonicera pileata along lower driveway
Hammamelis. Arnolds Promise
Larix decidua
Larix decidua Little Bogle by bird feeder
Larix decidua Varied Directions
Larix kaempferi. Japanese Larch
Larix laricina. Eastern Larch
Lindera benzoin spicebush
Microbiota decussata. Russian Arbovitae
Ceanothus Marie Bleu
Lonicera prostrata. Along driveway
Cotinus Golden Spirit
Buxus sempervirens Dee Runk
Hamamelis Virginians witchhazel in the woods
Ilex crenata Ivory Tower. In rock garden. Variegated very tiny
Illicium floridanum Halleys Comet. Near orchids   Red flws
Staphylea. bumalda. By edge of lower stone apron
Hibiscus dasycalix. Fine leaves. White flowers
Euonymus J. Green Spire.
Aronia arbutifolia Brilliantissima
Callicarpa dichotoma Early Amethyst. Beautyberry
Calycanthus chinensis. Near waterfall steps
Calycanthus floridus Venus. Near airconditioners
Calycanthus Hartlage Wine. Red flowers
Cephalanthus occidentalis. Buttonbush. In bog. Native
Cephalotaxus harringtonia
Duke Garden. Low spreading
Fastigiata
Korean Gold
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Glauca Pendula -Alaska Cedar
Clethra barbinervis
Clethra Sixteen Candles
Comptonia peregrina. Sweet fern shrub
Cornus sericea Silver and Gold. Variegated leaves.
Cornus sericea Hedgerows Gold.
Corylopsis pauciflora
Corylopsis spicata. Yellow chains in Spring
Cotinus coggygria. Golden Spirit
Deutzia gracilis
Deutzia gracilis Cardonnay Pearls
Deutzia gracilis Nikko
Deutzia gracilis Magician
Duetzia glabra Godshalls Pink
Disanthus cercidifolius. On bank
Eleutherococcus sieboldianus Variegatus. Fiveleaf Aralia. Next to basement
Enkianthus campanulatus Red Bells
Fothergilla intermedia Blue Shadow. Silver leaves. On bank
Hamamelis intermedia Arnold Promise. Near lower gate
Hibiscus syriacus. Variegatus. Flws don't open
H Diana. White. Front garden
Hydrangea paniculata Limelight
Hydrangea quercifolia Little Honey. Yellow leaves
Hydrangea quercifolia Snowflake
Hydrangea quercifolia Snowqueen
Lespedeza thunbergia Gibraltar. On bank
Leucothoe fontanesiana Silver Run. Variegated leaves
Lonicera pileata. On edge of lower driveway
Physocarpus opulifolius Diablo. Ninebark
Pieris japonica. Little Heath. Small variegated
Rhamnus frangula Fine Line. Glossy Buckthorn
Thus typhina Tiger Eyes
Thus typhina Lacinita
Thuja occidentalis. Eastern Arbovitae
Thuja occidentals Gold Drop. Semi dwarf bright gold
Thuja plicata   Western Arbovitae
Thuja plicate Sunshine. On bank   End of driveway
Thujopsis dolobrata. Staghorn Cedar
Thujopsis dolobrata Variegata. By big oak
Spirea bullata. From Joanna Reed
Spirea thunbergii Ogon
Spirea vanhouttei Pink Ice. Variegated leaves. White flowers
Sophora davidii. Near peach
Syringa laciniata. Cutleaf
Viburnum Summer Snowflake
Viburnum acerifoloum native in the woods
Weigela florida My Monet
Weigela subsessilis Canary
W Midnight Wine. 18-24" tall
Zenobia pulverulent a

Trees
Acer Goshiki kotohime (small across front of deck).
Acer Hana matoi variegated (Very fine cut leaves)
Acer palmatum Atrolineare
Acer palmatum Katsura
Acer Aconitifolia
Acer palmatum Sekka Yatsubusa (by side garde steps)
Acer palmatum Mikawa Yatsubusa
Acer Grisum - paper bark
Acer Ho Shime no Uchi (in front of Corylopsis)
Acer Shaina
Acer Khyohyme.
Acer Butterfly
Acer Seryu
Acer palmatum Tamukeyama (3 on the bank)
Acer p. Green
Acer coral bark
Acer Toyama Nishiki
Acerbic Shirasawanum aureum. Full moon
Alnus Blue Imperyalis (by big oak)
Catalpa bignoniodes Aurea
X Gordlinia the Franklinia hybrid from Andy Schenk
Ulmus hollandica. Wredel'. Yellow fastigiate by Rhodos
Ulmus alata 'Lace Parasol'
Picea orientalis Skilands. Gold needles
Pterostyrax
Cercis canadensis Silver Cloud
Robinis pseudoacacia Frisia
Sciadopitys vertcillata. Japanese Umbrella Pine
Stewartia pdeudocamellia
Styrax obassia
Zelkova serrata Goshiki (variegated in bog)
Aralia elata Variegata
Chamaecyparis obtusa. Crippsii
Cryptomeria japonica
Cryptomeria japonica Black Dragon
Cryptomeria japonica Glubosa Nana
Juniperis communis Gold Cone
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Ogon
Taxodium ascendensl (near peach tree)
Taxodium distichum. Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum Pendulum
Taxodium distichum Peve Minaret

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Secret Gardens - Shipley School garden tour

5/14/2014

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Espaliered plane dining area

Nine private gardens opened their doors for the Shipley School's annual fundraiser. Often they are more exhibits of money than horticultural worth, but this year there were a couple that were fabulous.

An added bonus was they were all clustered in Bryn Mawr, Villanova and Haverford so travel time was at a minimum. The properties showcased included a vast old estate in Villanova with a baseball diamond and paddocks; a contemporary mansion on a couple of acres of land with an infinity pool and stone logia; and a wonderful and a truly secret garden in the center of Bryn Mawr - once the 18th century carriage house of the Humphrey's estate the owner fit a "petenque" court, a formal boxwood garden with a fish pond centerpiece, a potagery with raised vegetable beds and fruit trees as well as an outdoor dining area under four espaliered plane trees and an outdoor kitchen into a relatively tiny space. Although the smallest garden on the tour it was one of the most horticulturally interesting ones.

Other gardens included a historic Tudor home designed by famed local architect William Price for Louis Clarke, a brilliant innovator who co-founded the Autocar company in Ardmore with fabulous mature red and white azaleas lining the driveway and an interesting rain garden that spilled into the neighbors gardens and was maintained without regard to property lines in the interest of water management.

One of the few properties actually designed and tended by the owners was created from the ruins of Cheswold (the Alexander Cassatt Mansion). The front terrace wall was created with stones salvaged from the ruined mansion, a succulent wreath I could only dream of creating graced the front door and a series of seamlessly flowing garden rooms surrounded the cottage-style house with drifts of tulips on their way out, and a clematis montana framing a bench at the bottom of the garden.

The final house on the tour was a traditional 1920s stone colonial on Golf House Rd in Haverford. The preserved mature landscaping blended well with a variety of more recently planted hydrangeas and roses and a pool with formal lines and manicured lawn that contrasted fantastically with stone paths that were informally inter-planted with sedum, thyme and ajuga. There was a fabulous poolhouse, spacious terraces for entertaining and a recently installed herb and vegetable garden with grass steps leading to a BBQ area.

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Wyebrook Farm

4/26/2014

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Wyebrook Farm in Honey Brook PA dates back to the late 18th Century and the land has been continuously farmed for over 200 years. It is gorgeous country with rolling hills and old stone walls built by workers from the Isabella Furnace in the 19th Century. It is well worth a visit.

The current owners have gone back to the land and their sustainable farm produces animals and vegetables without the use of artificial fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones or antibiotics. They sell their products, and those of other local farmers, diary producers and cheesemakers in a converted barn at the farm. Their pigs are slaughtered weekly, the organic grass fed beef is hung for a week before being sold and a local dairy farm provides delicious creamy raw milk - great stuff.

On Saturday they held their first annual Bluegrass Festival. The farm market and outdoor cafe were open, the bands were fabulous, children ran free playing with grasses at the edge of the pond, adults danced and the sun shone most of the time.

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Carousel Farm

4/12/2014

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The Carousel Farm opens today. It is located in Bucks County, just outside New Hope.

First established in 1748, has had many subsequent lives from a dairy farm to an exotic animal farm. The current owners bought it in 2000 and drew their inspiration from the South of France. The 18th century stone barn, fieldstone farmhouse and rolling fields and stone walls are stunning lavender fields that are now over 8 years old and stunning.

I find it almost impossible to grow lavender in the harsh PA climate and heavy clay soil. The owners of this amazing estate researched cultivars and chose 4 varieties of English and French lavender that seem to be thriving. They have over 15,000 plants, each one planted, pruned and harvested by hand. A farm store on the grounds sells there lavender products and accessories that complement the lavender.

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Main Line Gardens

Mt Airy Hidden Gardens

Bryn Mawr

Fox Hollow

Secret Gardens - Shipley School garden tour

Wyebrook Farm

Carousel Farm

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