A 19th Century Diamond

Forty-two years ago, we moved to a 19th century “diamond in the rough” which came with a pre-revolutionary kitchen and barn. Decades of clearing multiflora rose, Lonicera japonica, Lonicera tatrica (a bushy honeysuckle which may approach three meters in height!) and endless black walnut seedlings created space for collections of the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s, Rare Plant Auction winnings, as well as plants from every arboretum and nursery we could find, plus, of course, copious gifts from friends. State Champion trees - Magnolia acuminata, one of the largest and one of the cold-hardiest of the magnolias, Abies nordmanniana, a towering fir, and Aesculus glabra, among other enormous specimens have choreographed ever-changing “gardens.”

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A Sustainable Living Garden

Our garden provides intrigues in all seasons. Sometimes this has been accidental, but mostly it is through our design intent. (As daily observers of the garden, whether from strolling, gardening, or viewing a vista from a window, we enjoy talking about the what, why, and how of our creation and future ideas.) A couple of early design ideas still remain bedrocks in our intent: to plant for outstanding fall color through foliage, fruit, and flower, and to bring lots of birds to the garden. We’ve not had difficulty in selecting plants for either of these complementary goals. About a decade ago, however, we ‘accidentally’ greatly enhanced the latter by creating ‘stick fences’ from the abundance of sticks, branches, and limbs constantly generated in our 29-year old, 1.5 acre garden. The original goal was to block out unwanted lights from a neighbor, help keep our dog from running off the property, and to have someplace to go with the woody plant material, all of which we accomplished. What we hadn’t anticipated, however, is the number of birds that would find shelter, food, and habitat in these stick fences, and how much this has not only increased the bird population in our garden but our level of fascination, especially in autumn as the days cool and we find ourselves viewing the garden through windows.

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A Chester County Farmhouse

On the grounds of an 1880 Chester County home, the ruins of an old barn enclose a private garden.  Things grow well here because it was a working farm and the soil is very rich (7 foot tall lilies!). Wisteria, hydrangea and trumpet vines climb the walls; yew topiaries, holly and box hedges provide structure in winter. Spring brings primroses and bulbs, hosta, phlox and lilies thrive in summer, and lobelia, allium and hardy begonia are autumn stars. 

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A Delaware Pollinator Garden

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Surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine land along the Brandywine, we were compelled to live in harmony with our natural surroundings.  We fully embraced the “lawn to life” concept and converted the majority of our lawn to wildflower meadow over a period of three years. Our honey bees and chickens enjoy foraging amongst the waves of native plants that provide food and shelter year round. No chemicals, less mowing, and native pollinator gardens yield a healthier habitat hosting more bees, birds, butterflies and wildlife. It is mesmerizing to walk our pollinator gardens buzzing with life, and see the fox, coyote, deer, hawks and eagles trolling daily for an opening to exploit.  

A Greenville Garden

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Our 40-year-old home is in a small neighborhood that was once part of a large private estate.  Many decades ago the estate’s greenhouse was located where our garden sits today.  When we purchased the property 18 years ago there was no garden, merely 4 trees and a bit of patchy grass behind the house.  We set out to build a garden and did considerable digging, during which we discovered a buried pipe that had once carried water to the long-forgotten greenhouse.  For the next few years we re-sculpted the area behind the house, building a protected courtyard area (perfect for growing tender herbs) and laying a blue-stone patio.  The fence was installed to define the boundaries and provide a “framework” for the garden.  Two teak lounge chairs beckon in a shady corner, and a bench (enveloped by an Oak Leaf Hydrangea) sits beneath a pergola.  The theme of the garden is sanctuary and repose.  It’s the perfect place for outdoor dining and for relaxing by the fire pit on a cool evening.  

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This blog is a joint project of our Club’s Garden History and Design Committee and our Photography Committee.  Together they work with our Members to document the rich garden history of some of the most glorious gardens in our area. The particular character and style are described in each narrative and and the splendor of these gardens have been captured by our Club’s photographers.

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