Montco Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Fall 2015 by BCM Media

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CONTENTS

MONTCO Issue 1, Volume 1

FALL 2015

MONTCO HOMES, GARDENS & LIFESTYLE

Departments 6 FROM THE EDITOR 8 CRAFTS 10 TRENDS 12 NOTEWORTHY 14 WHAT TO DO 24 ART 27 PEOPLE 30 IN THE GARDEN 68 HOME 72 GARDEN PROJECT 74 DINING OUT 80 FINALE

Features 36 TODAY’S OUTDOOR LIVING ENVIRONMENTS The old ideas of a patio, grill and few pieces of furniture has been replaced with environments that offer features like fire pits, outdoor lighting, permeable paving, and rain gardens.

46 SEED TO PLATE Sloan Six’s philosophy about the food she grows and raises at Quarry Hill Farm and serves at the Mainland Inn is that food is a living thing and shouldn’t travel very much before it is eaten.

56 COOKING IN STYLE

Three dream kitchens by three local designers who have designed kitchens in the area that are keeping up with newer trends.

On the Cover Farm in Autumn, painted by our cover artist Jennifer Hansen Rolli, captures the beauty rural Montgomery County on a vibrant autumn day.

ÂŠ2015 Wood-Mode, Inc.

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Entertain with stately charm. Embassy Row by Wood-Mode. For more inspiration visit wood-mode.com

821 Bethlehem Pike Erdenheim, PA 19038 215.233.0503 www.piersonkitchens.com

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Publisher William N. Waite Associate Publisher Frank Boyd Executive Editor Bob Waite Art Direction BCM MEDIA CO., INC. Advertising Director Vicky M. Waite Administration Melissa Kutalek Calendar Editor Mary Beth Schwartz Cover Artist Jennifer Hansen Rolli Contributing Writers Diana Cercone, Sue Gordon, Lori Pelkowski, Margo A. Ragan, Mary Beth Schwartz, Bob Waite Circulation BCM MEDIA Co., INC. Contributing Photographers Melissa Kutalek, Glenn Race Account Executives Frank Boyd, Lisa Bridge, Kathy Driver, Lisa Kruse

MONTCO Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Magazine, 309 W. Armstrong Drive, Fountainville, PA 18923, phone 215-766-2694 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax 215-766-8197. www.montcomag.com. Published quarterly by BCM Media Company Inc., Fountainville, PA. All contents copyright by BCM Media Company DBA/Montco Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Published quarterly. Four-issue subscription for U.S. is $15.95, in Canada $35.00, U.S. dollars only. Foreign one-year rate is $90. Standard postage paid at Lancaster, PA. Single-copy price is $4.95 plus $3.00 postage and handling. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MONTCO Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Magazine, PO BOX 36, Morrisville, PA 19067. This magazine welcomes, but cannot be responsible for, manuscripts and photos unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. 4

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Designed by architect Ken Tate, Honored with the Shutze Award from the Southeastern Division of the Institute of Classical Architecture

ou don’t put just any shutters on a home such as this. You choose Timberlane. While most people love their look, to you, the beauty’s in the details. In the clear, kiln-dried western red cedar. The mortise and tenon joinery. The copper capping to protect joints from moisture. The knowledge that their beauty will endure. And, that they are custom made

NEW! Mission Style Shutters

to match the most exacting of standards and the most

discriminating of tastes. Available in Maintenance-Free EndurianTM and Premium Wood

WWW.FINESHUTTERS.COM/MONTCO Timberlane, Inc. • 150 Domorah Drive • Montgomeryville, PA 18936 • 800 250 2221

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From the Editor

elcome to MONTCO Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle. Inside this magazine we hope to show you some very wonderful things about Montgomery County. And we want you to find us entertaining and informative. In fact, we want to take you into our confidence and show you why Montgomery County is a great place to live. We also hope that you will tap us for ideas about your home and your gardens, restaurants to visit and places to see. In this premier Fall 2015 issue we have a feature on kitchens and another one on outdoor rooms. Our kitchen feature, “Cooking in Style,” by Mary Beth Schwartz looks at three projects by top area kitchen design and build firms and it reviews trends in both décor and functionality. And what better time to think about kitchens than the fall when things begin to get cooler and indoor entertaining takes precedence over the barbeque. Besides kitchens, a top interest for homeowners now is just what to do with the backyard and surrounding landscape. The days are gone when just a deck and patio would do, so we went to four major landscape design firms to see what they were doing. We looked at projects that included outdoor kitchens, outdoor lighting, permeable paving, and water gardens. The trends toward sustainability and environmental friendly landscapes is shown to be a major concern in Montgomery County. Our big lifestyle article is about the relationship between what is grown and raised on Quarry Hill Farm and is cooked and served at the Mainland Inn. The connection between these is Sloan Six, who dedicated herself and her farm to producing and serving locally grown food. We chose prominent food writer Diana Cercone to describe what Sloan has done with the farm and the restaurant in her article, “Seed to Plate.” In addition to our features we have departments on art, crafts, home styles, restaurants, gardening, people, places and things to do this fall in Montgomery County. Please enjoy this premier copy of MONTCO Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle. Sincerely

Bob Waite Editor

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Crafts MONTCO.qxp_Layout 1 9/13/15 10:58 AM Page 1

Crafts

Nicole Dubrow At Black Sheep Pottery ceramic artist Niclole Dubrow creates community with her art –by Bob Waite

NICOLE DUBROW, A TALENTED CERAMIC, ARTIST is managing director of of a unique studio called Black Sheep Pottery in Skippack, which she opened after many years of study in prestigious schools on both the East and West Coast. Nicole became a ceramics professor and also did a stint as an assistant to the famous ceramist Betty Woodman. She obtained a BFA in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in sculpture. After that she embarked on an illustrious career in ceramics. “I love material. And all sculpture is about material, especially ceramics.” Nicole loves to teach. Art is communal and Nicole is community minded. So in 2008 she opened Black Sheep Pottery. The plan was simple. Nicole would teach children and adults ceramics and at the same time she would concontinued on page 79

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Karen Advanced Lung Disease Survivor and Lung Transp plant Recipient

THE HARRON LUNG CENT TER IS #1 IN THE REG GION, TOP 10 IN THE NA N TION. I lived e with sarcoidosis which h turned into pulmonary hypertension. The disea ase made leavin ng the house or doing everyday things unimaginable. e The Harron Lung Center at Penn Medicine helped me manage my advanced lung diseasse and gave me the confidence to feel at a ease about receiving a lung transplant. With mo ore top pulmonary doctors than all Phila adelphia hospitals combine ed – I knew I was in good hands. Thanks to them, I’m alive and enjoying y my new job – full-time e grandma.

To sch hedule a consultation, ation in the citty or in your community, call 800.78 89.PENN (7366) or visit PennM Medicine.org/BreatheEasier

11063 UPenn HarronLungCen Harro onLungCen nte nter er Montgomery Montgomerry County Countty Magazine indd 1

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MONTCO

Trends JEWELRY … this stylish necklace and set of earrings is from the Patricia Locke Collection. This jewelry blends the depth of fine art with a modern sense of fashion. Available at Accents on the Rocks, 4064 Skippack Pike, Skippack, PA; 610615-5901; or visit them at facebook.com/accentson therocks.com.

NEW RELEASE

COUNTRY CABINET … this charming country floor cabinet with glass doors and antiqued look is great to showcase some of your fine collectibles. Available at Reed’s Country Store, Rts. 202 and 73, Centre Square, PA; 610-275-9426.

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… Legendary Locals of Ambler, by Frank D. Quattrone, Arcadia Publishing. Now available at local retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing and The History Press, 888-313-2665; www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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POOL TABLE ... this beautiful solid wood pool table is available in many standard finishes, to match almost any décor. "Made in America by Olhausen." Come see our showroom at Royal Billiards, 2622 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA; 215-997-7777; www.royalbilliard.com.

CLASSY HEADS … it’s time to sing in the shower again! Art in the bathroom is not limited to framed pieces. The Moxie Showerhead and wireless speaker by Kohler is available for you bathroom through Skippack Kitchen & Bath, 1042 Bridge Road, Skippack, PA; 610-409-7998; www.skippackkitchens.com.

CUTTING BOARDS … beautiful Handcrafted Cutting Boards. Choose from an incredible selection of "ready made" or order a "custom board" for yourself! Great for quality gift giving.Available at Allen Antiques, 3004 Skippack Pike, Worcester, PA; 610.584.5559.

HANDCRAFTED ... new ceramic pottery mugs, espresso and cappuccino cups by Nicole Dubrow, of Black Sheep Pottery, with handcrafted botanical designs on white stoneware that highlight comfort and gentle curves in hand. Visit the Gallery at Black Sheep Pottery, 4038 Skippack Pike, Skippack Village, PA; 610-584-5877; visit www.blacksheeppottery.org/shop.

FALL 2015

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NOTEWORTHY

What’s happening in Montgomery County

Southern Living Idea House

imberlane, Inc., specializing in custom exterior shutters and hand-forged hardware, is a featured vendor of the 2015 Southern Living Idea House in Charlottesville, Virginia. The objective of this celebrated Southern Living annual highlight, now in its 26th year, is to bring “inspired style to the South.” To add another refined touch to this year’s featured home, Timberlane provided shutters to long-time client Summit Custom Homes, the builder selected to construct the modern farmhouse in this revered southern town. Timberlane produced ten fixed louver shutters, crafted with their Western Red Cedar premium wood product, and painted in Old Essex Green, a complementary color to the taupe and orange toned stone used on the home’s exterior. Timberlane also provided shutter hinges, pintels, and tiebacks to help complete the curb appeal of the home. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Montgomeryville, Pa., Timberlane produces custom exterior shutters and hand-forged hardware, renowned for their exceptional quality. With a vast

number of options for standard shutters, including panel configurations and cutouts, in addition to full customization and matching capabilities, Timberlane fulfills even the most exacting needs and specifications. Timberlane also offers the largest collection of hand-forged and period-perfect shutter hardware available. Timberlane is located at 150 Domorah Drive, Montgomeryville, PA 18936. To talk to a consultant, call 800-250-2221. For information, visit http://www.timberlane.com.

Everence Financial Advisors

ultivating generosity is not a new concept at Everence Financial Advisors, which has been helping people integrate their faith and values with their financial decisions for 70 years. How is Everence different? Everence has been a leader in providing options for socially responsible investments, which make our world a better place. “Our clients give us high marks for being trustworthy, both in our professional competence and putting their needs first. We serve as a dependable guide to help people navigate the financial complexities of life,” said Randy Delp, Managing Director in Souderton. Everence Financial Advisors is located at Village Centre Office Suites, 121 N. Main St, STE 210, Souderton, PA 18964-1715. For information call, 215-703-0111, or toll-free 877-420-9789 or visit www.everence.com/souderton.

This Very Ground, This Crooked Affair On Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 spend an evening with John L. Ruth. In his inimitable style, by word and image, John L. Ruth addresses the transfer of land from Lenape hunting woods to immigrant plantations, specifically in the Branch Creek watershed in Lower Salford. Main characters in this story include William Penn, Lenape Headman Sassoonan, surveyors Thomas Fairman and David Powell, and the family of Gerhart and Ann Clemens. Emphasis will be placed on how the land transactions look after a quarter millennium. The lecture will be held at Franconia Elementary School, 366 Harleysville Pike, Souderton, PA 18964.

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Comprehensive Pain Management

.E. PA. Pain Management is a group of caring and committed certified physicians who provide the highest quality of care. In the diagnosis and treatment of each patient, you receive a medical evaluation and a corresponding treatment plan specialized for your needs. S.E. PA. physicians can treat pain for a number of neck and back issues, such as herniated or degenerative discs, fractured of slipped vertebrae or spinal fractures and pain relief associated with cancer, shingles, fibromyalgia, stroke, arthritis, etc. Some examples of pain treatments provided include nerve blocks, Nerve Root injections, Steroid injections, medical acupuncture, Botox injections, radio frequency, and Prolotheraphy regenerative medicine. S.E. PA. Pain Management is committed to helping you live a happier and healthier lifestyle. For a listing of S.E. PA. Pain Management’s offices, you can visit their website at www.sepapain.com. For scheduling, call 855-235-7246.

Meet our Experts

xperts are needed when selecting the proper lighting. At Bergey’s lighting showroom you have the opportunity to talk to experts who are on the cutting edge of the industry in lighting and appliances. Dave Nyce’s experience and knowledge will help you find the fixture or fixtures that will light your world. Design and style are as important as the functionality of your lighting. For appliances our expert is Dean Dimmig, who will listen to your appliance needs to schedule a time with our experts. Come visit our showroom at 2880 Penn Street, Hatfield, PA 19440. Or call to for an appointment to schedule a time with the experts at 215-723-5518; Dave ext. 122; Dean ext. 112.

Perfect Score for Closet City LTD.

t the 2015 Cabinets & Closets Gala Awards two entries received perfect scores from the judges (a first in the history of the award) and made them both Overall Winners. One of the winners was Janet Stevenson, Closet City Ltd, Montgomeryville, PA for her project “Personal Boutique,” entered in the Closet: Laminate Under 18 Linear Feet category. She said,“My client wanted to take an unused bedroom located directly off of the master bedroom, and make it into her ‘Personal, Glamorous Boutique’ closet … She wanted lots of shelving, cabinets, and hanging areas around the outskirts of the room, with an island in the center filled with multiple jewelry drawers. Her request was for as much bling and ‘drama’ for her boutique as we could provide, while keeping her budget in mind as she was simultaneously having a major kitchen renovation done. Her wish list included having her shoes visually available, all of her folded sweaters behind glass doors, a ‘jewelry store’ affect, and a Hollywood-style dressing table.” Closet City Ltd. is located at 619 Bethlehem Pike (Route 309), Montgomeryville, PA; 215-855-4400 or visit www.closetcity.com.

FALL 2015

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What to do

Fall 2015

American Treasure Tour in Oaks, PA offers an eclectic collection of Americana, 112 Mills Road, Oaks, PA; www.americantreasuretour.com.

ANTIQUES RENNINGERS September 18-19: Antique Radio Show September 19-20; October 17-18: Vintage Antiques Fair September 24-26: Antiques & Collectors Extravaganza October 17-18: Steampunk Industrial Show Admission. Rain or shine. 740 Noble Street, Kutztown, PA. 570-385-0104; www.renningers.net. SANFORD ALDERFER September 30: Book, Postcard, and Ephemera Auction October 6: Coin and Currency Auction October 13: Firearms Auction October 15: Military Auction October 27: Stamp Auction October 29: Doll Auction 501 Fairgrounds Road, Hatfield, PA. 215-393-3000; www.alderferauction.com.

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POOK & POOK, INC. October 3: Americana Auction October 31: International Auction November 21: Firearms Auction 463 East Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA. 610-269-4040; www.pookandpook.com. THE MAIN LINE ANTIQUES SHOW October 3-4: A number of East Coast dealers will be showcasing antique jewelry, ceramics, paintings, furniture, folk art, prints, carpets and textiles, silver, Staffordshire, and more. Benefits Surrey Services for Seniors. Admission. Dixon Center, Cabrini College, 610 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA. 610-647-6404, ext. 111; www.mainlineantiquesshow.com. 52ND ANNUAL DELAWARE ANTIQUES SHOW November 6-8: The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most distinguished dealers present the finest offerings of

American antiques and decorative arts, including furniture, paintings, rugs, ceramics, silver, jewelry, and more. Admission. Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE. 800-448-3883; www.winterthur.org. 2015 ANNUAL ANTIQUES SHOW November 14-15: The Bucks County Antiques Dealers Association presents their 68th annual show. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission. Eagle Fire Hall, Route 202 and Sugan Road, New Hope, PA. 215-290-3140; www.bcadapa.org. FALL ANTIQUES AUCTION November 20-21: Antiques Roadshow Expert Noel Barrett announces this annual fall auction of vintage toys, trains, advertising, carousel animals, dollhouses, miniatures, and more. Eagle Fire Hall, Route 202 and Sugan

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Top left, International Car Show in Skippack, PA, October 18th; Top right, Hope Lodge, November 7-8, Whitemarsh Encampment Reenactment. bottom left, Montgomery Theater, bottom right, Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Road, New Hope, PA. 215-297-5109; www.noelbarrett.com. ANTIQUES AT KIMBERTON November 21-22: This show features antiques and collectibles for sale by over 60 dealers from several states. Admission. Free parking. Kimberton Fire Company and Fairgrounds, 2276 Kimberton Road, Phoenixville, PA. www.antiquesatkimberton.vpweb.com.

A RT PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART Through February: Cy Twombly: Sculptures Through December 6: The Wrath of the Gods: Masterpieces by Rubens, Michelangelo, and Titian Through Mid-November: Inside Out Through November 15: Take Two: Contemporary Photographs

Through October 25: Into Dust: Traces of the Fragile in Contemporary Art Through October 4: Northern Lights: Scandinavian Design Through September 28: Shelley Spector: Keep the Home Fires Burning October 27-January 10: Audubon to Warhol: The Art of American Still Life 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA. 215-763-8100; www.philamuseum.org. BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM Through January 31: Natural Selections: Andrew Wyeth Plant Studies Through November 22: Studio Tours Through November 15: Gradients Through November 15: Things Beyond Resemblance: James Welling Photographs Through November 6: Rural Modernism Through October 11: Imagine Brandywine U.S. Route 1, Chadds Ford, PA.

ANTIQUES

ART

CRAFTS

ENTERTAINMENT

EQUESTRIAN

EVENTS

FAMILY

GARDEN

HISTORY

NATURE

22 FALL 2015

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610-388-2700; www.brandywinemuseum.org. WHARTON ESHERICK MUSEUM Through December: Childrens’ Tours September 15-December 31: Annual Woodworkers Competition: Vases September 26; October 11: Wine & Cheese Tours October 11: Second Sunday 1520 Horseshoe Trail, Malvern, PA. 610-6445822; www.whartonesherickmuseum.org. PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS Through November 1: Rock, Paper, Scissors: Drawn from the JoAnn Gonzalez Hickey Collection Through October 11: feast famine Through October 11: Traction Company September 16-November 29: James Toogood: Watercolors October 9-January 3: Mia Rosenthal: Paper Lens November 11-April 9: World War I and American Art November 13-April 3: Procession: The Art of Norman Lewis 118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. 215-972-7600; www.pafa.org. WOODMERE ART MUSEUM Through November 1: Raymond Theel: Making a Big Impression Through October 18: Woodmere Welcomes Pope Francis: Biblical Art from the Permanent

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Collection September 26-January 24: We Speak: Black Artists in Philadelphia, 1920s-1970s November 7-March 14: The Weight of Watercolor: The Art of Eileen Goodman 9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. 215-247-0476; www.woodmereartmuseum.org. BERMAN MUSEUM OF ART September 11-December 23: Aftermath: Photographs by Joel Meyerowitz September 29-December 23: Tyger, Tyger: Lynn Chadwick and the Art of Now Ursinus College, 601 East Main Street, Collegeville, PA. 610-409-3500; www.ursinus.edu. ABINGTON ART CENTER September 11-October 31: Solo Series Fall 2015 November 6-28: Young Artists Exhibition December 12-January 30: Annual Juried Show 515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, PA. 215-887-4882; www.abingtonartcenter.org. MAIN LINE ART CENTER September 12-November 4: Panorama 2015 September 25: The Art Market 2015 November 2-December 3: Terri Fridkin November 12-22: Handcrafted Holidays: Pop-Up Shop December 5-January 4: Members Exhibition 2015 December 9-January 7: Elaine Lisle 746 Panmure Road, Haverford, PA. 610-525-

0272; www.mainlineart.org. WAYNE ART CENTER September 13-October 17: Faculty Show October 18-November 21: Assemblage Artists Collective Exhibition October 25-November 21: Fall Members Exhibition December 4-January 30: CraftForms 2015 413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne, PA. 610-688-3553; www.wayneart.org. THE BARNES FOUNDATION September 19-January 4: Ellen Harvey: Metal Painting September 19-January 4: Strength and Splendor: Wrought Iron from the Musee Le Secq des Tournelles 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, 215-278-7000; 300 North Latch’s Lane, Merion, PA, 215-278-7350. www.barnesfoundation.org. CHELTENHAM CENTER FOR THE ARTS September 20-October 17: Chelthenham Township: A Photographic Celebration 439 Ashbourne Road, Cheltenham, PA. 215-379-4660; www.cheltenhamarts.org. BRYN MAWR REHAB HOSPITAL November 7-January 31: 20th Annual Art Ability Exhibition and Sale 414 Paoli Pike, Malvern, PA. 484-596-5607; www.mainlinehealth.org.

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CRA FTS THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA EXPO CENTER September 17-20: Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza November 6-8: Sugarloaf Craft Festival 100 Station Avenue, Oaks, PA. 484-754EXPO; www.phillyexpocenter.com. BYERS’ CHOICE September 20-27: Expanded Nativity Exhibit October 17-18: Design Your Own Witch November 1-December 31: Byers’ Choice Christmas Experience December 11: Gerald Dickens 4355 County Line Road, Chalfont, PA, 215-822-6700; www.byerschoice.com. PENNSYLVANIA GUILD OF FINE CRAFTSMEN FAIRS October 9-11: Philadelphia, PA November 14-15: Lancaster, PA Admission. 717-431-8706; www.pacrafts.org. 66TH ANNUAL JURIED HOLIDAY FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL October 31; November 1: The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen present this annual craft event featuring vendors, as well as live entertainment and antique appraisals. Admission. Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA. www.rbcrafts.org.

FALL 2015 FINE ART AND CRAFT SHOW November 3-11: Over 95 of the area’s top artisans display and sell an assortment of fine art and crafts. Admission. Aldie Mansion, 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA. 610-869-4444; www.lydiasguild.com. 39TH ANNUAL PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART Contemporary Craft Show November 12-15: This annual art event is for the benefit of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Funds raised are used to purchase works of art and craft for the permanent collections, to fund conservation and publication projects, and support exhibitions and education programs. Admission. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA. 215-684-7930; www.pmacraftshow.org. ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET November 21: The North Penn International Friendship Committee hosts this 29th annual holiday show. Over 95 artists from the Mid-Atlantic region are featured, including traditional and contemporary crafts. North Penn High School, 1340 South Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, PA. www.northpennifc.org.

ENT ERTA I NM ENT ACT II PLAYHOUSE Through October 4: According to Goldman

October 27-November 22: The Fox on the Fairway December 8-27: Behind the Music: Holiday Tunes 56 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA. 215-654-0200; www.act2.org. DUTCH COUNTRY PLAYERS Through September 19: Rumors October 2-4: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow November 6-21: Witness for the Prosecution December 4-13: The Christmas Gazebo 795 Ridge Road, Telford, PA. 215-234-0966; www.dcptheatre.com. MONTGOMERY THEATER September 10-October 4: God of Carnage October 16-25: Little Red November 19-December 13: The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical 124 Main Street, Souderton, PA. 215-7239984; www.montgomerytheater.org. PLAYCRAFTERS OF SKIPPACK September 17-October 3: Scotland Road October 30-November 14: The Rocky Horror Show November 19-29: Love Happens December 4-12: Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill 2011 Store Road, Skippack, PA. 610-584-4005; www.playcrafters.org. KESWICK THEATRE September 17: Jackie Evancho

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September 22: Cheap Trick October 3: Oh What a Night of Doo-Wop & Rock N Roll October 28: Loreena McKennitt November 6-7: The Hooters 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside, PA. 215-572-7650; www.keswicktheatre.com. THE COLONIAL THEATRE September 20: Fall Theatre Organ Concert October 8: Brett Dennen October 23: Wendy Liebman and Dan Naturman November 7: Al Stewart November 21: Paul Reiser 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA. 610-917-1228; www.thecolonialtheatre.com.

245 East High Street, Pottstown, PA. 610-970-1199; www.steelriver.org. THE VILLAGE PLAYERS OF HATBORO October 2-17: No Sex Please, We’re British January 8-23: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike 401 Jefferson Avenue, Hatboro, PA. 215-675-6774; www.thevillageplayers.com. FAMILY STAGES October 17: The Jungle Book November 11, 14: Snow White December 9, 12, 26: Cinderella Ambler Theater, 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA. 215-886-9341; www.familystages.org.

THE STAGECRAFTERS THEATER September 24-October 11: Mauritius November 27-December 13: Of Mice and Men February 5-21: The Late Christopher Bean 8130 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. 215-247-8881; www.thestagecrafters.org.

PENNSYLVANIA BALLET October 22-25: Speed and Precision December 11-31: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker The Academy of Music, 240 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. 215-893-1999; www.paballet.org.

STEEL RIVER PLAYHOUSE September 25-October 4: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…and Living in Paris October 16-25: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike November 14-15: Mrs. Coney: A Tale at Christmas November 21-22: Senior Follies December 4-20: White Christmas

TOWER THEATER October 30: Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band December 4: Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker South 69th Street, Upper Darby, PA. 215-9221011; venue.thetowerphilly.com.

MITCHELL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER October 31: Bryn Athyn College Dance November 7: Why We Sing November 13: ANCSS Performing Arts Night December 4-6: The Santaland Diaries 800 Tomlinson Road, Bryn Athyn, PA. 267-502-2793; www.mitchellcenter.info. METHACTON COMMUNITY THEATER November 6-16: Fall Show Shannondell Performing Arts Theater, 10000 Shannondell Boulevard, Audubon, PA. 610-489-6449; www.methactoncommunitytheater.org. THEATRE HORIZON November 12-December 6: Black Nativity February 18-March 13: Lobby Hero 401 Dekalb Street, Norristown, PA. 610-283-2230; www.theatrehorizon.org. THE CHORISTERS November 21: Vespers by Kile Smith April 30: Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale, PA. 215-542-7871; www.thechoristers.org. WOLF PERFORMING ARTS CENTER December 5: Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids December 12-13: James and the Giant Peach December 10-12: Little Women: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy Church of the Holy Apostles, 1020 Reming-

FINALLY, A SOLUTION TO REGAIN

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Call now to schedule your complimentary consultation Dr. Richard M. Goldfarb, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Peter Sinaiko, M.D., F.A.C.S. 18

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940 Town Center Drive • Suite F100 • Langhorne, PA 19047 215.268.7428 • www.progressivemenshealth.com

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ton Road, Wynnewood, PA. 610-642-0233;

www.dressageatdevon.org.

www.wolfperformingartscenter.org.

RYERSS FARM FOR AGED EQUINES October 4: Blessing of the Animals at Ryerss Farm December 6: Ryerss Holiday Open House 1710 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA. 610-469-0533; www.ryerssfarm.org.

EQUESTRIA N LIBERTY PRO RODEO September 17-20: Get your tickets for the 27th annual championship professional rodeo. It is sponsored by the Lu Lu Shriners. There will be live entertainment, along with saddle bronc and bull riding and barrel racing. Thurs.-Sat. gates open 6 p.m. with showtime at 7:30 p.m. Sunday gates open 12:30 p.m. with show at 2 p.m. On Sunday you can see the 4-H Mounted Drill Team perform at 1:30 p.m. Admission. 5140 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA. 800-898-LULU; www.libertyprorodeo.com. DRESSAGE AT DEVON HORSE SHOW September 29-October 4: This annual horse show features more than 700 horses competing for 35,000 spectators. 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the event. This year you can see the Lipizzan Stallions perform October 24 during show breaks. Along with equestrian competition, attendees can enjoy the festival shops, offering apparel, fine arts, antiques, collectibles, and food. The Kids Corral provides activities for children, and exhibitions are geared towards family fun. Admission. Devon Horse Show Grounds, 23 Dorset Road, Devon, PA. 610-358-1919;

EVENT S KESWICK VILLAGE Ongoing: First Fridays October 10: Fall Festival 2015 Glenside, PA. www.keswickvillage.org. AMBLER MAIN STREET Through November 16: Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Inside Out Exhibit in Ambler October 3: Oktoberfest Ambler, PA. 215-646-1000; www.amblermainstreet.org. BOROUGH OF POTTSTOWN September 19: Annual Pet Fair October 4: Pottstown Brew Fest at Manatawny Park Pottstown, PA. www.pottstown.org. EVENTS IN LANSDALE September 19: Lansdale Cruise Night November 21: Mardi Gras Parade Main Street, Lansdale, PA. www.lansdale.org.

JENKINTOWN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS September 20: This annual event takes up five blocks of Jenkintown. There is a juried art show, vendors, a food court, live musical performances, a Kid’s Court, and a beer tent. 1 to 6 p.m. Rain or shine. Downtown Jenkintown, PA. www.jenkintownboro.com. FUN IN SKIPPACK September 26: Skippack Food Truck Festival October 3-4: Skippack Days October 10: Winetober Fest October 17: Children’s Halloween Parade October 18: International Car Show November 27: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting November 27-December 23: Illuminaire Nights in Skippack Skippack, PA. www.iloveskippack.com. KING OF PRUSSIA BEERFEST October 1, 3: This annual festival is held outdoors under grand tents. There will be over 50 craft and international brewers, 100-plus beers, live music, and an outdoor beer garden. You can sample fare from local restaurants. Admission. King of Prussia Mall, 160 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA. www.kopbeerfest.com. NORTH WALES COMMUNITY DAY October 3: Bring the family for a day of fun in the Borough of North Wales. There will be vendors, a talent show, pie eating contest, a

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Kids Zone, and a free live concert. www.northwalesborough.org. 20TH ANNUAL FALL FEST 2015 October 17: This fall festival features Touch-aTruck, a car show, arts & crafts, refreshments, and activities for the kids. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parkside Place Complex, Upper Gwynedd Township, PA. www.uppergwynedd.org.

FAM I LY PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM Ongoing: Visit the Children’s Museum of Philadelphia, where the key word is play. Families can enjoy over a dozen themed exhibits, theater, art, music, special programs, the carousel, and storytime and character appearances. Admission. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA. 215-581-3181; www.pleasetouchmuseum.org. THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE Through January 3: Genghis Khan Through October 4: The Art of the Brick September 19-February 15: Vatican Splendors 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA. 215-448-1200; www2.fi.edu. THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY Through October 23: The Clergy and the Academy’s Collections September 30-January 10: Reptiles: The

Beautiful and the Deadly October 17-18: Philadelphia Shell Show and Festival November 27-29: Dinosaur Days 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA. 215-299-1000; www.ansp.org. STRASBURG RAILROAD Through September 20; November 20-22: Day Out with Thomas October 11: Vintage Baseball Day October 24: The Great Train Robbery November 27-December 18: The Night Before Christmas Train November 27-December 19: Santa’s Paradise Express December 5: Christmas Tree Train 301 Gap Road, Ronks, PA. 866-725-9666; www.strasburgrailroad.com. COLEBROOKDALE RAILROAD September-December: Ride the rails of the historic Colebrookdale Railroad. They feature a series of train rides, including a foliage train, bonfire train, paranormal train, and bluegrass train. For Christmas they feature a Santa Claus train, and ’Twas The Night Before Christmas train. 101 East 3rd Street, Boyertown, PA. 610-367-0200; www.colebrookdalerailroad.com. ELMWOOD PARK ZOO September 12: Oktoberfest Beer Tasting Festival September 20-November 1: Harvest Fest

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October 4: Annual Run Wild November 1: Free Zoo Admission December 5-20: Brunch with Santa 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, PA. 800-652-4143; www.elmwoodparkzoo.org. MERRYMEAD FARM September 25: Storytelling & Lighting of the Great Pumpkin October 3-25: Fall Harvest Day Weekends 2015 October 10: Worcester Fire Department, Smokey the Bear, and Sparkey the Fire Dog 2222 South Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, PA. 610-584-4410; www.merrymead.com. SESAME PLACE September 26-November 1: The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular November 21-December 31: A Very Furry Christmas 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA. 866-GO-4-ELMO; www.sesameplace.com. NORTHERN STAR FARM Late September-October: Fall Fest Weekends Winter: Custom sleigh rides 96 Third Avenue East, Trappe, PA. 215-8597302; www.northernstarfarm.net.

GARDENS BARTRAM’S GARDEN Ongoing: Visit this National Historic Land-

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mark and House, circa 1728. The grounds are free and open to the public. Guided tours are available of both the historic garden, as well as the Bartram family home. Don’t miss The Bartram Nursery, complete with native plants and those discovered by the Bartram family. 54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA. 215-729-5281; www.bartramsgarden.org. JENKINS ARBORETUM & GARDENS January 8-February 7: The 2016 Quilt Display of Nature’s Prisms 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA. 610647-8870; www.jenkinsarboretum.org. WINTERTHUR September 12-December 12: Second Saturdays Garden Walks September 16-October 28: Wednesdays at Winterthur September 18-December 13: Garden Workshops and Talks November 21-January 3: Yuletide at Winterthur 5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE. 302-888-4600; www.winterthur.org. PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY September 18-20: Harvest Fest October 10: Celebrate October at Meadowbrook Farm October 16: Perennial Plant Conference October 16: PHeaSt: A Celebration of Chefs

and Growers December 9: Holiday Tours at Brandywine, Winterthur, Longwood Gardens Advance registration required. 100 North 20th Street, Fifth Floor, Philadelphia, PA. 215-988-8800; www.phsonline.org. TYLER ARBORETUM September 24: Oktoberfest Tyler Style Beer Tasting October 17-18: Pumpkin Days Celebration December 5: The Country Gardeners Annual Greens Sale December 5: Woodland Winter Wonderland Admission. 515 Painter Road, Media, PA. 610-566-9134; www.tylerarboretum.org. THE SCOTT ARBORETUM OF SWARTHMORE COLLEGE October 11: Mid-Atlantic Peony Society Fall Event October 16: Perennial Plant Conference October 18: Scott Associates Fall Celebration December 3-4: Green Wreath Workshops December 5: Holiday Greens Sale Admission. 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA. 610-328-8025; www.scottarboretum.org.

H ISTO RY HOPE LODGE Ongoing: Guided tours November 7-8: 1777 Whitemarsh Encamp-

ment Reenactment 553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA. 215-646-1595; www.ushistory.org. NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER Through Fall 2017: Constituting Liberty: From The Declaration to The Bill of Rights 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA. 215-409-6600; www.constitutioncenter.org. BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY Through December 31: Daily tours September 28: Battleship New Jersey Golf Tournament at Pennsauken Country Club Admission. 62 Battleship Place, Camden Waterfront, Camden, NJ. 866-877-6262; www.battleshipnewjersey.org. MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER Through November 7: Pennsylvania Dutch Dioramas of Abner & Aaron Zook Through October: Forty Years of Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing October 3: Annual Apple Butter Frolic November 28-April 16: Calligraphy and Bookbinding: Twentieth Century Artists: Fritz and Trudi Eberhardt 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville, PA. 215-256-3020; www.mhep.org. MORGAN LOG HOUSE September 18: Annual Tavern Night October 30: Halloween Mayhem December 12-14: Candlelight Tours 850 Weikel Road, Kulpsville, PA. 215-368-

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Fall back in love with your gard den. We bring yo ou time ely how-to advice and tips to help keep yo our garden thriving ... all year e long. Watch a the delightful, and informative, Garden G Minute with new shows posted weekly y. Wa atch it at TheInttell.com//GardenMinute. G A subscription t The to Th Intelligence I t lli er includes i l d access to t allll off our video id shows on The Inte elligencer channel on Roku or Amazon Fire TV V. PRESENTED BY

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POTTSGROVE MANOR September 19: Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration: Time for Tea October 24: The Plantation Whereon I Live November 14: Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration: Cooking Up Quince November 27-January 10: Twelfth Night Tours December 13: Pottsgrove Manor by Candlelight 100 West King Street, Pottstown, PA. 610326-4014; www.montcopa.org/pottsgrove manor. SCHWENKFELDER LIBRARY & HERITAGE CENTER September 24; October 29; November 19; December 17: American Girl Tea Time September 27; October 25; November 22; December 13: Children’s Book Club 105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, PA. 215-679-3103; www.schwenkfelder.com. VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK September 26: National Public Lands Day November 11: Veterans Day Commemoration December 19: March In of the Continental Army January 2: Join the Continental Army 1400 North Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia, PA. 610-783-1000; www.valleyforge.org. DANIEL BOONE HOMESTEAD October 17: Heritage Day October 23-24: Haunted Homestead Tours October 25: Halloween at the Homestead November 1: Boone Birthday November 8, 15: Fall Lecture Series December 6: A Homestead Christmas December 11: Here Comes Santa Claus 400 Daniel Boone Road, Birdsboro, PA. 610582-4900; www.danielboonehomestead.org. PETER WENTZ FARMSTEAD SOCIETY December 5: Candlelight Tours Shearer Road, Worcester, PA. 610-584-5104; www.peterwentzfarmsteadsociety.org.

Wa atch new episode es Friday TheIntell.com/G Garde enMinute 2480; www.morganloghouse.org. FALL FESTIVAL AND OPEN HOUSE September 19: The Historical Society of Hilltown Township presents this annual event. You can tour the homestead, see local artisans, buy baked goods, even get antique appraisals. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain or shine. Free admission. Hartzel-Strassburger Homestead, 407 Keystone Drive and Bethlehem Pike, Sellersville, PA. 267-614-9174; www.hilltown.org. GRAEME PARK September 19: Paranormal Investigation September 23: Home School Day October 25: Mini Moonlight October 30: Moonlight Tales 22

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November 28: A Soldier’s Christmas Admission. 859 County Line Road, Horsham, PA. 215-343-0965; www.graemepark.org. PENNYPACKER MILLS September 19: The Craft Place at Pennypacker Mills September 27: Victorian Tea with P.T. Barnum October 17: All Hallow’s Eve Fall Festival November 24-January 10: Holiday Tours December 12: Victorian Christmas Open House 5 Haldeman Road, Schwenksville, PA. 610-287-9349; www.montcopa.org/pennypackermills.

THE HIGHLANDS MANSION AND GARDENS December 8: Lunch with Santa Admission. 7001 Sheaff Lane, Fort Washington, PA. 215-641-2687; www.highlandshistorical.org.

NAT URE SCHUYLKILL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Ongoing: Day-Off Camps September 19: University of Nature September 26: Fall Birdseed Sale September 26: Native Plant Sale October 10: Jubilee in the Grove October 24: Bird Walk with BirdPhilly October 24: Halloween Hikes & Hayrides November 7: Walking the River Trail: Nature

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& History by the Schuylkill River November 14: Journal Making & Leaf Imprinting 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA. 215-482-7300; www.schuylkillcenter.org. JOHN JAMES AUDUBON CENTER AT MILL GROVE Through December 19: Saturday Bird Walks Through September 17: Canoe the Perkiomen December 6: Holiday Open House at Mill Grove 1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, PA. 610-6665593; www.johnjames.audubon.org. LOWER PERKIOMEN VALLEY PARK September 16: Tree Walk Series October 21: Photograph Walk Series November 28: Holiday Crafts 101 New Mill Road, Oaks, PA. 610-666-5371; www.montcopa.org. HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY September 19-20: Fall Native Plant Sale November 14: Golden Eagle Saturday November 28: Holiday Open House 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA. 610-756-6961; www.hawkmountain.org. GREEN LANE PARK September 19: Tree ID and More September 26: Annual Upper Perkiomen Bird & Wildlife Festival October 3: Early Bird Walk October 10: Flight of the Falcon October 17: Leave it to Beaver

October 24: Fall Foliage Hike October 25: Harvest Moon Hayride November 7: Orienteering for Beginners November 14: Holiday Crafts Double Feature November 21: More Holiday Crafts November 28; December 5: Waterfowl Watch 2144 Snyder Road, Green Lane, PA. 215-234-4528; www.montcopa.org.

UPPER SCHUYLKILL VALLEY PARK September 25: My How You’ve Changed My Deer! October 23: A Howling Good Time October 24: By the Light of the Moon November 20: Terrific Turkeys 1600 Black Rock Road, Royersford, PA. 610948-5170; www.schuylkillriver.org.

LOCK 60 AT SCHUYLKILL CANAL PARK September 20: Geology Walk October 18: Bark in the Park December 12: Holiday Luminaria 400 Tow Path Road, Mont Clare, PA. 610917-0021; www.schuylkillriver.org.

RIVERBEND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER September 27: Play is Natural October 17: Shiverfest October 24: Owls, Bats, and Toads: Spooky or Not? November 7: Wilderness Survival December 12: Full Moon Night Hike and Campfire 1950 Spring Mill Road, Gladwyne, PA. 610527-5234; www.riverbendeec.org.

NORRISTOWN FARM PARK September 23: Chipmunks and Squirrels September 27: Native American Day October 11: Habitat Restoration October 25: Twilight Hike October 27: Spooky Crafts November 1: Jars of Autumn Color November 8: Whitetails and White Oaks November 11: Winter’s Sleep November 15: Japanese Fish Printing November 22: Thanksgiving Centerpieces November 23: Wild About Turkeys November 29: Holiday Wreaths December 6: Owl Prowl December 10: Reindeer Guide for Kids December 13: Natural Ornaments 2500 Upper Farm Road, East Norriton, PA. 610-270-0215; www.montcopa.org.

BRIAR BUSH NATURE CENTER October 25: AutumnFest. Wear a costume for this annual fall festival and have some fun. It is free and takes place from 1-4 p.m. 1212 Edgehill Road, Abington, PA. 215-887-6603; www.briarbush.org.

To have your event featured in this magazine or online email Calendar Editor marybeth_schwartz@yahoo.com. Visit www.montco mag.com for a complete listing of events and our latest information.

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Art

Rich Godshall Vivid Impressionist images make Rich Godshall an interesting landscape artist –by Bob Waite

MONTCO MAG . COM

IN “EARLY FLIGHT” THE WHITE BIRDS FLOCKED together heading from a marsh area toward the bright orange trees contrasted with shades of blue on the bottom as water, a blue sky and bluish purple hills behind the trees. This brings home a feeling that fall itself is fleeing and winter’s cold is on its way, just behind the hills. Of course, Rich Godshall is a landscape painter and his landscapes are simply the areas close to his home studio in Willow Grove and his gallery, Off the Wall Gallery & Framing, in Skippack. Paintings of basically plain areas in Montgomery and Bucks County are brought to life and present vivid images that can be construed by the viewer in many ways as each layer of color brings up various feelings that change over time as the painting

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becomes familiar. “I like to consider myself a Pennsylvania Impressionist,” Rich says as I look around Off The Wall Gallery, seeing not only his paintings, but also others by various local artists. Continuing to define himself, he says, “I am probably influenced by the Bucks County Impressionists painters of the New Hope School— painters like Redfield, Garber, Schofield.” Some of his paintings were more realistic and experimental. One was particularly interesting. It was a realistic painting of a pier in Ocean City, but the lines of pier and strong perspective made the lines look like an abstraction. I find out that Rich is in an oil phase. “I began using watercolors. For the longest time I painted with them. They are very unforgiving and are more difficult to use. You have to mark out your white areas and I found that I was adding more and more opaque. Then I began to paint with acrylics. And I liked the freedom I found with them and painted with them for a few years. Then two years ago I started painting with oils. Oil paint has more body to it. I like it better.” Rich always loved to draw. “When I was a kid liked drawing airplanes and ships. In high school I took all the art classes I could. And when I graduated I went to art school.” Rich attended the Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia. There he majored

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in graphic arts. After graduating he worked in the field. “I began with freelancing and then worked in studios.” He eventually became an art director. A lot of his work was illustration and he painted commercially in those days. “I got out of graphics when it went to the computer.” It was a turning point, either Rich would have to invest lots of time learning the new technology or he could do something else. That something else was going into a partnership with someone and opening a framing shop. The framing shop did well. Eventually the partner wanted out, so Rich bought her out. “It was all framing then.” Rich says, “I always wanted a gallery, so when I got full control of the shop I began to get some artists. At first I thought this would be good because it was a way to show off the framing, but as time went on it became a major part of the business.” The art gallery, at first, had mainly paintings by Rich and one or two other artists. Gradually he began to attract other artists and started having shows. He now has 16 artists represented by Off The Wall. Rich’s subjects are all ordinary scenes, mainly landscapes. One painting that unlike most has a figure shows a girl building a sandcastle. It is his daughter. But generally Rich leaves figure painting to others. His landscapes show the beauty of the region and make ordinary landscapes special by using layers of color that evoke thought and emotion in the viewer. It is a treat to go to Off The Wall and see Rich’s work. Paintings by Rich Godshall can be seen at Off The Wall Gallery & Framing, located at 4059 Skippack Pike, Skippack, PA. For more information about framing and shows, call 610-222-2289 or visit www.godshallfineart.com. Bob Waite is the editor of MONTCO Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle.

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People

JOHN LANDIS RUTH MAY BE AN OCTOGENARIAN, but apparently no one has told him that the autumn of his years is a time to slow down. John has managed to include within the chapters of his life being a scholar, author, documentarian, professor, historian, photographer, Mennonite minister, and recognized leader in his community. Of all the things he’s done, John is clear about what he enjoyed most. He said, “It's a matter of what have I most valued. It's a toss-up between being a minister and an historian.” At the age of 20 John was cast by lot into the position of minister for his Mennonite Church. "This was a traditional method by the Church for selecting a minister," John explained. "When one accepted the tenets of the faith, he also accepted the responsibility of being a minister." John meant to study history when he enrolled in East-

John Landis Ruth John Ruth is a seasoned scholar, professor, author, historian, professor, photographer and Mennonite minister –by Margo Amamian Ragan

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ern College; however, at the time, there was only one history professor. “Literature professors recognized my abilities with writing and encouraged me to major in Literature and later to go to Harvard for a PhD in English and American Literature,” he said. “I returned to Eastern as a professor.” Despite the demands of an academic life, John authored numerous books and articles on the Mennonite/Amish way of life, and participated in the production of many documentaries on the same subject. His knowledge and understanding of the Amish was a factor in a publisher's decision to call on him when "The Happening" occurred. October 2, 2006—the day when the world stood still in an Amish community located in Lancaster County. “The Happening”, as some call that day, was when one man held ten girls hostage in the West Nickel Mines School, killing five, grievously wounding the others, before killing himself. What followed was a miraculous act of forgiveness by the grief-stricken Amish, which resonated throughout the civilized world. They stood as one to bring the family of the murderer into their fold, demonstrating forgiveness to them. “My book Forgiveness: A Legacy of the West Nickel Mines Amish School is one of many which articulated how forgiveness could transcend tragedy,” John said. “The book cover of the second edition is a replica of a photograph of mine.” Symbolically, the cover features five dresses hanging out to dry on a clothesline, and below them is a field of purple flowers swaying peacefully in the breeze. The photograph captures a patterned repetitiveness which John believes served his purpose in trying to explain the Amish. “They lead an orderly, regulated life,” he said. “They give over their will to Jesus in the act of submission. Their daily prayers express the concept that if I expect to be forgiven for my transgressions, I must forgive also. The Amish do not ask why did this happen to us, but rather, why not us? They understand that bad things 28

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happen because of people's selfishness, and they do not expect to be spared.” Photography is an important component of John's efforts to record history. “My father was a farmer who was always curious about the stars and the land where generations of my family had lived,” John said. “In 1941 when I was 11 years old, my father bought a camera, took pictures which gave the rest of us a visual access to where our roots were. That tipped me off to the importance of photography.” In fact, when John wrote Branch: A Memoir with Pictures in 2013, he coupled his photography with text as he told his life's story. “I live in the visual and the verbal,” he said. “My consciousness is the nexus between the two.” John sees history as a way to understand the present. He cited a letter written by William Penn to his secretary in Philadelphia, recommending that he welcome the Mennonites with tenderness and love, as they were emigrating here. John wondered why this same compassion is not shown to others who are seeking sanctuary here and abroad. John's latest project reflects his energy and intellectual curiosity. He is in the process of writing three books, with the first one partially completed. “I am asking myself a series of questions, a consequence of living in an era of fundamental change, which in and of itself propels change,” he explained. “Years from now, if our history is not recorded, people will not know that this land was once home to farmers, and before them, the Lenape Indians. Seismic changes are happening, and I am trying to help understand them.” John Ruth is regarded by many in the community with much respect and appreciation, which this very humble man seems uncomfortable in accepting. “They are overgenerous in their sentiments,” John said. “I have much evidence of my ordinariness. I recognize and pray about it every night.” Margo Ragan is a freelance writer and lecturer at Holy Family College who lives in New Hope, PA.

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In the Garden

Queen of Fall Flowers Simple steps that can ensure a bright bloom this fall and help your mums survive the winter –by Lori Pelkowski

MONTCO MAG . COM

CHRYSANTHEMUMS, THE QUEEN OF THE Fall Flowers, were first grown in China in the15th century B.C. When they made their way to Japan in the 8th century A.D., the Japanese adopted the flower as the crest and official seal of the Emperor. The Imperial Order of the Chrysanthemum is the highest order of chivalry, and the Japanese celebrate National Chrysanthemum Day— the Festival of Happiness. A sharp contrast to the love and honor the chrysanthemum enjoys in Asia is the way it is used in European countries. There, the chrysanthemum is known as the “death flower”, and is used almost exclusively at funerals and on graves. Here in Pennsylvania, and across the country, mums

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are the most commercially grown flowers. Vast, colorful displays of mums line the shelves of nurseries, garden centers, and home improvement warehouses in fall. Mums are easy to cultivate, come in a variety of colors, and bloom on schedule. Flower arrangers and gardeners prize them for cut flower arrangements. Their beauty can last for weeks. With nearly a dozen flower forms to choose from, you can grow mums that look like pastel daisies, or fluffy quilled zinnias, or refined dahlias, or maybe the large, fancy ones with incurving petals called "football" mums. The chrysanthemum palette includes every color but blue, and the holding time for blossoms, even in a vase, is measured in weeks rather than days. Mums are the perfect perennials to let into your beds. The most popular flower form is "decorative", dahlia-like blossoms so packed with long, broad petals that you can hardly see their center eyes, even when the flowers are completely open. One of the advantages of the decorative flower form is that the many layers of petals make the flowers last a long, long time. As the petals on the back of the blossom fade, new ones from the center give the flower a freshly opened appearance. Chrysanthemums will reward you with beauty year round. They arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t picky about exposure, soil or water conditions, but do prefer full sun, well-drained soil, and moderate water. Insect and disease problems are rare. Mums provide fresh spring foliage, attractive summer shapes, fall flowers, and winter interest to the garden. Mums bloom in fall because the shortening days (and lengthening nights) of late summer trigger flowering. Some react more quickly than others; these are the early bloomers. Midseason and late bloomers respond more slowly to changes in day length. Here's a guide to bloom times for choosing the perfect combination of mums: very early, September 8; early, September 17; midseason, September 24; late, October 5; early season excontinued on page 79

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Come to Skippack Village this fall

Courtesy Valley Forge Tourism

kippack is quintessential small town America. It all began in 1706 when Gerhardt and Hermanus Indenhofen purchased 440 acres of land from Mathias Van Bebber. This property eventually was divided and sold off over the next 100 years becoming the Village of Skippack. Located in the heart of Montgomery Count it offers great shopping and dining with First Fridays, Skippack Days, classic car shows, music, theater, historic buildings and fine art. Many of the buildings were built before the Revolutionary War and date back to the early’s 1700’s. You can enjoy strolling down the street and visiting the various shops who are independent owners. Below are upcoming events while visiting Skippack, PA. You can visit www.bestofskippack.com and www.skip pack.org for more information.

FUN IN SKIPPACK

Courtesy Visit Philly

September 26: Skippack Food Truck Festival October 3-4: Skippack Days October 10: Winetober Fest October 17: Children’s Halloween Parade October 18: International Car Show November 27: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting November 27-December 23: Illuminaire Nights in Skippack Skippack, PA. www.iloveskippack.com.

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Come to Skippack Village this fall

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Your one-stop shop for remodeling

FALL 2015

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Sloan Six

Pippin 00

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Seed to Plate Sloan Six’s philosophy about the food she grows and raises at Quarry Hill Farm and serves at the Mainland Inn is that food is a living thing and shouldn’t travel very much before it is eaten

Photograpy: Glenn Race

BY DIANA CERCONE

SHE’S BEEN AFFECTIONATELY CALLED “HYPER-LOCAL.” But Sloane Six, farmer and owner of Quarry Hill Farm in Harleysville, as well as owner of the historic Mainland Inn less than two miles away, isn’t offended. I suspect, deep down, she may even treasure the description as a badge of honor. And well she should. Not only did she save one of Montgomery County’s historic farms from a developer’s bulldozer, but she also turned the 110-acre commercial farm into an organic paradise. (Just ask her about the multitude of grasshoppers she now has and the return of songbirds—two major signs of the farm’s healthy soil and ecosystem.) This she tells me as we sit in Quarry Hill Farm’s market and her sociable dog Pippin, an Irish Border Collie, makes herself comfortable by my side. Though Quarry Hill is a CSA, Sloane says, the market is open to the public. Just follow the market signs when you turn into the farm’s driveway. More than likely you’ll also be guided to it by her free roaming, pastured chickens and ducks like I was. Tucked inside a large barn, the market is where you’ll find the organic produce and fruit Sloane grows most of which are heirloom

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varieties. In refrigerated cases are her pastured eggs and the more delicate veggies. Depending on the season, you’ll find whole and specialty cuts of meat from her pasture-raised chickens, Guinea hens, ducks and turkeys as well as rabbit, lamb, goat and pork in the freezers. Many are from the heritage breeds she raises. The market also offers farm-made bone broth and fermented sauerkraut and honey from the farm’s beehives. All are known to have health benefits. “Food is a living thing,” Sloane says. “The longer it sits on a truck, at a distribution center or on a grocery shelf, the more it degrades. Even if it’s traveling from Oregon and is organic, it looses its enzyme levels and nutritional benefits. There’s a whole host of reasons why you want to go local. I don’t think our food was meant to travel the world.” t’s one of the reasons why Sloane introduced heirloom vegetables and heritage breeds on her organic farm. They’re the original locals. And like everything she grows and raises, they haven’t been altered by GMOs and are chemical, growth hormone and antibiotic free. When talking about heirloom vegetables and heritage breeds, Sloane turns passionate. “They make sustainable agriculture possible,” she says. Heirlooms and heritage breeds create a biodiversity, not a monoculture like corporate farming. If our food supply is to exist, she says, we need biodiversity. We can no longer rely on just one type of crop or breed for our food supply. Agricultural biodiversity, she says, is vital to our food supply because it no longer makes us vulnerable. As an example, Sloane points to the recent outbreak of avian flu among the nation’s big factory farms that raise the same breed of laying chickens. At Quarry Hill Farm Sloane has no such problem. Besides, she says, “Heirloom vegetables and heritage breeds taste better. With heirlooms and heritage breeds, we’re expanding people’s palates. There’s so much more than just one variety of a vegetable.” Each variety brings its own nutritional arsenal, she adds, not to mention the array of

Opposite top, Skylar picking peaches in the orchard. Opposite bottom left, a Heritage Red Bourbon turkey crosses the farm’s driveway, looking for her chicks.Opposite bottom right, an Americana rooster, one of Sloane’s many pasture-raised heritage poultry breeds.Above, Sloane and her son, Skylar, gathering eggs from her pasture-raised chickens.

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Above, an array of seasonal organic fruit and vegetables in Quarry Hill Farm’s market. Left, as part of the farm’s educational program, Chef Ellen Fiorito, a member of Sloane’s farm team (who also makes the market’s bone broth and jams), shows a CSA member how to cook the items in her weekly pickup box.Opposite left, jars of the Mainland’s canned and pickled vegetables used in many of Chef Brett’s dishes throughout the year accent the dining room’s engaging decor. Opposite right, jars of Raw Wildflower Honey in the farm’s market from Quarry Hill Farm’s beehives.

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colors, shapes and taste. It’s the same with heritage breeds. “We’re bringing back farming the way it was done in the ’20s. “Our one hundred percent grass-fed sheep graze on a virtual salad of thirteen different plants such as clover, legumes and grasses,” she says. “We add Himalayan salt and trace minerals to their diet and grow our own hay. Sheep aren’t supposed to eat grain. Fostering their health fosters our own.” Continuing Sloane says, “We process our poultry and rabbits on the farm. So the chickens offered today were just processed yesterday morning.” Eggs are gathered daily; the date handwritten on the box. Though Sloane would like to process her goats, pigs and lamb on the farm, she cannot because of federal regulations. So she does the next best thing. She uses a family owned slaughterhouse in Quakertown 20 minutes away. The owners know her and allow Sloane to take them at night and in their own group

to keep the stress level to a minimum. Not only is this a more humane and respectful treatment of the animals than those raised on factory farms and processed at warehouse slaughterhouses (Both have long histories of abusive treatment), but also less stress translates to tastier meat. Just then a couple from Creamery enters the market. They tell Sloane that their daughter has been urging them to eat more healthily. They heard about Quarry Hill, they say, and came “strictly on a fact-finding visit.” While answering their questions on the merits of pastured eggs, Sloane opens a bin of freshly picked string beans that are long and violet speckled. “Never saw a string bean like that,” says the woman, “and we have a garden.” “These are heirloom Dragon Tongue beans,” says Sloane. “Try one.” Tentatively they each take one, biting into the crisp, juicy bean. The smiles on their faces say it all.

“We’ll take some,” says the woman. Before they leave they also buy eggs, heirloom Black Beauty cherry tomatoes and blackberries. (So much for their “strict fact-finding.”) At the door the man steps back in and asks Sloane when she’s taking turkey orders for Thanksgiving. (She starts right after Labor Day.) Had you asked Sloane what she wanted to be when growing up, she would have told you that being a farmer was never even considered. Her successful career as an entrepreneur and business woman in major U.S. cities bears that out. But in 2007 she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. By that time she had been living in Montgomery County for 10 years and had bought Quarry Hill Farm just a few months prior her diagnosis. Reading books on health and nutrition, Sloane made the connection between what she ate with the effects on her health. The

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Above, the Mainland Inn, which was originally constructed in the 1700s, sits on eight acres of land and features refined, modern dining rooms while keeping its historic charm. Opposite, Brett Romberg, the Mainland Inn’s executive chef.

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first to go from her diet was processed foods. More research, including Sally Fallon’s book Nourishing Traditions, convinced her to give up commercially produced foods all together and go totally organic. That’s also when she took over the farm, allowing it to sit fallow for three years. During that time she rebuilt the infrastructure, put in an orchard and rotational pastures, and nurtured the farm’s soil into one that’s organic and nutrient-rich. Finishing his chores for the morning and joining us is her son Skylar, 12. He’s just as passionate, engaging and knowledgeable as his mom. His business card reads “Skylar Clemens, Farmer.” And so he is—even has his own team of draft horses that he uses to work the farm. With a promise from his mom of bringing back lunch from the Mainland Inn, Skylar takes charge of the market. Before leaving for the restaurant, I ask Skylar what some of

his menu favorites are. Sloane bought the Mainland Inn on St. Patrick’s Day in 2013. Before that it had been closed for five years and was in dire need of a complete redo, both structurally and cosmetically. Renovations completed, the Mainland reopened this past January. To call the Mainland Inn a farm to table restaurant is to do it an injustice. It’s so much more than just using local foods. It’s a joyful culinary celebration of the seasons. Working in tandem with Sloane is Executive Chef Brett Romberg, who creates his menu around what Quarry Hill Farm will be picking and processing. For example he asks Sloane when he can expect her ducks so he can plan how best to feature them on his menu. Already, he says, he has some exciting ideas. The freshness of the Mainland’s vegetables and herbs range from being picked just a few hours ago at the farm to minutes from

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the Inn’s own organic vegetable and herb garden. Many of the vegetables like chickpeas, beets, red cabbage and carrots are pickled as relishes to use in dishes throughout the year. Before sitting down for lunch, Sloane takes me on a quick tour, pointing out major renovations. Though she has kept the old inn’s antique pieces and majestic breakfront, gone are the formal white tablecloths and dinnerware in the main dining room. Instead are polished wooden tables set with white linen napkins and dishes by Black Sheep Pottery from Skippack. Oriental rugs grace the original wooden floor. 44

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Don’t miss the exquisite botanical paintings of Quarry Hill’s fruits and vegetables by local artist Linda Kneeland adorning walls. Wherever she can, Sloane says, she uses local artists and artisans. Even the Mainland’s wine and beer list reflects her commitment to both local and organically produced. (Sloane’s not called hyper-local for nothing.) New is the open kitchen with its own dining room complete with a table for seating up to 12 as well as a counter for four to enjoy the Chef’s Tasting Menu. Look also for more Wine Tasting Dinners to be added. While keeping its coziness, the tavern

downstairs also received a facelift—and not just cosmetically. With its own mixologist on board, you can expect in-house crafted cocktails, an updated bar menu to pair with your drink, and cocktail and wine tasting nights. Another new addition is the gracious outdoor dining patio, leading both from the tavern and driveway. The restaurant sits on an idyllic eightacres. Along with its vegetable and flower gardens, sheep will soon be grazing on the property. And this fall the Mainland’s Commissary will open, offering prepared foods for continued on page 66

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Opposite left top, in the Mainland’s inviting dining room, Sloane kept the old inn’s antiques and majestic breakfront but replaced the formal white tablecloths and dinnerware with polished wooden tables set with white linen napkins and dishes by Black Sheep Pottery, creating a casual and sophisticated ambience. Oriental rugs grace the original wooden floors. Opposite inset, two of the photos of Quarry Hill Farm leading from the Mainland Inn’s entrance to the cozy Tavern downstairs. Top left, Lamb Bolognese with housemade Tagliatelle Pasta. Top middle, housemade Potato Gnocchi served with smoked squash, kale, poached egg and miso emulsion and garnished with fresh chives. Top right, lamb burger is served on a freshly made in-house pita bun and dressed with curry mayonnaise, Kalamata olives, pickled red onion and arugula. Bottom, summer Vegetable Salad dressed in vinaigrette.

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In this project by Dear Garden Associates, leading off the side of the main terrace, a path leads to a smaller irregular flagstone terrace with a fireplace, built-in wall seats, and long open views across the gardens.

Photography: Rob Cardillo

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Today’s Outdoor Living Environments The old ideas of a patio, grill and few pieces of furniture has been replaced with environments that offer features like fire pits, outdoor lighting, permeable paving, and rain gardens BY MARY BETH SCHWARTZ

HOMEOWNERS NO LONGER WANT THE STANDARD PATIO AND gas grill area in their backyard. Today’s outdoor living environment provides the perfect oasis and is a long-time investment. For 2015, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) finds that the top ten project types with the highest consumer demand include native plantings, fire pits and fireplaces, outdoor lighting, permeable paving, efficient irrigation, and rain gardens. Spa features rank over swimming pools, and pergolas are the most popular outdoor structure. Sustainability and low-maintenance now are commonplace in design. We asked four of the region’s top landscape architecture firms to share some of their outdoor living environments. Be sure to take notes on your favorite features for your backyard haven.

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Dear Garden Associates

Photography: Robâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Cardillo

Above, this rear garden and terrace space were designed by Dear Garden Associates to expand the interior living space. From inside of the house, one looked over the new terrace and through the new plantings to the open backyard. .

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lients are putting more thought into their outdoor living rooms. Outdoor areas now include detailed gardens, flagstone patios, stone walls for additional seating, even a flat screen television,” says Principal Bill Dear of Dear Garden Associates, Inc. Dear Garden Associates, Inc. is a Bucks County firm offering distinctive design, maintenance, and installations. In business for 11 years, the company has clients in Eastern Pennsylvania, Central New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, the Main Line, and Manhattan. According to Principal Bill Dear, their core values are reliability, accessibility, and sustainability. In addition, their team has expertise in irrigation, construction, masonry, garden design, horticulture, lighting, and landscape architecture. Bill Dear described four Bucks County outdoor environments designed and built by the company. For an estate, they worked on various gardens of interest, including a parking court, a lush side garden, and meadows. “The parking court was defined by perimeter hedges of hawthorns and boxwoods. The stonework included sandstone cobble fields with granite bands and curbs, which were recycled from old Philadelphia streets. Stepping up from the parking to the front door, a garden terrace provided a buffer from the house to the parking. To the side of the house, a stepping stone path meandered through a perennial garden that provided a series of blooms throughout the seasons. From the rear of the home, one had a long view over a curving landscape

with meadow plantings that weaved through the fields. Keeping with the feel of the property, the vegetable garden was made with more antique stone material and had an espalier apple tree for fencing.” On a second property, a rear terrace and garden were designed to extend the interior living space. “From inside of the house, one looked over the new terrace and through the new plantings to the open backyard. The patterned flagstone gave a clean look to the terrace, while the curved outer edges blended the space into the surrounding gardens. This terrace was dry set with tight joints, which prevented weed growth and removed the maintenance that is associated with mortared joints. A stone wall provided extra seating for the terrace and screening for the adjacent hot tub.” Dear Garden Associates, Inc. currently is working on two other outdoor living environments. The first property features a flagstone terrace with parterre gardens, and a secondary terrace with a water element and fireplace. The second property features rear terraces with a fire pit and water feature, along with a new front entrance. Dear Garden Associates, Inc. can be found on Facebook, as well as www.houzz.com, where you can find many of their outdoor living spaces. Their address is 6746 Old Easton Road in Pipersville, PA. You can visit their Website at www.deargarden.com. To reach them by phone, call 215-766-8110 in Pennsylvania, and 609-919-0050 in New Jersey.

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Top, GL Designs took down the small deck that was there to make way for a custom outdoor living space that wraps around the house. The outdoor living room included a main dining area, intimate private space, and dedicated cooking gallery. Bottom, a custom automated gate provided the perfect compliment in both style and scale for this Tudor. Opposite, a custom designed portico, brick landing, walkway, and colorful plantings. 50

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GL Designs

ince 1979, GL Designs, formerly Gary’s Landscape & Design, has created thousands of projects for clients from Philadelphia to The Hamptons. They have a design service and install decks, masonry, and landscapes. In addition, the firm offers minor home exterior renovations, a shutter color service, and maintenance. They are problem solvers in both the aesthetic and the functional. Since they have their own perennial company, they incorporate a lot of perennials into jobs with the goal being over time that you will have lower maintenance and more seasons of bloom and interest. Designer Andrea Steinberg spoke of several projects designed and installed by GL Designs. A meticulously restored Queen Anne in Fort Washington was the first. “This home sat on what was essentially a vacant lot. The new lattice was critical in creating a foundation for the house and anchoring it to the site. Victorian style plantings and perennial gardens created a vacation oasis in this suburban neighborhood.” Another project was in Ambler. “A custom designed portico, brick landing, walkway, and colorful plantings added to the front

entry of this residence. The rear patio was refurbished with a paved outdoor cooking area, water feature, and plantings, bringing functionality and panache to the backyard.” In Lower Gwynedd, Steinberg redesigned a patio space. “A large patio with poor traffic flow was transformed into a charming and functional outdoor entertaining space. The design included a built-in cooking area, sitting wall, copper arbor, custom flower containers, and accent lighting.” In New Hope, a small deck was demolished for something grander. “We took down the small deck to make way for a custom outdoor living space that wraps around the back of the house, connecting doorways and offering multiple exits to the yard. This outdoor room included a main dining area, intimate private space, and dedicated cooking gallery. The new view into the yard was simply breathtaking.” GL Designs has their portfolio showcased on www.gldesigns.net. They also can be found on Facebook. Their address is 1122 East Welsh Road in Ambler, PA. You can email them at: sales@gldesigns.net. The company phone number is 215-628-4070.

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McMan Nursery and Landscaping

n business since 1985, McMan Nursery and Landscaping, Inc. designs and builds outdoor rooms for residential clients in Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester counties, as well as Chestnut Hill. They have their own nursery with an inventory of quality shrubs and trees. Their list of services includes lighting, pools, erosion control & drainage, and custom gardens. McMan Nursery and Landscaping, Inc. is certified by EP Henry, as well as the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). Their staff can design and install patios, outdoor kitchen stations, fire pits & fireplaces, retaining & seating walls, decks, walkways, pergolas, and arbors, to name a few. According to Landscape Architect Jennifer Humphrey, one design project in Schwenksville is of mention. It was located in a quiet suburban neighborhood that combined secluded tranquility with the allure of shopping in nearby Skippack Village. “We let out clients determine through our designs what they wanted in their dream landscape. We started out with a design, and through a process of careful listening and creative collaboration with the

client, ended up with a final design that was much different from the one we started with.” McMan Nursery and Landscaping, Inc. created an outdoor room that enhanced the beauty and livability of the home. “The most unique feature of the design was a combination fireplace and grill station, a design trend that is prominent in California right now. As far as we know, this was the first such combination in the area.” The project also included a roof structure over the elevated patio, and incorporated speakers, a television, ceiling fans, and lighting. “Our clients love their new outdoor room and can enjoy it with family or friends day or night, almost the entire year long.” You can visit McMan Nursery and Landscaping, Inc. online at www.mcmannurserylandscaping.com. There is an online gallery of their projects, including landscapes, pools, hardscapes, fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens. The company is located at 958 Harleysville Pike in Harleysville, PA. You can email them at: mcmanlandscaping@verizon.net. Their phone number is 610-584-1970.

Above, a combination fireplace and grill station. The project, by McMan Nursery and Landscaping, also included a roof structure over the elevated patio, and incorporated speakers, a television, ceiling fans, and lighting. 52

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Plymouth Nursery & Landscape Co.

Above, Plymouth Nursery & Landscape Project has EP Henry Coventry walkway and wall; a stockade fence with an arbor with arched gate; new gardens; LED lighting. Opposite, an outdoor fireplace with a patio.

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ith roots back to the 1940s, Plymouth Nursery & Landscape Company is a turnkey company for all of your landscaping projects. Their residential client base is Southeastern Pennsylvania, and includes the counties of Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester, along with the Main Line. They have a 10-acre nursery with a selection of plant materials. Plymouth Nursery & Landscape Company offers such services as fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, ponds & waterfalls, decks, lighting, fencing, and masonry. “The outdoor living space and all that it encompasses is popular. In California, where this trend originated, homeowners have beautiful outdoor grilling stations, along with a fire pit, a water feature, lighting. Structures have gotten very big—pergolas, arbors, pavilions. People also are bringing their electronics and sounds outside,” says President John DiJiosia. For a client in Garnet Valley, the company created an outdoor living environment. The planting areas surrounding the swimming pool were in need of renovation. The existing deck and swimming pool did not have a connecting walkway. Lastly, the client wanted an outdoor fireplace with a patio. “The project involved new plantings and lowvoltage LED lighting throughout the backyard and swimming pool. We implemented a new Cambridge walkway,

patio, fireplace, and seating walls.” Another landscaping project in Chestnut Hill involved a series of challenges. For one, the space was small. Also, the customer had two large dogs that required their own space without causing damage to the new gardens. “We installed a new walkway and wall from the driveway to the front door. We removed and replaced the existing fence and gates. We created a more inviting and identifiable entrance to the front yard. Last but not least, we installed new gardens and lighting.” The end result was a new EP Henry Coventry walkway and wall; a stockade fence with an arbor with arched gate; new gardens; LED lighting; and new sodded yard to give the dogs some area. You can see Plymouth Nursery & Landscape Company’s residential gallery at www.plymouthnursery.com. The company also is on Facebook. Their address is 1043 Belvoir Road in Plymouth Meeting, PA. You can schedule a consultation by calling 610-277-4120. Their email address is: plymouth@plymouthnursery.com. Mary Beth Schwartz is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to regional publications.

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Cooking in

Style

Three dream kitchens by three area designers who have designed kichens in the area that are keeping up with newer trends By Mary Beth Schwartz

Every year the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) presents their Top 10 Kitchen Trends in the Kitchen & Bath Style Report. It is a report read by kitchen designers and homeowners alike. For 2015, the NKBA found that kitchens will increasingly feature European styled cabinetry, wine refrigerators, steam ovens, furniture look pieces, islands and tall gathering tables, and a sister kitchen outside. Many kitchens now focus on the user experience, from easy maintenance to accessible design. There has to be room for technology, the office, a flat screen television, even pets. Cooking hobbyists and wellness enthusiasts are choosing appliances based on their lifestyles. If there are multiple cooks and cleanup crews in the kitchen, there are multiple appliances to accommodate them. The leading style is transitional, with contemporary a close second. We asked three area kitchen designers to showcase their custom kitchens. May these projects in Chestnut Hill, Wayne, and Harleysville inspire you to build your own dream kitchen.

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Wayne Renovation: Gardner/Fox Associates designed this kitchen renovation with Adelphi Kitchensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; frameless birch Ridgewood cabinets topped with Carrara marble and wide oak hardwood floors.The center island is contrasted with the cabnetry by having a dark wood butcher block top. Wide oak hardwood floors were chosen in keeping with the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic character. FALL 2015

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Photos: Mike Irby Photography

Wayne Renovation

Harleysville Redesign: The island is designed for entertaining. It features a bar sink with a garbage disposal. The cabinets are cherry semi-custom with a raised panel. The countertops are natural granite. Appliances are upscale and include a 48-inch gas range, dishwasher, and microwave covection oven. There is a custom range hood to match the cabinetry. And behind the range is a custom mural. The flooring is bamboo. Beyond the kitchen, Gehman Design Remodeling did other work, including a family room where they built cabinetry on both sides of the fireplace.

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Since 1987, Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc. has been designing and building additions and home renovations for clients throughout Philadelphia and the Main Line. Their staff includes 40 designers, project managers, and craftsmen who specialize in custom home improvements. The firm is dedicated to design & craftsmanship, business innovation, and customer service. A Wayne couple came to the company to bring their dated and cramped eat-in kitchen to modern times. The kitchen was situated in a historic French Tower House, which once served as a dormitory for the Valley Forge Military Academy. Originally built in 1921, the home featured architecturally designed archways and curved walls, stained glass windows, and gardens. According to Mark Fox of Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc., there were some issues with the dated kitchen. Before the renovation, the bulk of the kitchenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabinetry ran along a wall that separated the kitchen from the dining area. In addition, an awkward bay window

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detracted from the charm of the home’s original architecture. The existing finishes included a bright yellow floor, sink, and an unattractive pendant light. “The renovation plan was apparent. We have to remove the wall separating the kitchen and dining area along with the bay window bump out to square off the kitchen and create an open floor plan between the kitchen and dining room. A large central island would increase counter space, while classic and timeless white cabinetry and countertops would upgrade the kitchen’s appearance. All new fixtures and appliances would boost its function and efficiency.” To updated the look of the Wayne kitchen, Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc. started with Adelphi Kitchens’ frameless birch Ridgewood cabinets topped with Carrara marble. They continued with the white and gray streaked marble for the backsplash with a classic subway tile. For the island, designers contrasted the white Ridgewood cabinetry with a dark wood butcher block top. Wide oak

plank hardwood floors were selected in keeping with the home’s historic character. An integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator and professional grade appliances prep for entertaining. Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc. is located at 919 Glenbrook Avenue in Bryn Mawr, PA. You can visit them on Facebook or at www.gardnerfox.com. The website has an extensive gallery of custom designed kitchens. You can schedule a consultation with the firm by calling 610-525-8305.

Harleysville Redesign For 25 years, Gehman Design Remodeling has been designing and building for clients in Southeastern Pennsylvania. All of their projects are completed by their own employees. Their services include whole house remodels, additions, structural changes, and kitchens. And the award-winning company features their own showroom. President Dennis Gehman designed a kitchen in Harleysville FALL 2015

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Chestnut Hill Upgrade:Traditional painted cabinets are a warm light tan with hand-distressing and glazing on a raised panel door. Using the same door style, Pierson & Son Kitchens put it on one of the dishwashers which disappears into the adjacent cabnetry.

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that garnered two 2015 National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) awards. This five-month project started as a kitchen project and gradually evolved into the first floor of the house, as well as the exterior patio, of a traditional two-story Colonial. “The clients wanted us to open up the walls and have a more open living space. The kitchen design was traditional in terms of decor. In terms of layout and use, it leans towards contemporary because of the 11-footlong island,” Gehman says. The kitchen had a series of details in its design. The island was desired for entertaining. It featured a bar sink with a garbage disposal and cabinetry. The cabinets were cherry semi-custom with a raised panel. There were natural granite countertops. The family wanted professional upscale appliances, including a 48-inch gas range, dishwasher, and microwave convection oven. There was a custom range hood to match the cabinetry. Behind the range was a custom mural piece. The backsplash was constructed with tumbled travertine. The flooring was bamboo. For the lighting, recessed and under cabinet LED lighting was chosen. Gehman Design Remodeling did some more remodeling beyond the kitchen. Over in the family room, Gehman Design Remodeling added some built-in cabinetry around the fireplace, which was converted to gas. Over in the living room, a bay window bump out was added to accommodate an eight-foot-tall Christmas tree. With the window project, it was discovered that the former patio had to be rebuilt due to water damage. The foyer was redone. A walk-in pantry was created with organizing shelves and pullout wicker baskets. The bamboo flooring was continued throughout the first floor up to the second floor, with a new wrought iron railing. Over all of the arches in the kitchen, dining room, living room, foyer, etc., custom arched millwork was created. For more information you can visit www.gehmanremodeling.com to see the online kitchen gallery. Gehman Design Remodeling also is on Facebook. The company is located at 355 Main Street in Harleysville, PA. You can call them at 215-513-0300. You can send an email to: dennis@gehmanre modeling.com.

Chestnut Hill Upgrade A family-run business since 1950, Pierson & Son Kitchens, Inc. offers homeowners of Montgomery County and the surrounding region expert kitchen and bath design. Located in the Philadelphia suburb of Erdenheim, they are known for their cabinetry lines Wood-Mode and Brookhaven. Designer Kristen Calvanese revealed a kitchen in Chestnut Hill that included Brookhaven semi-custom cabinetry. This kitchen was located in a nearly century-old home, which presented challenges in itself. According to Calvanese, kitchens built back then were often the less desirable rooms in the back of the house, with an odd footprint and lack of storage. The kitchen was in the shape of an “L,” which made for an interesting layout. Space planning became the first priority. The homeowners wanted a large pantry, a large desk to work from home, and two dishwashers. They entertain frequently and needed the dishwashers, but did not want to see both of them. For the initial FALL 2015

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STANDBY GENERATORS

For all your electrical and electronic needs Serving the community for over 60 years

NEWTOWN ELECTRONICS

Professional Sales, Ser vic e & Installation 557B Durham Road • Newtown, PA • 215-598-9900

PA #096218 NJ #13vh07282400 62

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newtownelectronics.com

planning, the desk and pantry wall were designated in the returning “L” portion of the kitchen so that Calvanese could focus on keeping the main function of the kitchen closer together. Originally there was a long island, but a banquet space was found to be the best solution. “That part was easy, but then we had to rework the lost storage from the island back into the main working kitchen space. There was an awkward window in the space that we decided to close up. Once we determined the general layout, we needed to fine tune the details.” This Chestnut Hill kitchen project had other unique details to address. There was a lower section in the ceiling that could not be altered. Pierson & Son Kitchens, Inc. chose to install glass doors in the cabinetry under it. Your eye would be drawn to the items in the cabinetry, not the drop in the ceiling. The homeowners wanted a traditional painted cabinet with a warmer color in keeping with the Tudor styling of the home. “A light tan with hand distressing and glazing on a raised panel door style did just that. We took the same door style and put it on one of the dishwashers. It disappeared into the adjacent cabinetry.” The scope of this project went beyond the kitchen space. Pierson & Son Kitchens, Inc. were able to implement additional storage elsewhere for the family. Built-ins were added to the living room, along with a builtin coat closet and seasonal storage in a hallway off of the foyer. “The living room built-ins used framed cabinetry with an inset door style to make it appear as if they were in place when the home was first built. Keeping with the same idea, we used a dark cabinet for the coat closet to match the original dark stained trim and exposed ceiling beams that give the foyer its charm and elegance.” You can see an online portfolio of Pierson’s projects at www.piersonkitchens.com. Pierson & Son Kitchens, Inc. is located at 821 Bethlehem Pike in Erdenheim, PA. Their phone number is 215-233-0503. You can email them at: piersonkit@verizon.net. Mary Beth Schwartz is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to regional publications.

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SENIOR LIFESTYLES ife expectancy is on the increase and many people are living into their 90s and beyond. This means that planning for aging is of vital importance for everyone. People remain healthy as when they they have day to day social intercourse, eat well and get plenty of exercise. This is why the whole range of senior living from independent living in apartments to assisted living, nursing care, memory care and hospice are things that we need to think about. Our Senior Lifestyles section presents a variety of living situations for seniors from apartments to total care, where people can be safe, live according to their abilities and have a sense of community. Aging can be done purposefully and with dignity in the Bucks County area. Living situations are now staffed with professionals who offer rehabilitation, recreation and medical care. Diet and lifestyle can make a difference, so it can never be too early to think about these things for ourselves and those we love. Aging does not have to be something to dread, but can be another step in our development.

SUNROOMS AVAILABLE ON SELECT APARTMENTS

More Time – More Friends – More Choices Setting Standards of Excellence in Retirement Living Since 1967

A t Foulkeways at Gwynedd, community members look forward to

exploring new horizons and re-establishing past interests and hobbies. There’s always something close at hand to inspire both mind AND body! So, what are you doing with the second half of YOUR life?

For more information about life at Foulkeways Continuing Care Retirement Community, call Marketing Counselor, Kimberly McCloskey, at 215-283-7339 today.

Guided by Time-Honored Quaker Values 1120 Meetinghouse Road, Gwynedd, PA 19436

www.foulkeways.org ®

Foulkeways at Gwynedd does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or sexual orientation.

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SENIOR LIFESTYLES Ç¤ Activityy. Friendship.. Support. Convenience e. Value. Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;ÇŻÂ&#x17D;Â&#x17D; Ć¤Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013; Â&#x192;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D; Â&#x192;Â&#x2013; Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Â&#x192;Â&#x2013; Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026;Â?ÇĄ Â&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2020;Â&#x192;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022; Â&#x192; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2018;Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2022;Ç¤ Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160; Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;ÇĄ Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A; Â&#x192; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2013;Â?Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2013;ÇĄ Â&#x192;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2122;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇĄ Â&#x2019;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x192; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2013;Â&#x192;Â&#x17D; Â&#x2122;Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;ÇŚÂ&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030;Ç¤ Â&#x2021;ÇŻÂ&#x201D;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2014;Â&#x2026;Â?Â&#x2022; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x203A;ÇŻÂ&#x2022; Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?Â?Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x203A; Ç¤ Ç¤ Ç¤ Â&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2021; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2122;Â&#x2021;ÇŻÂ&#x201D;Â&#x2021; Â&#x192;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D; Â&#x192;Â&#x201E;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2013;Ç¤

Supportive Assisted Care

Comprehensive Memory Care

On-Site Rehabilitation

Total Wellness. Maximum Well-Being.

Wlo C Welcome Center t Noow o O Open!! Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x192;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2022; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â? Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Ç¤ Í&#x2013;Í&#x2022;Í&#x2122;Ç¤Í&#x2014;Í?Í&#x2122;Ç¤Í?Í?Í&#x203A;Í&#x161; Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Ç¤Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026;Â?Ç¤Â&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â? Í&#x2022;Í&#x161;Í&#x201D;Í&#x201D; Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2018;Â&#x192;Â&#x2020; Č&#x2C6; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2018;Â?ÇĄ Í&#x2022;Í&#x153;Í?Í&#x2013;Í?

Senior Living Directory Bridges at Warwick, 1600 Almshouse Rd., Jamison, PA 18929 215-395-9976; www.thebridgesatwarwick.com At The Bridges at Warwick, every day is a celebration of seniors. Living here provides residents with a sense of purpose and contentment. Days are filled with fun and friendship with a focus on total well-being. Our brand new community, located in the heart of Warwick Township, offers a unique alternative to traditional assisted living and memory care. Our supportive, personalized lifestyle boosts residents' self-esteem by helping them stay as independent as possible for as long as possible, no matter what their current abilities may be. Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home, 1 Sheppardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Way, Suite 100, Warminster, PA 18974 215-956-2270; www.christshome.org Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home is one of the few organizations in the country to offer an array of life-enhancing services to both older adults and children. Our legacy of caring and compassion is interwoven into all of our dynamic programs and services. We are committed to quality programming and services that exceed community standards while providing exceptional value.The heart of Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home is to serve the Lord by providing services to senior adults and disadvantaged children in an atmosphere graced with love, dignity, compassion and respect. 64

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SENIOR LIFESTYLES

Wh here Each Ge eneration Ma akes Its Own His story. Classicc continuing care retirement living moves into th he next generation at Pine Run with the very re eal benefit of four decades of experience. A mem mber of Doylestown Health, Pine Run offers indepe endent living cottages, personal care suites, secure memory care, and a 5-star rehabilitation centerr.

Retirement Community Lakeview The Garden Health Center

777 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18901 800.992.8992 • pinerun.orgg

Foulkeways at Gwynedd, 1120 Meetinghouse Road, Gwynedd, PA 19436; 215-643-2200/7575; www.foulkeways.org Guided by Quaker values, Foulkeways has been setting standards of excellence in retirement living since 1967. Whether your plans include a cozy studio, mid-sized apartment or spacious, cottage, Foulkeways provides proven financial stability, comprehensive health care and a community where friendship, caring, dignity and respect are a way of life. Oaks of Bensalem, 6400 Hulmeville Rd., Bensalem, PA 19020; 215-752-9140; www.sierraoaksofbensalem.com Oaks of Bensalem is a welcoming, caring senior community. Offering comfortably furnished rooms to fit individual preferences and budgets. “Oaks” is unique in providing highquality compassionate care. Visit us and discover why so many choose to call “Oaks” home! Pine Run Retirement Community, 777 Ferry Road, Doylestown Pennsylvania 18901; 215-345-9000; www.pinerun.org Pine Run is committed to and passionate about seniors, and we are dedicated to being an exceptional retirement community. By focusing on a spectrum of wellness for everyone in our continuum, we will enhance the quality of life throughout the region. Pine Run attracts those with an affinity for independence, who appreciated the fine setting and neighborly ways.

“We are authentic, compasionite, and deeply committed to serving each person we encounter.” 6400 Hulmeville Rd., Bensalem, PA 19020 215.752.9140 / www.oaksofbensalem.com

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take-out. Still another new offering is the pre-ordered picnic baskets featuring the Mainland’s own charcuterie. Make sure to bring a blanket to create your own “Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe.” With renovations completed and a knowledgeable staff in place, Sloane has reinvented the Mainland Inn into a casual yet sophisticated restaurant—making it both a neighborhood go-to and a favorite dining destination. Tour over, we wend our way back to our table. Everything on the lunch menu sounds

Accompanying it is a medley of pickled carrots, beets and red cabbage, with each retaining the integrity of its color, flavor and crunch, and a savory side of bulgur wheat and fennel. tantalizing and, admittedly, I’m having a tough time deciding. Sensing my dilemma, Sloane says, “I always tell a customer ‘Order something that you don’t like. Because chances are very good you’ll like it.’” My problem is I like everything on the menu. Then I remember Skylar and go with his favorite appetizer: pastrami egg and kraut. The boy knows his food. A nutritional take on an old classic, it explodes with freshness and flavor. On the recommendation of both Sloane and our knowledgeable server Sarah, I next try the chilled white cauliflower soup, gar66

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nished with purple, green and orange cauliflower, each prepared differently, and with radish, preserved lemon and potato confit. With no additon of cream, it was an ethereal creamy creation and was as pleasing to my palate as it was to my eye with its artistic presentation. For my sandwich I chose the lamb burger. Sweet and succulent, the lamb burger arrives on an in-house freshly baked pita delectably laced with in-house curry mayo and topped with kalamata olives, arugula, tomato and pickled red onion. Accompanying it is a medley of pickled carrots, beets and red cabbage, with each retaining the integrity of its color, flavor and crunch, and a savory side of bulgur wheat and fennel. (I’m a happy diner. And a more perfect meal I can’t remember.) Over lunch Sloane tells me about customers to the market who share their recipes and personal stories with her. Many of them, she says, have dietary problems or illnesses, including cancer. They tell her they are on their way to recovery or have been healed since buying and eating the food she grows and raises. Fit and toned, Sloane exudes good health. Cancer-free now for eight years, she says, she’s never felt better. Reflecting on those years, she says, “It’s been a wonderful adventure and journey. Even the cancer—though a mountain, it was a gift. Changing my lifestyle saved my life. It cured my soul. It cured my body.” She attributes that, she says, to “living a purposeful, meaningful life.” “It’s now what I’m driven to do every day. Through the farm and the Mainland Inn, I’m helping others. I feel fortunate and blessed. And I enjoy it when people want their food to be raised this way. If I can impact other lives and the environment, I don’t need to do anything else.” Quarry Hill Farm is located at 620 Quarry Road in Harleysville; 215-513-1514; www.quarryhillfarm.net. The Mainland Inn is located at 17 Mainland Road in Harleysville; 484-704-260; www.main landinn.com. Diana Cercone is an area freelance writer who specializes in food, art and travel.

3120 Fisher Rd Lansdale, L PA 610-5 584-1150 m www.bradfordwoodworking.com info@bradfordwoodworking.com m

Fa l l Mo o n l ig ht Hay rides Come this fall for hayrides and our Fall Festival

Children’s Birthday and Moonlight Hayride packages

Northern Star Farm Matthew Wismar and Daughters

ROUTE 113, TRAPPE, PA

215-859-7302 Northstarfarm.net

Ask About Winter Sleigh Rides FALL 2015

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Home

Block and Concrete

Landis Block & Concrete is a distributor of stylish pavers used in a variety of interesting designs. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;by Mary Beth Schwartz

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HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU FOUND yourself wandering around one of the giant box stores in search of products, in search of expert advice, for an at-home landscaping project? A majority of the time, the trip ends in frustration. Family owned and operated since 1942, Landis Block & Concrete, Inc. specializes in the manufacture and distribution of stone, block, concrete, and other building products for residential contractors & homeowners, as well as commercial builders, from Pennsylvania to Maryland. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have guys that have been in the field for over 20 years and are well versed in codes and installation of our products. We can help customers determine if they can indeed do it themselves or if they need to hire a profes-

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sional contractor. We have a list of preferred contractors in the area, including bricklayers, stone masons, and landscaper designers,â&#x20AC;? says Vice President Jarrod Nyce. At Landis Block & Concrete, Inc., they feature a variety of supplies. For your landscape needs, you can obtain professional pavers, wall systems, fabrics, concrete products, landscape stone, Belgian block, flagstone, and natural retaining wall stone. Landis is an exclusive distributor for the pavers and wall systems of Cambridge Pavers, Inc. For fireplace supplies, they carry products from Vestal and FireRock, along with flagstone hearths, metal chimney caps, and clay chimney tops. For craftsmen seeking stone veneer, Landis Block & Concrete, Inc. has quarry cut stone, as well as brands Cultured Stone, Pinnacle Stone, and Pro Stone. If you need to purchase brick and block supplies, Landis can

Opposite, a kitchen and fireplace with firebox extensions. The stone veneer in mix of Cambridge Santa Fe and Midnight Slate. Right, an approach to the house using Canyon Blend from Cambridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roundtable Collection. Top right a view of the entrance of Landis Block & Concrete. Bottom, beautiful pool coping and approach using Ledgestone and Cast Bluestone.

FALL 2015

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Top Quality Furniture at Discount Prices! Oak • Maple Cherry • Pine

Dinette Sets - Desks Rockers - Painted Furniture Counter Stools –Bookcases Occasional Tables -Table Lamps Tiffanys - Chandeliers

R E E D ’S C O U N T R Y S T O R E Since 1925

Rts. 202 & 73 • Center Square, PA.

610.275.9426

Hours: Mon.,Tues.,Sat. 9-6 / Wed.-Fri. 9-9, Sun 10-5

accommodate. They stock face brick, gray block, and split face block, plus a large display of masonry tools from top manufacturers. You can arrange local delivery through Landis Block & Concrete, Inc. Last but not least, the company makes its own concrete. There is a fleet of 20-plus mixer trucks and two boom pump trucks. The Nyce Crete facility in Lansdale has masonry materials, mortar, sand, stone, and block. “We have seen a surge in outdoor living spaces—essentially turning your backyard into an oasis. Some people like to call them staycations. The ornate spaces have patios, fireplaces, fire pits, amenities of that nature,” Nyce says. “We distribute our products through Landis Block & Concrete, Inc. We manufacture outdoor living components.

The Cambridge wall and paving systems can be cleaned with household products.

Handmade

Quilts

OVER 50 QUILTS IN STOCK OVER 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS MANY OF EMMA’S OWN DESIGNS Open Mon.& Fri. 8-8,Tues,Thurs & Sat 8-6 Closed on Wed.

Witmer Quilt Shop 1076 WEST MAIN STREET NEW HOLLAND, PA

(717) 656-9526 WE SHIP TO YOU

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There are kits for pizza ovens, waterfalls, kitchens, fountains, fire tables, fire pits, fireplaces, and patio pub & bistro tables. We also offer Pavingstone systems for your patio, pool, deck, walkway, and driveway. Our Wallstone systems include retaining walls, planters, tree rings, garden borders, knee walls, and sitting walls,” says Charles Gamarekian, President of Cambridge Pavers, Inc. and Founder of The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). For 2016, Gamarekian offers some previews on his products. “We will have a larger size paving stone. There will be new textures. We have one that looks like wood decking and has the grain of the wood in the paver. And we have an insert that can go right within a retaining wall. You run a gas line down, and you

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can have fire come directly out of the wall. There also will be a fire pit with a water feature in the middle of it,â&#x20AC;? Gamarekian says. Gamarekian offers some tips on your outdoor living space. One: doing an outdoor room in the fall does not mean that you have to wait until the spring to enjoy it. It is a room for all seasons. People enjoy barbecuing all year long. Fire pits and fireplaces are great for cocktail hours during the holidays. Two: the space is expandable. You can start with a small patio, add a grill kitchen or fire pit, then bring in a retaining seating wall. He says you should start with the vision of what you want you ultimately want the space to be. Three: build with retaining walls. You can use them to raise patios or to be part of a grill, fire pit, pizza oven, or seating wall. Four: be creative. Retaining walls and paving stones come in a multitude of colors and textures. You can contrast or complement in the design. For example, with the paving stones, you can have some that are embossed, some that are flat, and then mix the sizes. Finally: do not worry about yearly maintenance. The Cambridge wall and paving systems can be cleaned with household products. It also is not necessary to do sealing. Cambridge Pavers, Inc. comes to Landis Block & Concrete, Inc. throughout the year. Whether it is for contractor training or weekend DIY clinics for homeowners, they enjoy educating clients on their products. You can see Cambridge products in the Landis showroom. Landis Block & Concrete, Inc. is located at 711 North County Line Road, Souderton, PA 18964. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. Their phone number is 215-723-5506. You can visit Landis online on Facebook or at www.landisbc.com. For Cambridge Pavers, Inc., visit their comprehensive website at www.cambridgepavers.com. Mary Beth Schwartz is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to regional publications.

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The View From the House Gale Nurseries example of allowing the architecture of the house to drive the design By Bob Waite

magine a large Montgomery County estate with needs for privacy, ponds, a lap pool, pool house and landscaping that is graded so gradually that when walking the property you will not feel the grade but can still see it in the distance. Loren Foster, a landscape architect and vice president of Gales Nurseries, who worked on the project from the inception, achieved these goals by allowing the architecture of the home to drive the design. The longest vistas would be maximized running almost due north/south and east/west. A 16-foot by 75-foot pool was incorporated into the design. The pool itself has a raised stone coping to give it a sense of being from an older era. Twenty inches above the water level of the pool is an eight-foot by eight-foot spa with cascading waterfall. The pool and two lily ponds are on the east/west axis and at the terminus of the axis is a pool house that has a common entertainment area, kitchen and bathroom with a changing area. The pool house was designed by Peter Zimmerman Architects and built by Griffiths Construction. To help screen neighboring properties and to open up usable space, large evergreens that average 30 feet tall were transplanted from within the property. A significant amount of grading work was completed to create visual interest but also balance the cut/fill soil calculations and reduce amount of soil hauled on or off the property. Large and gently pitching lawn panels are integrated into the grading to allow for special events. And a large knoll is on the north side of the property that helps provide screening of neighboring properties and a walking trail with exquisite views of the property. The knoll provides a backdrop to the 72

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Photos: Rob Cardillo

HOME & GARDEN PROJECTS

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longest north/south vista and has been planted with hydrangea, dawn redwoods, and miscellaneous transplanted trees. Over 400 roses were transplanted to a sunken garden that runs on the north/south axis. Gale Nurseries, an award winning design/build landscape company, was started in 1927 by Charles H. Gale II. Now in its fourth generation, the company is known for its fine work and its well-designed projects in the Philadelphia region, including Montgomery and Bucks County. Gale Nurseries begins their process with a consultation and site visit with the client. During this initial meeting they get to know about the client's lifestyle. They talk about subjects such as how many children they have, do they entertain and are they away during August. How the client lives is more important to Gale than the terrain. It is the nucleus of how they build a garden. The layout and architecture of any existing or proposed structures on the property is also a driving factor. The views and the aesthetic from the inside of a home are almost more important than the views from the outside as more time is spent from the inside. It is in our first meeting with a new client and first few site visits that these guidelines start to form conceptual designs. Gale Nurseries has won numerous awards including: Philadel-

phia Flower Show/ Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, Best of Show, PHS Council Trophy, The Philadelphia Trophy, Pennsylvania Nurserymen's Association Landscape Award Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Planning Commission Award, Men's Garden Club of Delaware Valley, Garden Club of Bala Cynwyd, Society of American Florist Award, Delaware Valley College Plant Science Award, The Wilkinson Sword Award and The Royal Horticulture Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;England. Gale Nurseries Inc., is located at 1716 School House Road, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437. For more information, call 215-699-4714. FALL 2015

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Dining Out

Photos: Glenn Race

–by Sue Gordon

BAY PONY INN

t was a beautiful late summer night in the tiny crossroads village of Lederach. A chorus of cicadas serenaded us as we pulled into the parking lot of the Bay Pony Inn. My mind immediately flashed back several decades to when my husband, Bob, and I first moved to Lansdale and spent hours driving around what was, at the time, the largely undeveloped center of Montgomery County searching out the best local cafés, restaurants and farm markets. The Bay Pony Inn was a standout—a quintessential country inn (originally build in the 1700s as the Lederach family home, and converted to a tavern/roadhouse in 1834) whose gracious fieldstone facade had somehow acquired a bizarre appendage: an 1890s Pullman rail car attached to the side of the building and converted to a private dining room. (And, yes, it's still there!) I recall the food as being tasty and traditional with an emphasis on American classics like Prime Rib and Surf and Turf, and we returned several times for lunch and dinner. Later, when we began to write professionally about food, our beat was Bucks County, and it soon expanded into Philadelphia and the Lehigh 74

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Valley. Gradually the Bay Pony Inn and its country cousins in nearby Skippack dropped off our habitual restaurant trails. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that when we visited the Bay Pony Inn to prepare for this article, it had been at least 15 years since our last meal there. So, with nostalgia and curiosity, Bob and I ventured forth to see how the Bay Pony Inn had weathered the intervening years. And here's the update: the building is still charming and quirky, the service is polished and friendly and the food… well, the food has taken a quantum leap into the 21st century. It was marvelous. The credit must go to the current owners, Austrian restaurateur Eduard Knechtl and his wife, Florence, whose warm and welcoming demeanor and years of experience in fine dining (including, in Eduard's case, a 13 year stint at the William Penn Inn) have successfully steered the restaurant through the lean years of the Great Recession and emerged with a renewed emphasis on quality and hospitality. Equally important is the talented team in the kitchen: executive chefs, Sam Herteer, a Johnson and Wales alum who has

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been with the Knechtl's since they acquired the inn, and C.I.A. grad, Kevin Grant. Together they have created a menu that straddles the line between tradition (to satisfy long time customers) and new American cooking which focuses on farm-to-table freshness and imaginative sides and seasonings. To spot this successful fusion of old and new, all you need do is read through the appetizer list, now designated "Starters and Shareable." It includes choices like Deviled Eggs (traditional)

with Smoked Salmon (modern), Crispy Fried Oysters (traditional) with Sriracha Aioli (au courant) and Steamed Mussels with a tomato garlic broth, rather than old school red sauce. I decided to start with a Roasted Red Beet Salad, a colorful plate of sweet roasted beets tossed with baby beet greens, toasted walnuts, and savory gorgonzola crumbles, and dressed with a lovely beet balsamic vinaigrette. Bob selected a Veggie Flatbread topped with spinach, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, onions

ZAKES CAFÉ

f there's one thing I've learned as a food writer, it's that the restaurant business can be brutal. Good restaurants—sometimes very good ones—come and go, because it takes much more than a dream and culinary talent to keep a restaurant thriving. It requires a complicated mixture of patience, determination, creativity, business savvy and community connections. And if you want to see this "secret sauce" in action, take a ride down Old Bethlehem Pike to the tiny hamlet of old Fort Washington where Zakes Café is quietly celebrating its 20th anniversary with little fanfare and a full complement of devoted customers. Zakes is the culinary collaboration of Marlene Zakes and her brother, Joseph McFadden. Marlene began her career as a pastry chef in Philadelphia in the '70s. In 1979, she struck out on her own and opened Zakes Cakes, in East Falls, convincing Joe to join her in the kitchen. The popular bakery, well known for its lavish desserts and wedding cakes, gradually expanded and, finally, with the encouragement of its customers, began serving lunch. And the business grew and grew and outgrew its modest space. So in 1995, Marlene and Joe took a leap of faith and relocated Zakes Cakes to a rambling 19th

century Victorian mansion across from the Fort Washington train station. And once again, success followed. Zakes Cakes continued to turn out award-winning cakes and pastries, and their lunch business blossomed. Then, in 2005, again at the urging of their customers, Marlene and Joe began serving breakfast, and finally, a few years ago, dinner. Now, Zakes Café is open seven days a week serving breakfast and lunch, Sunday brunch, and dinner, Wednesday through Saturday (BYOB). And, of course, the bakery is open whenever the café is open! Do these people ever sleep? It's hard to capture the diversity and creativity of Zakes' multiple menus in one or two words; but I do concur with the way the café is self-described on its Facebook page as American Fusion. It's also difficult to choose a few signature dishes when the chefs change the menu every week. But, fresh, imaginative and seasoned with finesse are all fitting monikers for Zakes' cuisine. Our recent dinner began with a basket of three fresh baked breads including rosemary-scented focaccia, farmhouse white and a lovely soft textured whole wheat. Next up: a Crispy Local Corn Cake, FALL 2015

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D I NI NG OU T GU I D E Bay Pony Inn, 508 Old Skippack Rd., Lederach, PA; 215-256-6565; www.bayponyinnpa.com The Bay Pony Inn is where informal elegance and warm hospitality come quite naturally. A blend of American and international culinary traditions, gracious service and warm hospitality await you. We invite you to visit us and allow us to share with you a bit of this old world charm and elegance.Lunch, Tues.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Sunday Brunch, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner, Tues.–Thurs., 4:30–9 p.m., Fri.-Sat, 4:30-10:30 p.m., Sun. 4:30-8 p.m. Closed Monday. Banquet and wedding facilities.

sidewalk cafe or restaurant in Tel Aviv or Athens.Enjoy contemporary cosmopolitan cuisine based on pure pleasure. La Pergola Restaurant offers healthy and delightful dishes from every corner of the Mediterranean. We offer casual fine dining at reasonable prices. Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.–9 p.m.

Blue Bell Inn, 601 W. Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA; 215-646-2010 www.bluebellinn.com. The Blue Bell Inn began welcoming guest in 1743 and a regular patron was George Washington. Now recently remodeled, yet retaining its historic integrity, the Inn is known for fine Contemporary American food, which includes premium cuts of meat, a raw bar and seafood and outdoor dining on the flagstone patio is available by request. Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday brunch 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and dinner 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Mainland Inn, 17 Mainland Road, Harleysville, PA; 484-704-2600; www.mainlandinn.com. In January 2015, farmer Sloane Six and her family reopened the doors to Mainland Inn, an elegant eco revival of the historic Montgomery County inn that acts as an extension of her farm, Quarry Hill located just a mile and a half away. With an emphasis placed on culinary craftsmanship and nutritionally rich preparations, they have committed to sourcing only 100% organically grown and sustainably sourced ingredients on our menu. Heirloom vegetables and heritage, pasture-raised meats from itsown onsite gardens and farm, as well as other local farms allow our frequently-changing seasonal menu to offer you the freshest ingredients of the suburban Philadelphia region. Lunch: Tuesday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Dinner: Tuesday– Saturday 5 p.m.–9 p.m.

La Pergola, 726 West Ave, Jenkintown, PA; 215-884-7204 www.viewmenu.com. La Pergola’s international cuisine takes you to culinary fare around the Mediterranean. Testing the unique authentic dishes and appetizers, would make you feel as if you are sitting at a

New Tavern Restaurant, 261 Montgomery Ave, Bala Cynwyd, PA; 610-667-9100 www.thetavernrestaurant.com. Since 1933, the Tavern has been known for great traditional American and Italian food and friendly service in a relaxed atmosphere. In 1974, Nick and George became the proprietors

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D INI NG OU T GU I D E of the Tavern and continued the tradition that earned them loyal friends and customers. Lunch: Monday–Saturday 11:30 p.m.–3 p.m. Dinner: Monday–Thursday 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday– Saturday 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Tex Mex Connection, 201 E. Walnut St., North Wales, PA; 214-699-9552; www.texmexconnection.com. Tex Mex Cuisine: Characterized by the adaptation of Mexican food by Texan cooks. Often exemplified by the extensive use of meats and spices (foreign and native) resulting in creative seafood dishes, great steaks, tender ribs, and juicy pork as well as our interpretation of standards like chile con queso, nachos and fajitas. Not Mexican, not Texan, just Tex-Mex. Dining Room: Monday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.– 9 p.m. Bar: 11 a.m.–2 a.m. William Penn Inn, 1017 Dekalb Pike, Gwynedd, PA; 215-699-9272; www.williampenn.com. Established in 1714 as a public house, the William Penn is an historical venue based in the rich tradition of hospitality. The Inn is renowned for its dedication to a tradition of continental country dining in a relaxed, cordial atmosphere along with exquisite cuisine, fine wines, personal service and flawless coordination. Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m, Saturday 11:30 a.m–2:30 p.m. Dinner: Monday-Friday 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday: 4:30 p.m.–11 p.m., Sunday Sunday: 2 p.m.–8 p.m. Sunday brunch 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

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BAY PONY and feta cheese than grilled to golden perfection. Both starters were delicious, and easily large enough to share. The menu's entrée selections are evenly balanced between land and sea; but according to Eduard, the kitchen happily accommodates vegetarian requests. Favorites among carnivores are the Filet Two Ways–twin filets of prime beef, one topped with gorgonzola, the other with mushrooms and artichoke hearts; and Grilled Chicken Pasta tossed with spinach, mushrooms, and peppers in a white wine garlic sauce. For seafood fans, there's the de rigueur Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with a lemony beurre blanc, and spicy Cioppino, a Mediterranean classic stew filled with scallops, shrimp and mussels and topped with a half lobster tail, all served over angel hair pasta. My selection, a Tex-Mex inspired version of Grilled Swordfish, was exquisitely moist and tender, flavored with lime juice and cilantro, and sided with a warm salad of black beans and fresh sweet corn. A riotous tangle of fried onions added a flavorful crunch. If I were handing out stars, I'd rate this as one of the best fish steaks I've ever tasted. Bob went classic French with Grilled Baby Lamb Chops plated with a deeply flavored rosemary-Dijon demi-glaze. The chops were nestled on a pillow of whipped Yukon Gold potatoes, and accompanied by tender crisp baby carrots and fresh asparagus, proving that sometimes, time-honored preparations just can't be surpassed. As expected, the inn's dessert tray leans toward American favorites like apple pie, chocolate lava cake and crème bruleé. But

the little devil on my shoulder was whispering, "Yum…Bread Pudding" so we ignored the calories and polished off our meal with a dense slice of that¬–a family favorite¬–topped with chocolate cherry ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. In addition to the wonderful food and interesting conversation with our host, Eduard, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the marvelous music wafting through the main dining room from the adjacent lounge. That's where, on many Friday and Saturday evenings, you'll find local musician and Philly Pops member, Dave Cianci, at the piano. Be sure to come early or stay late for a drink in the lounge so you can enjoy his great arrangements. Final notes: The Bay Pony serves Sunday Brunch, combining a lavish buffet with a signature entrée, and offers nightly dinner specials with "vintage pricing." In addition, there's a 3-course prix fixe menu available daily from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for $24.95. It's just one of the many reasons to way your way through the lovely, leafy lanes of Central Montco to Lederach, and savor the casual elegance of the Bay Pony Inn. The Bay Pony Inn is located at 508 Old Skippack Road (at the intersection of Route 113), in Lederach, PA; 215-256-6565; www.bayponyinnpa.com . Lunch, Tues.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Sunday Brunch, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner, Tues.–Thurs., 4:30–9 p.m., Fri.-Sat, 4:30-10:30 p.m., Sun. 4:30-8 p.m. Closed Monday. Banquet and wedding facilities.

ZAKES CAFE and a very shareable portion of Vietnamese Style Crispy Calamari. The plate-sized sweet corn fritter was fluffy and tender on the inside, and golden on the outside. It was served with a delicious stone fruit chutney, made with peaches, plums, dried cherries, and white raisins, delicately flavored with ginger and cardamom. The crispy calamari was mounded on top of a luscious mango and cucumber salad tossed with chili vinaigrette and sprinkled with roasted peanuts to complete a savory and palate-pleasing dish. Zakes' entrées highlight the kitchen's creative approach to American cooking. A dish of Free Range Roasted Chicken is sided with crispy polenta and a mélange of chanterelle mushrooms, summer squash and fresh corn. Pan Roasted King Salmon gets an Asian treatment with Thai coconut curry, Japanese eggplant, rice noodles and roasted butternut squash. I selected the Summer Risotto, a creamy mixture of toothsome rice (with the emphasis on "cream") laced with local chanterelles, asparagus, and roasted squash, delicately flavored with white wine and truffle oil and topped with nutty parmigiano reggiano. My husband's entrée, Tuna au Poivre, was a praiseworthy fusion of classic technique and Asian flavors. The pepper-encrusted tuna steak, pan seared but still sushi-rare inside, was plated on a bed of soba noodles, sauced with a luscious ginger plum salsa and accompanied by crispy tempura summer squash and sesame 78

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spinach. Delightful. One of the nicest things about dinner at Zakes is their highly affordable Prix Fixe menu (3 courses, $28) available on Wednesday and Thursday. I hadn't realized when I ordered, but both my appetizer and entrée were part of the prix fixe carte, so I also got what was billed as a "mini" dessert plate, but which was more than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and even to share. It featured a summer shortcake filled with fresh whipped cream and topped with fresh berries, a lovely chocolate éclair and a light blueberry tart with a puff pastry base, fresh berries and a strudel topping. My husband sampled and devoured a chocolate peanut butter cupcake. Breakfast, lunch and brunch at Zakes are equally popular and meticulously prepared. From the café's award winning Honey Lemon Pancakes to the Scottish Wedding Breakfast (scrambled eggs with house cured salmon) to delicious sandwiches prepared with fresh baked bread, creative salads and the wonderful vegetarian chili available a lunch, Marlene and Joe continue to innovate and incorporated the very best of new food trends and flavors. And Zakes' fans are already looking forward to the next decade of praise-worthy eating. Zakes Café is located at 444 S. Bethlehem Pike Ft. Washington, PA; 215- 6547600;www.zakescafe.jimdo.com. Breakfast, Mon.–Sat., 7:30-11 a.m.; Lunch, Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; Sunday Brunch, 8 a.m. -2.30 p.m.; Dinner, Wed.–Sat., From 5:30 p.m. BYOB. Catering available. Dinner reservations strongly suggested.

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Queen of Fall Flowers continued from page 31 tender October 7; and late season extender October 14. Mums give us a burst of color before the drab winter. In addition to white, yellow, and bronze, you’ll find shades of pink, lavender, and maroon. Try to purchase field grown mums, grown outdoors right in our area. They will be more likely to survive their first winter in your garden. Blooming mum plants can be planted in the garden in fall with a little extra care. Here's how to help them survive their first winter in the ground. Select bushy, well-branched plants with small, leafy stems emerging from the base of the plants, or sprouting around the edge of the pot. The earlier you plant, the longer your mums will have to develop good root systems—a crucial factor in determining winter hardiness. Choose a very well-drained location. More fall-planted mums die from root rot than from the effects of low temperatures. Dig a planting hole twice as wide as the plant's root ball and set each plant in the planting hole one inch deeper than it grew in its nursery pot; spread out the roots. After cold weather kills the flowers and leaves, water only if the soil becomes very dry. Trim back tops very slightly to remove dead blossoms. Don't mulch mums until the end of December. If there is no snow cover at that time, lay conifer boughs or a layer of shredded dry leaves over the plants' crowns. Gradually remove the mulch in spring. Removing the mulch all at once may cause the tender new growth to die. Wait until after the last spring frost to move mums. That's the best time to dig and divide any garden chrysanthemum. When growth resumes in spring (or just after transplanting), work some compost into the soil around each plant. If you are adventurous, leave new mums in their pots until they finish flowering. Cut them back to six inches high and put them in an unheated

garage, shed or basement – anywhere they won’t get frostbite. Water them once a month. When you see new growth in spring, start watering them weekly. Take them outside during the day for a week after all danger of frost has passed, then put them in the ground. When treated this way, your mums will be more likely to survive their first winter and give you many more years of enjoyment in exchange for minimal care. To prevent mums from becoming lanky, cut them down by one-third on

Blooming mum plants can be planted in the garden in fall with a little extra care. Memorial Day, then again on July 4th. This will help the plant become bushy, while still allowing time for flower buds to form. Try tying a “belt” of green twine around mums. Sometimes, no matter how bushy they become, a hard rain or strong winds will cause them to flop open anyway. By the time mums in the garden have finished blooming, you may want to cut them back for aesthetics, but try to leave them up if you can. The dead branches catch blowing leaves and snow, and often manage to collect just the right amount of protective mulch. Trimming off dead blossoms and wayward branches is fine, but as the mum experts say, "Nature doesn't trim back the dead branches in winter, and neither should you." Start your own beautiful autumn garden with these low-maintenance, high-satisfaction plants. Then sit back and watch them put on their show.

Crafts continued from page 8 tinue to make her own pottery for commissions and for exhibition. At first she offered group classes for children after school, but found that set hours like that would not accommodate parents in the area. So she stopped the group classes and began giving children individual classes, giving both parents and children more flexibility. Adult classes are structured groups and individuals. The classes for adults are held from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. During the fall and spring there are also adult classes on Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In her classes the principles of ceramics are learned from stretching clay and manipulating clay to tooling and glazing. Everything possible to make with clay is done by the students: tile, jewelry, pots, plates and molds. Nicole also does her own work. She does commission work and demonstrations. She makes items for people that like to come in and paint already made pottery. “They come in and apply color and glaze and I fire it.” Nicole is well aware of the privilege she has as an artist and as a businesswoman in the community. So she also uses ceramics to raise money for various organizations that directly help people. One is the Daily Bread pantry, which helps feed people who are in transition, homeless or in temporarily difficult situations. Black Sheep Pottery is located at 4038 Skippack Pike, Skippack Village, PA 19474-0393. For more information about classes and community events, call 610584-5877 or visit www.blacksheeppot tery.org. Bob Waite is the editor of MONTCO Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle.

Lori Pelkowski, The Midnight Gardener, is a Temple University Certified Master Home Gardener.

FALL 2015

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Finale

Autumn Splendor A reflected refulgence of Glory covers the autumn forest as a colorful design displaying the Giver of light whose first edict still stands.

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