2010 CALENDAR

Sunday, July 11

HPS Members' Garden Tour 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm (Reception 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm) Photos of gardens

On Sunday, July 11, we will visit six special gardens in the southeast section of Chester County and northwest Delaware County. The tour will start at 1:00 p.m. at the garden of Lil Chance in Malvern, and end with a reception from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the garden of Inta Krombolz. This year we have a variety of gardens, something for everyone. Directions to the remaining five gardens will be available at Lil Chance from 1:00-3:30 p.m. and will also be emailed to you. Please register to ensure your copy.

We begin at Lil Chance’s large shade garden, part of her 60-acre property, which Lil has developed over 62 years. Benches throughout the garden allow visitors to stop and enjoy the hundreds of specimen plants that Lil has collected over the years, and vistas to the pond and stream.

Polly Garnett’s is a four-season garden. Over the 18 years of its creation, the garden has given Polly much joy—from its awakening each year with the galanthus, the appearance through the seasons of old plant friends, to the brilliant fall color, and winter structure—and through sharing its gifts with others. Today her garden is a beautiful u-shaped shaded space with a wide variety of plantings. Notable are an espaliered pear against a wall; a sound-barrier planting composed of Serbian and Norway spruce, and Nellie Stephens holly; and stone walls from salvaged stones.

Miriam Dahlke’s small, mature, shade garden is the culmination of the joys and mistakes of 45 years of collecting. Sources for plants have been a favorite Newtown Square nursery, the Scott Arboretum plant sale, and the HPS/ MAG seed exchange. Plants from the seed exchange will be highlighted in the garden and porch pots on the day of the tour.

Barbara Mercer’s home was built on 2¼ acres of former horse pasture— with only grassy weeds for a garden. The owners have landscaped intensively and now have a NWF-certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat with choice trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials that provide forage and home to local wildlife. The garden evolves and changes yearly, reflecting the owners’ current passions and whims. The focal point of their backyard is a 45´ stream meandering through a Dawn Redwood grove and spilling into a 22´ x 40´ koi pond and water garden.

Artist Conny Parsons’ 2-acre garden was begun 10 years ago by clearing brush to make room for lawn, gardens, and a deer fence. A center lawn sweeps back through a pie-shaped lot bordered by trees and underplanted with beds and long borders on all sides, containing over a hundred small trees, shrubs, and conifers that either flower or have interesting bark, texture, or colorful foliage. More than 500 hosta cultivars throughout the garden, skillfully combined with extensive collections of other shade-loving perennials, provide colorful vignettes—inspiration for many of Conny’s garden portraits on canvas.

Our tour ends with a wine and cheese reception at 4:30 p.m. at the garden of metal sculptor Inta Krombolz. Her eclectic approach combines well-defined views and beautiful designs and plantings, including a bog garden, and an extensive trough collection with select alpine plants. All the beds spotlight prized tree specimens limbed up to make room beneath for layers of smaller shrubs and spring-blooming bulbs so that something is always flowering. While walking through this garden and catching up with old HPS/MAG friends at the reception, look for the carefully placed sculptures that Inta has created over the years. To register email info@hardyplant.org.

Saturday, July 17 8:00 am to 12 noon

Clearview Nursery

1910 Clearview Road, Souderton, PA

Family-owned Clearview Nursery has invited us to shop at their wholesale perennial nursery. Fill in your garden mid-season and prepare for a better fall flower show by using all the spaces that don’t seem to be working for you. The Wright family operates this large nursery plus many greenhouses, growing thousands of perennials and specialty shrubs. www.clearview-nursery.com Directions

Thursday, July 22, 10:00 am

Herb Truffles Workshop

Chocolate and herbs—a great combination! Learn hands-on how to choose the right chocolate to create delicious, premium truffles infused with fresh herbs from the garden, plus other special flavors. Class limited to 15 participants on a first-come basis. The cost is $8.00. Bring a lunch to eat in the garden or inside if too hot, drinks will be provided—we have dessert! For more info email info@hardyplant.org.

Tuesday, July 27 – Saturday, July 31, 2009

Maine Summer Garden Tour

After an early departure from Downingtown, we’ll arrive at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boyleston, Mass. in time for lunch and a tour of the extensive gardens. www.towerhillbg.org. Then we move onward to our hotel in Boothbay Harbor, Maine where we’ll settle in for 3 nights. www.boothbayharborinn.com.

On Wednesday, we begin with a visit to the Maine Coastal Botanic Garden on 248 waterfront acres, where we’ll also have a catered lunch in the garden. www.mainegardens.org. Next up are 2 private gardens, including the garden of Joan and Carlton Plummer, featuring stone walls and sea views! The Plummers are artists and the gallery will also be open for a visit. Upon return to our hotel, we’ll have an authentic downeast clambake.

Day 3 begins with a visit to the Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center in Rockland. www.farnsworthmuseum.org. The museum, whose grounds include Olsen House and many paintings by the Wyeths of Brandywine Valley, also features an extensive collection of Louise Nevelson sculptures. Afterward, we’ll have a lunchtime visit to Hedgerow Landscape Design and Nursery. www.hedgerowdesign.com. Then we’re off to visit gardens in the nearby village of Cushing. You’ll have free time in the evening to explore Boothbay Harbor.

After departure from the Inn on Friday, we’ll visit a garden in the Boothbay area, then head southward to 2 gardens in York Harbor, including Braveboat Harbor Farm, dramatically sited on the Atlantic ocean. Our final evening will be spent at the Best Western in Framingham, Mass. www.bestwesternmassachusetts.com.

Saturday morning we’ll visit the Garden in the Woods www.newf.org. We’ll have time for some shopping (cypripediums, anyone?) enjoy lunch in the garden, and then homeward bound.

COST - $750 pp (single supplement $175.) Includes: Transportation, 4 nights lodging, 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner (clambake), all admissions, garden visits.