Living in the greater Philadelphia area is a goldmine for those who love to explore beautiful gardens. The area is known as the Garden Capital of America, with 30+ gardens within 30 miles, in three different regions in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, big and small, fee-based and free. There is a neat Garden Passport, which you can download here, which highlights key features about each garden, describes the garden type (natural, formal, botanical, bird sanctuary, etc) and allows you to keep track of and plan your visits. Many are open years round; some are only seasonal.
Longwood Gardens is arguably one of the premier gardens in the country, and is one of the most well-known and visited in the area. But there are many more that deserve a visit. One of my other favorites is Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, PA. Unlike Longwood, which is much larger and more formal, Chanticleer is a more peaceful and much less visited place, but certainly no less beautiful. Garden Design Magazine called it “America’s Most Inspiring Garden”. Chanticleer calls itself a “Pleasure Garden”. “The garden is a study of textures and forms, where foliage trumps flowers, the gardeners lead the design, and even the drinking fountains are sculptural. It is a garden of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home.” The public garden area covers 35 acres, and is filled with hidden treasures. Unique sculptures are hidden in the midst of a variety of gardens, and especially in the “Ruins” area-which is my personal favorite. According to their website, “The Ruin stands where Minder House, the residence of Janet and Adolph Rosengarten, Jr., was built in 1925 and remained until 1999 when it was razed to build the Ruin on the old foundation. The Ruin has three rooms: a “Great Hall” with a water table shaped like a large sarcophagus resting on a mosaic “rug” of tile, granite and slate; a “Library” where the books are sculpted of stone; and a “Pool Room,” where marble faces gaze up from the depths. Accenting the spaces are carved stone pieces sculpted by Marcia Donahue, including large stone acorns placed among oak saplings greet visitors entering from the nearby meadow.” Seriously, how cool does all that sound?
The area is hilly and flat, grassy and planted, secret pathways and wide-open spaces. There is a pond garden, a gravel garden, woods, meadow, a vegetable and cutting gardens and more! You could easily spend an entire day here wandering and exploring, and resting on one of the gorgeous benches or colorful Adirondack chairs placed throughout the garden.
I have visited on many occasions, and love the variety of photographic opportunities to be found. In the mood for macro photography? Then spend a few hours in one of the many planted gardens. The Cutting Garden in the summer is full of bugs and bees to keep you happily snapping for hours! Love landscape photography? Then wander and capture the grounds from all angles, in all seasons, at different times of day in differing qualities of light. As an added bonus for photographers during the summer, Chanticleer opens two hours early on the first Saturday of each month, and stays open late-until 8pm on Fridays. (check website for updated openings and closings). Each time I visit, I see something new-and so will you!
If you would like to learn to see and photograph such a beautiful place more creatively, I will be leading a small group workshop at Chanticleer Garden on Friday August 27, 2021, from 4-8pm. We will be there during the Golden hour of light before and during sunset. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Click on Events https://valeriehoffmanphotography.com/treks/ to join us!
