Sunday's Highlights at the Philly Fling

The last day of any Garden Fling is bittersweet: You know you have more time touring with garden friends, but too soon it will be over. Our last day of the Philadelphia Fling started at the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College. Lush pathways welcomed us to several plant collections and unique garden areas.



We split up into small groups, and one of the first places my group visited was the Dean Bond Rose Garden. I tried to get the names of the varieties, but believe it or not, this one didn't have a plant marker. It was luscious, full, and heavy with raindrops.



There were several Magnolia trees along the path, including this 'March 'til Frost' variety. The forming cones were as interesting as the blooms.



Apparently, as the name implies, it begins blooming in March and continues, intermittently, throughout the growing season until late autumn. Magical.



Nifty seasonal displays were scattered around the campus, here beautifully framed by the lacy, white Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Diamond Frost.'



Nearby, Salvia 'Amistad' was making a statement at the corner.



Our next visit was to author Jenny Rose Carey's Northview Gardens in Three Tuns. Her garden was such a whimsical blend of little tucked away areas, regal scenery, and welcoming props throughout.



I imagined spending warm summer days in this lush, partially shaded patio area.



'Augustus Falls' was surrounded by beautiful rock formations and plentiful plants.



And the apples! These, I think, were the biggest apples I've ever seen. And believe it or not, this semi-dwarf variety 'Wolf River' was developed very near where I grew up in Central Wisconsin!



What can I say? A tin bucket full of Zinnias: a perfect welcoming display.



Jenny's staging area was neatly arranged and full of plans and plants.



After lunch, we headed to Bruce Gangawer's Paxson Hill Farm in New Hope. My first stop was the garden center shop, where I noticed these beautiful stained glass panels. If only I lived closer...



There was so much more to Paxson Hill Farm than I could have imagined. It started with this inviting walk through several gardens, with views through arches, hedges, and props beckoning...



Friends along the way...



Ending at the moon gate, framing a statuary. Just lovely.



Some of the Maple foliage was warm and bright--here framed by understory plants, taller trees, and a companion Beautyberry shrub (Callicarpa americana).



This statuary really caught my eye. It was placed on a staged area with seating opposite. Very graceful and elegant.



Our late afternoon garden stop before dinner was Barbara Tiffany's Mill Fleurs in Point Pleasant. More colorful trees, shrubs, and waterways greeted us here.



This was a beautiful, shaded Eden, which I can imagine is stunning in all seasons.



Like the other days, on Sunday we encountered more lush Dahlias. (Sorry, again I don't have the variety name. I think I'll have to do a separate post about all the amazing Dahlias of this Fling!)



Barbara had several unique plants and plant collections, including these marked Hosta varieties.



It was a colorful woodland wonderland.

A great place to end a very fun, inspiring Garden Fling! Warm thank-yous to all our hosts and sponsors!

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Philly Fling, as recorded at the Fling website.

A Sunday Drive to the Apple Orchards

We drove to the Baraboo Hills and the Driftless Region on Sunday, thinking the fall color would be brilliant. It wasn't--it was "past peak"--but it was still an incredibly beautiful day, with partly cloudy skies, light winds, and temperatures in the high 60sF/20C.



While many of the leaves had fallen, the sunlight hitting the foliage and the bare branches was pleasant.



And the day was bright.

Actually, our quest extended beyond fall color. We were heading for some apple orchards--to stock up for pies, crisps, and snacking. Our first stop was one of our family's favorite destinations--Ski Hi Fruit Farm, just south of Baraboo. The weather was great for a picnic before apple shopping.



Fortunately, we'd packed a lunch, so the fishman and I plopped down on a picnic-table-for-two amid the fruit trees, overlooking the valley.



After buying some apples and other goodies, we explored the property and read about the homestead's history. Ski-Hi, owned by the Bassett family has been in continuous production for more than 100 years. The family grows about 25 varieties of apples on 50 acres.





It's a beautiful property with great views, in addition to the apples as the main attraction.



Our next stop was Oakwood Fruit Farm, near Richland Center. This was our first visit to this orchard, also a pleasant experience. Oakwood has an attractive display area and family-friendly farm props and activities.



It also has great views of the surrounding hills and valleys.









The pumpkins and other produce were tempting, but we already had some at home.



Oakwood, run by the Louis family, started production in the early 1900s. The orchard includes more than 20 cultivars, grown on about 200 acres.



By the end of the day, we'd purchased 15 pounds of apples (Cortlands, Spartans, and Royal Galas), a jar of Bucky Badger horseradish, and six apple cider donuts (notice two are missing?). After snapping this haphazard photo, I'd planned to re-do it, but by then there were only two donuts left. Have you ever tasted apple cider donuts?!