2016 Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival Guide

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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL

Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

Hill’s Home & Garden Festival now 20 years young by Ruth R. Russell

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Crowd of happy kids at last year’s Home & Garden Festival.

20th anniversary is often symbolized by china or porcelain. However, in this community a 20th year is celebrated in a different way — with the Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Festival Art, music, amusement for kids — and of course gardens — will all be featured along Germantown Avenue from 8000 to 8600 blocks on Sunday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The street will be closed to traffic from Rex to Willow Grove Avenues. Peggy Miller, deputy director of the Chestnut Hill Business Association, which hosts the Festival, has been with it from very beginning and is always ready to share her enthusiasm for the event. “More than 150 home and garden vendors will be here. New this year will be secret gardens with various themes along Germantown Avenue,” she reported. “Look for the Courtyard Garden at 8433 Germantown Ave., the Sustainability Garden, at 8424 Germantown Ave., behind Weavers Way, and the Wedding Garden, at 8229 Germantown

Ave., behind the Chestnut Hill Hotel. “There will also be a Harry Potter Garden, outside the Top of the Hill Market on East Evergreen Avenue,” she continued, adding that, of course, Harry and Dumbledore will be visiting. Continuing back down the Avenue, secret gardens will be found at both Laurel Hill Gardens and Secret Garden Antiques. ”In addition, we’ll have an old Spring Garden set up on the lawn outside Santander Bank, at the Top of the Hill, and Robertson’s Flowers will decorate it,” said Miller, pointing out that there will be numerous activities and events for all ages. There will be a Maypole Dance at Gravers Lane and Germantown Avenue at 12:30 p.m., a Manatawna 4H Club Petting Zoo for animal loving kids all day at Bethlehem Pike and Germantown Avenue as well as basketball hoops, also at Bethlehem Pike, where young athletes can polish their skills. There will be arts and crafts activities for kids all day in the 8300 block of Germantown Ave. and a free train ride in the 8100 (Continued on page 36)

Talented dancers at the Home & Garden Festival last year.

Hatted woman with flowery bicycle at last year’s Chestnut Hill Festival

2016 Home & Garden Festival • Thursday, April 28, 2016

CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL

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Arboretum’s Garden Railway Opens Memorial Day Weekend by Marie Mercaldo Ingegneri

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top, look and listen as Morris Arboretum’s Garden Railway opens for the summer season on Saturday, May 28, Memorial Day weekend. Celebrating its 19th year, the Garden Railway 2016 theme is "Awaken the Senses" that will feature buildings that incorporate one or two of the five senses in the structure. Come and see Sleeping Beauty’s intricately detailed Castle. Hear the familiar chugging as the trains rush past on the quarter mile track. Imagine the sweet smells wafting from Ye Olde Cakery Bakery and Randy’s Donut Shop. And be sure to feel the various natural materials on the Touch Board of samples used in the miniature world of the Garden Railway. In preparation for the grand opening, several renovations have been completed in the Garden Railway display. The John Morris fountain, an original feature from the 1900’s, and the bench that sits on the knoll above it were both refurbished. The walking bridge that has a vaguely Asian feel was replaced. Six of the miniature townhouse buildings, The Betsy Ross House, Bouvier House, First Post Office, Latta House, Powell House and the Trump House have been refreshed as well the Fisher Fine Arts Library. Two new structures, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Waterworks have been added to the permanent collection. And new plantings and signage were added to give the garden a fresh and fragrant look. Grand Opening activities will take place on Saturday, May 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. Take part in a kids craft and enjoy free ice cream and hard pretzels (while supplies last) for a taste of sweet and salty! With a changing theme each year, the Garden Railway display is a miniature world with a quarter mile track running through it, all set in the splendor of Morris Arboretum’s summer garden. It features loops and tunnels, bridges and trestles and all of the miniature buildings are created entirely of natural materials, each meticulously detailed with leaves, bark, vines and twigs. Logs and branches are also used to create unique tunnels and overhead trestles. Nestled among woody plants, colorful annuals and perennials, the finished product is an enchanting landscape that never ceases to delight visitors both young and old. The Garden Railway is supported, in part, through the generosity of Gwen and Ed Asplundh and by a gift given in memory of Joe Shuttleworth. Garden Railway is open every day through Labor Day, September 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. After September, the Railway will remain open on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Columbus Day, October 10. On Wednesday evenings in June, July and August, the Arboretum is open until 8 p.m. and the trains will run until 7:30 p.m. Special weekends are planned throughout the summer, including Thomas the Tank Engine Week, Circus Week and other surprise events. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Weekend. Saturday, July 16. and Sunday, July 17; Saturday, August 13. and Sunday August 14; and an additional weekend Saturday, September 10. and Sunday, September 11. Circus Week at the Garden Railway. Daily Saturday, July 2

through Sunday, July 10, and an encore week Saturday, August 27, through Monday, September 5. The first circus was held in Philadelphia in 1793. This is a chance to see the Big Top and the circus trains, learn the history of the circus and watch for a few surprises. Early Bird Openings every Saturday in May through September at 8 a.m. The early bird gets the worm and the early birders spot the best birds. May is a great month for watching our feathered friends on their return flights north, so get out binoculars and come early while the sun is low and bird activity is high. During your visit, you will be welcome at The Shop at Morris Arboretum for unique Arboretumbranded merchandise. The Shop specializes in, environmentallyfriendly reuse of materials, and items inspired by nature. And for the person, who has everything, think about the gift of a Morris Arboretum membership, the gift that lasts all year long. For more information, visit www.morrisarboretum.org. Marie Mercaldo Ingegneri is marketing coordinator at Morris Arboretum.

View of Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

Hill’s Home & Garden Festival now 20 years young (Continued from page 34)

Visitors to last year’s Home & Garden Festival enjoy dining outdoors at Campbell’s.

Faster.

Less waiting where it matters most – our emergency room. For faster care in the E.R., count on Chestnut Hill Hospital. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional* in 30 minutes – or less. And, with a team of dedicated specialists, you’ll get a lot more care, if you need it.

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block of the Avenue from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most visitors enjoy the quality of the home and garden vendors and exhibitors along Germantown Avenue. Although manycome from far away there are always people from this area. For example, Bill Robinson will bring his 20th century collection; Nina Grier of Historical Dream will show historical pictures and artwork, and Trinity Pellegrin will display her flower wrapped jewelry. Also local is Chris Mattingly who designs and installs gardens in people’s backyards, encouraging them to grow healthy vegetables. Then there’s the Philadelphia Beekeepers, who will set up a booth where viewers can see bees at work and also purchase some honey. A daylong festival like this always has plenty of music and food. Classic Rockers will perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the 8600 block of Germantown Avenue; Midnight Shift will be on from 2 to 5 p.m. in the 8600 block of Germantown Avenue; Dukes of Destiny will play in the 8200 block of Germantown Avenue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and be followed by City Rhythm Orchestra from 2 to 5 p.m. After all of this visitors may be hungry. Never fear, there will plenty of food available. Food locations are as follows: 8600 block of Germantown Avenue — McNally’s Outdoor Café, Cosimo’s Pizza Café, Mica, Thai Kuu, Tavern on the Hill, Osaka; 8500 Germantown Avenue — Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop, Starbuck’s Coffee, Funnel Cakes and Smoothies, Bredenbeck’s Ice Cream; 8400 Germantown Avenue — Weavers Way Co-op, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant; 8300 Germantown Avenue — Roller’s Express-o, Campbell’s Place, Fiesta Pizza, Old Fashioned Kettle Korn, Amusement Park Popcorn & Cotton Candy; 8200 Germantown Avenue — Paris Bistro, Chestnut Grill & Sidewalk Café, Green Soul, Poppy’s Café, Night Kitchen Bakery, El Poquito, Cin Cin, the Fresh Market; 8100 Germantown Avenue — Roller’s Restaurant at Flying Fish, Bredenbeck’s Bakery and Ice Cream Parlor. Presenting Sponsor for the festival is Glanzman Subaru, Media Partner is the new MORE 101FM . Admission to the festival is free. Rain date is May 15. Parking is available at selected lots. For more information visit www.chestnuthillpa.com or call 215-2476696.

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*Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Flowers abound at last year’s Home & Garden Festival.

2016 Home & Garden Festival • Thursday, April 28, 2016

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Woodmere ready for spring and summer fun for kids by Gabrielle Turgoose

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summer community arts project at Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave., is designed for boys and girls ages 8 to 18 years. Art is the common thread for collaboration and new community every summer since 2006. Children ranging in age from eight to eighteen years old come from various communities in Philadelphia to participate in a unique art making experience. Working alongside professional artists, students collaboratively design and construct an outdoor art installation that is incorporated into Woodmere’s Children’s Butterfly Garden. Art decisions regarding color choices, compositional arrangements, and construction challenges coincide with the nurturing of friendships and mentoring between age groups. A new community is developed from shared efforts and experiences. Students are recommended by a teacher or sponsor. Many have also taken part in Woodmere’s educational programs conducted during the school year. Generous funding has allowed students to participate at minimal fees or with full scholarships. Children’s Spring Art Classes May studio classes include the following: Painting and Drawing Fun, 6 classes, ages 7-11, Tuesdays, May 3 to May 24, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Instructor is Ginger Mimmo-Rohlfing, charge is $135 ($125 for members). Students explore fun and interesting ways to paint and draw using a variety of mediums. Works of art will be inspired by nature and their imaginations. They will mix colors, paint with acrylics, watercolor, oil pastels, draw with charcoal, colored pencils and collage a variety of papers and materials. Lots of individual attention will help each budding artist develop their own personal expression. Clay Creations, 6 classes, ages 7 to 11, Wednesdays, May 4 to May 25, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Instructor: Ginger Mimmo-Rohlfing, $135 ($125 members), Using self-drying clay and prismatic paints, students design and build all kinds of sculptures and vessels.

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Whether designing animals, jewelry, a plate, or a vase with flowers, students will to have fun and learn different techniques for exploring with clay. Each student receives individual attention. To register and learn about our summer classes, visit woodmereartmuseum.org or call 215-247-0948 A new landmark is coming to Woodmere! On Saturday, June 11, Dina Wind (1938–2014) Spring & Triangle, 2016, a 30-foot enlargement that fulfills the late artist’s aspiration to realize her sculpture on a monumental public scale. Spring & Triangle is designed to interact with the natural environment, and it will be sited on the Museum’s front lawn. Ribbon cutting will be at 3 p.m., and at 4 p.m., a slide presentation by Kurt Wulfmeyer, fabricator, will describe how he realized the artist’s dream to construct her work on a monumental public scale. A reception will follow. For more information, visit woodmereartmuseum.org or call 215247-0476 Gabrielle Turgoose is director of communications at Woodmere Art Museum.

Boys and girls in last summer’s art classes gather proudly in front of Woodmere Art Museum.

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

Gently used books on sale at Garden Festival by Renee Polsky

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nce again the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library are participating in the Home and Garden Festival. The members of the Friends will be having an indoor book sale of gently used books. The sale will be in the meeting room of the Chestnut Hill Library on Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are asked to use the side entrance of the Library at 8711 Germantown Ave. All of our sale books have been donated by our neighbors and friends. They are in very good condition. For sale will be CDs, videos, dictionaries, oldies, fiction,

non-fiction, cook books and children's books, as well as books in foreign languages, biographies, poetry, short stories, plays and art books. The prices for these gently used books range from 25 cents to 2 dollars. All of the money made at the book sales is given to the Chestnut Hill Library so that it can continue to provide more materials, services, and programs to its patrons. The Friends also maintains the Library's beautiful garden. Stop by to browse and shop for incredible bargains. And then step outside to visit the Friends’ special garden. Renee Polsky is a former president of the Friends of Chestnut Hill Library

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A picture taken at Chestnut Hill Library shows that no one is ever too young for books. (Photo by Renee Polsky)

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New architecture-focused house tour May 22 by Lori Salganicof f

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he Chestnut Hill Historical Society (CHHS), which has been preserving the area’s history, architecture and open space for almost 50 years, has come up with an exciting house tour with a new twist. Each of the five homes featured on this springtime tour are architecturally significant — either historic homes recently renovated or very special new homes — and each will be hosted by the architects, designers and contractors responsible for the work/home being showcased. Visitors will be able to see a fascinating range of ways that people adapt older homes for modern living, and wonderful approaches to new construction in our established gem of a community. AND you will be able to ask questions of the people who did the work! The locations of these private homes will not be revealed until the day of the tour, but some of the owners have allowed us to share “sneak peaks” beforehand. *One Chestnut Hill home, designed in 1888 by T. P. Chandler, was lovingly cared for during more than decades by a family dedicated to its stewardship. A recent renovation of the home updated the kitchen and other key interior features, while the exterior has been carefully preserved. *A much-celebrated contemporary home in Chestnut Hill, by Studio of Metropolitan Design Architects, is described by them as “sculpting with light, textures, contrast, and similarities.” This unique construction nestles into its steep creek-side slope with materials and siting that allows light to travel through it from sunrise to sunset, presenting an ever-changing harmony within. *One Mt. Airy home, originally built in the 1930s and attributed to Kenneth Day, the son of architect Frank Miles Day, and featuring wonderful interior details, has been enlarged with an addition that is at once sensitive and dramatic in how it transforms the experience of the house. *Even the registration location is set in the majestic courtyard of a spectacular Chestnut Hill home built on five acres in 1931.The interior of this home will be on a future tour, but experiencing the private courtyard alone will be a treat. *More details about these and other locations will be revealed as the date approaches! Since this is the first time we have offered a tour of this sort, ticket sales are limited to 200, with priority and discounts given to CHHS members. They will sell out fast, so go to CHHist.org now to purchase your tickets today. Members price

CHHS Great Houses Tour Sunday, May 22, 1-4pm $20 CHHS members, $35 nonmembers This is sponsored in part by Halsted and Roofing and Valley Green Bank, with Anderson Ironworks,, Host Interiors, Matthew Millan Architects, and Space & Company. Lori Salganicoff is Executive Director of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society at 8708 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill.

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Exterior view of a residence on the architectural house tour of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society on May 22. (Photo by Jeffrey Totaro)

Handsome interior of home on the architectural house tour of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society on May 22. (Photo by Jeffrey Totaro)

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

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Scenes from last year’s Festival

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Ever y day is a spring day at CH Center for Enrichment by Mary McNeil Zell “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor…. Would you be mine? Could be you be mine?” Thanks to Mr. Rogers for these words; they convey perfectly an invitation to all of you from the Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment. Once called the Chestnut Hill Senior Center, today’s Center for Enrichment embraces people of all ages, especially older adults, from all neighborhoods and with all interests. Want to sketch, draw or A group from Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment pays a visit to Woodmere Art work in watercolors? Our Center Museum. has a class for you. Are you most comfortable knitting, crocheting or sewing? Come to our Center on Monday mornings or Friday afterITEMS NEEDED noons. Your doctor or therapist is juice, jelly, canned fruit, peanut butter, powdered recommending yoga or tai chi? milk, cereal(hot/cold), pasta/rice products, tuna, Our wonderful teachers and classspam, soup, beans, canned biscuit / muffin mix, es can help. Do you want to take beef stew, canned meat and vegetables. on a new language or brush up what you learned in school? The AM t0 PM Center for Enrichment offers, French, Italian and Spanish. THE CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL Are you a reader? Then you 8434 Germantown Ave., is now accepting should try our Short Story discus- Travelers from Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment join a statue of the famous food donations for the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry’s food pantry in Germantown. sion group, Play reading or the man at Rodin Museum. newly formed Mystery Book group. How about games? The CHCE has already set aside a time and place for Pinochle, Scrabble, Mah Jongg, Chess and Bridge; we have many more game sets or you can bring your favorite from home.

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

Ever y day is a spring day at CH Center for Enrichment (Continued from page 41)

Exercise can be fun as participants in this folk dancing class at Center for Enrichment learn the steps.

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Do you like to keep active? International “folk dance on Fridays� is a great way to fill that need. Our Warm Weather Walking is another. So are CHCE adventures all over the Philadelphia area. During the upcoming warm months we have plans to visit the American Liberty Museum, Tyler Arboretum, Independence Seaport Museum and the Grace Kelly Exhibit at Falls Center. The community is always invited to join the Center membership on one-day or longer travels. The Center for Enrichment will continue to sponsor lectures on matters of health, finance, and current events. Throughout the year you can expect to find specialized workshops: mixed media, photography, beading, understanding/using social media, terrariums, memoir writing, dream interpretation. We invite you to join us on May 17 for Dessert with a Docent, a visual lecture featuring Philadelphia Museum of Art special exhibit “International POP.� Likewise, the community is invited to attend “Mary Todd Lincoln, the woman you thought you knew� on June 7, with Janet Wasser portraying Mrs. Lincoln. Finally, the CHCE and its partners, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels, invite you to join us for a “luscious lunch� on the 4th Tuesday of the month (May 24 and June 28); free blood pressure screens courtesy of Unitarian Universalist Outreach Program. Chestnut Hill’s Center for Enrichment is located at 8431 Germantown Ave. (side entrance). Hours are 9 – 4, Monday – Friday. Want more information? Interested in signing up for a class or activity? Contact Mary or Sandra by telephone (215-248-0180), email (the.chce@verizon.net); or just drop in. Mary McNeil Zell is executive director of Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment.

Call or email today for your free estimate www.johnneillpainting.com

Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Festival is a beautiful flowery trail along Germantown Avenue, as shown in this photo at last year’s festival.

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Morris Arboretum preparing for annual plant sale by Marie Mercaldo Ingegneri

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isit Morris Arboretum on Mother’s Day weekend, Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, for the annual Plant Sale. The event will feature unusual and hardto-find plants, many from local nurseries familiar with Philadelphia’s soil and climate, and that are well suited to thrive in this area. The 2016 Plant Sale will be at the Horticulture Center at Bloomfield Farm, across the street from the Arboretum’s public garden. Friday is Members-Only day, so now is a perfect time to become a Morris Arboretum member for first picks on great plants. On Saturday, the sale is open to the public. Try something new in your containers and beds this year. Grow annuals that are not only colorful, but also fragrant, or that will reliably attract hummingbirds and butterflies. How about Cuphea platycentra ‘David Verity’ –firecracker plant, or Abutilon pictum ‘Thompsonii’ – Thompson’s flowering maple? Both plants are irresistible to hummingbirds! And don’t forget the culinary herbs; basil, chives, mint, oregano, and thyme, which are all excellent pollinator plants. In perennials, there will be an array of spring bloomers and a great selection of native plants that are both available in smaller sizes, so you can go home with more plants! Several choice woody plants are being offered this year, with a range of different color and sun/shade particulars to satisfy every gardener’s requirements. One of the featured plants is Asimina triloba - common pawpaw, a small understory tree or large shrub with dull purple flowers that appear in spring, and mature into edible, oblong yellowish-green fruits on female plants. Looking for roses? A selection of beautifully performing plants have been chosen that range from classic antique roses to the most diseaseresistant, recently introduced hybrids. Two of the many gorgeous plants available this year are Rosa 'Queen Elizabeth' – a rose that is a proven, persistent performer with lots of pink buds, and Rosa 'Purple Pavement' - a rose that has very fragrant, purplish-red blossoms. Stock up on clematis, which are wonderful vines, perfect for growing in containers, through trees, on a rose, or up a trellis. Besides a few select clematis in larger containers, there will be many varieties of clematis in smaller 3.5-inch pots that are easy to carry. For Morris Arboretum members, the 2016 free Dividend plant is very special. The featured plant this year is Clematis viticella ‘Betty Corning’ Betty Corning clematis, with delicate, pendulous, light-purple blossoms. Once again, the Arboretum offers some very unusual “surprise!” dividends this year that will wow members who relish the rare, unusual, and challenging. These plants are surplus material from Morris Arboretum propagation trials, research, and seed collecting trips. The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society returns to the Morris Arboretum Plant Sale this year with their featured plant, native Catawba Rhododendron, R. catawbiense. This large-leaf rhododendron flowers in May and June, and several forms of the species will be offered including the white-flowered ‘Ken’s Find.’ And of course, there will be a large selection of other outstanding large-leaf (elepidotes) and small-leaf (lepidotes) rhododendrons offered, all hardy in the Delaware Valley, many of which are not available elsewhere. Explore the American Rhododendron Society at www.gpchapterars.org. This year, for the first time, the Delaware Valley Chapter of the

You don’t have to look far to find unusual, standout plants at Morris Arboretum’s Plant Sale! This annual event will be at the Horticulture Center at Bloomfield Farm, across the street from the Arboretum’s public garden, on Mother’s Day weekend, May 6 & 7. Friday is member’s-only day and Saturday is open to the public. To learn more, visit www.morrisarboretum.org. (Photo by Arnold Winkler)

North American Rock Garden Society will be represented at the Morris Arboretum Plant Sale, offering 80 different rock garden plants. Rock garden plants evoke the beauty of high mountain places, yet they can be quite practical for growing in small spaces or difficult areas. For more information about the Rock Garden Society, visit the chapter website at www.dvcnargs.org.

Plant Experts from Natural Lands Trust, the region’s foremost conservation organization, will be on hand to offer advice and resources — including simple planting plans — on the benefits of choosing native plant species for your home landscape. As one of the region’s largest owners of preserved lands, Natural Lands Trust has both a breadth and depth of experience in caring for a

variety of landscapes and is continually exploring new and better approaches to problems like invasive plant control, reforestation, wildlife management, and habitat restoration. Learn more at www.natlands.org. Whether it’s the old or the new or the steadfast you’re looking for, Morris Arboretum’s Plant Sale is sure to have something to pique your inter-

est. Enjoy a wonderful selection of plants, and the availability of expert advice from Morris Arboretum staff. Friday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., is Members-only day. All Morris Arboretum members are invited and will receive a 10 percent discount on their entire Plant Sale purchase, as well as a free dividend plant. Anyone who joins before, or at the Plant Sale, is eligible to receive the member benefits. Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the plat sale is open to the public. Morris Arboretum members receive a 10 percent discount on purchases. The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is located at 100 East Northwestern Avenue in Chestnut Hill. The 92-acre horticulture display garden features a spectacular collection of mature trees in a beautiful and colorful landscape. The Arboretum includes numerous picturesque spots such as a formal rose garden, historic water features, a swan pond, and the only remaining freestanding fernery in North America. The Arboretum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also the official arboretum of Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.morrisarboretum.org. Marie Mercaldo Ingegneri is marketing coordinator for Morris Arboretum.

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

Scenes from last year’s Festival

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Princess Makeover – a charming Cinderella – emerges at last year’s Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Festival.

Poetry read by Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet: Yusef Komunyakaa and the poetry slam team from Edison High School Paintings by: Rachel Bliss and Edison students Juan Green Dante Rivera Taisha Castillo Christopher Febus Zaire Douglas Brandon Melendez

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

FreeCycle attracts many enthusiastic participants by Amy Edelman and Linda Rauscher

G Toys, books and more available at recent FreeCycle.

reen in Chestnut Hill aka GRinCH organized a huge FreeCycle event on a recent Sunday, and it was a big success. The project was presented in place of the popular Eco Alley, for many years a part of the Chestnut Hill Garden Festival. For those unfamiliar, a FreeCycle is like a giant yard sale but everything is free. It's an awesome concept that promotes sharing and community and keeps "one man's treasure" out of landfills! It was a true community effort: citizens donated unwanted clothing, toys and books to the drop off points at both neighborhood Valley Green Univest Banks, GRinCH and Weavers Way Coop. Volunteers hauled the "booty" to the space at 8514 Germantown Ave., donated by Bowman Properties, and volunteers sorted through the donations to display for the event. Hundreds of people came by and left with amazing stuff. There were some very nice donations: high end clothing, many with labels still attached, toys still in packaging and plenty of hard back books for us old fashioned types who still prefer paper and binding to a Kindle. Donations received at this fundraising event fund GRinCH's Green Warrior Student grant program. GRinCH has funded several

Beautiful wearables of all types attracted enthusiastic “shoppers.”

green projects that students of various Chestnut Hill schools have embarked upon. To date we have given over $4,000 in grants to projects such as A Girl's Climate Summit at Springside, an organic garden at

OMC School and Teenagers Inc.'s native plant garden project. The community effort was appreciated and inspiring. Amy Edelman and Linda Rauscher are on GRinCH Board of Trustees

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Page 47

Planting in a post-wild world with a noted designer by Erin Mooney

W

alking along New York City’s High Line, it’s easy to think that maybe your own garden could learn a thing or two from the hugely popular native garden. You can easily see how you could fill your own garden could with native plants, and your backyard could become a destination for local birds and wildlife. The more you think about it, you feel a bit self-righteous, imagining the space filled with ferns and sedges, bee balm and joe-pye-weed, providing a more balanced ecosystem. You let the fantasy play out a bit, thinking that you won’t buy the annuals that you usually buy each year at the local garden center. You imagine the new plants that will fill the spaces where impatiens, begonias and rose bushes used to be. Then you think of the birds, the butterflies, the insects that will inhabit your garden space — it’s the oasis you’ve always dreamed of. And then doubt sinks in. What to plant? Where to plant these new species? How to choose native plants? Does going native mean you have to sacrifice garden aesthetic s? Claudia West, a landscape designer who works as the ecological sales manager at North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, Pa., says that it’s easy to shift your garden to a more natural look, incorporating more natural themes to your garden. And it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. West, the author of “Planting in a Post-Wild World� (Timber Press, 2015) with Thomas Rainer, will be the speaker at the next Valley Talk at Valley Green Inn on Tuesday, May 19, at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Friends of the Wissahickon, the talk will focus on how residential gardens, public gardens and city gardens can take a more natural approach and help increase biodiversity. Her approach to garden design is “horticulture meets ecology.� West says the consideration of plant types and design as well as a plant’s ecological value makes those interested in restoration and native plant purists interested in this method. Bringing more native plants into the garden, reducing the amount of mulch while adding more plants to reduce weeds and improving stormwater management can be done on large and small scales, she said. “Look at your garden with fresh ideas.�Loosening the grip on our cherished notions of plant arrangement makes it possible to transform our adversarial relationship with nature into a collaborative one,� West advises. First, look at the spaces that currently exist in the garden. And think of what plants you can use to reduce the amount of mulch you are using in the garden. Planting groundcover can help reduce the need for mulch. West describes the various layers of plant life that exist in the garden. First, there’s the ground cover layer, which typically consists of grasses or leafy perennials. This layer is extremely important, she says, because it’s important for stormwater management, erosion control and to provide groundcover, and is essential for plant health. This layer is lower to the ground and adjusts to different levels of sunlight as other plants grow taller throughout the season. Looking at suburban gardens, mulch is overused in this important layer of the garden, she said. It doesn’t give nutrients back to the garden

Urban rain garden in Lancaster, PA, designed by Claudia West

and doesn’t add to the biodiversity. Next, West describes the seasonal theme layer that exists in gardens. This layer is the “flower power,� West says. This layer gives“ special moments in planting when these plants are in bloom� — aster, goldenrod and black-eyed Susans are some of the type of plants that can provide a powerful emotional connection in the garden with showy flowers and attractive foliage. Usually, these plants

dominate for a few weeks and then blend into the landscape. The third layer that West describes is the structural layer— trees, shrubs and tall perennials like grasses that are large elements in a garden. These provide a framework for the rest of the layers. West says that most traditional landscapes have one or two layers—think of an azalea garden with mulch underneath, or a perennial garden with nothing growing

above or below. For a designed plant community, all three layers are needed, mimicking how plants grow in the wild. “If you have two layers but not the ground cover layer, weeds creep in. If you add this layer, you will have a healthier garden as a result. There’s more habitat and less maintenance.� West says that many garden designers and educators are creating planting designs that address wildlife, ecology and functionality, but they end up failing on aesthetics. These planting techniques not only can apply to home gardens, but also are critical when looking at designing gardens for public parks and spaces. And sometimes, what would be seen as a challenge or deficiency in a garden can actually be part of the design. “You have to relate plants to the place and use site constraints as assets,� West said. Sometimes a site has high pH, compacted soil, but West says not to fret. “There is a plant on earth for every site and condition manageable,� West says. When embarking on changing your existing garden design, West says to just analyze the landscape and look at it with fresh eyes.

Claudia West

“Sometimes you just need to add one species. Maybe you need to just add some groundcover or thin out the structure. Or maybe, you need to add more and turn up the volume on a particular species. Every plant makes a difference.� In their book, West and Rainer make the point that parks play an incredibly important role in our landscape. “We believe that they (Continued on page 48)

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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL

Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

Planting in a post-wild world with a noted designer

Designed Plant Community Layers graphic.

Helping to Keep Penn's Woods Safe and Green Since 1984

Tree and Landscape Services

Roland Park Country School garden project, designed by Claudia West.

(Continued from page 47)

are more important than any time before,” West said. “These are the places where the nature of the future will live. Parks provide a huge opportunity to bring nature home.” Rainer is a landscape architect with Rhodeside & Harwell Inc. in Washington, D.C. He has worked on a wide range of public and private garden design projects throughout the country. He says there’s more pressure on planting design than ever before. For public projects, he said, municipalities want beautiful plantings that don’t need maintenance, must be beautiful in four seasons, must be heat resistant and must mitigate stormwater. Manhattan’s High Line has been a force in helping thousands of people think differently about native plants, he says. “People see the High Line and understand how it can be an urban catalyst. It’s the perfect example how nature can coexist in an urban landscape. Nature is not dead.” Rainer is buoyed by the garden’s immense popularity. “We need nature more than ever before. The High Line shows that there is interest and hope.”

Plant species to use in the four plant community layers: Structural species: Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’, Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’, Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Standing Ovation’, Ilex verticillata, Hamamelis virginiana Seasonal theme species: Asclepias tuberosa, Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’, Rudbeckia fulgida, Monarda bradburiana, Geranium maculatum. Ground covering species: Carex pensylvanica, Erigeron pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’, Geum fragarioides, Aster ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’, Packera aurea Dynamic filler species (not illustrated): Aquilegia canadensis, Chrysopsis mariana, Lobelia cardinalis, Oenothera fruticosa, Monarda punctate. Nearby destinations to see native plant gardens at work: Mt Cuba Center in Hokessin, Delaware, a botanical garden with a focus on native plants and ecosystems. There are 50 acres of display gardens and 500 acres of natural lands. http://www.mtcubacenter.org/ Peirce’s Woods in Longwood Gardens In Kennett Square, Pa. is a seven-acre woodland garden that showcases ornamental characteristics of the eastern deciduous forest. http://longwoodgardens.org/gardens/peirces-woods New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, N.Y. features a four-acre native plant garden within the 250-acre site that offers many garden vignettes within the larger garden. http://www.nybg.org/ Erin Mooney is publicist for Friends of the Wissahickon

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Page 49

What’s all the fuss about paint color? by Patricia Cove

C

hestnut Hill is a National Historic District. With that honor comes some responsibility to preserve and maintain those special qualities that contribute to that accreditation. The status was achieved through a lot of dedication and hard work on the part of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, and architecture was the key element. When surveys are taken about why people come here, the number one response is always “appearance.� There is no doubt that the architecture is spectacular, and because residents and visitors appreciate it so much, those who live here want to approach its care and maintenance in the most appropriate ways possible. Certainly the renovation of historic buildings is a major concern, but even a simple thing like a paint color can add or detract from an older building’s integrity. If you happen to be an �old house purist,� and there are many around here, you would certainly choose color that fit the style and period of your home. It is interesting that four major color phases can be identified between 1820 and 1920. The late Federal period through the Neoclassical period (18201840), the Gothic and Italianate Revival or early Victorian (circa 1840-1870), late Victorian (circa 1870-1890) and Colonial Revival (1890-1920). Although this may seem like an oversimplification of architectural history, these four periods have color palettes that are actually fairly defined. Although the aesthetic gods would be pleased with historically accurate efforts, there is also some-

A simple Country House using a dark color for the body of the house and contrasting light trim, with a third color accenting door and shutter panels.

thing reassuring to see a significant structure being treated in its most accurate fashion. Of course, color selection is also a very personal preference. No matter how “correct� a color may be, if it is not pleasing to the owner, it certainly won’t get used.

Luckily there is a whole range of historic color palettes available through all the major paint companied, which have realized that more and more, people are making efforts to respect historic buildings, and that selections can be accurate and pleasing at the same time.

So what are the steps to painting your historic home? After determining the overall style of the building, do some research in to the most appropriate palettes. Several books are available, and the Historical Society’s Resource Center can be of assis-

tance in selecting color schemes. Choose the body color first, then the trim colors that coordinate well with the body hues. Homes built in America before the second World War were actually intended to be defined by their trim color. (Continued on page 50)

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

What’s all the fuss about paint color? (Continued from page 49)

This technique not only adds much interest to the facade it also serves to highlight these important architectural features. Depending on the style of the house, additional colors may be added for additional interest and definition. Another technique would be to reverse the body and trim colors on certain areas, rather than introducing another color. This can add more interest, without too much additional color activity. Sashes and shutters, however, can easily carry two different hues, and for historical accuracy, would be selected from the darkest part of the house. Especially in houses built between 1840 and 1900, the sash is darker than the trim, and gives the effect of the window receding into the façade, rather than projecting, which is the intended effect. Regarding windows, however, don’t make the mistake of painting the sash white. (An equivalent error inside is a white ceiling within a room of rich wall and trim colors.) Paint the sash color as the trim, so as not to break the continuity of

the palettes, and don’t hide your coordination efforts by installing white storm windows within a room of wall and trim colors. When painting paneled shutters, use the trim color, but to add definition, also consider painting the panels the body color of the house. Paint the backs of the shutters in the reverse, so when the shutters are closed there will be a distinction between the window frames and shutter rails. Little tricks like this can enliven your façade and really show off your historic paint color know-how. Accurate color schemes were really quite simple until the Victorian period, when multi-color schemes were used to enhance the abundance of architectural gingerbread applied to almost every structure of the day. There are entire books written today that give step by step color illustrations on how and where to apply the variety of colors meant for a Queen Ann façade, Domestic architecture of the 20th century returned to much simpler lines, and the Colonial Revival period ushered in pastel tones and lighter trim colors. Today, Americans are rediscovering the importance of exterior decoration and how appropriate color

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The front elevation of the house from plate 21 showsthe effect of reversing the same colors, now used as a light body and dark trim. The shutters are painted to match the trim with the sash color used to pick out door and first floor shutter moldings. Notice that the porch brackets are painted with trim, not picked out.

application is not only exceedingly attractive, but is also the perfect way to preserve the historic detail, so important to significant buildings.

Patricia Cove is Principal of PatriSo, enjoy the challenge and adventure of selecting a palette cia Marian Cove, Architectural Intethat is interesting, personally riors and Design, in Chestnut Hill. appealing, and just right for the building as well. Happy painting!

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Page 51

Gardens at Highlands Mansion are beautiful and welcoming by Meg Bleeker Blades

O

ne youthful guest at The Highlands Mansion & Gardens recently proclaimed the Sinkler Garden “magical,” as she danced under the low-hanging fronds of a weeping willow tree. Though it does look magical, the beautiful appearance of this garden at The Highlands is in reality the creation of many talented people, a collaboration focused on developing the garden design and maintenance for over a century. It is this setting that The Highlands Historical Society is using for a series of events and programs this spring and summer. A Faerie Festival will be hosted on Sunday, May 15, from 2 to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Parents and children aged 3-7 will be enchanted by the fairy-themed garden walk, music, and dance. Children should arrive dressed to receive Faerie wings and a wand. They will build Faerie houses, dress a Faerie doll, help solve a Faerie mystery and enjoy Faerie refreshments. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Admission is $10 for each parent and child; $5 for each additional child or adult. Reservations are requested by May 10. A New Orleans Garden Fete will light up the Sinkler Garden on Saturday, June 18, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Be transported to an evening in the City of New Orleans! The night air will be filled with the sound of jazz and the aroma of good Cajun food. Join the Mummers parade, listen to the storyteller, have your fortune read, and don’t miss the bourbon tasting! Take a stroll in the garden with a Hurricane or Mint Julep. Proceeds from this fun event will benefit the continuing restoration and upkeep of this gem of a walled garden at The Highlands. Make your reservations by June 10. And on Sunday, June 12, from noon to 4 p.m., the Society for Creative Anachronism will create Knights in the Garden, an afternoon of courtly play and fun with crafts and learning opportunities for the whole family. Learn and practice the Knightly virtues, design your own shield, get an introduction to the knightly arts of jousting, juggling, and the skills needed to become a knight. Guests may be awarded “gold” coins for each skill mastered, and receive their knighthood! Admission charged. These are just a few examples of happenings in a garden setting. The Sinker Garden is a wonderful location for these special events. Massive stone walls outline the two-acre space, combine with formal parterre beds, statuary, and perennial borders, as well as the late 18th through early 20th century architecture, to give visitors much to explore. The garden design took over a century to be fully developed, and is the result of the combined efforts of the Sheaff, Sinkler, and Roosevelt families. The first phase of the garden was built between 1814-1917, during the ownership of the Sheaff family. Tall stone walls supported a greenhouse and a grape arbor, and outline two garden boundaries. The Sheaff landscape was applauded by renowned 19th century landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing, who described the grounds as “the model farm of the United States” in his book, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, first published in 1844. Caroline Sinkler (1860-1949) (Continued on page 52)

An old photo that shows the center of the HIghland Gardens.

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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL

Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

Gardens at Highlands Mansion are beautiful and welcoming (Continued from page 51)

purchased the property in 1917. Miss Sinkler’s sense of style and taste were developed over a number of years of exposure to gardens at the estates of her family and friends, including (among others) Isabella Stewart Gardner (founder of the Gardner Museum in Boston), MA), Cecilia Beaux, the renowned American portrait painter, and Henry Davis Sleeper, a well-known interior decorator who designed the interiors of The Highlands for his friend. Caroline Sinkler traveled widely, visited gardens in both America and Europe, and shopped for statuary and antiques as souvenirs of her travels to install in her garden. Her

good friend Wilson Eyre (18581944), a founder and early editor of House & Garden magazine, was also an internationally known architect and designer. It was Eyre who Miss Sinkler entrusted with the re-design of the existing garden at The Highlands when she turned her focus to developing the rich horticultural potential at her new home. Starting with the classical lines that followed the massive stone garden walls, Eyre laid out a series of allees and paths, each with a focal point or statue at the end. A walk through the Sinkler Garden may take a wanderer under a rose-draped arbor, along a sunny boxwood-lined path, or around a series of small rectangular beds, or “parterres� to enjoy cultivars of historic roses,

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medicinal and scented plants, or directly to a small fountain. Guests may explore the geometry and layout of the garden, even while HHS continues work on its restoration. Volunteers figure prominently in today’s garden. Many of the heirloom daffodils we are currently enjoying are the gift of the Garden Club of Philadelphia. The club purchased and planted over 900 bulbs last fall. The parterre beds are lovingly and expertly maintained and planted by members of the Woman’s National Farm & Garden Association. A Wine Tasting started the season on April 30 from 5-7 p.m. The Highland Hunt sponsored a tasting of regional wines to support the restoration and maintenance of The Highlands Mansion. The Highlands Mansion & Gardens, 7001 Sheaff Lane, Ft Washington, PA is open for tours of the house and garden each Monday through Friday afternoons at 1:30. A call to reserve a tour is recommended. Call The Highlands at 215-641-2687 for additional information or visit our website at www.highlandshistorical.org Meg Bleeker Blades is executive director of Highlands Mansion & Gardens.

Highlands Mansion, front facade

Restoration of the Ice House on the north lawn at The Highlands, rear of the mansion visible behind Ice House

The new issue of

NOW AVAILABLE! The Best of the Northwest: Peba ’ 0SS` ’ /`b ’ 4Wb\Saa Available at dozens of locations around the area or online at chestnuthilllocal.com/welcome NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS: Welcome has some useful information for moving in or going out in our area including activities, government resources and businesses to help you find your way. And if you’re a new homeowner in our area, ask about a special Chestnut Hill Community Association gift package for you.

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2016 Home & Garden Festival • Thursday, April 28, 2016

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Page 53

‘Faves’ and raves among plant lovers by Charlotte Kidd

Y

our favorite plant? Some gardeners choose their faves to fit their preferred garden style. Others dote on special finds and create gardens around them. It's all good. Beautiful. Dynamic. In Chestnut Hill, Marilyn Phister's expansive lower garden features hydrangeas. Looking down from her deck, she points to the half-moon of pink, blue, and white-flowering hydrangeas bordering the flagstone sitting area. North of the gravel path, fluffy white panicles stand like huge vanilla ice cream cones on the ele-

Woodland peony (Paeonia obovata) seedpods splay open spilling brilliant crimson and shiny blue seeds, like a court jester's hat. (Photo by Charlotte Kidd)

gant, spreading, oakleaf hydrangea. An unusual, tree-like Hydrangea aspera with velvety, pink-veined leaves and fuzzy flower buds anchors the west corner. "I love just about every plant out there, but have a special place in my heart for hydrangeas,� Phister says. “All kinds...All colors...Oak leaf, climbing, snowball... And especially because they bloom and evolve throughout the season.� Another favorite is the collectible, three-season woodland peony with white, golden-centered Variegated hostas complement Marilyn spring flowers and striking seed Phister's woodland peonies in color pods. Six years ago, Phister spotted and texture. (Photo by Charlotte woodland peony (Paeonia obova-

RE~TREE RE ~TREE 385 385 89

Get a TTree ree Planted On Y Your o our Street! Street! Learn how you can get a tree planted on your street! treet! Get involved with the Chestnut Hill Tree Tenders group. Re-Tree Chestnut Hill is a project of the Chestnut Hill Community Fund. Visit our website at www.chestnuthill.org/gsi for more information and an application, or call 215-248-8810.

Applicati Applications for the Fall 2016 tr tree ee planting oon residential streets aree due by April 29th. ar

shrubby, semi-evergreen Glossy Abelia smothered in small, whitepink, bell-shaped flowers all summer. “It's fabulous,� Crane says. “It's near the pool. It's so fragrant, when you're swimming, you can smell it.� The shrub's arching form appeals too. She prunes it “just a bit,� cutting out the few dead branches. “It’s in a spot where there isn’t much around it to interfere, so I kind of let it go wild.�

ta) seedpods on an autumn walk through Chanticleer Garden's Asian Woods in Wayne, PA. The splayed, open pods holding brilliant crimson and shiny blue seeds, like a court jester's hat, made this a Must Have. Late spring into summer, woodland peony holds pinkish-white buds that unfurl into Stewardialike flowers above gray-green leaflets. They self-seed delicately. Retired from NBC news production, Phister appreciates the woodland peony's elegance, low-maintenance, color and texture in a shade garden.

Woodland peony flower unfurls white petals around a golden center of pistils and stamens. (Photo by Charlotte Kidd)

The Nose Knows The fragrance and long bloom time of Abelia grandiflora impress Susan Crane, Director of Marketing, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. Since joining the arboretum staff 10 years

ago, she's become increasingly passionate about plants. “I've picked up tips, gone to our plant sale every single year, bought more and more and expanded our garden at home in Wyndmoor.� She's especially fond of the

Summer Flair & Sentiment Beverly Gross-Spencer offers a photo of her exceptionally tall, floriforous 'Dazzle' Asiatic Lilium as invitation to visit her Mt. Airy garden. There's more than meets the eye. These lilies hold sentimental floral tradition reflecting 30 years plus of enjoying the Philadelphia Flower Show with her (Continued on page 54)

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Page 54

CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL

Thursday, April 28, 2016 • 2016 Home & Garden Festival

‘Faves’ and raves among plant lovers (Continued from page 53)

“She earned 6 certificates from the Ohara School of Ikebana.” Gross-Spencer laughed. “My sister and I used to say “Be careful if you ask mom to make something for you because it's gonna have antlers. All that dried, tortured material.” Prickly branches from the corkscrew tree in their back yard comes to mind. Gross-Spencer is part-time sales lead at Soma in Willow Grove Park Mall, alto soloist at Unitarian Society of Germantown, and a board member of the West Park Cultural Center.

Two large hydrangeas bring white and lavendar-blue-pink highlights to Marilyn Phister's garden. (Photo by Charlotte Kidd)

Zinnias, Dahlias, Bees, and Butterflies “My favorite flower? It's a tossup between dahlia and zinnia,” says award-winning mother, the late Jean Wilcox, reaching for her cell Lois J. Gross. Gross, a member of phone to scroll through colorful Our Garden Club of Philadelphia photos of beauties in her Mt. Airy and Vicinity, exhibited in floral design for more than 25 years until 2011. Partnering with Wilfreta Baugh in 2010, Gross won the most awards and certificates of distinction possible for a Design entry! Blue and Gold ribbons in four categories. "The class title was "DOWN UNDER: An underwater design, totally submerged," notes Elsa Efran, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society data specialist. "I remember it! Stunning!" Gross-Spencer didn't buy the Asiatics with her mother though. Hardy succulents thrive on a Keith She found 'Dazzle' and two other Snyder-made bluebird house at Morris Arboretum of the University of PennAsiatic lily varieties, 'Casablanca' sylvania's Bloomfield Farm. (Photo by and 'Stargazer,' several years ago Charlotte Kidd) while shopping flower show vendors with a friend. 'Dazzle's performed way beyond expectations. Last summer GrossSpencer counted 22 yellow blooms towering over its 6-foot stalk, poolside. “The label said 3 to 4 feet,” she recalls astonished. Its doubleruffled, pink cousin held 15 flowers. “They've managed to bloom in spite of the furry marauder, the groundhog, and bunnies that nibble on them. Neighbors come and watch them bloom.” Memories of her mother's artistry and appreciation of Dazzle's Rose-burgundy flowers spiral from exuberance are intertwined. low-growing, drought-tolerant, blue“Mother really had an eye for Ike- gray sedum groundcover. (Photo by Charlotte Kidd) bana,” Gross-Spencer reminisced.

bloomed into late fall. One day Wilcox watched as a swallowtail butterfly with a damaged wing flitted from flower to flower “as if nothing was wrong. I love to see that. The way the butterfly just kept going.”

Tall, floriferous, bright yellow-flowering Asiatic Lillium 'Dazzle' shows its best in Bevery Gross-Spencer's Mt. Airy garden. (Photo by Timothy J. Spencer)

garden. Perennial Rudbeckia and Phlox frame the back of the bed. Late spring, early summer she plants dahlia tubers, zinnia seeds and six-packs front and center. Her pride and joy? Their flower forms, bud-to-bloom transformation, and ecological niche appeal. “When you look at dahlias and zinnias, they are so perfect, so symmetrical. I just love them,” explains Wilcox, assistant professor of marketing at the Fox School of Business, Temple University. “And the way they unfold. The dahlias come from these funny little balls that open up as the petals keep unfolding.” The same with zinnias. “Their buds open into this perfect array of petals.” Oh the colors! “Deep, deep yellows and oranges and pinks and white. I just love having all of that in my garden.” She loves that the flower and color combinations attract bees and butterflies. She clicks to show a video of a bee collecting nectar from a zinnia. Wilcox clips the flowers for bouquets. “Sometimes I cut a single stem, a single flower in an old pretty vase. Other times I'll just pick everything in the yard and make it into a bouquet, a vase full.” Sitting in her vibrant garden, watching the bees and butterflies is a spiritual experience, she says. “The plethora of colors in gorgeous varieties and shapes. The big dinner-plate dahlias. The little pompom zinnias.” Last year they

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Subtle, Sculptural, Little Fuss Succulents have unique charm for gardeners who appreciate the subtle, fine detail, and little fuss. Mt. Airy gardener Susan Wexler sees their garden corner of succulents and cacti as a mosaic. “They are just really beautiful. The shapes. The textures. The different shades of green.” Wexler is drawn to beauty in detail. She creates small botanical drawings and landscapes with colored pencil. “The plants themselves are very different,” adds her husband Rick Hock. “As time goes on, they're growing to each other a little bit.” In changing patterns. Their sloping corner includes two types of prickly pear. One forms oval pads aka leaves, the other round pads. The

Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly gathers nectar from orange-red zinnia. (Photo by Jean Wilcox)

small containers like the niches in lava rocks, larger hypertufa containers, other planters with good drainage, as well as a sunny welldrained spot in the garden, or an Alpine garden. Some winter-hardy succulents are semi-evergreen. “What we like about having succulents — hens and chicks, prickly pear, sedums — is the low maintenance,” Hock says. Plus it's “really therapeutic.” They pull the occasional weed from cactus soil mix topped with barium gravel. No mulching necessary. “We water when it's really, really dry. We take the hose and give it sprinkle. For winter protection, Suz just picks up the nearby leaves and throws them on the succulents.” Once a professional gardener, Wexler is limited by illness now. Sitting on a high stool, she can work with succulents and cacti on her light table. She enjoys the simAn array of white-yellow dahlias shows plicity of putting one plant in one flowers opening over time in Jean container. Hock lifts up pots, plant Wilcox's Mt. Airy garden. (Photo by mix, and watering can as she Jean Wilcox) requests. The front garden is most-

hens and chicks, small and large. Several have red-edged leaves. Some are blue-green. Others are all green. Some tend to cluster. Even the clusters look different. Sedums vary too. Plump narrow leaves, thick flat leaves, spiral flowers, star-shaped flowers, chartreuse flowers, purple stems, nearly bare stems, leafy-covered stems....And the flowers — yellow, purple, pink, green. Striking prickly pear (Opuntia) blossoms can be several shades of yellow, orange, rose, peach depending on species. Succulents include sedum, sempervivum, Saxifraga, Rosularis, Delopserma, and Opuntia (prickly pear), said Wexler, a member of the Cactus and Succulent Society. They grow attractively, easily in

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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly alights on tomato-red zinnia. (Photo by Jean Wilcox)

(Continued on page 55)

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2016 Home & Garden Festival • Thursday, April 28, 2016

‘Faves’ and raves among plant lovers lar, some smooth and oval. At a Cactus and Succulent Society workshop they learned to chisel crevices in brittle lava rock as plant niches. They “create little landscapes� in the lava rocks. They have several 'little lava rock landscapes' in their larger garden scape for height and contrast. Their living mosaic catches the eye in a special way. The picture changes in color and texture as the weather warms into summer, autumn, and then back into winter cold. “When people walk by, that's the part of the garden they are focusing on. That's a bit of the

(Continued from page 54)

showpiece,� says Hock, a biology professor at the Community College of Philadelphia. Charlotte Kidd , M. Ed., is a writer and owner of The Garden Design, Care & Coaching. IntheGardenwithCharlotte@gmail.com

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Dahlia petals open from tight bud into full flower. (Photo by Jean Wilcox)

ly in his care after many years schooled under Wexler's precise eye. They've bought winter hardy plants from the Morris Arboretum plant sale, Primex Garden Center, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and plant society sales. Hock picks many for their “sculptural aspect. They are three-dimensional sculpture.� Choosing and arranging the different shapes and colors taps his artistic sense. Moving his finger over gray and tan aquarium gravel, he notes how some stones are sharp and jagged-edged. Some are angu-

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