Swarthmore Horticultural Society

Welcome to the Swarthmore Horticultural Society!

Dedicated to enhancing Swarthmore's public spaces
and promoting the value of horticulture and nature to the community

Contact us at: Swarthmore Horticultural Society
P.O. Box 394
Swarthmore, PA 19081-0394
[email protected]
Follow us on Facebook and on
Instagram at @swarthmorehort

WE LOVE VOLUNTEERS!
And no need for experience...
* Gardening assistance
* Events
* Photography
If you're interested in helping, please contact Mary Hinds at:
[email protected]

Now is the time to plant your bulbs!

Our expert gardeners' tips:

If your soil is too dry and hard to dig, water the area ahead of planting in order to soften it.

Tulips and crocuses are susceptible to being eaten by rodents. Lay bird netting or apply Squirrel Away immediately after planting to protect the bulbs. The threat will subside after about two weeks.

Deer love tulip bulbs! Don't plant your tulips in areas that are prone to deer browsing!

Tulips, daffodils, and muscari make great container plants! You can cover the containers with bird netting in order to discourage squirrels.

After planting, be sure to water well. This gets the bulb roots growing right away and also helps prevent squirrel snacking.

Naturalizing lawn blend planting and care:

A 4" planting depth is idea for these tiny wonders, but the opening does not have to be very wide. Freshly disturbed soil draws the attention of squirrels, so try to keep the disturbance to a minimum. A small sharp trowel or hori hori knife works well for making a deep slit to drop the bulb in. Irregular spacing is fine as the bulbs will spread over time.

For planning purposes, an average of 3 bulbs per square foot is a good guide. Our naturalizing lawn mix will cover a patch of lawn approximately 6' x 6'.

Protect the plantings with bird netting. The bulbs will produce seed after they have bloomed. Spring foliage growth is important in this process. For best results, delay mowing your bulb lawn until you see seed pods forming, and the foliage is starting to brown at the tips.

Buy Bulbs!

Swarthmore Farmers Market
Saturday, October 26, 9 a.m. to noon
Pay with cash, card, or check

Come out to the Swarthmore Horticultural Society’s (SHS) annual bulb sale and peruse a wide selection of bulbs that will produce glorious blooms practically year round. As winter fades, creamy white snowdrops appear, and brilliant crocuses peep from the lawn. Spring is marked with lushly colored tulips and riotous drifts of daffodils. Stately giant alliums and deeply-hued fritillaria will take you into summer. Add fall-blooming Sternbergia to complement the changing leaves, too. There will be something for every garden.

Of course we will have your favorites, chosen for their hardiness and design impact. And we are excited to offer some special selections provided by Charles Cresson from his own Hedgleigh Spring garden. New this year, we have put together a mix of early spring bloomers chosen specially to naturalize in your lawn. Plus, you can pre-order amaryllis bulbs that we will deliver to you in time to plant them for indoor holiday blooming!

Our knowledgeable volunteers can help you choose the right bulbs for your garden, and can offer guidance on planting and maintaining your flowers.

Click here for prices and other details: 2024 SHS Bulb Sale Catalog

Free the Trees

Let's work together to free the trees in our public lands from the straitjacket of English ivy (Hedera helix)! This perniciously invasive plant causes harm in our ecosystems by crowding out native plant life that supports biodiversity, and by stressing our beloved trees.

Friday, October 18, 2024
3:30 p.m.
SRS playground (Benjamin West and Princeton)

Please bring loppers, shears, and clippers, and wear long sleeves. We will tackle the CADES woods, SRS's property, and a few more places. Instruction will be provided by the Swarthmore Environmental Advisory Council, with support from the Swarthmore Bird Town Working Group, Swarthmore Tree Committee, and SHS. You can use the knowledge you attain to free the trees on your own property as well!

Hedgleigh Spring Open Garden

The Swarthmore Horticultural Society is hosting a very special free to the public event on June 9 from 4-7 p.m at Charles Cresson’s two-acre Hedgleigh Spring Garden. We invite you to stroll the magnificent, private garden and enjoy an evening of a cappella music from Strath Haven's Silvertones.

Hedgleigh Spring Garden was created over several generations and features a variety of ecosystems -- from a sunny, formal flower garden to a tranquil pond anchored by a rock garden, shady woodlands, trellises, and an exquisite vegetable garden -- with about 3,500 different types of plants! Although it's a collector's garden, all of the areas are pleasingly arranged with meticulous attention to interesting color and texture combinations. The garden is featured in this year's Private Gardens of Philadelphia.

Making this event extra special, John Shankweiler, beloved director of the Silvertones, will be conducting the group he founded 38 years ago. This may be his last performance with the group before his retirement. This is a great opportunity to appreciate Shank and the wonderfully talented students he directs.

Hedgleigh Spring is located at 32 Amherst Avenue. Visitors should enter through the garden gate on the left side as you face the residence.

Feel free to bring a bottle of your favorite beverage and plate to share with friends.

Second Chance Plant Sale

Swarthmore Farmer’s Market
Saturday, May 18th
9am til sold out
No early birds!
Cash or check, $10 each

Give our healthy plants a second chance! We will be refreshing the plants in the downtown containers, and would love to send last year’s plants to new homes. How about yours?
We expect to have:
Cornus 'Cardinal' (red-twig dogwood)
Juniperus 'Robusta Green' (juniper)
Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance’ (sedge)
Plus others!

Magnolia Sale

Saturday, April 20, 2024
9am - 12pm, rain or shine
Central Park, Swarthmore, by the flagpole
Pay with cash, check, or card

Andrew Bunting, plant selection
Charles Cresson, plant expert at the sale
Kit Raven, sale organizer

We are offering versatile, easy-to-grow, GORGEOUS, flower-decked magnolias in a one-day-only sale, at prices well below usual retail! Andrew Bunting, author of The Plant Lovers Guide to Magnolias, has chosen small, medium and large ones, both natives and hybrids, grown at local nurseries. Small and medium ones can be a focal point in your garden and larger ones can be used as a specimen tree. All are spring bloomers, usually March - April here. On these deciduous trees, some bloom on bare wood and some bloom after leaves appear. Most magnolias like well-drained soil, but the Sweetbay Magnolia can grow in wet soil. Most do best in full sun, do fine in part shade, and two natives even do well in shade. Many are deer-resistant, yet attract the pollinators we need and love. Adding to multi-seasonal interest, some magnolias have red summer fruits and some have lovely colored leaves in the fall. A magnolia will make your garden more beautiful AND will provide funds for Swarthmore Horticultural Society to buy more plants for our town!

Oh All-i-um, Oh All-i-um, You Stand in Purple Beauty!

What's not to love about a 10-ft-tall allium aglow with more than 1,300 lights serving as a sort of horticultural beacon in central downtown Swarthmore?
Nothing! That's right.
When the Swarthmore Town Center folks asked non-profit organizations in town if they'd be interested in building a light display for a friendly competition that would both bring holiday festiveness to the Ville and donations to the organizations, we at the SHS said, why not?
And who better to turn to than Ron Ricchezza, garden manager of Alex's Garden at the Post Office and lighting extraordinaire who worked as a lighting designer at Longwood Gardens?
Ron toiled in his home workshop for upwards of 60 hours coming up with an idea and then constructing the allium out of rebar, PVC pipe, electrical conduits, lights and many, many zip ties -- more than 1,000 to be exact.
And Ron wasn't finished there. He also fed lights through 45 poppies to place around the War Memorial at the garden which commemorates those Swarthmoreans who fought and died.
The SHS owes Ron a debt of gratitude for all his hard work. Come see our creation and all the downtown light displays this holiday season!
The Swarthmore Illuminations light display contest runs through January 19.
You can vote for your favorite at the following link: swarthmoretowncenter.com/illuminations.

Ron Ricchezza zip-tied about 300 purple lights to a metal frame to create the flower of the allium.

Corey Ullman helps to place the lighted poppies around the War Memorial.

In addition to the allium light display, there are 45 poppies aglow around the War Memorial to commemorate those Swarthmoreans who fought and died in battle.

Carole Menke, left, and Betty Dowling pitch in by draping fresh green garlands along the fence of the War Memorial.

Autumn delight
Crisp days see garden changeovers, annual fete and other fun

Keith Robertshaw uses an auger attached to a drill to make short work of planting bulbs.

With the end of the growing season arriving around Nov. 1, most gardener managers began turning over their spaces, planting cold-weather stalwarts like pansies and ornamental cabbages and kale, whose bold purples, greens and whites provide a cheerful contrast to the browns and grays of the landscape. There was also the task of planting spring bulbs in the beds. Most gardeners approach the job by scattering the bulbs and digging them in where they land. It's not easy but the rewards are so wonderful!
Autumn is always a busy time for the SHS and this year was no different as we held back-to-back events, starting with Hedgleigh Spring's open garden tour, followed by our annual party for members -- held this year at the beautiful Park Avenue home and garden of Swarthmore resident Olin Otteson. Though the weather did not cooperate, guests squeezed onto the Otteson's brick patio, amiably chatting and enjoying hors d'oeuvres and drinks while watching the downpour. But no amount of rain could dampen the beauty of the garden or the spirits of the guests!
The 2023 Spring-Blooming Bulbs Sale was also a great success, thanks to customers at the Swarthmore Farmers Market and all the SHS volunteers who stepped up to pack the bulbs, organize them and work the sale. See photos below of our fun-filled fall!

(From left) Anne Papa, Betty Robertshaw, Keith Robertshaw and Scott Fillery help Jennifer Pennington, manager of the Library Wall Garden, ready the bed for winter and plant bulbs.

Centennial Park Garden manager Liz Garnett cheerfully does fall cleanup in her garden.

Nothing brightens up the winter garden like purple ornamental cabbage, whose colors -- along with ornamental kale -- grow more vivid the colder it gets.

Garden manager Andrew Bunting tosses handfuls of tulip and daffodil bulbs for a scattered effect in the War Memorial Garden. Bunting planted a total of 350 bulbs, including nine species of tulips and five species of daffodils in a range of colors that will bloom from early to late spring. Watch this space!

Gomphrena globosa, or globe amaranth, was still thriving alongside Purple Fountain Grass in the Clock Tower Garden in October.

Beth Soch, left, works the sales table alongside Jennifer Pennington and Anne Papa at our 2023 Spring-Blooming Bulbs Sale at the Swarthmore Farmers Market in October.

Vincent Van Crow sits beside his creator Ron Ricchezza at Alex's Garden at the Post Office, which Ricchezza manages. Vincent enjoys greeting Swarthmore postal customers all fall and winter.

A stained glass garden gate at Olin Otteson's lovely Park Avenue residence.

(L-R) Ruba Ahmed, Jennifer Pennington, Olin Otteson and Ellen Meriwether enjoy the garden during a brief pause in the rain.

Garden art in Otteson's wooded back border.

Marcia Martin, left, and Carol Menke are some of our most loyal members!

Betsy French, left, shares a laugh with Keith and Betty Robertshaw.

A bamboo curtain Otteson built to screen his back garden from the neighbor's house.

Our hard-working garden managers enjoyed a visit to the Drexel Hill garden of Bill and Sharon Fullerton in September to gain inspiration and share knowledge.

Bill Fullerton answers questions from garden manager Kim Scott. Fullerton who is a regular exhibitor - and winner - at the Philadelphia Flower Show has been working for decades on his home garden, which contains many unusual specimens.

SHS Names 2024 Board Candidates

Officers Directors
President: Betty Robertshaw Archives: Susanna Morikawa
Vice President: Andrew Bunting    Events: Liz Garnett
Past President: Betty Dowling   Horticulture: Judy Penney, Charles Cresson, Julia Fries
Treasurer: Julie Vrooman Membership: Anne Papa
Recording Secretary: Jennifer Pfluger Plant Recorder for Horticulture: Julia Fries
Corresponding Secretary: Moira Hahn       Publicity: Beth Soch and Kit Raven
Volunteer Coordinators: Mary Hinds

2023 Bulb Sale Offers Rainbow of Colors for Spring Gardens

Tulip ‘Jumbo Cherry’s scarlet, long-lasting flowers create a stunning impact in the garden.

We're now officially into fall, and for gardeners that often means one thing -- spring!
As we enjoy the changing leaves and the beauty of the autumn garden with its goldenrod, asters, dahlias and salvias, it is not quite yet time to take a break on garden tasks. November is the best time to get those spring-blooming bulbs in the ground so they can begin growing roots in preparation for their spring debut.
Our sale this year features 14 bulbs in nearly all colors of the rainbow. Come down to the Swarthmore Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon and see what beauties we have on offer!
Maybe you're trying to add some more early spring color to your garden? Then crocus 'Orange Monarch', featuring a rare shade of golden orange, or Chionodoxa Luciliae, better known as glory-of-the-snow would be perfect. Or maybe you'd love to add some of those whimsical purple globe flowers that everyone seems to love? Alliums are always a wonderful addition to add height and texture to gardens -- and we have four spectacular varieties for sale.
We also have also been sure to offer a variety of bloom times. And in keeping with SHS's continued mission of emphasizing pollinator-friendly flowers and shrubs, a majority of the varieties are attractive to bees and butterflies, and a few to hummingbirds. Almost all are deliciously fragrant!

1Unusual selections this year include hot pink Anemone De Caen 'Sylphide' and Ixia Red, also known as an African corn lily, a scarlet hummingbird magnet.
Daffodil lovers will be thrilled with three award-winning selections, including 'Jetfire' and 'Pink Charm', while tulip lovers can choose between the romantic double-flowered 'Charming Beauty' with its shades of peach and apricot, and the stunning scarlet blooms of the Darwin hybrid 'Jumbo Cherry', which will return year after year to make a knockout statement in the garden.
So be sure to stop by the SHS table on Oct. 21 while you're shopping at the Farmers Market and pick up some beauties for your spring garden!
For details on selections and prices, please click on the SHS 2023 Spring-Blooming Bulbs Catalogue.

Daffodil 'Pink Charm' is known for its ability to produce a second flower on many stems.

Early bloomer Chiondoxa Luciliae is a fabulous naturalizer in lawns or woodland gardens.

Anemone 'de Caen Sylphide' is an adorable hot pink variety of the de Caen family.

Hedgleigh Spring Open Gardens Tour Features Sounds of Japan

Musician Mirai Yasuyama plays the koto at Philadelphia's City Hall earlier this year during the opening of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

The public is invited once again to explore the beautiful grounds of Charles Cresson’s two-acre Hedgleigh Spring in its early fall glory on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Adding a unique and wonderfully special touch will be a performance on the koto, a traditional Japanese instrument, by musician Mirai Yasuyama.
Visitors are invited to stroll the grounds of Hedgleigh at their leisure, enjoying the proliferation of fall blooms brought on by the cooler weather. Some of the highlights will include masses of dahlias, asters, roses, colchicum, sternbergias and a variety of the earliest fall-blooming camellias.
A highlight of this year’s autumn open garden event will be Yasuyama’s performance on the koto, a zither which is sometimes called a Japanese harp and is one of the most evocative sounds of Japan.
Yasuyama, a Tokyo native, began playing the koto as a child. For more than 25 years, she has mesmerized audiences with her solo performances throughout the Philadelphia area, particularly at Shofuso, the acclaimed Japanese House and Garden located in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Seating for the performance will be available.
The event is free and open to the public but donations will be solicited on behalf of the SHS. Guests are welcome to bring a bottle of their favorite bubbly or other beverage to sip in their own drinkware as they stroll the grounds. Hedgleigh Spring is located at 32 Amherst Avenue.
Visitors should enter through the garden gate on the left side as you face the residence.

Flower power!
Summer blooms flourish despite smoke, storms and heatwave

The Clock Tower Garden features multiples layers of interest -- color, texture, contrast and whimsy.

Mexican sunflowers and giant hyssop are eye candy for both passersby and pollinators.

Summer gardening always involves an element of risk. Sure, it's the time when profuse waves of wildflowers seem to easily burst into bloom and containers everywhere explode with colorful annuals or exotic tropicals.
But we never know if Mother Nature is going to aid or thwart our plans. As we face unprecedented climate change, our weather has often become unpredictable. In the summer, we can face unusually intense humidity, periods of drought or severe thunderstorms and flooding.
Though it wasn't without its challenges, it turns out that summer 2023 worked out pretty well for most SHS garden managers.
Surprisingly, both temperature and rainfall in the Philadelphia region were average throughout the summer. Yet sadly, the summer did start off with a week of heavy, acrid smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketing our region, creating hazardous air quality. That was followed by several severe thunderstorms throughout the summer, which wound down with the season's first real heatwave -- almost a week of temperatures in the mid to high '90s as we entered September.
And yet with careful planning, and helped by their teams of volunteers, garden managers were able to produce exquisite displays for the enjoyment of borough residents and visitors all through the summer.
The key for many managers was focusing on drought-resistant varieties that hold up to heat and heavy foot traffic.
Centennial Park, made up of several garden beds located at the intersection of Dartmouth Road and Park Avenue, faces the particular obstacle of being surrounded by asphalt and sidewalks. The streets and walkways absorb the sun, creating intense heat, and the area also features multiple benches for seating, resulting in lots of footsteps next to the beds.
Centennial managers Liz Garnett and Kit Raven had great success with euphorbias, portulacas, coleus, heucheras, sedum and carex.

Centennial Park faces the challenge of being surrounded by streets and foot traffic.

Garnett said watering, as much as two to three days weekly, was key. Andrew Bunting who manages the War Memorial Garden across Dartmouth Ave., equally challenged by sun-scorched asphalt, also found that his collection of tropicals and an exotic grass required plenty of supplemental watering.
Though his garden featured a small collection of plants this summer, its fiery red and orange palette was a captivating display due to the bold foliage of the Red Abyssinian bananas (Ensete ventricosum), elephant ear (Colocasia) and cannas contrasting with purple elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) 'Vertigo'.
Over at the Clock Tower Garden, another high-traffic area at the train station, garden managers Karen Peichel and Kim Scott also focused on drought tolerance with their selections. Opting for a purple and pink theme, the pair hit it out of the park with their fabulous display of color, contrast, texture and whimsy. They chose feathery purple fountain grass for back-of the-garden height and interest into the autumn, flanked by globe

Masses of black-eyed Susans contrast with the soft pink crape myrtles in the Central Park Garden.

amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) -- what they refer to as their Dr. Seuss flower -- and fronted by purple heart (Tradescantia pallida), catmint (Nepeta) and ornamental oregano.
In the Co-op Garden, garden managers Julia Fries and Judy Penney centered their color scheme on shades of red, inspired by a garden bed that Fries saw at Chanticleer.
Another garden bed challenged by intense heat and foot traffic, the managers made durable plants here a priority. Highlights were Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia), lantanas and zinnias contrasted with golden variegated sage and Salvia Elegans 'Golden Delicious.'
An eye-catching addition which provided height and uniqueness was scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus), native to the southeast.
The scarlet rosemallow has also been a showstopper in the newly revamped Pollinator Garden along Park Avenue.

The Library Bed Garden featured a variety of warm-colored tropicals this summer.

The hibiscus has grown to seven feet in parts of the 100-foot-long Pollinator Garden and provides a towering presence, along with Mexican sunflowers and Giant Hyssop (Agastache 'Black Adder').
Importantly for this garden which focuses on native plants that sustain bees, moths and butterflies, garden manager Ruba Ahmed says the successful staggered blooms of Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum 'Blue Velvet’), bee balms (Monarda bradburiana and Monarda ‘Claire Grace’) along with coneflowers (Echinacea pallida and Echinacea purpurea) helped to provide an ongoing source of nectar in early to mid-summer.
The garden has been certified as a Monarch Waystation, with volunteers installing more than 100 starts of butterfly weed in May, aimed at attracting the endangered migratory Monarch butterfly. Other milkweed varieties planted include speciosa, exaltata and vericillata. We are still hoping to greet our visitors!

The War Memorial Garden featured a bold display using only a small palette of plants with fiery foliage.

While most of the SHS gardens are very central to downtown thoroughfares, there are a few who enjoy the advantage of sitting back from the hum of activity.
The Library Wall Garden is a long bed that has some sun and a lot of shade, presenting a challenge to garden manager Jen Pennington. Pennington has been transforming the bed to more perennials with an emphasis on native plants.
New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) and the golden flowers of the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) tower against the brick wall, providing drama and good color contrast. Other perennials adding a long season of interest are Geranium ‘Blushing Turtle’ and Chelone ‘Hot Lips’.
The garden also features annuals including snapdragons, Pentas ‘Bee Bright Pink’ and Scaveola ‘Sundiva Fashion Pink’ .
Next door, the Library Windows Garden, is almost in full shade so garden managers Jennifer Pfluger and Katie Crawford rely on interesting foliage plants to provide color and texture. As they continue to work on adding more perennials to the bed, salvias, hostas and ferns have been stalwarts for this garden, while interspersing them with varieties of coleus has provided reliable pops of color.
Pfluger noted that she and Crawford can never resist trying to add sun-loving flowering plants to their mostly shade garden, and true to form, this year's attempts were unsuccessful.
Over at Alex's Garden at the Post Office, garden manager Ron Ricchezza has the opposite issue with wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) that continues to be proliferate much to his chagrin. The garden, with beds flanking the entrance to the Post Office, is a mix of tropicals -- bananas and cannas fronted by snapdragons and multiple varieties of lantanas and hybrid begonias. What really stands out, however, are the mammoth sunflowers towering over the entranceway and steps leading to the building. Ricchezza says all the sunflowers are the result of reseeding, thankfully, as the seeds he planted didn't germinate. There is no more beautiful setting for a mailbox!

The pink of Chelone 'Hot Lips' and Geranium 'Blushing Turtle' provide a lovely contrast with the shades of green foliage in the Library Wall Garden.

Scarlet rosemallow boasts huge showy flowers.

Colocasia and begonias are always dependable tropicals.

Hyssop, bee balm and coneflowers create lovely shades of purple in the Pollinator Garden while providing weeks of nectar to bees and other pollinators.

Ferns, hosta and multiple varieties of coleus add interest to the mostly shaded Library Windows Garden.

Mexican sunflowers, lantanas, cardoons and scarlet rosemallows offer masses of color and textural interest in the Co-op Garden.

The fireworks blossoms of Nicotiana sylvestris add whimsy to the Co-op Garden.

A painted boxwood carcass next to the gold flowers of Heliopsis 'Ballerina' adds a surprising fun element to the Library Wall Garden.

Cannas and mammoth sunflowers command attention from Post Office customers.

Sedum, carex and miniature crape myrtle offer color, texture and durability to Centennial Park Garden.

The cheeriest place in the world to mail a letter!

Bluegrass in the Garden!
Visitors Flock to Hedgleigh Spring for Blooms and Rollickin' Roots Music

The Festers entertained Hedgleigh Garden visitors with some good-time bluegrass music.

One of the (many) perks of having Charles Cresson as a board member of the SHS are his twice-yearly invitations to visit his luscious two-acre Hedgleigh Spring Garden.
The garden is open to the public for self-guided tours of Charles's lifelong labor of love on a property that has been in his family for four generations.
This spring's event was held on June 11 and although the early spike in temperatures accelerated the bloom time of Hedgleigh's premier climbing roses, there were numerous other spring bloomers on show such as foxgloves, clematis, honeysuckle and several exotic Asian Jack-in-the pulpit species.
Adding an extra special touch to this year’s event was a performance by The Festers bluegrass band, made up of five friends from Delaware County who enjoy playing traditional good-time bluegrass music. The band’s repertoire included fiddle tunes, waltzes, gospel, originals and up-tempo, hard-driving bluegrass. And boy, did they draw a crowd.
While many visitors strolled the verdant grounds sipping their BYO beverages, others pulled up a seat to tap along to the rollicking tunes under a canopy of green. Turns out that nothing complements an historic garden like some bluegrass!

The bloom time of Hedgleigh's climbing roses was accelerated by a spike in early spring temperatures.

SHS Vice President Betty Robertshaw (right) and friend volunteer at the donation table.

The Festers drew a crowd happy to sing along and, in some cases, dance to some good-time music.

The charm of Hedgleigh's verdant paths.

An abundance of spring blooms take center stage in front of the curved white picket fence that Cresson’s grandfather constructed in 1954.

Second Chance Sale Features Great Prices on Container Plants

If you're running around to nurseries in search of new additions to your garden, we've got a great opportunity for you!
It's time to change over the seasonal plantings in the Ville containers, meaning the evergreens and perennials have to go -- but they still have plenty of life left.
The 2023 Second Chance Plant Sale takes place on May 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Swarthmore Farmers Market, and will feature evergreen shrub Juniper 'Hetzii Columnaris' as well as Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' and 'Flaviramea', commonly known as redtwig and yellowtwig dogwoods. All will be priced at $10 each.
The perennials included in the sale are Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ Coral Bells, along with varieties of sedum and hosta, and other species as available. All of the perennials will be sold for $2 each or 3 for $5.
Come see us on the Lafayette Avenue side of the Farmers Market. Volunteers will be present to answer any planting questions.

Build It and They Will Come...
Revamped Pollinator Garden Aims to Attract Monarchs

The finished product after hours of work from at least a dozen volunteers. The garden features about 200 native plants that sustain pollinators.

SHS board member Isabelle Tourbier (left) splits bamboo for the garden, helped by her daughter (far right).

SHS board President Betty Dowling does her part getting down and dirty with the rest of the volunteers.

That's a lot of pots!

New Pollinator Garden manager Ruba Ahmed (right) gets to work on her new project.

Last year, the SHS board decided the Pollinator Garden on Park Avenue was badly in need of a refresh. The garden was cleared in the fall and plans began for a new space with a cleaner design that still featured native plants and shrubs considered keystone plants for pollinators.
In terms of visibility, this stretch of land that separates the Swarthmore Borough Hall parking lot and the diagonal parking spaces along Park Avenue is arguably the most noticeable public garden in the Ville. The long, skinny bed -- 100 feet by six feet -- is passed by any resident walking along Park Avenue from the library and by all those parking their cars to do business in Borough Hall or visiting downtown shops.
It's any garden manager's dream -- except for when it's a nightmare.
Such a central spot in the downtown landscape means that lots of people (with lots of dogs) stroll by and deposit "gifts" in the garden. Little kids sometimes run out of the library and straight into the garden. Older kids and even adults use it as a shortcut to get to the Co-op or during events like the Farmers Market and gatherings at the adjacent amphitheater.
During discussions about rejuvenating the pollinator garden, the question often came up -- how do we protect our investment in the tender young plants while not creating any fencing eyesore? Board member Judy Penney came up with a genius solution -- split bamboo hoops. Lots of them!
And so it was that under chilly gray skies on May 2, a joyous crew of a dozen volunteers turned out to dig holes and install over 200 pollinator plants in a design plan created by board member Andrew Bunting, who serves as vice president of horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and new Pollinator Garden manager Ruba Ahmed.
Meanwhile, several volunteers worked hard splitting bamboo poles procured from residents who were more than happy to donate their nuisance grass. Others focused on bending the sheaves into hoops for the artistic garden protection system overseen by Penney.
Most importantly, the garden has been officially certified by Monarch Watch as a monarch waystation — the first in Swarthmore!
More than 100 starts of Asclepias tuberosa, a species of milkweed known as butterfly weed, were planted to serve as monarch host plants along with a variety of nectar plants such as Monarda, Echinacea, Asters, Agastache and Solidago that sustain both butterflies and bees. Other Asclepias (milkweed) varieties planted include speciosa, exaltata and verticillata.
The SHS hopes the garden will become a source of inspiration for others in the community to plant their own pollinator gardens or monarch waystations. Be sure to visit the garden on your trips to town and watch how it blossoms in the coming months!

Volunteer gardeners get a quick lesson from horticulturist Andrew Bunting on how to correctly remove the young plants from their nursery pots and place them in the prepared holes.

Board member Jennifer Pfluger (left) discusses weed control with Andrew Bunting (center) and garden manager Ruba Ahmed.

Horticulturist and SHS founder Charles Cresson passes on planting tips to a volunteer.

The SHS sponsored a virtual discussion with Monarch Watch founder Chip Taylor, who encourages communities to cooperate on creating habitats to help sustain the struggling Monarch butterfly.

A whimsical design with split bamboo aimed at both garden interest and protecting young plants from any interlopers.

Ruba Ahmed posts the sign indicating the Pollinator Garden's certification as a Monarch habitat. Now it's time to see if the Monarchs arrive!

Spring Has Sprung!
Ville Gardens Burst to Life All at Once in Symphony of Colors

Peering into the sunny faces of hundreds of tulips and daffodils in the War Memorial Garden.

And so it arrives -- that magical time of year when the thousands of sleepy bulbs planted deep in the soil back in November by gardeners bundled up against the chilly autumn air come to life, stretching for the sun and blooming en masse to delight us with their riot of colors.
And oh, the sweet fragrances wafting through the Ville from the potent perfumes of the daffodils and hyacinth!
Typically, spring blooms follow a natural order, with winter aconite, crocuses and snowdrops emerging from the thawing ground first, followed by hellebores in early March.
Yet this year, daffodils began blooming in some of the SHS gardens as early as February, along with tulips showing a robust amount of foliage. January 2023 was reportedly the Philadelphia area's warmest January in 91 years. Local horticulturists predicted spring flowers would bloom at least two weeks earlier if warming trends continued -- and they did.
The Prunus mume, Japanese flowering apricot tree, began unfurling its delicate pink blossoms in the Central Park Garden at the end of February, weeks earlier than is typical for that 'Dawn' cultivar. By mid-April, tulips in some garden beds were already starting to fade and plants that typically bloom in late spring and early summer are already blossoming in the 80-degree heat we hit by the second week of the month. To reference the title of a popular film right now, it's pretty much everything, everywhere, all at once in our gardens!

Prunus mume, Japanese flowering apricot, 'Dawn' shows off its delicate blossoms in late winter.

Golden peony tulips are a focal point in the Library Bed Garden.

Masses of hellebores and several varieties of daffodils make up the spring display at Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

Pulmonaria, commonly known as lungwort, feature a profusion of purple flowers on short stalks.

War Memorial Garden manager Andrew Bunting chose a warm color theme for this year's spring display.

Purple pulmonaria blooms contrast beautifully with several varieties of daffodils in the Library Wall Garden.

More than 300 tulips and daffodils adorn the Library Window Garden.

A gorgeous medley of deep purple and lavender blooms alongside lime green foliage brings the Lincoln Way Garden to life.

Miniature daffodils make a delicate display in the Library Bed Garden.

If you could visit any fabulous garden in the world, where would it be?
Over the last 35 years, horticulturist and SHS board member Andrew Bunting has travelled the globe in search of exquisite cultivated spaces.
The SHS has teamed up with the Park Avenue Community Center in Swarthmore to host a series of monthly garden lectures by Bunting, who also serves as Vice President of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
In addition to discussions about his visits to gardens around the world, Bunting has embarked on plant-finding expeditions to far-flung places throughout Asia, South America and Africa. He has accompanied botanists and other scientists on these treks in search of plants with important conservation status.
Join Andrew each month as he shares photos and stories of his adventures along the trail, searching for both fabulous examples of garden design and exotic plants to conserve and cherish.
The events are held at 7 p.m. at the Park Avenue Community (PAC) Center, 129 Park Ave., Swarthmore. Light refreshments are served. Tickets are $10 through advance registration or at the door. Registration is encouraged. To register: https://buff.ly/4084E1g

Noted naturalist author discusses magic & peril of bird migration

The importance of using native and pollinator plants in our landscapes to help sustain local insect and bird life has gained enormous attention in the past several years. But did you know that the populations of many migratory birds are also in steep decline?
Acclaimed author and naturalist Scott Weidensaul will give a virtual talk and Q&A on how research tracking the ways these species of birds travel shows there are ways we can help them at a local level — from ensuring green space in our communities to what type of coffee we drink daily.
Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including a Pulitzer Prize finalist. His 2021 book, A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds, was a New York Times bestseller.
The Zoom event is scheduled for Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m. and is a collaboration between the SHS, the Swarthmore Public Library, the Swarthmore Environmental Advisory Council and the Valley Forge Audubon Society to celebrate Swarthmore’s new designation as a Bird Town by the Pennsylvania Audubon Council.
Registration is required: https://delcolibraries.libcal.com/event/10292301
Registrants will receive a Zoom link several days before the March 9 event.
In anticipation of the presentation, the Swarthmore Public Library will hold a discussion of Weidensaul’s book on Wed., March 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of Swarthmore Borough Hall. Copies of A World on the Wing are available through the library or may be purchased, per Weidensaul’s recommendation, from https://bookshop.org.

Autumn brings mild temps, camellias and spring-bulb planting

Witch hazel "Jelena" and a "Rising Sun" redbud combine for an explosion of color and depth in the Lincoln Way Garden.

With warmer than usual temperatures, autumn arrived and brought it with lingering summer blooms under bright blue skies. Trees slowly, almost reluctantly, changed colors and some of the shrubs along the Lincoln Way and Centennial Park Gardens followed suit. But the vibrancy of colors lasted through the end of November in most gardens, with the six-foot goldenrods in the Pollinator Garden glowing golden well toward Thanksgiving.
Most gardener managers waited until November to begin turning over their gardens, planting ornamental cabbages and kale, with their cheerful autumn interest and sturdy habitat through the winter.
Andrew Bunting chose three red twig dogwood bushes interplanted with several Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' plants for the War Memorial Garden. The combination will be a wonderful nod to the holiday season in the coming months.
Right on the heels of cleaning out the tired summer annuals and planting new fall selections comes the chore of planting bulbs for the spring bloom time.

Julia Fries hard at work turning over the Co-op Garden for autumn color.

Vincent Van Crow takes up his usual seat watching the world go by at Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

Garden managers worked into December planting hundreds of tulips, narcissus, alliums and other spring-blooming beauties throughout many of the downtown gardens. It's always exciting to see what managers come up with for their spring bulb designs and nowhere was there a place to get better inspiration than the SHS Spring-Blooming Bulbs Sale. Held on Oct. 22 at the Swarthmore Farmers Market, the sale saw a record turnout of customers and was deemed a great success. All profits from this largest fundraising event go toward maintaining the beauty of our 13 public gardens -- so it's a win-win situation for all residents!
One of our other regular autumn events is typically an open garden tour of Charles Cresson's Hedgleigh Spring garden. This year, we opted for something a little different and focused on a tour of Camellias at Hedgleigh and the garden of Keith and Betty Robertshaw on Magill Road. Hedgleigh Spring, which features about 60 varieties of hardy camellias, had about 20 types of beautiful fall-blooming camellias on display, while the Robertshaws' garden featured about 15 blooming species. Dozens of visitors enjoyed the special focus on the queen of the winter flowers!

Ines Rodriguez prepares her garden for spring beauty at the SHS Spring-Blooming Bulbs sale.

A Black-Eyed Susan vine is a robust and sunny bloomer at the Co-op Garden.

One of the 15 species of fall-blooming camellias in the Robertshaws' garden.

Keith Robertshaw shows off his camellias.

Betty Dowling and Ron Ricchezza help plant hundreds of bulbs in the Lincoln Way Garden.

Orange canna lilies provide a beautiful contrast to the cobalt blue of the glass allium sculpture in the Clock Tower Garden.

The soft pink daisy-like petals of the chrysanthemum 'Hillside Sheffield Pink' provide an interesting alternative to ubiquitous mums.

It's a wrap!
Annual party closes 2022 with smiles, gardens and gratitude

(L-R) SHS President Jennifer Pennington, Thomas Hawkins and Carol Menke share a laugh.

The end-of-year party is always a fun event for the SHS. Board members spend months in advance planning it, scouting out an exquisite home garden in Swarthmore for the location and then working on the details of lining up volunteers and wining and dining much-valued attendees.
This year's party, held October 22, was made more special by the fact that we had to cancel 2021's event due to the Delta variant of Covid-19. So it was with genuine excitement that SHS board members, volunteer gardeners and supporters met in the lovely garden of Minnie and Roger Ullman, founding members of the SHS. As evening fell at the Ullmans' Harvard Avenue home, guests gathered under the lighted pergola on the terrace and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres, sweets and drinks while chatting with neighbors and fitting in some gardening talk! Many guests toured the Ullmans' garden which is traversed by Little Crum Creek and a quaint little footbridge.
Toward the end of the evening, outgoing Board President Jennifer Pennington stood up and thanked everyone for their generous support of the SHS and told them to stay tuned to see what's in store for 2023!

Kit and Jim McCambridge

Andrew Bunting and Margie Linn

(L-R) Bala Palecanda, Frederica Hammerstrom and Jacqui Ricchezza

(L-R) Julia Fries, Liam Fries and Judy Penney

Jennifer Pennington addresses SHS members and volunteers, thanking them for their support throughout the year.

Roger Ullman (left) talks gardens with Bala Palecanda and Liz Garnett.

Jennifer Pfluger and Matt Swindle

Jim McCambridge chats with (l-r) Swarthmore Borough Solicitor Bob Scott, Molly Scott and Council Member Scarlett McCahill.

Jennifer Pennington outlines new goals for the SHS in 2023.

(L-R) Tom Hals, Olin Otteson, Kay Rinko and Judy Penney

Bulb Sale offers fabulous variety of spring-blooming stunners

Jumbo Darwin hybrid Tulip 'Pink Impression' features enormous pink blooms.

Here it is, halfway into October and many of us are just now adjusting to the idea that it truly is autumn. For gardeners it's time to just let go -- to step back and let nature take it's course in our gardens. These are the days to be at peace with the haggard growth, browning foliage and leaf litter on our yards, for that is how we nurture the fragile ecosystem we all want to protect. And honestly, isn't it so very liberating?
So take a break, BUT before you do, allow yourself to think about what you might like your spring garden to look like. Maybe you'd like to plant some of those whimsical alliums? Or perhaps introduce an unusual variety of tulip or daffodil? How about some woodland plants that will naturalize easily in a partly shaded area of your garden?
Our spring-blooming bulbs sale is an extravaganza this year, with 17 varieties on offer -- our largest selection yet! Come down to the Swarthmore Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon. and see what we have available for your November planting.
This year's selections cover all colors of the rainbow and a variety of bloom times. And in keeping with SHS's continued mission of emphasizing pollinator-friendly flowers and shrubs, a majority of the varieties are attractive to bees and butterflies, and a few to hummingbirds. Almost all are deliciously fragrant!

Dichelostemma (Pink Surprise) is a unique beauty beloved by hummingbirds.

Unusual selections this year include Anemone De Caen 'Bicolor', a unique and rare anemone, and Dichelostemma (Pink Surprise) better known as the firecracker flower, which provides a feast for hummingbirds with its pendulous raspberry blooms.
Tulip lovers will be thrilled with the award-winning ‘Pink Impression’, one of Holland’s largest, most captivating tulips when planted en masse and 'Brisbane', a flamboyant selection that boasts peach and orange-colored frilled double flowers.
Back in our catalogue for 2022 are classics such as holiday favorite Narcissus 'Ziva,' or Paperwhite, and four types of ever-popular alliums, from stunning 'Mount Everest' to sparkler-like heirloom 'Schubertii'.
Finally, as a special bonus, there will be several types of unusual Narcissus bulbs available for sale that are grown at Hedgleigh Spring Garden, generously donated by Charles Cresson.
So be sure to stop by the SHS table on Oct. 22 while you're shopping at the Farmers Market and pick up some beauties for your spring garden!
For details on selections and prices, please click on the 2022 Spring-Blooming Bulbs Catalogue.

Ixia or African Corn Lily is a cheery, unusual plant for borders.

Hyacinthoides, better known as Spanish Bluebells, is a superb naturalizer in woodland gardens.

SHS Names 2023 Board Candidates

Officers Directors
President: Betty Dowling Archives: Susanna Morikawa
Vice President: Betty Robertshaw    Events: Catherine Camp and Isabelle Tourbier
Past President: Jennifer Pennington   Horticulture: Judy Penney, Charles Cresson, Andrew Bunting
Treasurer: Julie Vrooman Membership: Anne Papa
Recording Secretary: Jennifer Pfluger Plant Recorder for Horticulture: Julia Fries
Corresponding Secretary: Moira Hahn     Publicity: Corey Ullman
Volunteer Coordinators: Jacqui Ricchezza and Mary Hinds

Summer so sweet -- and hot!
Gardens thrive in sunshine but face late-summer drought conditions

Oh, summer sun. How we do adore you until, sometimes, you get a little too insistent.
SHS gardens flourished, awash with colors in the summer heat until we started getting a little too much of a good thing and hardly any of that other essential ingredient -- rain.
The average temperature for the Philadelphia area from June through Aug. 31 was 88 degrees, a record-setting summer for heat. And although June was fairly normal for rainfall, the spigot was turned off for July and August -- by the end of the month, state officials had even declared a drought watch.
For gardeners that meant the challenge of keeping their beds thriving through extra watering during months when it's already tough to find time and volunteers when everyone heads out of town.
Luckily for garden manager Katie Crawford, it was the perfect summer to have incorporated more perennials into the Library Wall Garden, which she said withstood the heat better than annuals planted in previous summers. And where she did use annuals, she stuck with workhorses such as euphorbias, salvias and coleus.
Salvias are always a top performer for many gardeners. In the Co-op Garden, which is particularly challenging because it's surrounded by pavement, managers Judy Penney and Julia Fries need selections that can tolerate excessive heat and sidewalk traffic. They found salvias, lantana and zinnias did the trick and filled in when the cardoons, a focal point suddenly started failing in the near-drought conditions.
An exciting new addition this summer was the lush lemongrass Penney decided to plant along the back of the border, adding great height and texture.

Fifteen-foot-tall 'Mammoth' sunflowers make a cheery and dramatic entryway to the Post Office in Alex's Garden.

A running color theme among the gardens this summer was blue and yellow in tribute to the people of Ukraine and the colors of their flag. In recognition of the theme, some gardeners added colored structural elements to their gardens. Andrew Bunting accented his yellow and blue theme in the War Memorial Garden with Ukrainian flags while in the Co-op Garden, Penney and Fries installed rebar they painted blue and then hung yellow and blue solar lanterns to add a touch of whimsy as a backdrop to the patio dining area.
In the Clock Tower Garden, Kim Scott and Karen Peichel installed a steel support they painted blue to host a flourishing bright yellow Black-Eyed Susan Vine, Thunbergia alata, 'Lemon A-Peel'. They also made good use of salvia as part of a blue and yellow design, planting both 'Victoria Blue' and 'Rockin' Blue Suede Shoes' to contrast with the vine and annual yellow Celosia. Interestingly, the orange canna lilies Scott and Peichel planted as a tall focal point to the garden were supposed to be all yellow. When only one of the plants bloomed yellow, they were disappointed but in hindsight, Scott said the orange made for a beautiful contrast. Here's to gardening "accidents!"
As in previous summers, gardeners were encouraged to plant sunflowers in their beds to highlight the need to help pollinators. The flowers also fit perfectly into this year's focus on Ukraine since the flower is the country's national flower. Nowhere did the sunflower show off more beautifully than Alex's Garden at the Post Office where manager Ron Ricchezza planted dozens of different varieties on the left side of the garden, creating perhaps the cheeriest location for a mailbox. The right side of the garden features 15-ft-tall 'Mammoth' sunflowers that self-seeded from last year.
Enjoy some photos of this year's summer bounty!

A mix of tropicals and annuals -- coleus, caladium, canna and purple fountain grass -- provide striking color at the front of Gateway Park Garden.

Come mail a letter just for the sunflower love!

A dark purple Vinca 'Tattoo Blueberry' and profuse yellow bloomers Melampodium filled out the Library Wall Garden beautifully.

A mix of banana plants, lemongrass, salvias, lantana and zinnias in the Co-op Garden flourished under near-drought conditions, while providing reliable pops of color all summer.

A voluptuous collection of coleus highlights the dramatic containers in Centennial Park.

Vines, both annual and perennial, add excellent color and "wildness" to the Co-op Garden bed.

Xanthsoma ‘Lime Zinger’ elephant ears are a striking structural element amid the salvias and lantana in the War Memorial Garden.

A mix of tropicals and annuals keeps the right side of Alex's Garden at the Post Office blooming reliably. But garden manager Ron Ricchezza is looking for a change to this bed next year. Stay tuned!

Striking foliage was the star in this year's Library Window Garden.

A striking mix of pollinator plants thrive in the hot summer sun at Central Park Garden.

Yellow canna, lantana and lime-colored sweet potato vine lend a citrusy color scheme to the Library Raised Garden.

Fleabane, in Central Park Garden, blooms in early summer and is a wonderful native plant for pollinators.

Pollinator Week Sees SHS Offer Backyard Eco-Audits with EAC

For those interested in making their backyards or outdoor spaces a haven for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators -- and really, that should be all of us! -- the SHS teamed up with the Swarthmore Environmental Advisory Council during National Pollinator Week June 20-26 to offer free Home Eco-Audits.
Volunteers from both organizations pair up with interested homeowners and walk around their properties helping them to identify invasive species, offer native plant recommendations to improve local biodiversity, and provide resources for further information.
The program has been a huge success with nearly 20 audits scheduled this summer. If you'd like to participate, stay tuned in 2023!

Board Enjoys Belvidere's Beauty for Final Meeting Before Break

There are many perks to being a board member of the Swarthmore Horticultural Society: You get to serve your community by creating beautiful spaces for all to enjoy. You get to work with interesting and talented people and you never stop learning about plants!
But the monthly board meetings -- typically held at Swarthmore Borough Hall in a small meeting room --- are pretty mundane affairs.
So when SHS Vice President Andrew Bunting offered up his gorgeous home garden, Belvidere, for our June 5 meeting, the last before summer break, we swiftly accepted!
Belvidere, featured this spring in The New York Times for Andrew's newly created front gravel garden, sits on a 1/3 acre with approximately 1,000 different plants.
The board sat in the back garden, surrounded by many of the tropicals that Andrew favors. Here are our members taking in the lush beauty while conducting business. How lucky were we!

Gardeners Get Down and Dirty with Spring Changeovers
Blue and Yellow Color Schemes Symbolize Solidarity with Ukraine

Kit Raven twists the foliage from faded tulips and tucks it away to make room for the red poppy display and other summer plantings in Centennial Park Garden.

No sooner have the last spring tulips dropped their petals and succumbed to yellowing foliage, it's time for garden managers to dig up the bulbs and replace them with late spring and summer plantings. Typically, gardeners aim to get their gardens changed over by May 31 but that can be a challenge depending on weather, product availability and, well, life!
This spring, quite a few gardeners found themselves planting into mid, even late-June but cooler evenings made that possible without any issues. Though most garden managers redo their beds each season with annual plants, some are leaning toward incorporating more perennials for ecological reasons.
This year's theme is blue and yellow in order to show solidarity with Ukraine. And expect to see an array of sunflowers in all the gardens come late summer as part of our ongoing efforts to plant pollinator-friendly selections as well as added support for Ukraine, which claims the sunflower as a symbol of peace.

Garden manager Mimi Nenno (right) gets help from a volunteer in remaking the Library Raised Bed Garden for summer.

Garden manager Ron Ricchezza contemplates his next move in Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

Volunteer Stephen Hinds spaces out several annual plants in Alex's Garden.

Andrew Bunting used a combination of elephant ear, lantana and salvia to create a blue-yellow scheme for the War Memorial Garden.

Julia Fries cleans up the Co-op Garden in preparation for new summer plantings.

The sun sets on the newly planted Gateway Park Garden.

One of the summer selections at Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

Charles Cresson gives maintenance tips to Gateway Park Garden's new manager Ruba Ahmed.

Second Chance Sale Features Great Prices on Ville Container Plants

Healthy evergreens like Thuja along with the ever-popular heuchera will be featured in the sale.

It’s time for the containers throughout the Ville to get their spring on but the evergreens they held throughout the winter still have plenty of life left – and they can be yours at a fantastic discount!
We're holding a Second Chance Plant Sale at the Swarthmore Farmers Market on Saturday, May 28, to sell off the evergreens and perennials that filled approximately 16 planters during fall and winter.
The shrubs include evergreens Thuja and Juniper as well as Cornus sericea 'Cardinal', commonly known as red osier dogwoods from the War Memorial Garden. All will be priced at $10 each. The perennials featured in the sale are Carex, Heuchera and Skimmia japonica, ranging in price from $2 to $8 each.
The sale will be held during market hours from 9 to noon and will be located on the Lafayette Avenue side of the market, across from the former Bryn Mawr Trust bank.

Red osier dogwoods are wonderful shrubs that provide great winter interest in the garden.

Spring Fling!
Early Bloomers, April Bulbs Burst Forth in Cascade of Colors

The War Memorial Garden aglow with a tulip mix straight from Keukenhof Castle Garden in the Netherlands.

The time of year we gardeners wait for with so much anticipation has arrived! The Ville is popping with color from the thousands of bulbs SHS garden managers planted in the fall. And the air is deliciously fragrant from the hyacinth and daffodils planted in so many of the beds.
A particular highlight this year is the War Memorial Garden, managed by Andrew Bunting. Andrew was looking to spice up this year's bulb display so he decided to enlist the help of famed bulb grower Jack de Vroomen, to come up with a mix. The voluptuous display of purple and orange fronting the memorial is the result. De Vroomen also selected a mix for the Gateway Garden that leans more toward a softer pastel design.
Spring arrives this year with a heavier dose of optimism than 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic was still dominating everyday life. Yet as life returns to normal, we are still reminded daily of the hardship faced by the people of Ukraine who are weathering a brutal assault by Russia. The SHS has asked garden managers to show support for the Ukrainian people by incorporating prominent shades of blues and yellows into their gardens. We are also excited to be participating in another show of solidarity -- planting seeds for sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine. The flowers have symbolized peace throughout Ukraine's history and countries worldwide have taken to planting them this summer in a global show of support.
Of course, sunflowers containing pollen also provide a wonderful source of nutrition for pollinators, particularly bees. This will be SHS's third summer encouraging residents to 'Bee-Friendly' and plant pollen-containing sunflowers to help boost struggling bee populations.
Look for exciting displays come summer!

Delicate pink blooms cover the gorgeous Eastern Redbud 'Rising Sun' in the Lincoln Way Garden.

More than 10 species of tulips adorn the Library Wall Garden.

The beautiful double tulip Foxtrot, which resemble peonies, are a focal point in the Raised Bed Garden.

Cardoons provide structural interest behind masses of red and yellow tulips and daffodils in the Co-op Garden.

Masses of unique daffodils greet customers at Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

Purple and orange dominate the color scheme in this year's War Memorial display.

Tulips selected by Jack de Vroomen begin to unfold in the Gateway Garden.

'Golden Spring' Aurea Winter Hazel awakens in the Library Wall Garden.

Camellia are a wonderful late-winter, early spring bloomer. Here is one in the Library Wall Garden.

The beautiful and unusual 'Flowering Quince' blossoming in early spring in Centennial Park Garden.

Let it snow!
SHS gardens radiant in winter's bounty

After a few false alarms, the snow finally arrived during the last week of January!
Buried under a deep freeze, perennials slumbered while the high-contrast winter light illuminated the snow and those shrubs and trees that provide beautiful interest in the garden this time of year.
From varieties of red-twig dogwoods to the evergreen leaves of magnolias and laurels, there are a number of selections that lend the garden lovely form and interest in the winter. Berry-laden trees and shrubs also provide important food and shelter to birds and other wildlife.
So who says winter is dreary? Bring on the icy beauty.

Red-twig dogwoods take the place of the overflowing tropical paradise that was the War Memorial Garden in summer and fall.

Vincent Van Crow soaks up the winter sun illuminating Alex's Garden at the Post Office. Vincent is the unofficial mascot of the SHS, created by clever garden manager Ron Ricchezza.

Sandra Webberking's "The Allium" brightens up the Clock Garden, even in winter.

The scarlet red berries of the Hawthorn tree in the Pollinator Garden are an important food source for many birds.

The copper red flowers of witch hazel 'Diane' bloom in midwinter in the Lincoln Way Garden.

The contrast between the fiery branches of 'Midwinter Fire' Bloodtwig dogwood and a skip laurel make a beautiful winter display in the Lincoln Way Garden.

Nandina, or heavenly bamboo, makes a festive accompaniment to nearby string lights in Centennial Park Garden.

Lingering warmth extends fall plant show
Gardeners enjoy added weeks to plant spring bulbs

The Co-op Garden welcomes shoppers with a colorful mix, including salvias, giant orange zinnias, cypress and black-eyed Susan vines, offset by whimsical paper lanterns and climbing arches.

A bee enjoys the late-season nutrition provided by glowing goldenrod in the Pollinator Garden.

Central Park is a study in purple courtesy of a variety of asters and beautyberry shrubs.

Coming on the heels of an extremely humid summer, fall arrived very warm and wet as temperatures through the middle of October averaged over 60 degrees, even hitting the mid-80s over a couple days. While lingering autumn heat can delay peak leaf peeping a week or two, it resulted in a magnificent lasting show in the Ville gardens. Bold orange zinnias (a theme color this year) in several gardens contrasted gorgeously for weeks with lush tropical foliage, while bees enjoyed a lingering final banquet on a variety of asters, goldenrod and fall-blooming phlox.
It wasn't until well into November that garden managers were forced to dig out their hardy bananas and other tropicals to overwinter in their home sheds, hopefully ready to be hauled out next season.
That's when the fall-changeover truly got underway with many gardeners going with the traditional seasonal display of ornamental cabbages and kale dotted around their beds. Then there was the matter of planting spring-blooming bulbs. With unusually warmer days extending even into December, a few gardeners were able to take advantage of a later start time. By the end of the month, every bed had been prepped for spring, as gardeners dug deep to plant hundreds of tulips, daffodils, alliums and other spring beauties. As always, we eagerly await the spring performance!

The 'Elegant Feather' or sneezeweed plants anchoring the Raised Bed Garden grew robustly well into late fall alongside a hardy banana.

SHS President Jennifer Pennington overhauls the Library Wall Garden with the eager help of her son, Colin Foster.

Goldenrod and asters in the Pollinator Garden are all abuzz with bees well into late fall.

SHS volunteers are the best volunteers!

Kit Raven and Pam Bartholomew planted about 160 spring bulbs -- a mix of tulips, alliums and hyacinth -- in Centennial Park Garden.

At the War Memorial Garden, Bala Palecanda plants two tulip bulb mixes grown at the legendary Keukenhof Castle Gardens outside of Amsterdam, the site of the internationally renowned tulip festival.

Jennifer Pfluger and Katie Crawford also are planning a tulip extravaganza in the Library Window Garden, planting 200 bulbs in 10 different varieties.

The Container Garden is always doing some thrilling and spilling.

Kim Scott cleans up the Clock Tower Garden amidst fall turnover.

Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain', commonly known as lungwort, grows vigorously in the Library Wall Garden.

Horticulture Committee Co-Chair Charles Cresson, doing double duty as a member of the Swarthmore Street Tree Committee, gives a free tree-pruning workshop to residents.

SHS Names 2022 Board Candidates

*New candidates or board members with renewed terms in red

Officers Directors
Interim President: Jennifer Pennington Archives: Susanna Morikawa
Vice President: Andrew Bunting Events: Catherine Camp and Isabelle Tourbier
Interim Immediate Past President: Jennifer Pfluger Horticulture: Judy Penney, Charles Cresson, Andrew Bunting
Treasurer: Julie Vrooman Plant Recorder for Horticulture: Julia Fries
Recording Secretary: Betty Robertshaw Membership: Anne Papa
Corresponding Secretary: Betty Dowling Publicity: Corey Ullman
Volunteer Coordinator: Jacqui Ricchezza

(Back row, L to R): Betty Dowling, Judy Penney, Julia Fries, Julie Vrooman, Andrew Bunting, Catherine Camp, Jacqui Ricchezza, Jennifer Pennington, Isabelle Tourbier. (Kneeling, front row, L to R): Anne Papa, Corey Ullman, Charles Cresson. (Missing): Betty Robertshaw, Jennifer Pfluger, Susanna Morikawa

Bulb sale offers best of spring beauties
(And introducing a few lesser known fall bloomers, too!)

Tulip 'Kingsblood', an award-winning tulip variety from the 1950s, is a striking sight in late spring.

Fall has arrived and we are feeling very ready to enjoy some fresh, crisp air after oh, so many summer days feeling like a wet rag in the extreme humidity.
BUT, before you go and enjoy the changing leaves and pumpkin spice everything...jump ahead a couple seasons and give a thought to what your spring garden is going to look like.
November is the time to get those spring-blooming bulbs planted and the SHS has an exceptional selection for sale at our annual Bulb Sale on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Swarthmore Farmers Market.
Among the 16 spring bloomers for sale will be classics such as one of the finest 20th century scarlet tulips -- the late-spring blooming Tulip 'Kingsblood,' and several Allium varieties that include 'Rosy Dream,' one of the smaller, more compact alliums getting lots of attention these days. Their dainty blooms last for weeks!

Allium 'Rosy Dream' is one of the exciting new diminutive varieties popular for their compact habit and long-lasting blooms.

Back in our catalogue this year is the ever-popular holiday favorite
Narcissus 'Ziva,' or Paperwhite, the number one bulb for indoor forcing so it releases its sweet, musky perfume in time for holiday festivities.
This year, we also thought we'd put a special twist on the sale by offering several fall-blooming bulbs to provide some end-of-season magic to your outdoor space.
These bulbs arrived in mid-September and have been potted up to bloom according to their usual schedule. (We will do our best to encourage their best blooms on October 16!)
Some of these varieties include the only double-flowering hybrid Colchicum, ‘Water Lily’, which features large pink flowers, and Sternbergia Lutea, commonly called autumn daffodil, an heirloom bulb that resembles a giant crocus with bright yellow vase-shaped flowers. Bonus -- this rare September bloomer comes straight from Charles Cresson’s Hedgleigh Spring garden!
If you'd like to check out these fall bulbs in bloom, you can find 'Water Lily', Sternbergia and Crocus 'Conqueror' in the Centennial Garden. The Library Wall and Central Park Gardens also feature other varieties of Colcichum -- all are labeled.
Lastly, in keeping with our mission to encourage the planting of pollinator-friendly flowers and shrubs, the majority of selections in our sale are attractive to bees and butterflies.
So be sure to stop by the SHS table on Oct. 16 while you're shopping at the Farmers Market and pick up some beauties for your spring garden.
For details on selections and prices, please see the SHS 2021 Spring-Blooming Bulbs Catalogue.

Hyacinthus 'Gipsy Queen' is a coral-colored heirloom that is intensely fragrant.

Sternbergia Lutea, or autumn daffodil, is a rare September-blooming bulb.

Ville gardens awash in summer colors
Relentless humidity brings rewards, challenges but always beauty

Canna and colocasia combine with coleus and sweet potato vines for a bountiful display in the tropical War Memorial Garden.

Summertime and the living is easy...well, a little easier.
Folks have been anxious to regain their lives from the before (Covid) times and many did that by taking off for vacation as soon as they could hightail it out of town.
Unfortunately, the recent surge in the Delta variant of the coronavirus has brought with it new infection fears and continued disruptions to supply chains.
Plant nurseries are experiencing continued record-high interest from consumers but many are stymied by a lack of inventory caused by supply and labor issues.
And then, let's talk weather. M-U-G-G-Y is the catchword of summer 2021. Our Mid-Atlantic region is always humid this time of year but meteorologists say THIS summer in the Philadelphia area is turning out to be the stickiest since 1995.
What does all that mean for our heroic garden managers? A mixed bag of issues.
Some gardeners had trouble sourcing plants or got a late start on their spring changeovers, not fully getting plants into the ground until late June. Those whose gardens have soaker hoses installed had an advantage during the weeks where not a drop of rain fell and temperatures soared. But overall, with rainfall being well above normal and temperatures so high, there has been a steam-bath effect on gardens. For Andrew Bunting, who is in his first year of managing the War Memorial Garden, the weather has had a steroid effect on his tropicals-centered design. In two short months, the canna and colocasia have exploded and the varieties of coleus and sweet potato vine are spilling onto the sidewalks surrounding the memorial.
Other gardeners noticed, however, that their selections didn't seem to be thriving quite as well as they had hoped during the weather extremes.
Kim Scott, who manages the Clock Tower Garden along with Karen Peichel, was disappointed, in particular, with the lackluster growth of the nicotiana she planted. Yet the new garden art they've installed in the space with artist Sandra Webberking's six-foot tall Allium made of metal and recycled brilliant blue glass bottles undoubtedly makes up for any lost color.
Other garden highlights this season were Mimi Nenno's selection of a couple unusual sneezeweed plants, officially known as Eupatorium Capillifolium 'Elegant Feather', to the Raised Bed Garden outside the library, now reaching a height of close to seven feet. The native plants are not widely known and with their feathery foliage, resemble wispy Christmas trees.
Also outside the library this summer, you may have noticed an enclosed stand of giant sunflowers. That was the brainchild of Horticultural Co-Chair Judy Penney, who designed the "Sunflower House" with the help of Kim Scott. The library held storytimes for children within the towering flowers and the fort continues to provide a place to hide for many an energetic preschooler.
Here are some photos of this summer's sweat equity!

Black-eyed Susans and catmint take center stage in front of a wine-colored crape myrtle in the Lincoln Way Garden.

Mimi Nenno (far right) gets her hands dirty during Spring Changeover of her Raised Bed Garden.

The tropical foliage in the War Memorial Garden glows under the setting sun.

Even more tropical artistry in this summer's Container Garden, courtesy of manager Dotty Lee.

Sharon Mester (left) and Grace Asperin are the magic gardening duo behind the expansive Lincoln Way Garden across from the Co-op.

The delicate and unusual 'Elegant Feather' sneezeweed in the Raised Bed Garden.

Artist Sandra Webberking with her garden installation "The Allium", in homage to the SHS's trademark logo.

Sunlight glows through the foliage of the Sunflower House bounded by split bamboo fencing.

Artist Dan Dennison's garden installation provides an interesting focal point in front of crape myrtles and alongside a variety of shrubs and perennials, including black-eyed Susans and sedums in Central Park Garden. Dennison's work can be found at local shop Gallery on Park.

Varieties of coleus, ferns, hostas, begonias and Hakone grass offer a serene landscape in the sun-dappled Library Window Garden.

Manager Ron Ricchezza hard at work on a steaming hot day in Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

The lush plantings under the Bradford pear tree in Alex's Garden were punctuated by a couple volunteer mammoth sunflowers.

The silver spotted foliage of Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain', commonly known as lungwort, is thriving in the Library Wall Garden along with other perennials such as Geranium 'Blushing Turtle'.

Fleabane, a pollinator magnet, lends a delicate air in early summer to Central Park Garden.

The elusive garden manager Dave Augustine captured on photo working on Spring Changeover in the Gateway Park Garden.

The bold reds and greens of tropicals mingle with prolific hydrangea and salvia in the Gateway Park Garden.

The scarlet cardinal climber with its fernlike foliage twines along the Co-op railing along with a vining black-eyed Susan in the Co-op Garden.

Stands of bold blue salvia contrast with orange zinnia and black-eyed Susan vine in the Co-op Garden.

June blooms brilliantly at Hedgleigh Spring

As life slowly crept back toward some semblance of normalcy, SHS board members decided to move forward with the annual June open house of Charles Cresson's renowned Hedgleigh Spring garden. With many people having received their Covid vaccines, turnout was robust. The weather cooperated and visitors were treated to a glowing late-spring evening perfectly illuminating the sumptuous two-acre feast for the senses. As always, thank you Charles!

The Trellis Bed features a variety of climbing roses, foxgloves, larkspur and coralbells.

The Pond Garden, with displays of white Japanese anemone and variegated water Iris, offers visitors a serene space.

Charles Cresson and friend Olin Otteson enjoy a few laughs.

The old-fashioned climbing Noisette rose 'Celine Forestier', a difficult rose to grow, flourishes against the garage wall.

Astilbe 'Deutschland'

The ceramic green urn serves as a focal point for the Flower Garden. The paved area around it provides Cresson the opportunity to grow non-hardy sunlovers such as Mediterranean euphorbias and rosemary, along with variegated yuccas.

The right curved bed in the Flower Garden is planted with (left) Mullein Pink, old-fashioned Coral Bells (center) and catchfly.

Ville Gardens Spring to Life
More Than Ever, This Year's Blooms Open to Renewed Hope

The War Memorial Garden is planted with Dutch Grown's tulip Mistress Collection and the Wedding Gift Collection, offset by the golden flowers of ornamental cabbage.

It has now been more than a year since the country shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic -- and we are still not out of the woods. Yet the situation has taken a dramatic turn for the better as an increasing number of citizens receive one of three available vaccines, and children 12 and older are poised to get protection as well.
There has been an incalculable amount of loss over the past 14 months. Even those who have not experienced the direct loss of a loved one to Covid are often still suffering from job losses, stress and isolation. Those with families take on the extra burden of schoolchildren whose lives have been upended, triggering their own anxiety and withdrawal. Depression has reportedly tripled in adults since the pandemic began.
And yet there is so much good that has arisen out of the awfulness of the past year: Neighbors reaching out to help each other with errands and fund-raising; parents forming impromptu playgroups and summer "camps" for each other's children; and people inventing creative ways to connect with family and friends whom they could not hug, touch or laugh with in person.

A cardoon embraces a variety of tulips, hyacinths and pansies in the Co-op Garden.

Most pronounced has been the slowing down of frenetic lives. With nowhere to go and nowhere to be, many people have turned to nature as an escape. Hiking, fishing and bird-watching have all seen massive increases in popularity. Gardening, in particular, is booming with seed companies and nurseries reporting off-the-charts sales.
To those of us who have been gardening for years, it is no surprise that many newcomers find solace and satisfaction in digging into the black dirt or excitement as the first flower and vegetable seedlings break through the earth.
SHS gardeners planted this year's tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other spring-blooming bulbs back in the fall when life still seemed quite uncertain. And yet they designed each of the gardens with intention -- to color, balance, beauty and hope.
Spring has always represented the joy of new life and the cleansing that renewal brings. This year, like no other, we hope everyone who takes the time to stroll through Swarthmore's public gardens enjoys not only their beauty but the peace and hope they offer in the name of friendship and community.

The flowers of the majestic hellebore present a colorful and elegant display every spring in the Centennial Garden and offer structure all the way through fall.

About 300 bulbs were planted for the annual tulip display in the Library Windows Garden.

Irises form a purple wall in the Central Park Garden.

Miniature daffodils mix with tulips, hyacinth and flowering kale in the Library Bed Garden.

Golden Groundsel, a native plant that is easy to grow and naturalizes readily, in Central Park.

Tulip 'Flaming Parrot' shows off in the Co-op Garden.

Widely loved allium make their annual May appearance in the Clock Plaza garden.

The Containers in Central Park blooming with pansies and a variety of annuals.

Gateway Park offers motorists a striking display of color -- if only for 30 seconds.

An elegant mix of tulips in Central Park.

Hellebores, daffodils and hybrid tulips offer a varied multicolored display in the Lincoln Way Garden.

Yellow and white tulip mix in the Library Bed garden.

Oh, hello! Melting snow makes way for the earliest spring risers

Snowdrops, one of spring's earliest bloomers, dangle daintily in the Post Office garden.

You could argue that after the extremely gentle winter of 2019-20, we were due for a challenge in 2021. In February, we got it. Four separate snowstorms rolled into our area, one after another, bringing layers of snow and ice and hampering life's daily routines which were already shattered by the pandemic.
Still, there is beauty in the winter landscape -- the evergreens flocked with snow, the reds and golds of sturdy dogwood and willow branches, and holly berries that look like small rubies, glistening with ice in the winter sun.
Just as we are about to enter March, however, it appears that spring may truly be in our sights. Forecasts are calling for warmer days in the weeks ahead. Barring a surprise March snowstorm, it may be time to start thinking about spring garden chores and ordering those seeds! In the meantime, the early spring-blooming bulbs are already pushing their way out of the mud, leaves and lingering ice, ready to welcome the warm light of spring. Likely for all of us, it can't come soon enough.

An allium wakes from its winter slumber a little too early alongside a white ornamental cabbage.

Hellebores bring early cheer to Centennial Park.

Daffodil foliage emerges from the snow.

Ruby-tipped shoots push out of the fall debris in the Clock Tower garden.

A worker plants hundreds of spring bulbs in the War Memorial garden in November.

February snows blanket the War Memorial garden and the slumbering bulbs, shown in the image at left, far below.

The hydrangeas in Alex's Garden at the Post Office showing off their new buds.

Jennifer Pfluger (left) and Roberta Riccio plant bulbs for a white and yellow tulip mix in the Library Windows Garden in November.

Preschool Art Lends a Touch of Whimsy to Fall Gardens

Colorful totems made from painted plastic caps mounted on bamboo poles in the Borough Hall Raised Bed Garden.

Amidst the purples and greens of asters and ornamental kale and cabbages brightening downtown's fall gardens, a little extra pop of color has sprung forth. But the source doesn't come with fancy Latin names or tropical origins.
Rather, it owes its origins to plastic cups and cutlery, bottlecaps and milk jugs.
The brightly painted recycled artworks are courtesy of the young students at Swarthmore Friends Nursery School.
Kim Scott, manager of the Clock Tower Garden, is also an art teacher at Swarthmore Friends. This fall, she introduced her students to folk art created by using materials already found at home or in nature. They assembled objects inspired by scarecrows, topiary, totems and other constructions that caught their fancy.
Scott thought it would be a great idea to install their finished work in some of the SHS's downtown gardens and the board agreed.

Scarecrow families stand sentry in the Lincoln Way Garden.

Four gardens were selected to host the work and the children got to work finalizing their creations for display.
Milk jugs were hoisted atop painted bamboo poles to resemble heads and bodies, and mobiles were created out of twigs, ribbons and pipe cleaners.
Scott, along with the SHS board saw the artwork as a chance to bring a smile to residents' faces during the dark days of the pandemic. She also knew that her students and their parents would be excited to go downtown and see their creative output.
The creations can be seen at the Co-op Garden, across the way at the Lincoln Way Garden, the Borough Hall Raised Bed Garden and Scott's own Clock Tower Garden.
They are expected to remain in place throughout the winter.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood for Wesley AME Church

SHS Celebrates First Outreach Partnership with Garden Community Work Party

Several dozen community members turned out to improve and beautify the grounds of Wesley AME Church.

On a crystal clear November 7 morning, with the sun already casting a dramatic spotlight on the gold and red leaves of the autumn trees, a band of volunteers descended upon Wesley AME Church and immediately got to work disrupting the hushed stillness of Swarthmore’s Bowdoin Avenue.
Backed by the sound of a buzzing chainsaw, about 50 people, including a dozen children and teens, grabbed hacksaws, clippers, rakes and shovels in their garden-gloved hands and began clearing the land around the century-old stone church.
It was all part of the Garden Community Work Party hosted jointly by SHS and Wesley AME church members, aimed at improving and beautifying church grounds.
The Wesley AME church, situated in a modest A-framed stone building nestled amid its residential neighbors in the Historically Black Neighborhood of Swarthmore, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2021.

The church's backyard space was doubled after volunteers took a chainsaw to fallen trees and overgrown thickets and removed years-old debris accumulated from castoff machinery and metal pipes.

Last year, church leaders learned the building’s foundation is crumbling due to drainage difficulties in the surrounding landscape. Efforts to raise funds for the pricey repairs have been stymied by the onslaught of the Covid virus and the resulting inability to hold fundraising events or even collect weekly donations from congregants.
The Church has been unable to hold its music-filled services during the pandemic and the building has sat silent for months. When SHS members learned of the church’s landscape dilemma, they agreed it might fit perfectly with the SHS’s recent strategic planning discussions about doing outreach beyond the 13 public gardens it oversees in downtown Swarthmore.
They reached out to Kim Durnell, a Wesley AME Church leader and Pastor Cathy Brownlee, whose response was enthusiastic. The two groups quickly collaborated on plans for a community work party and the SHS arranged a plan of action, organizing work groups to attack issues on each side of the building, with particular attention focused on clearing weeds, leaves and in some cases, rerouting downspouts to improve drainage away from the building. But most of the heavy duty work was done in the church’s backyard where a huge fallen tree had cut off access to half of the land and was covered in brambles, vines and waist-high weeds.

Church volunteers clean out the building's window wells littered with leaves while a drainage pipe is readied to be rerouted.

SHS board member Jennifer Pfluger, left, discusses cleanup efforts with a volunteer.

With sweat and dirt streaking their faces, a dozen men and women wielded loppers, a saw and chainsaw to clear the area as about 50 yard waste bags full of ripped up ivy vines and thorny thickets were carted out to the front curb to be hauled off.

Volunteers unearthed large pieces of metal debris from old machinery discarded in the church's backyard. This piece received a second life as an art installation in a neighbor's garden.

Then came another heavy bounty -- workers found old metal pipes, rusted out industrial pieces and mounds of bricks and stones from old concrete waste dumped in the far reaches of the yard. Wheelbarrows full of the heavy junk were wheeled out to the curb, forming piles weighing hundreds of pounds.
The cleared space in the back nearly doubled the church’s accessible land.
In front of the building, church members and volunteers updated garden beds to provide more colorful blooms throughout the year, with a color scheme of purple, white, green and yellow as a nod to the symbolic significance those shades hold for Wesley AME.
Early spring-blooming crocus, daffodils, phlox and lungwort, along with summer daylilies and spiderwort, fall toad lily and hosta were provided mostly through donations.

Colin Foster, the 12-year-old son of SHS President Jen Pennington, wrestles a garden debris bag to the curb.

In the end, the work party was a great start to what SHS and Wesley AME organizers hope will be a long and lasting relationship.
“Today was amazing,” Durnell said. “I can see room for community space now and maybe a vegetable garden. “It was a reflection of what America should be and what a community is.”

A dozen children helped out alongside their parents to dig, weed and plant on the beautiful fall morning. Here, Isabelle Tourbier is joined by her kids Oliver and Ella Gwinn.

The party's over -- just a portion of what was unearthed from the property of Wesley AME. Now that the land has been cleared of debris, the partnership can move ahead with beautifying the space.

*Almost all photos provided courtesy of Andy Shelter

SHS Names 2021 Board Candidates

President: Jennifer Pennington Publicity Chair: Corey Ullman
Vice-President: Andrew Bunting Horticulture Co-chairs: Charles Cresson/Judy Penney/Andrew Bunting
Past President: Jennifer Pfluger Archives Chair: Kate Dickey
Treasurer: Julie Vrooman Volunteer Coordinator: Jacqui Ricchezza
Recording Secretary: Betty Robertshaw Events Co-chairs: Trish Sheff and Catherine Camp
Corresponding Secretary: Betty Dowling Centennial Foundation Representative: Margie Baker
Membership Chair: Anne Papa

Gardens Aglow in Autumn Sunshine

It took only a few months for the newly replanted Gateway Garden to grow lush with a combination of tropicals, hydrangeas, salvias and sweet potato vines.

Leaf peeping is always the star of the autumn stage as the vermillion and gold colors of maples, beeches, gingkos and blackgum trees offer dazzling displays through late November.
But woody plants and fall-blooming perennials are arguably as beautiful as many summer bloomers. With warmer temperatures lasting longer into late fall, these plants thrive and produce gorgeous colors.
While 2020 has been a notoriously difficult year for everyone, the mild weather did produce a spectacular year for gardens.
Here is a snapshot of some of the beautiful handiwork of SHS gardeners who plant with an eye for all-season interest in their gardens.

Vincent Van Crow makes his annual appearance in Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

Bees flock to late-blooming sunflowers and asters for a final feast in the Park Avenue Pollinator Garden before cold temperatures set in.

Abutilon 'Biltmore Ballgown', a flowering maple cultivar, is a unique standout in Alex's Garden at the Post Office. It is an heirloom from the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.

Not just one but three Blue Agave stretch toward the sun in the War Memorial garden.

Salvia 'Rhythm and Blues' and Lantana Camara 'Luscious Lemonade' envelop a hibiscus in the Clock Tower Plaza Garden.

The brilliant red maple leaves littering the Container Garden add an extra festive touch to the autumn display.

The deep blue shade of salvia provides a colorful contrast to the tropical lime foliage and white daisies in the Co-op Garden.

Spectacular SHS Saturday with Bulb Sale & Garden Tours de Force!

Kim Durnell, Jennifer Pennington, Carolyn Hayden and Rev. Cathy Brownlee teamed up for a successful spring-blooming bulb sale and fundraiser.

The SHS decided to go all in on Oct. 10 and hold not one but two of our biggest events, both of which saw a fantastic turnout even with the challenge of Covid safety precautions.
The spring-blooming bulbs sale that was held in front of Harvey Oak Mercantile (H.O.M.) sold out in less than two hours. Unfortunately, there was an 11th hour crisis as bulb chair Carolyn Hayden learned that Dutch Grown, our supplier for the event, did not have the shipment of allium bulbs she had ordered. With chagrin, Carolyn and SHS President Jennifer Pennington explained the predicament to buyers, who issued nary a complaint but placed orders for the allium bulbs that will be packed and delivered to their homes. The remaining eight varieties of bulbs on hand at the table were snapped up quickly.
Also attending the sale were Wesley AME Rev. Cathy Brownlee and Kim Durnell to talk to buyers about the church in Swarthmore's Historically Black Neighborhood that is about to celebrate its centenary. Wesley AME Church leaders are raising funds to help pay for work on the building's deteriorating foundation, and the SHS has partnered with Wesley to improve and beautify its grounds. Generous bulb buyers donated more than $300 to the church for its efforts.

Belvidere, the home of Andrew Bunting, on Vassar Avenue.

Like the organizers of so many events during these challenging days, SHS event chairs Trish Sheff and Catherine Camp had to figure out how to hold the 2020 membership party in a safe and socially distanced manner. Thankfully, gardens easily lend themselves to appropriate gathering spaces during the pandemic as long as it is done responsibly. Both SHS Vice President Andrew Bunting and horticulture chair Charles Cresson decided to offer their exquisite gardens for a Garden Day celebration, allowing SHS members to gather and enjoy a stroll and a BYOB glass of wine. Members were able to sign up online for hourlong slots to tour each garden, enabling organizers to ensure a safe number of people present at each location. More than 50 members took tours of both Belvidere, Bunting's garden, and Hedgleigh Spring, Cresson's garden, on Amherst Avenue.

A bluestone patio runs behind the house, featuring numerous ornamental planters.

Many SHS members are familiar with Cresson's Hedgleigh Spring but not many have explored Belvidere, Bunting's garden.
His house, built in 1950, sits on a 1/3 acre property with approximately 1,000 different plants. The front of the house is a gravel garden which uses water-wise plantings. Unusual shrubs
and vines are planted around the foundation.
In the backyard, a large bluestone patio runs the length of the back of the house and is a showcase for numerous ornamental containers. In 2006, Bunting converted a detached stone garage into a summer house. The front entrance to
the summer house opens into a Mediterranean-like garden, while the side entrance leads the visitor to a patio featuring tropicals. Moving around to the right, there is a large tropical garden planted with red Abyssinian bananas, bromeliads and cannas during the summer.

Visitors to Belvidere stand in the central part of the backyard surrounded by a perennial border and woodland garden.

Even the statuary played it safe in the tropical garden.

Opposing this garden is a long perennial border backed by a hedge of Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’.
The back of the property is a densely planted woodland garden with a stone pond; a utilitarian area with compost bins and a potager that alternates yearly between vegetables and cutflowers.

A door from Belvidere opens into the neighboring yard, where Bunting (right) has created a suburban farm.

In 2012, Bunting began a joint project with his neighbors, taking over the rear of their property to create the Vassar Farm, a 40’ x 100’ suburban farm that he designed, built and maintains.
The farm produces close to a dozen vegetable crops, including fall crops of lettuces, kale and bok choy, all of which were on display to visitors during Garden Day.
Bunting also has nine hens that produce up to five dozen eggs at
the height of summer.
By late November, the farm's four persimmon trees, variety Diospyros kaki ‘Saijo’, will ripen. In 2019, they produced a bumper crop of 750 persimmons per tree for a whopping total of 3,000 persimmons!

The fall colors in Cresson's garden rival many spring displays.

SHS members tour Hedgleigh Spring, marvelling over the dahlia colors.

At Hedgleigh Spring, the 140-year-old property owned by Charles Cresson, autumn rivals the summer blooms in his garden. During the Garden Day celebration, visitors were greeted by a surprising array of fall colors, a time when roses produce some of their finest blossoms. Late-blooming perennials included helenium, asters, phlox, toad lilies, perennial sunflowers and goldenrod.
Some of the most striking displays were put on by various dahlias, as well as an array of salvias and bold cannas.
Fall-blooming bulbs included lavender blue crocus, pink colchicum and yellow sternbergia.

Charles Cresson and Jennifer Pennington discuss the bountiful number of fall bloomers at Hedgleigh Spring.

Several varieties of salvia brighten up Hedgleigh's perennial borders.

Bulb Sale Offers Spring-Blooming Beauties to Welcome 2021

Allium 'Mount Everest' is a stunning snow-white beauty that blooms in late spring and makes a strong visual impact in the garden.

The air is getting a little brisker, the days a little shorter, but never mind the pumpkin latte -- it's time for spring bulb planting!
The SHS will be holding its annual spring-blooming bulbs sale on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon outside Harvey Oak Mercantile (H.O.M.) in the 100 block of Park Ave. in downtown Swarthmore.
Safety measures will be in place this year in recognition of the Covid-19 risk. Tables of bulbs will be positioned on the sidewalk in front of the store and volunteers will ensure shoppers maintain a safe distance. Masks are required.
This year's 11 selections offer a wide variety of color and bloom time, and many attract butterflies and bees as part of SHS's continued mission of encouraging everyone to plant pollinator-friendly flowers and shrubs.
Varieties range from the exclusive double-flowered Tulip 'Giant Peach', new for 2020, to the spectacular Allium 'Summer Drummer', one of the tallest of all allium and a bee magnet.
There also will be an opportunity to donate to our new partner, the Wesley AME Church in Swarthmore.
The church, located on Bowdoin Avenue in Swarthmore's Historically Black Neighborhood, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2021 and is raising funds for much-needed work on
its deteriorating foundation. The SHS will be helping church leaders with landscape improvements -- any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated.
So please be sure to stop downtown on Oct. 10 and see what beauties we have on offer! For details on selections and prices, please see the SHS 2020 Spring Bulbs Catalogue.

The scarlet-pink Anemone de Caen 'Sylphide' is a prolific poppy-like flower that is beloved by butterflies.

Tulip Giant Peach is making its debut in 2020 and is exclusive to our local supplier. It boasts double flowers in a soft peach shade.

The Challenge of the 40 mph Garden

New Gateway Park garden manager takes over maligned entryway with energy, vision

Dave Augustine, the new Gateway manager, calls it a 40 mph garden but still hopes people can enjoy his visions for it.

Gateway Park, the triangular patch of land situated at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Route 320, has for almost two decades served as a striking entryway to Swarthmore with its towering evergreens and drifts of ornamental grasses stretching above brightly colored bulbs and perennials.
But in the last couple years, the flowers have been slowly strangled by weeds and overgrown thistle, which have also obscured the “Welcome to Swarthmore” stone marker, darkened at night due to a broken floodlight.
Finding a volunteer garden manager willing to oversee the park has been a challenge, mainly because of its location and the physical work it requires. But now it appears, the right gardener for the job has come along.
Dave Augustine, best known for his annual holiday light extravaganza in his yard on Park Avenue, agreed to take over planting for Gateway after being doggedly pursued for the job by SHS board member Judy Penney for more than a year. Penney had walked through Augustine’s garden -- where in the summer, a koi pond, shrubs and flowers take the place of thousands of holiday lights -- and was struck by his enthusiasm. Augustine, who said he hated seeing the sad state of the garden space, jumped right in and spent almost two weeks during his off hours in late June pulling up weeds, thistles, dried-out bulb foliage and trash, filling almost an entire borough dump truck. And although the heart of the summer heat isn’t the best time to plant, Augustine was determined to beautify the space immediately. He and and SHS vice president Andrew Bunting drew up a plant list, with an emphasis on Augustine’s favorite shrubs, Purple Leaf Sand Cherry and Red Twig Dogwood, and sent off an order for nearly 200 plants. In the meantime, they hired a plumber to fix the water hydrant in one of the garden beds that has been broken for the past year.
Then on a sweltering Sunday afternoon last week, Augustine and several SHS board members and other volunteers met up at Gateway to plant more than 200 selections, most of them annuals such as bananas, cannas and salvia, to create a purple, blue and orange colorscape.
And the best part? Augustine is an electrician. So that “Welcome to Swarthmore” sign is lit once again.

Board members and other volunteers help dig in about 200 plants into the garden.

A garden facelift this large requires all hands on deck. Thanks to this crew!

Three months later, Gateway Garden dazzles in the October sunshine.

Gardens Ablaze with Color in Summer's Heat

Not one but three agave plants serve as the focus of the War Memorial garden this summer.

It's only the first week of July but already it feels like we're in the midst of the dog days of summer.
Most garden managers had their spring changeovers completed by mid-June and merely a month later, plants are flourishing but the days are hot and D-R-Y.
For Thomas Hawkins, who manages the War Memorial Garden in the center of town, the dry spell has meant trouble for the red vinca he planted as part of his red-themed homage to the WWI battlegrounds of Flanders Fields. Thankfully the agave he planted, a regular feature of the garden, is drought tolerant.
Over at Alex's Garden at the Post Office, Ron Ricchezza combats watering fatigue through his soaker-hose irrigation system. It helps to keep the hydrangea and other water-loving perennials happy during these sweltering days.
One flower that loves the heat, however, is the sunflower and you will find a variety of pollinator sunflowers planted in almost all our gardens throughout town. It's a continuation of our Summer of the Sunflower theme from last year, aimed at raising awareness of the need to focus residential gardening efforts on boosting our pollinator populations, particularly birds and butterflies.

Magnificent thistle-like flowers blossom on a cardoon in the Co-op garden.

Judy Penney hard at work doing some spring sprucing up in the Co-op garden she manages.

The Rising Sun redbud takes center stage in the Lincoln Way garden with its 3D effect. The youngest leaves are apricot-colored, maturing to yellow and then green, causing the spectacular show.

Katie Crawford and Jennifer Pfluger gardening in the Covid era.

In Alex's Garden, Dichondra 'Silver Falls' features a mass of soft pewter leaves and is heat and drought tolerant.

Giant sunflowers in shades of gold, red and chocolate adorn the Lincoln Way garden.

Andrew Bunting, gardener extraordinaire and SHS veep, takes a break from helping Judy Penney in the Co-op garden.

Hakonechloa, coleus and varieties of part-shade annuals decorate the library windows.

White Annabelle hydrangea alongside pink and purple mophead hydrangea erupt in peak color at Alex's Garden.

Ron Ricchezza, manager of Alex's Garden at the Post Office, supplements his soaker hose watering system with a good old-fashioned watering can.

Finding Solace in Community and Nature
SHS Gardens Bursting with Spring Color Offer Beauty and Peace to Quarantined Residents

Spring flowers in the Lincoln Way garden offer Co-op shoppers a lovely welcome, thanks to garden managers Sharon Mester and Grace Evangelista. The grafitti art, by street artist Scampi, was photoshopped by gardener Thomas Hawkins -- no such grafitti exists on that wall (yet)! Photo credit: Mike Litka

How abruptly the rhythms of life can change.
In mid-March, just as all of us gardeners were excitedly awaiting the first official day of spring, cheered on by the early bloomers -- the winter aconite, snowdrops, hellebores and daffodils -- word came that life as we knew must shut down.
The global scourge, coronavirus, which was first confirmed in a U.S. resident on Jan. 21, was now running rampant through parts of the West and East coasts, prompting President Trump to declare a national emergency on March 13.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf closed schools the same day and followed up less than a week later with an order shuttering all non-essential businesses.
Everyone was ordered to stay in their homes indefinitely, to go out only for necessities such as food shopping and exercise, and not to socialize with anyone outside their households.

Flowering ornamental kale provides a burst of color in the War Memorial Garden.

As we negotiate this new normal, unable to attend concerts, parties, sports events or get-togethers, there is not much to celebrate. Life seems bleak for many and for those who live alone, it can be particularly depressing.
And yet, above the grimness of it all, there has risen a heightened sense of community and caring. Stories abound of neighbors helping elderly and more vulnerable neighbors; residents raising donations of food and other necessities for people overwhelmed by job losses; customers doing what they can to help local businesses stay afloat and, above all, a widespread expression of gratitude to our healthcare, food service workers and delivery people who put their lives on the line to make sure the rest of us are cared for and have what we need.
In tribute to our wonderful community, which has been challenged to rise to even greater heights, the SHS invites residents to enjoy what we are able to offer -- 13 public gardens throughout the downtown, each unique in design. These beautiful spaces are rare among towns and have grown to be a treasure in Swarthmore. All the gardens are financed by the SHS and are planned, toiled over and cared for by volunteer gardeners -- also members of our community -- whose sole purpose is to bring a touch more beauty to our beloved town and smiles to the faces of those who visit or inhabit it. We hope as you leave your homes seeking some exercise and fresh air, you will find respite among the spring flowers -- a perennial symbol of new life and optimism for the future.

Golden sedum flourishes in the Clock Garden providing a bold contrast to the green foliage of the young allium and purple stems of ornamental kale.

Five varieties of red and violet-hued tulips paint a beautiful portrait along the Library Window Garden. Varieties include Night Club, Yosemite, Kingblood, Queen of Night and Negrita.

"Sunny Girlfriend" daffodils feature inner ruffled petals in varied shades of apricot in Alex's Garden at the Post Office.

Alliums and nepeta wait to burst forth in the Centennial Park Garden.

Sunset casts a golden spotlight on daffodils and hellebores nestled under the frothy blooms of a pear tree in Alex's Garden.

Purples, blues and yellows dominate the showpiece War Memorial Garden.

Greigii tulips shine in the Lincoln Way Garden across from the Co-op.

Jewel-colored pansies add a touch of early spring brightness to the Central Park containers thanks to manager Dottie Lee.

A cardoon is an attractive seasonal accent amid pansies and tulips in the Co-op Garden.

Flowering red kale provides a beautiful contrast of purple and yellow amid a backdrop of yellow and white tulips in the Co-op Garden.

What Winter Doldrums? Color Abounds in Ville Gardens

Sure, there is no cacophony of spring's pink, yellow and violet hues but winter conducts a symphony of its own in the garden and under the bright sun of a crisp, cold day, nothing is finer.
Vermilion red berries, gold-leafed spirea, and fiery dogwood branches are on display throughout the gardens downtown, providing bursts of color in an otherwise monotone landscape. And if you look closely, you'll see a few premature bursts of spring as the warm weather well into January coaxed spring foliage into the light and hellebore blossoms to burst forth.

Fall Changeover
Gardeners Present One Final Show

Workers dig deep to remove the majestic Blue Agave.

As the calendar pages flipped to late October, garden managers got out their shovels and wheelbarrows to turn their beds one last time before winter settled in. Most gardens got a dose of purple, white and green from hardy cabbages and kale. Some pansies featured in the raised bed by the library. And the stately Blue Agave that is the centerpiece of the War Memorial Garden -- and weighs 200 pounds! -- was dug out by a great amount of manpower. It was hauled away to overwinter in garden manager Thomas Hawkins's garage -- the only place he could fit it.

Strath Haven High School students Winnie Kenney, Rhys Hals and Claire Lowry help prep the Library Window Garden bed.

Garden managers Karen Peichel and Kim Scott created an upcycled installation in the Town Clock Plaza Garden out of old bicycle tires. The tires are from bikes that belonged to Karen’s children.

The Blue Agave is hauled away to spend the winter in warmer climes.

The War Memorial garden is planted with grasses, cabbages and scores of spring-blooming bulbs.

Anne Papa and Mimi Nenno plant pansies and bulbs in the library raised bed.

Bulbs Sale Features 'Bee-Friendly' Beauties for Spring!

'Blue Shades' Anemone blanda offers daisy-like blooms with fern-like foliage.

We’ve barely escaped the summer heat but soon the dark, cold days of winter will be upon us
and every gardener will start counting down the days to spring blooms.
On Saturday, October 19, the Swarthmore Horticultural Society will hold its annual Bulb Sale,
featuring a variety of beautiful spring-blooming bulbs that share one special characteristic -- they
are all beloved by bees.
In keeping with the SHS’s mission to encourage everyone to plant flowers and shrubs that
attract pollinators, this year’s bulb sale focuses only on those bulbs that will draw just awakening
bees into your garden or yard.
The sale will be held during the Swarthmore Farmers’ Market from 9:30 a.m. -- 1:30 p.m. and
feature selections such as a vermillion hyacinth that boasts a heady fragrance, a 5’ tall,
two-toned allium; and an heirloom species of fritillary that dates back to 1575.

Snake’s Head Fritillary is an heirloom species dating back to 1575.

And if you can’t wait until spring for your flower fix, the SHS is again offering the
indoor-blooming and wonderfully fragrant paperwhite daffodil that you can push to bloom around the holidays.
Planting these spring bulbs is a great wait to ensure the early arrival of bees into your garden, allowing them to feed before other native nectar sources are available. And they’re a fabulous way to add visual interest to your landscape! For details on selections and prices, please click this link for the catalogue: shs_2019_spring-blooming_bulbs_catalogue-1__1_.pdf

Crocus Orange Monarch gets its name from vibrant bi-colored orange and near-black blooms that resemble a Monarch Butterfly.

It Was a Lovely Evening for a Stroll...
SHS Members Revel in the Beauty of Gardens, Art and Community at Annual Soiree

(L to R) Incoming SHS President Jennifer Pennington, founding member Judy Penney and President Jennifer Pfluger.

The sky was glowing, the gardens were (still!) blooming and the artwork was captivating as the SHS celebrated its members by throwing a fabulous outdoor garden party on October 5.
Under the setting sun, a record number of members came together to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and a stroll to downtown's public gardens, adorned with work from local artists, organized by Gallery on Park owner Martha Perkins.
Afterwards, guests gathered back at Central Park to enjoy drinks and a bounty of tasty food and treats generously provided by downtown restaurants. As the tent lights glowed, many members lingered into the evening, enjoying each other's company and making new acquaintances. The pictures below tell the story of a wonderful evening. The SHS extends a sincere THANK YOU to all its members!!

A metal sculpture by artist Dan Dennison adorns Centennial Park garden.

(L-R) Lisa Healy, Katie Crawford, Angela Shaw and Jennifer Lentz.

"Vincent Van Crow" by Ron Ricchezza does a studious painting of the sunflowers in Alex's Garden.

Alex's Garden manager Ron Ricchezza, left, and assistant Sheila Bell.

(L-R) Tom Hals, Felix L'Armand and Dimitri Karapelou.

Artist Trish Sheff does a Plein air painting of a cactus in the War Memorial garden, designed by Thomas Hawkins.

(L-R) Beth Jones, Jacqui Ricchezza, Mary Hinds and Stephen Hinds.

Sue Lathrop and Kit Raven, Centennial Park garden manager.

Judy Penney, left, and Carol Menke.

Gardens, Cocktails and Outdoor Art at Strolling Party
What's not to love? Come celebrate SHS members and downtown Swarthmore!

The beautiful public gardens in downtown Swarthmore would not be possible without the continuing generosity of SHS members. Every year as a thank you, the SHS throws a members' party -- usually at the lovely home of a local resident -- but this year, we decided to bring the party outdoors!
On Saturday, October 5, please join us for a strolling cocktail party to our town gardens that will, as a bonus, feature the work of local artists.
Start your evening off at 5 p.m. at Gallery on Park at 104 Park Avenue to pick up a refreshment and a map of the route. You will also be able to pick up short bios of the six artists featured on the route, all of whom create for the garden landscape and use recycled materials and found objects in their work.
Sandra Webberking, an artist who lives in nearby Springfield, is an avid gardner who creates whimsical sculptures for the garden, which she describes as a profound source of inspiration.
Also on display will be works fashioned from used and recycled metal by NJ artist Dan Dennison, September's featured artist at Gallery on Park, as well as beautifully painted birdhouses by Roberto Roque.

Alex's Garden at the Post Office in August, designed by Ron Ricchezza.

Sandra Webberking's Passionflower on display outside Gallery on Park.

Birdhouse by Roberto Roque. Photo by Andy Shelter

We will be joined by many of the gardeners who spend their year designing and then planting, weeding and watering the 13 gardens that make our public spaces so beautiful and unique.
Feel free to stroll at your leisure until meeting back at Central Park at 6 p.m. for drinks and hors d'oeuvres.
This event is FREE for members. Other partygoers are welcome to attend but will be asked to pay the $20 annual fee to join the SHS.
And the fun doesn't end there! We encourage you to wander over to the Swarthmore Recreation Association's Oktoberfest from 7-10 p.m. at the Co-op. It should be a wonderful night to celebrate Swarthmore!

SHS Unveils 2020 Slate of Candidates

President: Jennifer Pennington Continuing
Vice-President: Andrew Bunting Treasurer: Anne Papa
Past President: Jennifer Pfluger Recording Secretary: Betty Robertshaw
Events Chair: Catherine Camp   Corresponding Secretary: Betty Dowling
Horticulture Co-chair: Andrew Bunting Archives Chair: Kate Dickey
Membership Chair: Julie Vrooman Horticulture Co-chairs: Charles Cresson/Judy Penney
  Publicity Chair: Corey Ullman
  Volunteer Coordinator: Margie Linn
  Centennial Foundation Representative: Margie Baker

Late-Summer Glory at Hedgleigh Spring

Masses of blooming salvias, dahlias, cannas and other late-summer perennials keep Hedgleigh Spring awash in colors.

Join us again this Sunday, Sept. 8, from 4-7 p.m. to enjoy the enduring colors of Charles Cresson's beautiful Hedgleigh Spring during these waning days of summer.
Charles is offering self-guided tours of the grounds and will be on hand to answer any questions. There is still much to appreciate -- the cooling weather brings masses of blooms from many late-summer perennials in a range of colors. And the resurging blooms on the hybrid roses are showing some of the finest blossoms of the year!
Feel free to bring some bubbly or another favorite beverage to sip as you wander the grounds.
This event is FREE and open to all, but donations will be solicited on behalf of the Swarthmore Horticultural Society.
Hedgleigh Spring is located at 32 Amherst Avenue in Swarthmore. Visitors should enter through the garden gate on the left side as you face the residence. If you do bring a beverage, don’t forget to bring glasses/cups.

Summer Blooms Paint Downtown Red (and Yellow, and Pink and Purple...)

In these last dog days of summer, following the heavy heat and humidity, and several long-lasting days of rain, gardens start to show their exhaustion as blooms shrivel and beds become straggled messes. But not so in downtown Swarthmore! The town's gardens are still bursting with color thanks to the hard work of garden managers who weed and water throughout the summer and plan their beds so something wonderful is always in bloom. Even many of the pollinator sunflowers planted throughout the gardens are still going strong, attracting bees to their towering blooms in this waning summer of the sunflower.

Catch the Buzz on Pollinator Plants
SHS Urges Residents to Boost Bee Life with 'Summer of the Sunflower'

Bees are crucial to the pollination of one-third of our fruits and vegetables. Yet more than half of native bee species in North America are rapidly declining, with almost a quarter facing extinction due to loss of habitat, pesticide use, disease and climate change.
SHS board member Judy Penney recently came across new research showing sunflower pollen offers medicinal properties to both honeybees and wild bees. Unfortunately, many sunflowers planted in home gardens are hybrid sunflowers bred to be pollen-less. They provide nectar to visiting bees but do not have the pollen necessary for raising bee broods or protecting bees from disease.

Enter the pollinator-friendly sunflower! The SHS has declared 2019 the 'Summer of the Sunflower' in hopes of raising awareness of the need to plant pollen-producing plants that will not only attract bees but also other pollinators such as birds and butterflies.
As part of the effort, the SHS is giving away pollinator-friendly sunflower seedlings and seed packets throughout this month, generously donated by Burpee Seed Company. Dozens were given away during Cello in the Garden and now visitors to HOM (Harvey Oak Mercantile) during First Friday celebrations on June 7, 4-7 p.m., in downtown Swarthmore can also take FREE seedings and packets home with them to start their own plantings. SHS board members will be on hand to answer questions and give tips on best planting practices and how to start your own pollinator habitat in your yard or garden.
The seedlings and planting advice will also be available at the SHS table during the June 29 Swarthmore Farmers' Market.

And look for sunflowers to be popping up throughout Swarthmore's public gardens as each of the beds are planted with various species of pollinator sunflowers. Late summer in Swarthmore will be a very sunny place!

The following five species of pollen-producing sunflowers will be given away on June 7 at HOM:
Mammoth -- Giant species with edible seeds
Evening Sun Mix -- Single and double flower reach 8"-10"; ideal for back of the border
Busy Bee -- A favorite of pollinators and perfect for bouquets
Velvet Queen -- Striking, velvety mahogany red with 3"-4" blooms
Pikes Peak -- Another giant as high as 15'; produces enormous 14" disc flowers and edible seeds

For information on bee conservation, go to https://xerces.org/
For information on how to plant a pollinator garden, go to https://www.humanegardener.com/

Cello in the Garden at Hedgleigh Spring

A portion of Hedgleigh Spring's trellis bed in full bloom

Come out this Sunday, June 2, from 4-7 p.m. to savor the gorgeous sights and scents of late spring at Hedgleigh Spring, the nationally renowned garden of Swarthmore's own (and SHS board member) Charles Cresson.
This is one of our most-loved events that contains the bonus this year of a special appearance by cello virtuoso Jeffrey Solow performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Solow, whose recordings have been nominated for Grammy Awards, has performed worldwide as a recitalist and in concerto appearances including performances of more than 40 different works with orchestras around the globe. He is a professor of cello at Temple University.
The Hedgleigh Spring event is timed for the height of color in the central flower garden, festooned with blooming climbing roses. Dozens of rare and unusual plants will be on show throughout the rest of the garden.

Cello virtuoso Jeffrey Solow

As you enjoy the gardens and music, feel free to bring your favorite beverage to sip (along with glasses/cups). Charles Cresson will be available to answer any garden questions.
This event is FREE and open to all, but donations will be solicited on behalf of the SHS. Visitors will receive a complementary sunflower seedling to plant as part of SHS's pollinator habitat challenge (more on that later!).
Hedgleigh Spring is located at 32 Amherst Avenue in Swarthmore. Visitors should enter through the garden gate on the left side as you face the residence. No RSVP is necessary.
Hope to see you in the garden!

Spring Changeover! SHS Gardens Bursting with New Colors

Garden managers were out in force the week before Memorial Day busily weeding, mulching and cleaning up their beds before planting some wonderful new blooms. Kim Scott (left) watered the newest additions to the Clock Garden already lively with multitudes of ornamental alliums. Scott recently planted Cardoons, a member of the thistle family, also known as the artichoke thistle.
(Right) SHS Vice President Jennifer Pennington and James Verdi of Houseplant Hospital (who makes house calls to care for your plants!) lent a helping hand with the garden outside the Co-op.
Across the street in the Lincoln Way garden, Grace Evangelista and Sharon Mester (below left) got to work amidst the flourishing catmint and other hardy perennials to tease out some new color. And once again, Fine Garden Creations has brought more color to downtown with their planters throughout the commercial area. Watch this space for plenty more color!

Welcome Spring!
Kick off your gardening with Second Chance Plants Sale and Lancaster nurseries trip

It's time to get the gardening gloves on for another planting season and we're here to help with two of our popular spring events!
If you’re looking for a great deal on hardy plants that offer year-round visual beauty, be sure to check out our annual Second Chance Plants Sale on Saturday, May 4, 8:30-10 a.m. in the Swarthmore Borough Hall parking lot. The sale will again feature the large junipers and red twig dogwoods selected by Fine Garden Creations that filled the large garden containers around the business district during the winter season. These beauties are ready for transplant to your garden or containers and are priced to sell. All proceeds benefit the town's public gardens planted and maintained by the Swarthmore Horticultural Society.

Days later we're hosting our annual plant-buying trip to Lancaster County nurseries on Monday, May 6. Once again, we'll be visiting Briar Rose Greenhouse, Black Creek Greenhouses and Conestoga Nursery. Departure is 9 a.m. from Charles Cresson's house. All are encouraged to pack a lunch!
If you’re interested in beautiful, affordable plants and some priceless expert gardening advice from our garden managers, join us. This event is a free benefit of SHS membership.
Most members use their own car, but we encourage you to sign up for a carpool when you register. You are welcome to join us for the full day or for as much time as you have.
You must REGISTER for this trip; the easiest way to do so is email Katie Crawford at [email protected] or Judy Penney at [email protected].

Charles Cresson and SHS member Denise Disney enjoy the selection -- and prices! -- of Black Creek Greenhouse in Lancaster.

Bonjour and Bon Voyage - January 2019

Ginny Scott, Mary Lou Parker, Linda Heffernan, Gladys Snively

On Friday January 11, President Jennifer Pfluger presided over the first board meeting of the year. The meeting started with the introductions of the new board members: Jennifer Pennington (Vice-President), Betty Robertshaw (Recording Secretary), Betty Dowling (Corresponding Secretary) and Corey Ullman (Director-Publicity). Following introductions the board discussed plans for the upcoming year.
One plan was the Bon Voyage Party for our four long-term board members who have retired from the board. On Thursday, January 17, we said Bon Voyage to Linda Heffernan, Mary Lou Parker, Ginny Scott and Gladys Snively who have served on the board for many years in a variety of positions. We wish them well and will see them around the boro checking out the gardens.

Garden Changeovers Occurring -October to November

Look for the changes in our thirteen gardens as the garden managers, with many helpers, replant the beds for both winter interest and spring blooms. Fine Garden Creations has planted all the containers in downtown Swarthmore for our enjoyment.

Imagine A Day without Gardens- Friday October 12th

Imagine a walk through Swarthmore without any of the beautiful public gardens or fabulously planted pots. It would be a different town indeed. Since 2002, when a like minded group of community members got together and decided to "Make Swarthmore Bloom," the Swarthmore Horticultural Society has been working to create and maintain thirteen public gardens which includes the fabulous containers lining the sidewalk. These containers were first donated in 2006 by Andrew Bunting, the former owner of Fine Garden Creations, and the company now led by Elizabeth Haegele continues to generously help with their planting and maintenance.

On Friday, October 12th we will imagine a day without these gardens. This effort is similar to the day without art, which highlighted the impact of public art on our daily life and consciousness. There will be signs marking the town gardens and pots and some gardens will be emptied. If you haven't yet done so, we encourage you to take a moment to join the Swarthmore Horticultural Society by clicking on "JOIN US" above and to become involved in lending a hand towards the maintenance of these gardens for our town. We depend on volunteers to help water, weed, and maintain these public spaces for all of us to enjoy. And please come shop at our bulb sale on Saturday, October 13th at 9:30 am at the farmers' market!!

☃️ Fall Changeover/ SHS Gardens Tucked in for Winter...

Alex's Garden - Oct. 2016

The October 2016 changeover of the SHS Town Center Gardens marked the end of a beautiful summer gardening season in Swarthmore. Some SHS gardens, such as Alex's Garden at the Post Office (at left), sported some colorful mums throughout October, and then, in late November, underwent a second changeover to ornamental kale and cabbage. Other SHS gardens, such as the War Memorial (at right), donned kale and cabbage early, but paired them with perky pansies. As in past years, the town containers were replanted by Fine Garden Creations (thank you, FGC, for your gift!) and now feature hardy winter shrubs.
One autumn surprise (in a season of surprises...) was the bumper crop of peanuts in the Co-op Garden. In the photo below/ center, Judy Penney (Co-op Garden Manager) admires the peanut harvest with Charles Cresson.
By December, the Central Park planters were decked with holiday colors and berries.
Happy New Year to all!

War Memorial - Oct. 2016

October Changeover for the Containers

Peanut harvest at the Co-op Garden

Central Park containers - Dec. 2016

SHS Unveils TWO Newly Renovated Gardens in Town Center!

Bill begins to plant -June'16

garden fans

a small section of the Butterfly Garden in August

⬅︎ Park Slope Garden is transformed into the Park Avenue Butterfly Garden! 🐝🐝🐝

As a part of this spring's Central Park construction, the former SHS garden that sloped down from the Park Avenue sidewalk to the Borough Hall parking lot is now a level landscape, full of colorful native plants specially selected to attract and sustain pollinators. Garden Manager Bill Pinder designed this magical space with the help of Amy Hart, who funded the purchase of all the plants. In the middle of June's first heat wave, Bill planted the garden, and he has watered and lovingly maintained it over this hot, dry summer. By July, the crowds of butterflies, honeybees, and human fans were gathering to admire his work.
🐝 Many thanks to Bill and Amy for making this amazing metamorphosis possible. 🐝

Dotty on (a very hot) planting day

Central Park Container Garden Adds Dramatic Sparkle to the Central Park Town Green! ➜
When the bulldozers tore up the Borough Hall parking lot this spring, they also tore up the SHS Dartmouth Avenue Garden, managed by Dotty Lee. In place of the shady Dartmouth Avenue Garden, Dotty was asked to take on the care of the plantings in the newly designed (and very sunny) Central Park Town Green. Moreover, she was tasked with figuring out how to complement the Green's plantings with seasonal interest. The answer? Six sleek, tall containers to be filled twice a year with beautiful flowers and greenery! With the help of her husband, Rick, Dotty had the first iteration of the snazzy pots ready in time for Central Park's July 4th dedication. The containers, which are designed to withstand Swarthmore's winters, have a special irrigation system designed by Rick Lee. Thanks to the Centennial Foundation for supporting this project and paying for the containers. Thanks to Dotty and Rick for their amazing work!
⬇︎ (Below - the Containers in August 2016) ⬇︎

Co-op tulips - Spring 2014

Revisit Your Favorite SHS Gardens electronically!

Take a horticultural walk down memory lane. If you click on the "Our Gardens" tab at the top of this Home page, you can see the many iterations of our 13 gardens.
We have an archive of photos of our gardens from 2014 until now.

⬅ Remember this beauty? It's a camassia blooming in Centennial Park in spring 2014. Camassia were also featured in the SHS 2013 fall bulb sale.

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Mimi Nenno works magic at Raised Bed

Many, many thanks to our garden managers and all garden volunteers who help to replant the town garden beds during Spring and Fall Changeover Days! You are the heart of SHS!