We lost our friend John after four decades of wonderful memories.  I met John & Marlen on their wedding day on a spring day in June 1980 and we have been having fun ever since.  John loved the outdoors and so it seems fitting to honor him with some photos of his garden this week.  He had a good eye in using sculptures, birdbaths, natural materials, and fountains to enhance his human, animal and bird visitors' enjoyment of the garden and embracing the beauty of the northwoods.   

If you are traveling in the Philadelphia area I highly recommend this list of gardens, all quite different.  Seeing woodland spring ephemerals in different settings taught me a new appreciation for what I tend to take for granted here at home.   Anytime during their long growing season these gardens will teach, display and provide pleasure to their visitors.  

​Morris Arboretum – As the name implies the arboretum is a teaching and research facility of the University of Pennsylvania.  It is set on the historic grounds of the summer home of John and Lydia Morris.  They have informative displays of trees, shrubs, and woodland perennials.  

​Longwood Gardens – One of many du Pont family gardens in the area.  The gardens are spread about on 1,100 acres of highly manicured display gardens.  We were there for six hours, more than enough time to see almost everything and spend time in their excellent garden shop.  According to their website they raise 75 percent of the plants used in their displays onsite producing about 110,000 plants of 1,000 different varieties.  Nearby is Kennett Square, a tidy small town with many retail shops and restaurants. 

​Mt. Cuba Center – The Center is set in the rolling hills of the Delaware Piedmont near Wilmington.   The property was developed by Mr. and Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland.  Mrs. Copeland is quoted in their intention for the property: “I want this to be a place where people will learn to appreciate our native plants and to see how these plants can enrich their lives so that they, in turn, will become conservators of our natural habitats.”.  If you go, I recommend scheduling a tour by one of their very knowledgeable tour guides.  If you can’t go to Mt. Cuba Center, you can still learn much by going to their website.  I have bookmarked as one of my favorites the native plant finder.  

​Winterthur – The home of Henry Francis du Pont, the 1,000 acres near Wilmington, DE includes 60 acres naturalist gardens, a research library, shops, museum, and the mansion chock full of American textiles and furniture.  The gardens are more in the background of Winterthur given all the other attractions of this property.  
​Chanticleer  - This garden was the last we visited, and I think the best.  Chanticleer is set on 47 acres of the former home of the Rosengarten family, members of the family still guide the foundation that manages the property.  This unique property employs seven Horticulturists who are each responsible for an area of the grounds.  Chanticleer advertises itself as a pleasure garden and definitely lives up to that name.  We felt as if we were invited guests, the horticulturists and grounds staff were about the grounds ready to answer our questions.  
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What a treat to have visited these gardens, each one unique in its own way.  And the Winnebago Master Gardener Volunteers are wonderful traveling companions.  

​The good news:  My first blooms of the season, crocus!  The bad news:  I have lost my garlic!  The good news:  The garlic has been found and rhubarb is poking through. (Note to self:  label the garlic rows in the fall.)  Spring has started in spite of the remaining snow piles and ice still on the lake. 

On our Mediterranean cruise this March we were fortunate to stop at the Exotic Gardens of Monaco.  It is amazing what you can do when (1) you are the king of a principality, (2) you are rich enough to employ several hundred gardeners, and (3) have several generations of family that contribute to the garden. 
 
Although we did not see the entire garden, what we did see was impressive.  These four acres are set on a rocky hillside and was opened in 1933 by Prince Albert I.  Although dominated by succulents, there are also roses and I even found some spring bulbs.  Only later did I pause to think about how that was possible in this temperate climate with not enough of a cold period for bulbs to bloom naturally.  I would hazard a guess that they kept the bulbs in cold storage and planted them outside to enjoy this spring.  Just like we would do to force bulbs, except on a larger scale.  Again, money and labor can create a wonderful garden. 
 
Most of all I love the address of this garden. 
​Wouldn’t you love to live on Boulevard du Jardin Exotique?  

"Not all those who wander are lost."  J.R.R. Tolkien

​I was reminded this winter of what it feels like to be at least a little lost in a new store.  I wandered into my local quilt shop, River’s Edge Antique & Quilt Loft  in Hayward with a pattern and a few pieces of fabric from my stash.  My goal was to make a crib quilt for a new baby that will be joining our family this spring.  Upon entering I see a few bolts of cloth but am disappointed with the limited selection.  But Wait!  The name of the shop should have clued me in that there was more and there certainly was upstairs.  My stumbling about reminded me that we are beginners at some point and these specialized businesses that support our crafts and passions are there to help us.  

The big garden shows are coming to an end and the garden magazines have articles about what they see for trends this year. 

• Going natural is still a big trend which helps gardens, pollinators, and the environment.  Keeping wild areas in your garden supports wildlife and insects plus reduces your workload as a gardener.  A win/win for everyone. 
• Houseplants – almost every article and blog mention houseplants as becoming more popular.  As more people either don’t have the time or space for a large garden, a few houseplants can help clean indoor air and provide needed greenery to keep us connected to nature.  Also hanging houseplants are becoming popular along with macramé.  Wish I would have kept all that stuff from the 70’s!
• PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral is the color of the year so expect to see more plants with coral flowers and leaf coloring.
• Edibles – Adding food plants is gaining popularity whether it’s a pot of tomatoes on the deck or berry bushes in a mixed border.  In fact plants that do double and triple duty of producing food, attracting wildlife and creating greenspace are in high demand.
• Compact Plants – More nurseries are offering compact plants to replace old favorites.  Look for compact hydrangea, lilacs, and spirea to fill in borders.   “Dwarf”, “little”, and “wee” are just a few words in the names that will give you a clue.
• Plants of the Year – Many organizations have plants they feature each year.  The National Garden Bureau has announced the four classes for 2019 that they will feature.  Or check out the All-America Selections for plants judged superior by an impartial panel.   
  *Bulbs- Dahlia
  *Annuals - Snapdragon
  *Edibles - Pumpkin
  *Perennials - Salvia

Why not try something new in one of these trend categories?