SHS Archives
Here is a chance to walk down a horticultural memory lane. This page is a record of some of the postings on this Website since its creation in 2011. The articles are listed in reverse chronological order (most recent postings appear first).
...From 2018....
2018 Bulb Sale - Updated January 11, 2019
Allium 'Miami'
Thank you for making the bulb sale successful. The 2018 bulb sale has come to a successful conclusion under Carolyn Hayden's terrific organization skills. Look for your bulb blooms in Spring and for our 2019 bulb sale. Ocean magic, happy generation, rainbow parrot, gipsy queen… no these are not the clues for a Jimmy Buffet themed crossword puzzle, but rather the names of just a few of the fabulous bulbs you will find this year at the Swarthmore Horticultural Society's Annual Bulb Sale! The sale will take place Saturday, October 13th at the Swarthmore Farmer's Market from 9:30 am until these small treasures sell out! Put them in the ground now and come spring they are sure to reward you after winter's dark days!
Click HERE to see the Color catalogue with prices, photos and information about the remaining bulbs.
Click HERE to see the Color catalogue with prices, photos and information about the remaining bulbs.
2018 Annual Meeting and Party for Members and Volunteers
Lovely site
Please join us Saturday October 13, 2018 4PM to 7PM to celebrate another year of beautiful gardens. Heavy hor d’oeuvres and Cocktails will be available. In addition to a wonderful party and a visit to a lovely local garden, the business purpose of the meeting is to elect a new slate of candidates:
* Vice President: Jennifer Pennington
* Corresponding Secretary: Betty Dowling
* Recording Secretary: Betty Robertshaw
* Director-Publicity: Corey Ullman
* Director-Archives: Kate Dickey
* Directors-Horticultural: Charles Cresson and Judy Penney
* Treasurer: Anne Papa
Kindly RSVP by October 8th to Judy Penney at 610-544-6627
or to Katie Crawford at [email protected]
* Vice President: Jennifer Pennington
* Corresponding Secretary: Betty Dowling
* Recording Secretary: Betty Robertshaw
* Director-Publicity: Corey Ullman
* Director-Archives: Kate Dickey
* Directors-Horticultural: Charles Cresson and Judy Penney
* Treasurer: Anne Papa
Kindly RSVP by October 8th to Judy Penney at 610-544-6627
or to Katie Crawford at [email protected]
Time to Dig Into Your Wallet - Annual Membership Campaign Begins!
War Memorial Garden - April 2014
This past winter has been a rough one to love--at least weather-wise, but that only makes the spring flowers that much sweeter to see. Help us fill Swarthmore's public gardens with beautiful plantings -- flowers are the best non-fattening, non-caffeinated way to hoist your low spirits!
If you're already an SHS member, look for a renewal form in the mail. If you're not (yet) an SHS member, you can click HERE for a membership letter to print and mail. Basic membership costs $15, but if you can donate more, we certainly will be able to put your dollars to good use. All donations are tax deductible, and we will send you a receipt for your donation.
Join us to make Swarthmore bloom!
If you're already an SHS member, look for a renewal form in the mail. If you're not (yet) an SHS member, you can click HERE for a membership letter to print and mail. Basic membership costs $15, but if you can donate more, we certainly will be able to put your dollars to good use. All donations are tax deductible, and we will send you a receipt for your donation.
Join us to make Swarthmore bloom!
🌺 🌺 New SHS Board Begins Planning for a New Year!
L. to R. Seated: Jen Pflugar, MaryLouParker, Margie Linn, Katie Crawford. Standing: Julie Vrooman, Gladys Snively,Margie Baker, Judy Penney
On January 19, 2018, the new Officers and Directors elected at the SHS Annual Meeting in October 2017, met for the first time to begin planning for the 2018 gardening season. Some of the special events being considered for the new year include a special public information session on the Emerald Ash Borer, a plant-buying trip to Lancaster nurseries, a fall bulb sale, a fabulous annual party for members, and periodic tours of Charles Cresson's nationally-recognized garden to appreciate the beauty and variety of its transformations throughout the growing season.
✿ Be sure to check back for updates on the events offered by SHS in the upcoming year.
✿ For a full list of the SHS Board members, visit the Board Updates page by clicking the "MORE" tab at the top of this page or by clicking HERE for a quick link.
...From 2017....
Annual Meeting Report - New Bylaws and New Board Members
The SHS Annual Meeting and Party, held at the beautiful home of Fariha Khan and Michael Carey, was a great celebration of the 2017 gardening season! Special recognition was given to the SHS Garden Managers who create and maintain the 13 SHS gardens, notwithstanding all the challenges Mother Nature can send their way.
At the meeting, the SHS membership, on the recommendation of the SHS Board, voted to adopt the proposed revisions of the SHS Bylaws. These changes were made to clarify the responsibilities of Board members and to allow more flexibility in the selection of Board members. For a copy of the newly-revised Bylaws click HERE. Also, current VP Jennifer Pflugar was elected President; Katie Crawford was elected as Interim VP, Ginny Scott was elected as Publicity Chair, and Margie Linn was elected Volunteer Coordinator. A very special acknowledgment goes to Margie Baker, for more than a decade of service on the Board. Many thanks to Margie for her hard work, calm wisdom, and excellent leadership! |
Our First President - Margie Baker
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A Wonderful Day in the Cresson Garden -- to Benefit SHS!
Despite snow and freezing temperatures on the day before the scheduled tour, Charles Cresson's garden was the perfect picture of early spring when the first visitors arrived on Sunday, April 10, on a self-guided tour to benefit SHS. Over 100 guests explored the two acre, nationally renowned garden, discovering thousands of blooms. Charles Cresson was on hand throughout the tour, giving advice, information, and encouragement.
Many thanks to everyone who came out to the garden and supported SHS. Very special thanks to Charles Cresson, who made everyone's visit so worthwhile, really putting them in a springtime state of mind.
Many thanks to everyone who came out to the garden and supported SHS. Very special thanks to Charles Cresson, who made everyone's visit so worthwhile, really putting them in a springtime state of mind.
the pond garden
Thos. Hawkins Inspires All at SHS Gardening Workshop An example of the Hawkins' magic!
Thanks to Thomas Hawkins, great gardening wisdom was gained by all who attended SHS's close-of-the-season Gardening Workshop on Sunday, October 22, 2017. Thomas is a professional horticulturist and the owner of The Gardener's Arms, a local garden design and maintenance business. In that capacity he designs, plants, and maintains the beautiful gardens at Kings Automotive on Chester Road, but he also volunteers his time and skill as Garden Manager of the SHS garden at the War Memorial (photo at left).
The October event was an informal, but information-filled workshop on site at Kings Automotive, where Thomas discussed the plantings and shared his ideas and tips for creating a beautiful, multi-seasonal garden, even in a location as challenging as busy Chester Road. All who attended enjoyed the chance to tap into Thomas's experience and expertise, and left inspired with ideas for their 2018 gardens. Many, many thanks to Thomas for his time and generosity, and to Jay King for allowing us to hold the workshop on his property.  Lincoln Way - viewed from Myers Ave.
Lincoln Way Garden Is Launched!
The last weekend of October marked the debut of SHS's newest garden, located at the corner of Myers Avenue and Lincoln Way -- right across from the SHS Co-op Garden. Co-Garden Managers Sharon Mester & Grace Evangelista are to be congratulated on their fine efforts and amazing success in transforming the former empty lot. And there's more planned for the spring! Be sure to stroll by to see our new undertaking. Many thanks go to Leonard Ellis, Carolyn Hayden, Hilary Belanger, Abe Evangelista, Susan Brake, J.W. Clements, Geoff Anderson, & Larry Anastasia, who all helped plant over 150 plants in the new garden. Special thanks to Judy Penney and Lisa Ffrench for their invaluable advice.
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Volunteers are needed to maintain & water the Lincoln Way Garden. If you can help, please contact SHS at the gmail address listed above.
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Facebook Fans -- "Like" SHS, and Get Social with Gardening Matters
Be sure to check out the SHS Facebook Page for more photos of SHS Gardens as well as an assortment of postings pertaining to gardening and horticulture. Feel free to join in the conversation, post your own photos of SHS gardens, and be sure to "Like" us. For a quick link to the SHS Facebook Page, just scroll to the very top right-hand corner of this webpage (above the page title and header ), and click on the small Facebook icon.
❀ Special thanks to Melissa Husted-Sherman for all her work in overseeing our Facebook page.
❀ Special thanks to Melissa Husted-Sherman for all her work in overseeing our Facebook page.
A Salute to the Sidewalk Container Team
November 2015
In late October, the 24 large sidewalk flowerpots in Swarthmore Town Center shifted into cold weather mode, as their bright tropical contents were replaced by grand evergreens. Fine Garden Creations (FGC), a local landscaping business, first purchased and installed the pots almost a decade ago as a gift to our community, and since then, FGC has donated its services to design and replant the containers twice a year. SHS and Swarthmore Borough split the cost of the plants. Twice weekly summer watering of the containers is done by the Swarthmore Public Works Crew, and regular maintenance, grooming, and fall watering is done by a crew of dedicated SHS volunteers: Peg Morrison, Kay Rinko, Sue Larsen, and Garden Manager Beth Jones. Many thanks to FGC and to all who make the sidewalk containers’ beautiful display possible!
So what plants are featured in the containers? Summer plants in the containers are typically colorful annuals, but the winter pots feature hardy shrubs that can live for many years.
❀ If you want to identify the specific plants in containers this year, CLICK HERE.
So what plants are featured in the containers? Summer plants in the containers are typically colorful annuals, but the winter pots feature hardy shrubs that can live for many years.
❀ If you want to identify the specific plants in containers this year, CLICK HERE.
What happens to the plants when the containers are replanted? If you like the look of the winter container plantings, you can purchase the winter plants at below wholesale cost when we replant the containers in the spring. The plants were selected by experts and are well tended all winter. The tentative date for next spring's sale is May 6 & 7, 2016. Check back closer to that date for more details and prices. All proceeds benefit Swarthmore public gardens.
→ In photo at right, three members of the SHS container garden team with one of their 24 mini-gardens.
(L to R): Peg, Beth, & Kay.
→ In photo at right, three members of the SHS container garden team with one of their 24 mini-gardens.
(L to R): Peg, Beth, & Kay.
Many, Many Thanks to Our Community for Its Support of Our Spring Plant Sale!
Borough Hall goes green!
The weather was a bust, but the plant selling was blooming at the SHS INDOOR "Blooms or Bust" Plant Sale on May 13. This was our biggest sale ever in terms of plants (1,200 plants), and we really had to scramble when the forecast predicted heavy rains and winds.
But our community really came through. Borough administration, the Library staff, and the Police Department all made our move indoors to Borough Hall possible in the most accommodating way. The Swarthmorean and Town Center readily posted last minute information about the relocation. And the plant-loving community came out on Saturday in impressive numbers and supported our sale with their purchases. We have so many to thank for our success, but would be remiss if we didn't give specific (and deep) thanks to Jane Billings and the entire Borough Hall staff, to the Swarthmore Public Library staff and administration, to Swarthmore Police Department, to Anita Barrett of Town Center, to the Swarthmorean, to Lora P. of HOM (for loaning us tables), and to everyone who braved the rain to support us so enthusiastically.
At the sale (photos by Melissa Husted-Sherman)
We haven't calculated the exact profit from our sale, but will post it soon. We do know that we did cover our costs (whew!), and more importantly, provided local gardens with some beautiful plants that will bring smiles and pleasure throughout this summer!
Thanks to our tireless sale co-chairs, Judy Penney and Katie Crawford and the many, many SHS volunteers who made this sale a success!
🌸 Again, to all - many thanks from the SHS! 🌸
Thanks to All Who Supported the SHS Bulb Sale !
Many thanks to everyone who purchased bulbs at our October 14 sale! It was a financial success, and we look forward to a spring filled with color and fragrance as the hundreds of bulbs that were sold blossom throughout our community!
🌷 A special thank you to Carolyn Hayden who chaired the sale and tended to the hundreds of details necessary to insuring its success. Also many thanks to the volunteers who packed the bulbs and staffed the sale booth with Carolyn.
Click HERE to see the COLOR CATALOGUE --photos, prices, and information about the bulbs! Selections include the strikingly beautiful Narcissus 'Extra-Vaganza,' shown in the photo on the left. Yes, it IS coral and white!
🌷 A special thank you to Carolyn Hayden who chaired the sale and tended to the hundreds of details necessary to insuring its success. Also many thanks to the volunteers who packed the bulbs and staffed the sale booth with Carolyn.
Click HERE to see the COLOR CATALOGUE --photos, prices, and information about the bulbs! Selections include the strikingly beautiful Narcissus 'Extra-Vaganza,' shown in the photo on the left. Yes, it IS coral and white!
Cresson Garden Tour: A Great Day in the Garden
Thanks to all who joined us to support SHS in a farewell-to-summer tour of Charles Cresson’s nationally renowned garden, Hedgleigh Spring, on Sunday, September 10. The event was a success in every way: a beautiful day in a perfect garden setting, great garden conversation, and much appreciated support of our organization!
A special thanks to Charles Cresson (in a rare moment of rest, in the photo at the left) for opening his wonderful garden to our community!
A special thanks to Charles Cresson (in a rare moment of rest, in the photo at the left) for opening his wonderful garden to our community!
And Thanks for Supporting the SHS Cresson Garden Tours & the SHS Fun Fair Booth!
Three other SHS events also made for a successful Spring 2017. The Cresson Garden Spring Stroll on April 30 and the Cresson Summer "Wine & Roses" Tour on June 4 raised over $900 for the SHS! Many, many thanks for Charles Cresson for opening his beautiful garden to benefit SHS.
The Swarthmore Fun Fair on May 7 was a chance for SHS to reach out to the community with horticultural help and information about our activities. The SHS booth featured a beautiful container raffle, a tree seedling giveaway, and expert answers to horticultural questions. For the kids, we held a garden scavenger hunt.
🌸 Thanks to Liz Haegale of Fine Garden Creations for donating the beautiful container garden (at left), to John Studdy of Bartlett Tree Experts for donating the tree seedlings and serving as our expert arborist at the booth, and to Charles Cresson, our own beloved horticultural expert, who also worked throughout the day at the booth.
🌸 Finally, thanks to everyone who came out and supported these SHS events!
The Swarthmore Fun Fair on May 7 was a chance for SHS to reach out to the community with horticultural help and information about our activities. The SHS booth featured a beautiful container raffle, a tree seedling giveaway, and expert answers to horticultural questions. For the kids, we held a garden scavenger hunt.
🌸 Thanks to Liz Haegale of Fine Garden Creations for donating the beautiful container garden (at left), to John Studdy of Bartlett Tree Experts for donating the tree seedlings and serving as our expert arborist at the booth, and to Charles Cresson, our own beloved horticultural expert, who also worked throughout the day at the booth.
🌸 Finally, thanks to everyone who came out and supported these SHS events!
Cresson "Wine & Roses" Garden Tour Set for June 4 (BYOB Optional!)
Chas. Cresson
To benefit SHS, on Sunday, June 4, from 4-7 pm, SHS founder, Charles Cresson, will open his internationally acclaimed garden, Hedgleigh Spring, for self-guided tours. The Cresson garden, which has been featured in the New York Times and Martha Stewart Living is comprised of two acres, divided into cleverly designed green “rooms” that showcase the many facets of gardening, including a fern dell, a sunken perennial garden, a stream-fed pond garden, a wildflower meadow, and a tranquil shade garden. This garden is a true visual feast at any time of the year, but particularly in the summer when it is filled with roses of all types and colors, as well as hundreds of other summer perennials, wildflowers, tropical plants, and blossoming shrubs and trees.
🍷 🍷 Feel free to celebrate the season by bringing some wine or your favorite beverage to sip as you take in the sights and fragrances of this magnificent garden.
Visitors are welcome to tour the garden at their own pace, and Charles Cresson will be available for questions. The Cresson garden 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.
This event is free and open to the public, but donations will be solicited on behalf of the SHS. It will go forward rain or shine; however, if thunderstorms or dangerous weather is forecast, check back to this site for updates and possible cancellation.
🍷 🍷 Feel free to celebrate the season by bringing some wine or your favorite beverage to sip as you take in the sights and fragrances of this magnificent garden.
Visitors are welcome to tour the garden at their own pace, and Charles Cresson will be available for questions. The Cresson garden 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.
This event is free and open to the public, but donations will be solicited on behalf of the SHS. It will go forward rain or shine; however, if thunderstorms or dangerous weather is forecast, check back to this site for updates and possible cancellation.
In May 2017, we had a first: an indoor plant sale (& our biggest plant sale)....
SHS "Bloom or Bust" Plant Sale - May 13 - Sale is ON - new INDOOR location!
Abutilon at the Co-op
Rainy days are a gardener's friend, and the proof is at the SHS plant sale which is STILL ON! On Saturday, May 13, SHS will hold its annual plant sale in the spacious (& dry) lobby of SWARTHMORE BOROUGH HALL, 121 Park Ave., Swarthmore. So put on your rain coat and start some BIG dreaming of your 2017 garden!
This year's theme is "Blooms or Bust," and we will feature over 50 varieties of unusual plants that are notable for their reliable and wonderful blooms, including Irises, Clematis, Astilbe, Salvia, Monarda, Heuchera, 3 varieties of Itoh peonies, Abutilon (see photo at right) and many more choices. Sale offerings will include plants that thrive in sun, partial sun, or shade, so that all types of gardens can be abloom this summer!
🌸 The sale will be held RAIN OR SHINE, from 9 am - 12 noon. Cash or check preferred.
🌸 Over 1000 amazing plants (perennials & annuals ) will be sold! For a sample catalogue of what you will find at the sale, click HERE.
This year's theme is "Blooms or Bust," and we will feature over 50 varieties of unusual plants that are notable for their reliable and wonderful blooms, including Irises, Clematis, Astilbe, Salvia, Monarda, Heuchera, 3 varieties of Itoh peonies, Abutilon (see photo at right) and many more choices. Sale offerings will include plants that thrive in sun, partial sun, or shade, so that all types of gardens can be abloom this summer!
🌸 The sale will be held RAIN OR SHINE, from 9 am - 12 noon. Cash or check preferred.
🌸 Over 1000 amazing plants (perennials & annuals ) will be sold! For a sample catalogue of what you will find at the sale, click HERE.
Beautiful Bargains at May 6 - Swizzlesticks, Green Giants, & More!
Swizzlestick shows winter color
The four species of winter-interest plantings featured in the large garden containers in Swarthmore town center will be sold on Saturday, May 6, from 8:30 am-noon, in the Swarthmore Borough Hall parking lot. Last fall, these plants were selected and installed by Fine Garden Creations for their hardiness and good looks, but now that warm weather is here, they are scheduled to be replaced with summer plantings.
These beauties are ready for transplant to your garden or containers. They will sell fast at prices below wholesale cost ($5- $20) . Cash or check only. All proceeds benefit Swarthmore public gardens. Many thanks to Fine Garden Creations for its donation and installation of these plants each year.
Interested to learn more? These are perfect winter-interest plants that also serve as low-key complements to a garden throughout the rest of the year. They include:
🌸 Corkscrew willow (Salix 'Swizzlesticks') - This plant's distinctive curly stems turn orange-yellow in time for their starring role in your winter garden. It grows in any kind of soil, and will grow in wet conditions. Cutting back the stems to about 2' tall each spring will keep the stems colorful.
🌸 Thuja 'Green Giant' - This arborvitae provides fast-growing screening. It is drought tolerant, easy to grow, andis disease and insect resistant.
🌸 Creeping Wintergreen (Gaulteheria procumbens) - A native evergreen groundcover with red berries in fall and winter.
🌸 White variegated Japanese Sedge - A short, low maintenance grass that forms graceful arching mounds.
These beauties are ready for transplant to your garden or containers. They will sell fast at prices below wholesale cost ($5- $20) . Cash or check only. All proceeds benefit Swarthmore public gardens. Many thanks to Fine Garden Creations for its donation and installation of these plants each year.
Interested to learn more? These are perfect winter-interest plants that also serve as low-key complements to a garden throughout the rest of the year. They include:
🌸 Corkscrew willow (Salix 'Swizzlesticks') - This plant's distinctive curly stems turn orange-yellow in time for their starring role in your winter garden. It grows in any kind of soil, and will grow in wet conditions. Cutting back the stems to about 2' tall each spring will keep the stems colorful.
🌸 Thuja 'Green Giant' - This arborvitae provides fast-growing screening. It is drought tolerant, easy to grow, andis disease and insect resistant.
🌸 Creeping Wintergreen (Gaulteheria procumbens) - A native evergreen groundcover with red berries in fall and winter.
🌸 White variegated Japanese Sedge - A short, low maintenance grass that forms graceful arching mounds.
... From 2016 ...
Annual Party News! It's time to elect new officers-- and then celebrate 2016!
All SHS members are invited to our Annual Meeting and Party on October 15. This year we'll be gathering at the beautiful Swarthmore home of Beth and Steve Murray to elect new officers and celebrate the close of a very special year--in which two SHS gardens were unveiled: the Central Park Container Garden and the Park Avenue Butterfly Garden. As in past years, we'll be serving party beverages, including wine and beer, and plenty of delicious appetizers. This is always a great gathering full of wonderful conversation, where you can catch up with old friends and meet some new ones!
🎃 This event is open only to SHS members, who will receive an email with full details of the party's time and location. If you haven't received your invitation, contact us at our email address, listed above.
🎃 Not a member? You can join SHS for as little as $15, so contact our Membership Chair at the email above, or visit our "Join Us" Membership webpage by clicking HERE, then downloading our membership form and mailing it to us.
🎃 This event is open only to SHS members, who will receive an email with full details of the party's time and location. If you haven't received your invitation, contact us at our email address, listed above.
🎃 Not a member? You can join SHS for as little as $15, so contact our Membership Chair at the email above, or visit our "Join Us" Membership webpage by clicking HERE, then downloading our membership form and mailing it to us.
Thanks to All Who Supported the SHS Spring-Blooming Bulb Sale!
A short break in the Bulb Sale action
The SHS Bulb Sale on OCTOBER 15 was a resounding success! Thanks go out to all our supporters whose purchases helped us raise almost $1000 to fund the planting and maintenance of our 13 public gardens. Special thanks to Carolyn Hayden (on the right in the photo) who chaired this event and whose many hours of work not only benefited the SHS gardens, but also provided local gardeners with a choice selection of many extraordinary spring-flowering bulbs.
🌸 Be sure to check back to this space in early 2017 for announcement of the details of our Spring Plant Sale!
Salvia & Friends Sale - Another SHS Success!
salvia - the centerpiece of the SHS sale!
The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of gardeners who flocked to the annual SHS spring plant sale on Saturday, May 7. The sale offered over 30 beautiful summer-blooming plants - perennials and annuals of every size and hue. For the first time, SHS also sold a limited number of stunning filled containers designed and planted by local professionals, just in time for that special Mothers Day gift.
The sale was a resounding success and netted SHS almost $1800, funds that will be used for plantings in the SHS gardens this summer and fall. Thank you to all who helped with this sale-- especially Judy Penney and Katie Crawford, who organized the sale. Thanks also to all who purchased plants at the sale and help us help Swarthmore bloom!
The sale was a resounding success and netted SHS almost $1800, funds that will be used for plantings in the SHS gardens this summer and fall. Thank you to all who helped with this sale-- especially Judy Penney and Katie Crawford, who organized the sale. Thanks also to all who purchased plants at the sale and help us help Swarthmore bloom!
Join Us at the Fun Fair Parade & Activities - Sunday, May 1
March with SHS in the Swarthmore Fun Fair Parade, and visit the SHS Fun Fair booth for giveaways, a raffle, a horticultural scavenger hunt (with prizes!), and answers to your horticultural questions. Parade begins at 1 pm. The SHS booth will be up and running immediately following the parade.
🌷 A full list of booth activities will be posted in late April, so check back to the website then!
🌷 A full list of booth activities will be posted in late April, so check back to the website then!
Welcome Spring at April 10 Garden Tour of Hedgleigh Spring
 magnolias abloom
To benefit SHS, on Sunday, April 10, from 1 – 4 pm, SHS founder, Charles Cresson, will open his internationally acclaimed garden, Hedgleigh Spring, to the public for self-guided tours. The Cresson garden, which has been featured in the New York Times and Martha Stewart Living is comprised of two acres, divided into cleverly designed green “rooms” that showcase the many facets of gardening, including a fern dell, a sunken perennial garden, a stream-fed pond garden, a wildflower meadow, and a tranquil shade garden. This garden is a true visual feast at any time of the year, but particularly in the spring when it is filled with thousands of spring bulbs, wildflowers, flowering annuals, and blossoming shrubs and trees.
Visitors are welcome to tour the garden at their own pace, and Charles Cresson will be available for questions. The Cresson garden is located at 32 Amherst Avenue in Swarthmore. Visitors should enter through the garden gate on the left side as you face the residence. This event is free, but donations will be solicited on behalf of the SHS. It will go forward rain or shine. |
Japanese Jack-in-the-Pulpit at the Pond Garden
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...From 2015....
Membership Approves By-Law Revisions and Elects New Board Members
CONGRATS TO THE NEW SHS BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL PARTY: At the Annual Party, SHS members cast their vote for candidates for four open Board positions. The slate of nominees recommended by the SHS Nominating Committee and elected by SHS members:
Julie Vrooman, Membership Chair -Director at Large
Anne Papa, Treasurer
Mary Lou Parker , Recording Secretary
Gladys Snively, Corresponding Secretary
🌸 The proposed changes to the Bylaws were also approved.
Julie Vrooman, Membership Chair -Director at Large
Anne Papa, Treasurer
Mary Lou Parker , Recording Secretary
Gladys Snively, Corresponding Secretary
🌸 The proposed changes to the Bylaws were also approved.
At the SHS Annual Meeting on October 10, 2015, two important items were voted on by our membership.
First, the membership approved revisions to the SHS By-Laws that were recommended by the SHS Board. These changes improve the operations of SHS by creating a new Board position (the Volunteer Coordinator), specifying procedures for the creation of an annual budget, shortening the notice requirements for the Annual Meeting, and clarifying the duties of the various committees. For a copy of the revised By-Laws, complete with annotations to describe the proposed changes, CLICK HERE.
In addition, at the Annual Meeting, the membership elected several new Board members. To view the slate of Board Members who were elected, CLICK HERE.
First, the membership approved revisions to the SHS By-Laws that were recommended by the SHS Board. These changes improve the operations of SHS by creating a new Board position (the Volunteer Coordinator), specifying procedures for the creation of an annual budget, shortening the notice requirements for the Annual Meeting, and clarifying the duties of the various committees. For a copy of the revised By-Laws, complete with annotations to describe the proposed changes, CLICK HERE.
In addition, at the Annual Meeting, the membership elected several new Board members. To view the slate of Board Members who were elected, CLICK HERE.
A Special Thank-You to Our New Gateway Captain and Her Team
In 2015, Alexandra Detweiler agreed to take on the very important (and daunting) task of managing the gardens of Gateway Park. Gateway is SHS's largest garden and serves as many visitors' first impression of our community. Congratulations and thanks to her for her wonderful work this past year - planning, planting, weeding, watering, raking. Be sure to look for new iterations of Gateway in the seasons to come, thanks to Alexandra and her team.
⬅ The photo at the left shows Alexandra (L) and volunteer Karli Bisordi taking a well-deserved break from a fall 2015 work day at Gateway.
✿ Could you spare a few hours to work as an SHS volunteer? We always need help in our gardens or with running our organization (event planning, baking, taking photos, help with social media, etc.). If you can help, contact us at our email at the top of this page. Thanks!
⬅ The photo at the left shows Alexandra (L) and volunteer Karli Bisordi taking a well-deserved break from a fall 2015 work day at Gateway.
✿ Could you spare a few hours to work as an SHS volunteer? We always need help in our gardens or with running our organization (event planning, baking, taking photos, help with social media, etc.). If you can help, contact us at our email at the top of this page. Thanks!
New Garden Manager for "Alex's Garden" at the Post Office
SHS is very happy to announce that Ron Ricchezza will be the new Garden Manager for "Alex's Garden" at the Post Office. Ron, who has trained at Longwood Gardens, lives in Swarthmore and also serves as Co-Garden Manager with Thomas Hawkins on the War Memorial Garden. In his work at the Post Office Garden, Ron will be assisted by the very capable Wallace Ayers, who has worked on the Post Office team for several years. |
red coleus and white alyssum at the Post Office
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Thanks to All Who Made the SHS Fall Bulb Sale a Success!
 Allium bulgaricum
- a popular sale item
Many thanks to both our volunteers and our customers who made our recent spring-blooming bulb sale such a success. The sale started at 9:30 a.m., and we sold out all bulbs by 12:05 p.m.! If you were one of the buyers, don't forget to plant those bulbs before the ground freezes; then sit back and wait for a beautiful spring in your garden.
As always, all proceeds support the public gardens of Swarthmore, so your purchase will also mean a beautiful spring in Swarthmore's public gardens. |
Tulip 'Carnaval de Nice'
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SHS Bids Good-bye and a Heartfelt Thank You to President Andrew Bunting
On May 20, the SHS Board hosted a farewell and thank you party for SHS president, Andrew Bunting, who will be leaving Swarthmore to become assistant director and director of collections of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Andrew will be sorely missed. In addition to serving as SHS's President since January 2014, and Vice President during 2012 & 2013, for many years Andrew has been an advisor and expert resource to SHS. Moreover, through his company, Fine Garden Creations, he has donated the 20 container gardens in the Town Center and filled those containers with new plants twice a year. Many thanks and best of luck, Andrew!
Join Us at the Swarthmore Fun Fair on May 3 ! 1 - 5 pm
March with Us!
Kick off your afternoon at the Swarthmore Fun Fair by marching with SHS down Park Avenue in the opening parade. Bring a gardening tool and line up at 12:30 at Park & Harvard Avenues. Look for the SHS banner. The parade route is less than a 10 minute walk, so you'll have lots of energy left to enjoy the Fair. Visit the SHS booth! During the Fair, be sure to stop by our booth for lots of prizes and surprises, including:
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For the price of a raffle ticket, this planter could be yours!
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2015 Spring Plant Sale--"Hellebores and More" - a great success!
 Primulas in bloom at the sale
Thanks to all--sale volunteers and plant purchasers--who made our recent Spring Plant Sale such a success. In the end, we netted over $3000, which will all be used to maintain and improve the public gardens of Swarthmore. Special thanks to Cricket Brien, who organized the sale, and Judy Penney, who handled many of the important details.
If you're still in a plant buying mood, be sure to join us on our shopping trip to Lancaster County nurseries on April 30. ⬄ Thanks to Ginny Davis (Pike Pond Communications) for the photos to the right and left, which were taken at the sale. |
Hellebores galore at the sale!
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Renew Your Garden at the Spring Plant Sale, featuring "Hellebores and More"!
H. 'Ice Breaker Pico'
Congratulations! you and your garden have made it through another long, cold winter. What better way to celebrate than with a garden renewal trip to the SHS SPRING PLANT SALE! This year we will be offering beautiful, reliable Hellebores and many of our other favorite perennials (and a few annuals) to provide the texture, color and enticing blooms you need to create the perfect spring garden.
✿ The sale will be held rain or shine on Saturday, 3/28, from 9- 11:30 am, at Centennial Park (corner of Dartmouth and Park Avenues), Swarthmore. Don't be late; last year we sold out our hellebores in the first ninety minutes!
✿ The sale will be held rain or shine on Saturday, 3/28, from 9- 11:30 am, at Centennial Park (corner of Dartmouth and Park Avenues), Swarthmore. Don't be late; last year we sold out our hellebores in the first ninety minutes!
Corydalis 'Canary Feathers'
Would you like a preview? For a flyer with photos of some of the plants on sale, click HERE. Our updated (and final) plant list with prices and descriptions is now available! Click HERE to view the complete list of plants that will be available at the sale. We are so pleased to be able to offer these very special plants at this time. Be assured that all of our plants will be beautiful, hardy, and guaranteed to inspire you. As always, all proceeds benefit the public gardens of Swarthmore._
✿ Cash or Check only. See you at the sale!
✿ Cash or Check only. See you at the sale!
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Happy New Year!
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After a mild December, January 2015 arrived with a flourish of snow and icy polar temperatures. In the photo on the right, last summer's hydrangea blossoms in Alex's Garden at the Post Office are capped with powdery snow.
Winter gardens have a stark beauty -- with structure rather than color as their dominant quality. If you find yourself craving some reminders of colorful horticultural beauty, revisit the 2014 Gardens electronically by clicking HERE. You can also access photos of all of the SHS gardens since 2011 by clicking on the "Our Gardens" tab at the top of this Home Page and then scrolling down on the drop down menu. Enjoy!
Winter gardens have a stark beauty -- with structure rather than color as their dominant quality. If you find yourself craving some reminders of colorful horticultural beauty, revisit the 2014 Gardens electronically by clicking HERE. You can also access photos of all of the SHS gardens since 2011 by clicking on the "Our Gardens" tab at the top of this Home Page and then scrolling down on the drop down menu. Enjoy!
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...From 2014...
New Board Installed at January Meeting
 Passing the baton, or more aptly, the trowel: Andrew Bunting and Margie Baker
The new SHS Board, elected at the October 2013 Annual Meeting, gathered for the first time on January 10, 2014. President Andrew Bunting welcomed all and thanked Margie Baker, SHS President 2012 -2013, for her fine work on behalf of SHS. In addition to serving most recently as its president, Margie was an SHS founding member, and has been a garden manager for over a decade. The Board presented Margie with a Photo Book of SHS memories.
The Board also thanked Bob Richardson (at right) for his work as SHS's first treasurer and as Garden Manager of Alex's Garden at the Post Office. As treasurer, Bob was given the challenge of organizing SHS finances and creating its first budget. He did an outstanding job and we will miss him. |
Our 1st bean counter
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Fall Changeover News ❧ ❧ ❧
SHS Gardens Tucked in for the Winter/ Stone Edging Installed at SHS Library Gardens
new edging outside library window
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The end of October is always a time of important metamorphosis for most SHS town gardens., as the gardens are refurbished with new plants for the late fall & winter, and bulbs are planted for the spring. Before the cold weather arrives, be sure to take a stroll around the town gardens to check out their new winter look. Also be sure to see the new stone edging around the gardens at Borough Hall. That edging will help protect SHS plantings and set off the gardens in a clean and classic style.
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Fall Bulb & Perennial Sale Raises over $2000
Anemone Pretty Lady Emily - a star at the sale
Thanks to all who made our recent fall-blooming bulb and perennial sale such a great success. The sale netted over $2000 for SHS. Special thanks to Kit Raven, SHS Fundraising Chair, for her hard work in attending to the hundreds of details that go into pulling off this type of event.
If you purchased any of the sale items, send us a photo of your new acquisition in bloom, and we'll post it on this website. Send your photos to our gmail account listed at the top of this home page. Be sure to include your full name so that we can credit the photo to you.
If you purchased any of the sale items, send us a photo of your new acquisition in bloom, and we'll post it on this website. Send your photos to our gmail account listed at the top of this home page. Be sure to include your full name so that we can credit the photo to you.
Town Clock Garden Gets a New Look
Kim Scott watering the new plantings
Next time you're in the vicinity of the SEPTA train platform, be sure to check out the dramatic metamorphosis at the Town Clock Garden. In early November, Garden Managers Kim Scott & Karen Peichel removed the ornamental grasses that had been the garden's backdrop, and replaced them with a row of narrow yews (taxus x media 'Hicksii'), to create a much larger seasonal planting area. For this winter that area is filled with semi-circles of kale and cabbage around a center of mums. Dozens of daffodil, tulip, and allium bulbs were also planted -- so look for some brilliant spring color in the Clock Garden in early 2015.
❀ Thanks to Laura Memeger for taking the photo at the right.
❀ Thanks to Laura Memeger for taking the photo at the right.
Thanks to all who made our 2014 Annual Party a great success!
partygoers on the porch
This year we tried something different -- a Saturday evening cocktail party, right here in Swarthmore. The beautiful home of Olin Otteson & Steve Martinez was picture perfect, and over 100 partygoers joined us to toast our 13th year serving our community.
Many thanks go to Judy Penney and Katie Crawford, our Event Co-Chairs for their hours and hours of planning. Their energy, creativity, and organizational skills were key to a very successful evening. Thanks also to Olin and Steve for hosting the party; their spectacular house and gardens were a welcoming and delightful setting. Lastly, thanks to all who donated the delicious appetizers. It will be hard to top this party for years to come!
Many thanks go to Judy Penney and Katie Crawford, our Event Co-Chairs for their hours and hours of planning. Their energy, creativity, and organizational skills were key to a very successful evening. Thanks also to Olin and Steve for hosting the party; their spectacular house and gardens were a welcoming and delightful setting. Lastly, thanks to all who donated the delicious appetizers. It will be hard to top this party for years to come!
One of the unusual sale bulbs - colchicum 'waterlily'
Make this Fall a second Spring!
Energize your garden at the SHS Fall-Blooming Plant & Bulb Sale!
Energize your garden at the SHS Fall-Blooming Plant & Bulb Sale!
- Saturday, September 6
- 9 am - 1 pm
- Centennial Park, Swarthmore (corner of Dartmouth & Park Aves.)
Also on sale - crocus sativus
Is your garden showing signs of summer fade and fatigue? SHS will hold a fall-blooming bulb and plant sale-- right at the start of the fall planting season. That's right -- plant now and enjoy blooms this fall (and for years to come! ) It's simple to add energy to your garden with our selection of unusual fall-blooming bulbs and fall-blooming perennials. For photos, prices and descriptions of the 7 varieties of bulbs and the 6 varieties of perennials offered in the sale, click HERE.
Be sure to come early on the sale day for the best selection. As always, all proceeds from the sale support the SHS town gardens, so a purchase benefits you and your community. See you at the sale!
Be sure to come early on the sale day for the best selection. As always, all proceeds from the sale support the SHS town gardens, so a purchase benefits you and your community. See you at the sale!
Calling all SHS Members... Help Needed to Pack the Bulbs for Our Sale
Help is always needed to pack the bulbs for the sale. Come join us on Thursday, August 28., 2-5 pm on the porch at 215 College Ave (corner of Maple and College Aves.) Bring a stapler if you can. All who help out at the packing party are sure to enjoy some lively conversation and gain some gardening tips!
Curious about Clematis? Come to the FREE lectures at the Scott Arboretum on Wednesday, June 4:
✽ Bonus Buying Opportunity - Brushwood Nursery will have clematis for sale before & after both lectures.
- at 4 pm, Dan Long, of Brushwood Nursery, will talk about the care and uses of clematis, and some of the newest hybrids;
- at 7:30 pm, Raymond Evison, of Guernsey Clematis Nursery, will speak on planting combinations, growing clematis in containers, and tips on cultivation.
✽ Bonus Buying Opportunity - Brushwood Nursery will have clematis for sale before & after both lectures.
SHS Town Gardens Toured by Harrisburg Garden Lovers
The SHS town gardens were toured by a group of plant lovers from central Pennsylvania on Friday, May 30, and Monday, June 2. The group of more than 60 day-trippers, organized by Lowees Group Tours, visited several private gardens in the area and stopped in Swarthmore for lunch and a "Walk About" through the 12 town gardens. Events Co-Chair Judy Penney greeted and guided our guests on both days.
Join Us on a Plant Safari - Hunting for the Unusual and Beautiful at Low Prices!
It's spring, so it's time for the SHS Garden Managers to embark on their annual all-day buying trip, to seek out premier plants at below-local-market prices. This year’s trip on Thursday, May 1 targets three (possibly four) very specially selected nurseries in Lancaster County. Would you like to tag along and gain the insight and expertise of SHS experts when you select this year’s plants for your garden? Join us --This trip is FREE and open to the first 25 SHS members who pre-register by calling Judy Penney at 610-544-6627. We will supply the maps and itinerary, and our plant experts will answer your gardening questions and guide you through each of the nurseries. If you’re not an SHS member, consider joining; membership is as low as $15, and you can bring your membership check on May 1.
We plan to leave Swarthmore at 8 a.m. and should be back in town by 6 p.m. It is possible that you will have to supply your own transportation, but there will be some opportunities to car pool that you can arrange when you pre-register. We welcome plant experts and novices alike! Come with us and give yourself, your garden, and your wallet a gift!
We plan to leave Swarthmore at 8 a.m. and should be back in town by 6 p.m. It is possible that you will have to supply your own transportation, but there will be some opportunities to car pool that you can arrange when you pre-register. We welcome plant experts and novices alike! Come with us and give yourself, your garden, and your wallet a gift!
2013 - Notable News
Our fearless leader Margie
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SHS Annual Meeting - A Beautiful Day at Chanticleer
Our Annual Meeting at Chanticleer on October 20 was held on a picture-perfect fall afternoon. Following a delicious buffet lunch , President Margie Baker convened a brief meeting to review the many successes of the past year and to preview plans for the future. Members were asked to cast their ballots for the new SHS Board, and then Charles Cresson led a tour of the beautiful Chanticleer gardens --as a special inspiration boost for next year! We all thank the outgoing Board, especially Margie Baker, for their dedication, creativity, and hard work
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Debbie Wilson & Anne Papa
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Bus Trip to Bucks County Nurseries - Great Fun for All
At Peace Tree Farm greenhouses
Neither rain sprinkles nor thunder stopped the fun of the intrepid participants in the SHS-sponsored bus trip to three premier Bucks County nurseries on June 18. SHS Event Chair Judy Penney organized a fabulous trip--full of tasty snacks, great conversation, and of course, great horticultural inspiration.
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At our first stop, Carousel Lavender Farm, our host, Niko Christou, gave us a private tour around the lavender fields, which are as visually delightful as they are fragrant. We also toured the magnificently restored barn when the lavender is processed, the amazing springhouse (refurbished as a climate-controlled wine cellar) and the beautiful guest house.
More than just flora greets the visitor to Carousel
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Outside the springhouse at Carousel
Carousel's lavender in early bloom
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After lunch at Carousel, We continued on to Peace Tree Farm for a tour of the all organic greenhouses, and then to Linden Hill Gardens, which features beautiful display gardens for shade, sun, and water interest. Great shopping opportunities were available at each stop, and the bus arrived back in Swarthmore stuffed with plant purchases.
Also stuffed were the happy participants on the trip, who enjoyed fabulous feasting throughout the day: breakfast baked goods on our trip north, a Co-op boxed lunch at noon, a mid-afternoon stop at O Wow Cow for ice cream, and wine and savory snacks on the trip home. It was a trip to delight all senses! |
Fueling up at O Wow Cow
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Thousands of Bulbs Gifted to Swarthmore
corydalis solida 'Beth Evans'
Many thanks to Brent and Becky's Bulbs, of Gloucester VA, for donating over 8000 spring-blooming bulbs to adorn the public gardens of Swarthmore. The bulbs have been planted at the SHS gardens in Centennial Park, in Gateway Park, and at the public library. In addition, more than half of the gifted bulbs are planted in gardens at the Swarthmore-Rutledge School (SRS), including the new garden by the SRS entrance, a project spearheaded by Claire Spampinato (at bottom left), assisted by SRS parent volunteers. The donated bulbs consist of 45 spectacular varieties, including allium, hyacinth, tulip, narcissus, crocus, scilla, camissa, and dwarf iris. The corydalis solida 'Beth Evans' (at left) has been planted at SRS; the tulipa 'Blushing Lady' (bottom right) is planted in the Library Window Garden.
SHS Gardens Grow to 12! coming soon to LIncoln Way
Last fall saw the genesis of SHS newest garden at Lincoln Way and Myers Ave. SHS volunteers, spearheaded by Garden Manager Sharon Mester, cleared the lot and planted over 900 early spring bulbs, including snowdrops, scilla, and chionodoxa (at left). Be sure to watch the metamorphosis begin in early 2013.
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Lincoln Way pre-makeover
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Claire Spampinato on planting day
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SHS and Brent and Becky's Bulbs have enjoyed a long-standing relationship. SHS has used Brent and Becky's as a reliable supplier of bulbs planted in all the SHS gardens, and B & B donated many of the bulbs in Alex's Garden at the Post Office. Brent and Becky's track record of great generosity goes beyond SHS: that company has made donations to many botanical gardens and arboreta, including the Scott Arboretum. You can explore all of Brent and Becky's impressive inventory and offerings at https://store.brentandbeckysbulbs.com.
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Tulipa 'Blushing Lady'
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THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 7, ENJOY A CAMELLIA WALK AT HEDGLEIGH SPRING!
To inspire current and potential camellia gardeners, Charles Cresson will host a tour of his private garden, Hedgleigh Spring, in Swarthmore, on Sunday, April 7, 3 - 4 p.m. This event, which is free and open to the public, will feature the many varieties of spring camellia blooms. The Cresson garden is located at 32 Amherst Avenue in Swarthmore. Visitors should enter through the garden gate on the left side as you face the residence.
❃ A second camellia tour-- of fall blooming varieties-- is also in the planning stage!
Photo at left: Charles Cresson (SHS founder and camellia expert) and Kit Raven (SHS Fundraising Chair) hold two of the camellia plants selected for the SHS Camellia Sale. ➜
❃ A second camellia tour-- of fall blooming varieties-- is also in the planning stage!
Photo at left: Charles Cresson (SHS founder and camellia expert) and Kit Raven (SHS Fundraising Chair) hold two of the camellia plants selected for the SHS Camellia Sale. ➜
❀ Spring Camellia Walk - A Perfect Day in Hedgleigh Spring ❀
Visitors admire one of the many Cresson camellias
Blue skies and balmy temperatures made the Camellia Walk through Charles Cresson's garden on Sunday, April 7, a delightful way to spend an early spring afternoon. Charles guided the visitors through his garden and shared his advice on the maintenance and pruning of camellias. The Walk was a special event designed to create interest in the cultivation of camellias and timed to precede the special SHS Camellia Sale planned for April 13.
SAVE THE DATE: A fall Camellia Walk is now scheduled for October 27. As before, it will be open to the public. See details on the sale which appear above on this home page.
SAVE THE DATE: A fall Camellia Walk is now scheduled for October 27. As before, it will be open to the public. See details on the sale which appear above on this home page.
Pruning advice and demostration
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Kit Raven (at left) oversees the sale preview
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❀ Special Camellia Sale - Saturday, April 13
Did you read the NY Times feature on winter-hardy camellias and SHS founder Charles Cresson's role in their development? (If not, see link below.) That article inspired SHS to sponsor a sale of several camellia varieties personally selected by Charles Cresson for this area. The sale will be held on April 13, 9 am - 1 pm, at Centennial Park (Dartmouth & Park Aves.) in Swarthmore. Quantities are limited; arrive early to ensure getting the plants of your choice,
Go Wild!
Gardening with Spring-Blooming Native Plants
A Walk & Talk - Sunday, April 28, 1-3:30 pm
Bloodroot - one of our region's native plants
Curious about creating habitat for birds and butterflies? Want plants that are perfectly suited to our soils and climate? Join fellow garden enthusiasts to explore the best Pennsylvania native plants for your garden with local horticulturist Claire Spampinato.
A slide-show presentation at Smedley Park Delaware County Cooperative Extension will precede the walk; the guided walk in Ridley Creek State Park will go forward rain or shine, so dress appropriately and wear sturdy shoes as the trail can be muddy.
This event is sponsored by the SHS and is FREE to SHS members. A $5 suggested donation applies to non-members. NO Registration required. Click HERE for all details and directions.
A slide-show presentation at Smedley Park Delaware County Cooperative Extension will precede the walk; the guided walk in Ridley Creek State Park will go forward rain or shine, so dress appropriately and wear sturdy shoes as the trail can be muddy.
This event is sponsored by the SHS and is FREE to SHS members. A $5 suggested donation applies to non-members. NO Registration required. Click HERE for all details and directions.
New SHS Banner Unfurled at Fun Fair Parade
SHS's new logo is featured in our new banner, which was on display for the first time at the Second Chance Plant Sale on Friday, May 3. The sale was a resounding success: all plants were sold within and hour and the sale earned $495 for SHS. Thank you to Fine Garden Creations for donating the plants for the sale!
Later in the weekend, SHS members (at left) marched with the new banner in the Fun Fair Parade, sponsored by Swarthmore Rotary.
Changeover Week - October 16 - 22
Team Ffrench at Changeover - Spring 2013
Say good-bye to summer! It's time to dress up the SHS gardens for winter and to plant for next spring. Changeover of the SHS town gardens will take place between October 16 & October 22. Garden managers should contact their team members to organize the changeover during this week, setting a specific schedule that works best for their respective gardens.
Interested in joining a garden team? Contact us at [email protected] or call Judy Penney at 610-544-6627.
Interested in joining a garden team? Contact us at [email protected] or call Judy Penney at 610-544-6627.
Spring-Blooming Bulb Sale - Sale extended!
Tulipa 'Miranda' now on sale
- Look for the SHS table at the Swarthmore Farmers Market (Park & Dartmouth Avenues) on 10/26, 9:30 - 1 pm
- or email us at [email protected]
Camassia still available
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Narcissus 'Sherborne" on sale
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Allium 'Gladiator' SOLD OUT!
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Fall Camellia Walk - Sunday, October 27, 3 - 4 pm Chas. Cresson
In January 2013, the New York Times devoted two full pages to extol the beauty of winter-hardy camellias, and featured SHS founder/ past president Charles Cresson and his garden in its report. That article heralded in a year celebrating camellias in Swarthmore: in April SHS held its first camellia sale and Charles Cresson opened his garden for a spring-blooming camellia tour. Now it's time to delight in the fall blooming varieties, and Charles Cresson will again conduct a tour, this time to showcase his autumn-blooming camellias. Just as in the spring, the tour will include tips on camellia cultivation. Join us at 32 Amherst Avenue, Swarthmore. The tour is free and open to the public. |
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From the 2012 Archives....
SHS unveils new logo at annual meeting
Our NEW logo
Beautiful weather and an excellent member turnout made for a very successful and pleasant Annual Meeting on Sunday, October 14, at Chanticleer in Wayne. One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the new SHS logo -- a stylized depiction of the Allium schubertii. After a short business meeting, past SHS president, Charles Cresson lead a tour of the stunning Chanticleer gardens. Accolades go out to Events Chair Judy Penney, President Margie Baker, and featured speaker Cricket Brien for their great work.
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← At the Annual Meeting, left to right: Lisa Ffrench, Judy Penney, Wallace Ayers, and Andrew Bunting.
←To celebrate our new logo, several dried and painted Allium schubertii were featured as centerpieces, including this striking red beauty, grown, dried and painted by Events Chair Judy Penney. |
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SHS Gardens Tucked in for the Winter
During the Fall Changeover Days in late October 2012 , the SHS public gardens were replanted with thousands of bulbs in preparation for the spring. Above ground, the gardens are now bedecked with pansies and ornamental kale and cabbages. In the Library Window Garden (left), ivory and cream-colored plantings brighten up even the grayest winter day. |
⬍ Kale "explosions" - Dec. 2012
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from the 2012 Summer Archives...
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the beginnings of little bananas
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Garden Conservancy's 2012 Tour Spotlights SHS Gardens
Dartmouth Ave. Garden in full bloom (April 2012)
The Garden Conservancy, a national organization dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of exceptional American gardens, has honored the SHS town center gardens by including them in its 2012 Open Days Directory. The Open Days program generally selects private gardens for a one-day visit by garden lovers. This year, four private gardens in Swarthmore were selected for its tour on Sunday, May 6, but in recognition of the horticultural efforts of the SHS, the Garden Conservancy has spotlighted the SHS public gardens as well. Over 170 visitors toured the private gardens on May 6. For more information about the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program, click on this link: http://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays .
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Ribbon of Gold weaves through Borough
pansies and daffodils - Library Window Garden (March 2012)
Officially spring 2012 began on March 20, but thanks to the mild winter and balmy weather of early March, spring for the SHS gardens arrived early this year. Daffodils are up; pansies have pulled through the winter brilliantly; and the tulips are ready to burst open. Look for the featured color of gold to anchor the SHS gardens this year. Plan to plant some gold in your front yard too! Look for this Website to feature a number of Swarthmore home gardens that showcase plantings in yellow and gold this summer.
Spring in the Shrub Garden 2012
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War Memorial Garden - April 2012
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Membership Campaign News
outside Borough Halll (March 2012)
The first annual SHS membership campaign is off and running! We're looking for old and new members to help us continue our work to beautify our community by supporting the existing gardens and future projects. You do not need to be a gardener to be a member--your contribution may be a financial one and/or a donation of your time and skills. Click HERE if you would like to upload our membership letter to make a donation of time or money. Thanks for your support!
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Garden Spotlight - May 2012
⬅ Although this month marks the transition in the gardens from spring to summer blossoms, some of the spring plantings are still going strong. The violas in the LIbrary Window Garden (at left) are still showing their happy faces to all who pass by on Park Avenue.
Thanks to new member Debbie Wilson for sending in this photo!
Thanks to new member Debbie Wilson for sending in this photo!
Allium in the Dartmouth Ave. Garden
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Sidewalk Containers May 2012
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poppies at the Borough Hall steps May 2012
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❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ Thanks to all who helped with Spring Changeover in Town Center!
Volunteers at the War Memorial Garden
❁ Many thanks to all who helped the town gardens get ready for summer. This month (May 2012), all the SHS gardens will be redesigned and replanted with flowers that stay beautiful through the heat of summer. Be sure to watch our gardens grow and know that your hard work makes Swarthmore a beautiful place to live, shop, and/or work. Take a stroll on a fine summer evening and savor your efforts!
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...And Thanks to all Volunteers for Spring Changeover Weekend at Gateway Park
January 2012 - Gateway Park
Over 2500 plugs of grasses and flowers were planted over Memorial Day weekend for the Gateway Park renovation. Dozens of intrepid volunteers braved the scorching heat to complete the job. Look for photos of this epic effort on this Website in the next few days. In the meantime, check out the "2012 Gardens" webpage (see link at the top of this page) to preview the plants that will be blooming in Gateway Park this summer!
☛ Gateway Park in the national spotlight! = The Smithsonian Archives are documenting the history of Gateway Park. Photos of the generous work of the Gateway Park volunteers will be forwarded to the Smithsonian Archives.
☛ Special thanks to North Creek Nurseries, who supplied us with all these plants at a significant discount!
Think Spring! - Bulb Sale offers spectacular choices
Allium 'Purple Sensation'
The SHS Bulb Sale kicks off this month with an exceptional assortment of spring-blooming bulbs, selected for their beauty and reliability. Last year's favorite, the show-stopping Narcissus 'Arkle' is again available, along with an array of gorgeous alliums, tulips, and daffodils. SHS members may purchase bulbs at the SHS Annual Meeting on October 14 at Chanticleer. (See Meeting details, above.) The bulbs will also be sold to the general public on October 20,
9 am - 1 pm, at Centennial Park (at the corner of Dartmouth and Park Aves.) in Swarthmore. Rain date for the public sale is Sunday, 10/21, 12 - 3 pm.
Come early for the best selection.
❁ For a list of the bulbs on sale, as well as photos, prices, & additional info, click HERE.
9 am - 1 pm, at Centennial Park (at the corner of Dartmouth and Park Aves.) in Swarthmore. Rain date for the public sale is Sunday, 10/21, 12 - 3 pm.
Come early for the best selection.
❁ For a list of the bulbs on sale, as well as photos, prices, & additional info, click HERE.
Gateway Park to get a New look thanks to Centennial Foundation Gift
Christmas arrived early for Gateway Park this past year. In early December 2011, the Swarthmore Centennial Foundation agreed to provide a generous $10,000 gift to fund much needed major renovations to the park. The gift will enable improvements that will preserve the park's key plantings, enhance its visual impact, and save on costly watering and the seasonal replanting of annuals.
To learn more about the plans for Gateway Park and to follow the progress of the renovations, click on the "Gateway Park Renovations" tab at the top of this page.
To learn more about the plans for Gateway Park and to follow the progress of the renovations, click on the "Gateway Park Renovations" tab at the top of this page.
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Charles Cresson Recognized for his decade of leadership
Margie Baker and Charles Cresson
As the first item of business at its January 2012 meeting, the SHS Board honored its founder and first president, Charles Cresson. It's hard to overstate how much the Society owes to Charles. The SHS was his brainchild, and he was instrumental in securing the seed money from the Cresson Horticultural Trust to fund the Society. Moreover, after founding the Society, Charles served as its president for 10 years, a decade in which the Society grew to over 100 members with responsibility for 11 public gardens throughout Swarthmore. Charles's tenure as president was characterized by his energy, creativity, vision, pride, and professionalism--qualities that inspired all SHS members who worked with him. Fortunately, even though Charles is stepping down as president, he will remain on the SHS Board and continue to contribute to the Society with his expertise and passion for horticulture.
After thanking Charles for his decade of leadership, SHS President Margie Baker presented Charles with the recently published book New Trees: Recent Introductions to Cultivation by Grimshaw & Bayton.
After thanking Charles for his decade of leadership, SHS President Margie Baker presented Charles with the recently published book New Trees: Recent Introductions to Cultivation by Grimshaw & Bayton.
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The Coop Garden Summer 2011
AND from the 2011 Archives...
Posted September 2011...
Purple was the focal color for the 2011 planting season.
Swarthmore to go for the gold in 2012!
At its September meeting, the SHS Board selected gold as the color to be featured in the public gardens maintained by SHS in 2012. All members of the community are encouraged to join the ribbon of gold by including plants in yellow and golden tones in their own home gardens, especially in their front gardens, throughout the 2012 growing season. To start off spring 2012 with a golden bang, SHS planted over 3000 daffodil bulbs in Swarthmore's public gardens. Look below for details on the specific bulbs that were planted.
At its September meeting, the SHS Board selected gold as the color to be featured in the public gardens maintained by SHS in 2012. All members of the community are encouraged to join the ribbon of gold by including plants in yellow and golden tones in their own home gardens, especially in their front gardens, throughout the 2012 growing season. To start off spring 2012 with a golden bang, SHS planted over 3000 daffodil bulbs in Swarthmore's public gardens. Look below for details on the specific bulbs that were planted.
❀ Daffodil Bulbs in SHS's 2012 gardens
⬅ Narcissus Rijnveld's Early Sensation-an award winning trumpet daffodil Color: golden yellow Height: 18'' Early Bloomer: March! 
Narcissus Arkle ➤
Early Bloomer: March! Who could resist a daffodil named after an Irish race horse? The blooms of this variety span 5" and really create a "wow" factor in any early spring garden. Height: 19" Color: golden yellow 
⬅ Narcissus Stratosphere -- fragrant & dramatic Height: 21" (the name says it all!) Color: golden yellow Blooms: April |
Narcissus Rapture
a dramatic windswept look with its long cup and reflexed perianth (bent back outer petal) Color: golden yellow Height: 12" Blooms: April 
⬅ Narcissus Milk & Honey - a fragrant daffodil! Color: white perianth (outer petal) and a honey to apricot cup. Height: 14" Blooms: April 
Narcissus Suzy ⇰
another fragrant variety Color: canary yellow perianth (outer petal) with deep orange cup Height: 16' Blooms: April |
⬅ Narcissus Dickcissel
--- fragrant!
Color: lemon yellow perianth with lighter cup that turns white
Height: 15"
Blooms: April
--- fragrant!
Color: lemon yellow perianth with lighter cup that turns white
Height: 15"
Blooms: April
❀❀❀ Posted October 2011...
The War Memorial garden gets ready for spring.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED AT FALL CHANGEOVER DAY
★ Many thanks to our volunteers who helped make Changeover Day a great success. To insure a golden spring, we planted over 3000 bulbs and many hundreds of pansies, spread across Swarthmore's 11 public flower beds maintained by SHS.
★ More photos below!
☚ Bob Richardson (Garden Manager) and Wallace Ayres work in "Alex's Garden" at the Swarthmore Post Office. |
➨➨➨➨➨➨➨➨➨ The flower beds outside the library window receive their spring make-over. |
Doing double duty:
⬅ In addition to redesigning the flower beds in
Centennial Park for spring,
Kit Raven (left) supervised
the Fall Bulb Sale.
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The new garden on the side of Borough Hall
gets some TLC from Gladys Snively, Garden
Manager (far right) and Charles Cresson,
SHS President in 2011 (2nd from left). ➤
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Posted November 2011....
Society donates Spring-blooming bulbs to Local Elementary school ---
the latest link in 2012's ribbon of gold ❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀
Look for lots of gold in SRS's spring gardens
Following its successful bulb sale in October, the Society has donated and organized the planting of 140 daffodil bulbs at our local public elementary school, the Swarthmore-Rutledge School (SRS). These bulbs, which will flower next March and April, were planted by Kit Raven, the Society's Director of Development, and Kristen Cardi, an SRS parent, in SRS's front garden. Look for these cheery hallmarks of spring as you stroll along College Avenue next year.