Chanticleer

This is the first of several posts on my trip to Chanticleer Garden.

Almost two years ago, I had the incredible experience of visiting one of the best public gardens in the U.S. I worked at Chanticleer Garden for two weeks as an intern gardener.

It was 5pm on a Saturday in mid-May. I made my way to the shuttle which would transport me to Wayne, PA, home to Chanticleer Garden. Once in Wayne, at the agreed-upon meeting place, Peter from Chanticleer arrived to deliver me to the wonderland... Driving through town on tiny, curvy two-way lanes we pass, gorgeous, old stone houses surrounded by lush tree canopies.

Wayne is a lovely, quaint Northeastern town which in many ways looks the way I might have imagined this town as described by a favorite childhood novel. This was my first trip to eastern Pennsylvania, so every sense was awakened by the newness of everything.

We arrive! The iron gates magically open, we pass through the rooster-topped pillars and drive into the driveway of my home for the next two weeks. The house is white stucco with copper scuppers and downspouts with the loveliest blue-green patina. One of the Chanticleer garden-artists, Jonathan, lives here and kindly agreed to share his home with me. His apartment is on one end of the Main House on the property, where the Rosengarten family once resided. Peter had an engagement, so I was invited to wander the garden and get my 'bearings'. Truthfully, I didn't get my bearings for about 24 hours.

More on my experience later - for now here are some photos of the gardens that surround the Main House.

This was the view from my bathroom window.

Garden bed adjacent to the rill and fountain. 

Chanticleer is comprised of 7 types or styles of gardens, each is designed, planted and maintained by a gardener/artist. The Chanticleer House or Main House is cared for by Dan Benarcik. Dan travelled to New Zealand the previous spring which inspired his creations as seen here.

Looking down the lawn, the Main House on the right and swimming pool on the left.

Dan's New Zealand-inspired plantings create a highly-textural border in front of the swimming pool.

Confluence Land Bridge

Until last weekend, I'd only seen aerial photos of the Confluence Project - Ft. Vancouver Land Bridge. Now I get to walk across it!!
I parked on the Ft. Vancouver Park side of the bridge. The 'Old Apple Tree Park' resides on the other side of the bridge.

Approaching the bridge on foot is different than looking at an aerial photo of the bridge. On foot, the subtle changes in topography reveal themselves slowly. On the approach, the earth is mostly flat with subtle slopes.

The drab yellow color painted concrete walls of the bridge 'peek' out against the gray skies.

Beyond the slight elevation change, I see a train passing behind the bridge and cars passing in front of the bridge...sort of trippy!

The hardscape materials are a mix of composite decking, a permeable but mostly hardened sandy concrete and square concrete pavers.

 My favorite design element is the curvy steel grate covering a trench in the paving.

On the upper end is a rain collection grate.

On the lower end, rain water is dispersed and pours freely onto a planted hillside.

I also favor the 'feel' of the bridge. The land bridge, feels like 'land' bridge. It feels solid under foot. I felt closer to the land than to the freeway that was 'under my feet'.

Black powder-coated steel fencing and overhead structures provide enclosure as well as highly contrasted views of the winter sky.

The history behind the land bridge and the educational plaques are quite good. The bridge itself left me wanting more. I'd like to see and feel more of a connection between the curvilinear edges of the concrete walls and the landscape. I'd like to experience more of a connection between hardscape materials and history of the place. I'd like the visual experience of the land bridge to feel as solid as walking across the bridge. I'll look forward to a spring and summer visit to experience the changes in light and adjacent plantings.

Phormiums...maybe, maybe not!

I know! I know! ...I should have wrapped the Phormiums in my garden but...I didn't...

In the same boat as last year, I am faced with the decision of whether or not to buy new Phormiums, selectively prune mine and wait for them to grow or yank them out!

Before I decide, I'll assess the rest of the Phormiums in the garden.

Hmmm... another Phormium 'Dusky Chief' not looking much better... perhaps worse!

'Yellow Wave'


And here are the bananas. Two-thirds of each Musa basjoo clump 'melted'.
It doesn't bother me because I know they will grow rapidly once the heat returns.
Actually, I find it quite fascinating to witness a plant growing 15 or more feet in one growing season!


The decision is made and doesn't it look better!!! Empty but better, happier even.
I don't know what will live where my Phormiums did for the last year but I have fun figuring it out.


I'll definitely keep this painfully slow-growing lovely, Phormium 'Guardsman' in a pot, protecting it in the cold weather.

 Look at Yucca 'Gold Ribbons' - doesn't it look lovely!

Yucca 'Margarita' is also looking fabulous...perhaps Yucca will be my new Phormium!

After cutting back the Cyrtomium 'Rockfordianum' and the mushy Musa basjoo, this tidier garden bed makes me happy!

Ahhhhh!!! Out with the old and in with the new! I love this time of the year!

I'm curious...Are you replacing your Phormiums with new Phormiums or something different this year? Or perhaps you wrapped your Phormiums like a 'good gardener'!