Garden Lover's Weekend!

High 75 F
Low  64 F

The drive and entry courtyard at J. Liddon Pennock Jr.'s home
It is difficult to leave the garden in June if only for a weekend but if one is to learn from the expertise and eye of others, it is a necessity.  This past weekend I joined a tour group traveling to PA and the gardens of Meadowbrook Farm, Longwood Gardens, and Winterthur.  Chanticleer had originally been on the tour instead of Meadowbrook but due to scheduling issues we were unable to see it. Meadowbrook
however, was an unexpected treat. 
The entry door with a line of tiny, yellow pansies to step over.
Meadowbrook was the home of J. Liddon Pennock, Jr., a well known and respected florist and horticulturist in the area, the garden consists of twenty separate rooms. He and his wife, Alice,  were
  quite the entertainers.
Front facade (Who waters those Alberta Spruce in those high urns?)
All of the gardens have an intimate and inviting feel to them and all have small, charming details and ornaments making them unique.  Most of the gardens were designed to be viewed from the house and that, to me, is the real charm of this garden.  The 'Eagle Garden' is  visible from the entry vestibule (I was not allowed to take pictures of the inside) and it has some interesting features such as this table of collectibles.  This garden is just outside the living room and has a little sitting table.   I always wonder if these are just props or were actually used by the owners.  This next view is from the dining room window which looks out on the potager.  There is a conservatory which is decked out with ficus pumila swags and this large staghorn fern over the door.  The view from the outside patio is lovely in every direction. Gardens flow from one to the other with circles and  rectangular spaces. There are little creatures watching over everything. I particularly liked this dipping pool but had to wonder at the notion of putting a cactus next to it.  The Lyre garden has a music all its' own with the silver and gold plantings and it overlooks one of the gazebos. This is not a huge property but a lovely one and there are many other views worth showing so, if you will bear with me, I will add a few more tomorrow.  To be continued...

Comments

[Heather's Garden]

I want more now!!!

[Northern Shade]

What a spectacular garden. There is so much to see in each picture. You must have been alternating between slowing down to look at each area and rushing to see the next gem. Did you get any particular ideas that you'd like to try in your garden?

[Kylee]

Wow, Layanee, what a beautiful place!

Can't wait to see Longwood Gardens and Winterthur. Mom and I were there in September of 2006 for GardenFair. Both places are fabulous, as you know. I prefer Winterthur of the two, but both are in such a wonderful place - Brandywine Valley. I could live there. Yes, I could. ;-)

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Meadowbrook looks like my kind of place. I have circle gardens in our garden too. I can't wait to see more.

I was just telling Rose that it is such fun to be able to go through well/professionally maintained gardens to see what could be done. They are such great inspiration for us home/non professional gardeners.

I love the juxtaposition of the cactus by the pool. It dos make one stop and ponder.

[Robin]

I've enjoyed the garden tour and your pictures are wonderful! I'm sure it was spectacular to see in person.

[Mr. McGregor's Daughter]

Thanks for the tour, this is a great garden. The Eagle garden offers a wonderful example for a small space garden. I like the way it is enclosed & blocks the view beyond. This idea could be adapted so easily to so many other situations.

[Gail]

I can imagine myself easily in the patio garden with the glassed roof conservatory. The little balcony and the pink flowers along the roof line is lovely. Green with pink flowers and a touch of pink in the brick. Peaceful and cool.

[Nan Ondra]

Beautiful photos of Meadowbrook, Layanee! I haven't been there since the mid-90s, when my brother was a gardener for Mr. Pennock, and my very first freelance assignment was writing an article about the garden for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's magazine. From what you've shown, it still looks much the same. I'm so sorry you didn't get to Chanticleer, but I look forward to seeing your images from the other gardens.

[kate]

It must have been wonderful to see this garden. I love the look of the pool. All those gorgeous pots!

[Kim]

Oh wow! All of the photos are superb, but I REALLY love that little lyre garden! And all of the gorgeous containers... *sigh*

[Jim/ArtofGardening.org]

I wish I had the space and budget - I'd do something like this. I'd get to explore whims and not worry about how the gardens coordinate with each other so much. It's a great exercise in design, like having a garden as a sketchpad.

[jodi]

What an incredible trip this must have been, Layanee. Just marvelous to see these incredible homes and gardens. Some of these trips, people go into the homes, but I'm always more interested in the plants outside.