July Jaunt

by DIG-IT

Join The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum and DIG IT! on another exceptional garden experience on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Leave the driving to us for a day as we enjoy a July Jaunt to Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley.

“OMG” may be your first utterance as you step into the first garden. “Exquisite!” may follow as it takes your breath away, then sighs of desire as you see before you all the gardens that you’ve ever dreamed of.

Welcome to Chanticleer, a 35-acre Pleasure Garden, touted as one of the most beautiful public gardens in the United States. We will have a guided tour of distinct yet unified garden areas, each designed by a horticulturist and a guided tour of the first floor of the manor house of this early 20th-century former estate built as a country retreat for the Rosengarten family.

“Mr. Rosengarten's humor is evident in naming his home after the estate "Chanticlere" in Thackeray's 1855 novel The Newcomes. The fictional Chanticlere was ‘mortgaged up to the very castle windows’ but ‘still the show of the county.’ Playing on the word, which is synonymous with ‘rooster,’ the Rosengartens used rooster motifs throughout the estate.” (from the Chanticleer website)

The gardens include: the Teacup Garden, a jungle of potted tropicals surrounding an Italianate fountain with an adjoining small formal garden; Bell's Woodland, where paths wind through East Coast forest plants and sidle close to a creek with a sculpted bridge over wetland plants.

A Ruin Garden, created on the foundation of Adolph Rosengarten, Jr.’s razed home, is a perennial and sculpture “landscape theater” beside a Mediterranean Gravel Garden. The Tennis Court Garden features colorful foliage with a central bed surrounded by color-themed beds, rose arbors and a central axis. Chanticleer House Garden surrounds the main house with several perennial border, terrace gardens, fountains and annual beds.

The Pond Garden is wildlife heaven consisting of several ponds and dense, floriferous plantings that offer shelter to Little Green Herons, frogs, hummingbirds, damsel flies, and lots of small birds. This is the spot to sit on the grass and enjoy nature.

In Asian Woods, collections of plants native to Korea, Japan, and China are planted as layers to mimic North American forests. The Serpentine winds through rows of confers and crops to an almost pagan semi-circle rimmed by gingko trees and dedicated to Flora. Minder Woods offers new discoveries like sorrel trees and surprise furniture. Practicality not to be outdone, the Cut Flower and Vegetable Gardens produce food and blossoms for arrangements.

Tired and hungry? Or looking for some haricot vert earrings in gold? We’ll find fun and sustenance when we stop for lunch and shopping at terrain, a nursery/restaurant and garden accessory boutique. (Not to worry, there’s lots of room under the bus.) We’ll enjoy a rustic, farm-to-table lunch in the Garden Shed where lunch is on us and we’ll finish with home-made lavender ice cream and toppings at the Ice Cream Bar.

Come enjoy the pleasures of Chanticleer, then treat yourself to some of your own at terrain. We look forward to you joining us!

DATE: Wednesday, July 17, 2013.
TIME: The bus leaves Frelinghuysen Arboretum at 8:30am SHARP and returns approximately 5:15pm.
COST: $100 members; $125 non members
REGISTER: www.arboretumfriends.org/Events
NEED MORE TEMPTING?: Chanticleer and terrain

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