Gardening as Therapy: Why Nature is Good for the Soul

Written by Garden Glamour reader and Contributing Writer, Emma Crosby.

Although we’re certainly living in an age of technological developments and scientific advances, life for many is still incredibly difficult and stressful; financial worries, employment problems, health issues and personal problems are all common and can lead to isolation, depression and loneliness. Worse still, it was recently reported that despite wanting to work, eighty per cent of people with mental illness and substance abuse problems are unemployed – a statistic that is both sad and worrying.

Dealing with such problems successfully can be incredibly difficult, but international mental health charity MIND have conducted a study which researched the effects of interacting with nature and other people and the results are astoundingly positive. Officially titled ‘ecotherapy,’ the study reports that the process of spending time with other people out of doors, either gardening, crafting or helping with conservation can help to ease both physical and mental health issues.

The use of horticulture as treatment is certainly not a new thing, however; the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) have reported this method of treatment being used in ancient times, and also mention the fact that it was both popular and successful in treating injured veterans following the second world war. Centuries later, the great outdoors continues to be a favored method in helping patients with mental illness and substance abuse, and one of the main advantages is how easy it is to incorporate it into other treatment programs.

Get involved with conservation

With the environment being such a huge current concern, one of the best ways to get outside and get involved with nature is to join a local conservation program; whether you’re interested in helping to clean up beaches, repopulate wooded areas and forests or help to protect rare species of flora and fauna, The Nature Conservancy can put you in touch with a huge variety of projects which will get you out and about. Covering all fifty states, they aim to connect individuals with the most suitable ventures in their area; not only are the ecology benefits obviously huge, but time spent outdoors with like-minded people is proven to be advantageous to mental health.

Explore the possibilities in your own garden

The popularity of gardening and horticulture has exploded over the last few years, with more people than ever before growing their own fruit, vegetables and flowers; from tiny urban gardens on balconies and rooftops to ordinary back yards and acres of space, everyone is getting in on the act.

If you’ve never attempted to grow anything before, don’t let that put you off; start small with something simple such as tomatoes, strawberries or some bee-friendly annuals such as cosmos, Californian poppies and the beginners favorite -- the humble sunflower -- and just enjoy being outside and connecting with nature. A good garden centre is the best place to start; you’ll find staff are always keen to help aspiring gardeners and total novices, and will point you in the right direction of everything you’ll need to get growing.

Practice outdoor arts and crafts

Horticulture and nature aren’t the only natural treatments that have been used in healing mental health issues, arts and crafts have also been well documented as having a thoroughly positive effect on people who might be suffering with anxieties and other problems; so it makes sense then that taking part in outdoor crafts groups and attending arts festivals would be doubly positive experiences.  Learning a new skill can be absorbing and interesting, and can easily be combined with a natural setting by simply taking your project outdoors; cross-stitch, crochet and knitting are all really portable crafts, and can be picked up as easily in the local park or nature reserve as they can on the couch – surround yourself with fragrant flowers and leafy green trees, and lose yourself in the great outdoors.

Join a Community Garden program

If you don’t have the space or the inclination to begin gardening on your own, there’s always the option of joining a local community garden project; one space tended by several people, this kind of project combines sowing and growing with interaction with others, and the benefits include fresh produce to take home, an increased sense of community in the neighborhood and a renewed connection with the natural world. Becoming involved in a group gardening project can be an incredibly positive move; as well as being entitled to a percentage of the fruit, vegetables or flowers, there are also the environmental benefits to consider, and the social contact – mixing with other keen gardeners not only helps to build new friendships, but also means you can add to your horticulture skills by learning from those more experienced than you.

True garden glamour…

NYBG Kicks Off 2010 Landscape Design Portfolio Lecture Series

New York Botanical Garden Landscape Design Portfolios 2010

For the first time, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) located its popular Landscape Design lecture series at the “newly renovated space in a historic landmark building” in the Midtown Education Center in New York City.

I like the locale ever so much better.

Previously, they were held in the Urban Center that was a martini away, across the courtyard, from Le Cirque restaurant in the Palace Hotel.
While I adored the swanky location and the twinkling lights in the romantic café/courtyard there, the lecture facility was less than ideal.  Too crowded, too hot …

I attended a talk at the Midtown Education Center in the late spring (see previous blog post about xxx and Lyndon Miller and urban gardens.) Very informative and inspirational talk, by the way.  Xxx has subsequently led the city’s urban garden community to retain its gardens.) That talk took place in a school-like classroom upstairs.  Very nice.  But not nearly as nice as the expansive, library like setting for the Landscape Design Portfolio lectures.

Snuggled between wise and approving bookshelves, below balconies stocked with more books who seemed to be watchful, monitoring this new audience, and under what seemed to be a Beaux Arts skylight (it was dark, as this is October in the Northeast).
It was all so roomy and chairs were beckoned seating – without the airlines’ saddle-style of scrunching in.

To me, the annual autumn lecture series is also the official kick-off for the horticultural world’s "social" calendar.
All growing season, us gardeners and garden designers are scurrying from nursery to gardens in order to design, plant, nurture, and maintain within our all-to-narrow window of opportunity.  We pretty much do that all year round, given seasonal container gardening, but that’s another story.
The Talks and Lectures from NYBG, MetroHort, Wave Hill et al, also provide a sort of mini reunion for those of us in the gardening community who are too busy to see each other during the go-go season.

I signal hello to Susan Cohen as I enter. Susan is the Coordinator of the Landscape Design Program series.  Later, as part of her introduction, Jeff Downing, Vice President for Education, noted Susan had been recently recognized and has been named to the Council of Fellows of the American Landscape Design Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) for her work in producing the Design Portfolio Series - now in it's Lucky 13th year.
http://tiny.cc/zm2ps
Applause, Applause.
I first met Susan when I worked at NYBG.  Susan is an amazing, award-winning residential garden designer and the Coordinator for the Garden's Landscape Design certificate program.

I got my seat after registering – thank goodness NYBG sent that day-off reminder email! I was delighted when I looked up to see Lynn Torgerson.  See earlier blog post about her amazing garden design at the Gramercy Hotel  http://tiny.cc/97fvh.  
She is pixie-ish adorable and funky as always.  Intelligent beyond all get out. She is teaching for NYBG too at the Midtown Center. Be sure to check out the catalog for her not to be missed classes.
“Can I sit here?” she asks amusingly, pointing to the chair next to me.  (See how great it is to foster camaraderie just by having ample room?!)
Mais, bien sure. Of course!
We are on our way to catching up since our last sojourn at the Standard Hotel overtop the High Line garden park back in July (I must write about this. Promise.  We drank Lavender martinis!!)

When Phyllis Odessey comes up.

http://blog.phyllisodessey.com

Phyllis is the horticulture manager at Randall’s Island, a 450-acre island park in the East River of New York.  This summer, Phyllis took a sabbatical of sorts to study with two gardening workshop in-garden classes in England. She was able to secure a Royal Oak Foundation Fellowship in Sustainable Gardening.


(That left the horticulture work in the very capable hand of Eun Young Sebaszco, who I’ve had the honor of working with over the years as part of my Duchess Designs’ Fine Gardening and garden design team. www.silverflowerdesign.com)
Eun Young is an amazing talent! (as is her artist husband Tom)

I had so many questions for Phyllis as she started to tell us about her English garden experience this summer.
But too soon the lights were indicating the lecture was to begin.  We all agree to meet soon - at the Standard Hotel!

The featured speaker was Bridget Baines, principle from Gross Max.
www.grossmax.com


Baines’ Scottish accent is both charming and challenging...

Her company’s eclectic and contemporary landscape design portfolio was visually stimulating.  Some of the images prompted me to whisper to Lynn that it reminded me of Avatar:  rich, Caribbean hues and phantasmagorical dioramas or scrims of landscape design.



I liked that Ms. Baines showed not only the contracts or commissions they were awarded but also those they submitted that didn’t get the nod. There is much to learn from the designs despite the political or financial contretemps that seal any deal.
Thank you, Bridget.  (At this point, I’m trying not to think of Renee Zellwinger in the movie “Bridget Jones,” but it’s hard not too with the accent and all…)

NYBG touted Bridget and her firm for their work on two parks at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin.  (I worked for Sony and had been to Berlin not long after we opened our facility there).
I love this image of the Sony head in the garden. (was it that I identified it with my time there where too many of the executives had half their head in the ground?! ha)

Bridget’s Gross Max also produced a civic garden in Rottenrow Hospital in Glasgow.



And work with the acclaimed architect Zahid Hadid with her design for the BMW factory in Germany.

Bridget shared a lot of images and design work – pushing the envelope on time.  A few times she noted, “this will be the last one; ok?” only to be answered by an audience who verbally responded for her to continue.
When it was really time to stop, anyone with questions were advised to come up after the talk had concluded. I did, as did a few others.

Next lecture is Monday, October 25.

Speaker is Carol Franklin. She will talk about High Performance Landscapes: The Work of Andropogon (psst: Andropogon is her company I learned. It is noted for its work in sustainable design.)
To register: go to: www.nyby.org/edu

Gardens Always Deliver on Wonder says Dominique Browning

Dominique Browning Lecture for Wave Hill Gardens Lecture Series

I wish I could say I was waiting for The New York Times’ Miranda Seymour Review of Dominique’s new book, “Slow Love” How I lost My Job, Put on My Pajamas and Found Happiness in Sunday’s May 16^th Book Review (http://tinyurl.com/399pqhf)

to write about Dominique’s wonderful lecture at the New York School of Interior Design as part of the Wave Hill Lecture Series.

Atlas & Company

Truth is I was too busy with writing and producing my book, “The Long Island Homegrown Cookbook” a series about Master Chefs and Their Gardens. 

Commercial break here ^:^ 

My book explores how gardens inspire artists – especially culinary artists because they use the bounty of the garden in producing their art.  The book will include chef profiles, garden art (my watercolors), plant lists, and recipes from these leading farm to table master chefs! 

I have heard Dominique speak before and eagerly read her book reviews in the Times.  I also sincerely thought she wrote the best Letters from the Editor when she was at the helm of House & Garden magazine.

Why?

She speaks to the audience from her heart.  I always felt like I was sharing a cup of tea with Dominique. 

She could tap into the national mood while seemingly reaching into my own – and by extension her readers – to expose personal experiences and dreams.      

And so by extension, she forged a deep and enduring relationship with us. 

Without the histrionics and grandstanding of too many of her peers.

Not surprisingly, The Wave Hill Lecture spoke to me in much the same way.

Dominique is charming; her presentation is indelibly touching. 

Most garden lectures or talks take a fairly familiar path: overview, pretty pictures and the speaker acts as garden guide and teacher about the garden design and plants.

Not so with Dominique. 

Not surprising when you think about it that instead, she told a story.

Her story.

And in her small, smooth as rose petals voice, read excerpts from her book. 

The emphasis was on the words rather than the pictures. 

With no loss of imagery. 

I disagree with some of Ms. Seymour’s take on “Slow Love.”  Her review was a bit too cheeky for me, seizing on the nickname “abstractions” and Dominique’s failure to see it coming at the magazine and it seems she can’t help but include catty references to former Conde Nast colleagues.   I do agree her assessment of Dominique’s “entrancing combination of humor and humanity, to a beloved garden.”  And to her great wit.

During her talk, it became quite obvious that Dominique is indeed very, very funny. 

I love her girl-power sarcasm too. 

She can take the bite out of loss and heartache with a dose of pragmatism and humor. 

I like that medicine and life lesson.

The lecture and the book is Dominique’s personal, private story of her adapting to life after Conde Nast abruptly shuttered House & Garden Magazine in 2007.

By the way, I was at the same venue for a garden lecture to hear Dominique when a few days later they pulled the plug. 

We in the gardening world were astonished.  “Did she know?” we all wondered. 

We later learned “no.”  No one did. 

Afterwards I learned one of the editors learned about the magazine closing and her job elimination via voice mail from Conde Nast – while she was out of the office serving jury duty!  That’s low…

The recent lecture featured Dominique relating how she coped with such a devastating loss of self that is wrapped up in a career.  It took her almost a year to get over the shock of falling apart. 

Bundled with the enormous economic meltdown as backdrop, she felt part of her old world was just “disappearing.”

She asserts that Slow Living is what made her re-orient herself.  “Slow living opens up the prospect of slow love; the prospect of opportunity for reading book, enjoying good food...”

She cited the imperative of “knowing what you’ve got before it’s gone.”

She admired her one snowdrop, for example. One? She’d just concentrate on that, welcoming it into her story.  Just like the white azalea in her classis old Westchester garden left over from the previous owner. Or the stand of sassafras trees.  She adapted the garden over time to her life and likes – getting rid of most of the lawn, plunking a small pink azalea Mother’s Day gift in a spot where she could gaze upon its growth and shared memory.

Soon she realized she needed to build a bridge to a new world: "reality and the written word."

Dominique took us on her personal journey from recognizing the need to sell her beloved home to finding a new place in Rhode Island. 

I think we could all recognize the gallows humor in selling and building a home and relocating. 

She excels at exposing those wounds and making them a badge of honor.

With a story to tell.

She knows she needs to sell her “forever house” and get out of debt. 

She had wanted to pass the house down to her children – to watch her grandchildren there.  But it was not meant to be.

However, she seemed unflappable about the decision.

Her encounter with the real estate agent who advised her to get rid of everything personal who trailed off mid-sentence while trying to take in all her STUFF was hilarious.

Dominique said she even though in her addled brain that the woman would practically scream, “I LOVE it.  Why I’LL take the house!”

Finally the last spring and moving day.  Because she’s so myopic, she’s learned to take a very close look at things. This day, she admired her now 15’ camellia japonica.

The eye problem in some ways helped her she said. Even as a child, she’d look very close at plants, the clover in the grass. She used her imagination to think what the small plants would become.

She walks her garden on the last day and reconciles that it is the best spring ever. 

She narrates how the sharp tips of the hostas and the masses of peonies are a curtain call… She strokes a wall and gives it a kiss.

The sky darkened and then there is a torrential downpour.

How fittingly dramatic, no?

At her new home in Rhode Island, she builds a kitchen garden with chamomile, calendula, basil, and started with mint. 

She reveled in the knowledge there was no one to tell her “no.”

She planted what she wanted – with much trial and error and humor.

The spreading mint tribulation becomes a metaphor for her struggles.

Like a talk over tea, she peppers her story with tales of her too absent boyfriend, building horrors, money, and her utter cluelessness about what she’ll do with her life.

I loved her interlude of “working for plants” with Ed Bower at Opus Plants! 

Anything he threw away, she’d take for her garden.

You have to admire her observation that “gardens are so psychological – everything is revealed.” 

Especially as juxtaposition to her confession that she “just wanted to hide.”

Soon, she established grids in her garden, planted black pines in the front which led to a garden gate that she "Loved," (planted “Kiss me at The Garden Gate here J , that led to patio, that led to nooks and crannies, that led to rock plantings, that led to …

She claimed to have “made every mistake in the book.”   No grand design. Just did what she wanted.  Sounded liberating for her.

“Gardens always deliver on wonder.” She said. 

She may have moved from her “forever house,” but subconsciously found it anew when she said, “While there’s not such thing as a forever garden.  (because they change so much) Forever might be found in this beautiful garden."  

She recognized it was a pleasure to get dirty in her garden. She knows her hummingbirds. Her tendons may be sore, but she is “in a state of grace.”

Her journey revealed that life was not the same, but it’s not hopeless. 

The garden showed her that.  

And if she ever does return to the office life?  She said she’d put a few speed bumps in place.

Enjoy the glamorous garden-inspired journey. 

Delaware Center for Horticulture's Rare Plant Auction at Longwood Gardens

Our doorman handed me that day’s mail and right away my eye caught the hand-written envelope with the sublime return address of Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) and its rather scrolly graphic below, noting: “Pearl Anniversary of the Rare Plant Auction”

No one would argue that this post required immediate attention.

I got to thinking -- what’s more special than gently gliding the letter opener along the spine of an envelope to discover you’d been “cordially invited,” “asked to commemorate,” or read that the sender pleads with courtesy,  “won’t you please join us?”

Oh, the anticipation! 

For this extraordinary event – one could look at the The Pearl Anniversary milestone notation and mentally check off  “ There’ll be the buffet dinner, open bar, and the PLANTS!” 

It doesn’t get much better, does it?   J 

If you ever even considered that plants are not the undeniable horticultural artistic expression of garden art, the invitation from the Delaware Center for Horticulture heralds plants as not only a treasured work of art but the inspiration for other, fine art. 

Suitable for framing, the grey and white formal invitation palette features a Cattleya ‘Alice B. du Pont’ orchid – art by Anna Anisko, and the heading: “2010 Thirtieth Annual Rare Plant AuctionÒ  A Benefit for the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Greening Program.” 

As if that wasn’t enough, attendees for the Rare Plant Auction were admitted free to Longwood Gardens for the day – and the glamorous site of the annual auction.

Registration Options included Pearl at $500 per person ($250 tax-deductible). 

Attendees at this level received valet parking, auction preview, gift plant, gift bag, cocktail party and mini auction at the home of Linda and Steve Boyden (this was on the Thursday preceding the Auction). 

A Benefactor ticket at $250 per person ($100 tax-deductible);

Subscriber at $175 per person ($75 tax-deductible);

and as I noted in previous blogs and Tweets, for those 40 and younger or Auction first-timers a Seed Pearl ticket, ($100 per person).

From Abelia to Zenobia – the DCH (www.dehort.org) offered more than 500 plants at what is billed as the world’s one and only official Rare Plant AuctionÒ to raise funds for their local greening programs. 

Christie’s Fine Art Auctioneers conduct a Live Auction of a select group of rare and unusual specimens.

An additional 500 prize plants were up for bid during a Silent Auction.

Last year’s event raised more than $100,000 for community greening and education programs in Delaware and this year they raised more funds than that.

The day of the Auction was glorious; sunny skies and warm.

Following a family bridal shower, my mother Virginia accompanied me to the event. 

We boarded the Amtrak train at Metro Park, in the Garden State – and in just three stops – arrived in Wilmington. 

Attention all New Yorkers – you can visit Longwood Gardens very easy.

Just get to 34^th St/Penn Station!

I’d arranged for car service to pick us up and transport us to the Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square.  (Well, that was all a bit dodgy as the Delaware car company created what could have been a big problem but a second car service, Eagle Transportation Services was able to skillfully get us a driver.)

So after a few crazy calls, we were on our way. 

It’s a short, 20-minute drive through some beautiful countryside, too.

Upon arrival at Longwood Gardens, we took the option of walking through the magical, wonderfully curated Conservatory. 

We were captivated by the plant displays and kept stopping to take photos and revel in hearing the delighted gasps, oohs, and ahhs, of the soon-to-be-departing Garden visitors. 

The Garden was closing for the evening and they couldn’t get enough of the color, shapes, and texture all around them.

                Neither could we for that matter. 

Look at these exotic orchids

cool silver and blues and shapes in the desert or succulent displays.

We soon made our way to the event area.  And from the coat check to registration check in, everyone was so very friendly and welcoming.   

Later we learned DCH aims to make this a fun party where attendees can see beautiful plants. 

They knock it out of the park!

You can’t help but tingle with excitement and awe, surrounded by towering specimens; curious plants-as-architecture, with lights and stars both bouncing off the glass archways and domed roof. 

You could sense the anticipation from the increasing cluster  or “bouquets” of attendees greeting one another, enjoying a cocktail, and the ambience.

But there is no question the night belongs to the plants. 

In homage, the plants for the auction are displayed in the already too-good-to-be-true Conservatory at Longwood Gardens.

Horticulture enthusiasts wear their heart on the sleeve and can readily attest to the jewel-like quality of favorite trees, shrubs and flowering plants. 

And not unlike the late-day Garden visitors, true enthusiasts can never get enough of plants – especially rare and newly introduced ones. 

This night could not be considered the cure for what ails you, but rather a major player in enabling a passion! 

Not coincidentally, I recalled a Zen master, Lao Tzu’s admonishment: “There is no greater sin than desire…”

But to borrow from Michael Pollan, this was a dearly, doozy of a “botany of desire” and ground zero for any plant lover worth his or her seeds. J

The wow factor is huge, as are some of the specimen trees!

We were soon met by Wendy Scott, DCH’s charming and oh so professional and gracious Communications manager. 

And we must take a moment for Applause, Applause here! 

Wendy was recently named by The Garden Writers Association (GWA) as a 2010 Silver Award of Achievement for her writing “Our Urban Forest,” in the Writing - Newsletter/Bulletin/Brochure category.

(www.gardenwriters.org)

I told you she was good!

Wendy secured a Rare Plant Auction event program for me.

The catalog itself is worth the price of a ticket.

It is chock a bloc with information on all the auction plants – and special notation about the “Rarest of the Rare” and “Hard to Find” supporting nurseries, plant donors, and the bios of the evening’s Plant Experts who were there to explain the plant’s provenance, growing needs and care. 

Displaying a measured depth of knowledge, Wendy provided an overview of the evening’s schedule-from Auction Preview to Silent Auction, to Live Auction to Dinner, Payment, and Plant Pick up.

She briefed me on the procedures and also offered interesting historical notes, including the story about Mrs. du Pont declining her husband Pierre S. du Pont (and Longwood Gardens’ founder) birthday necklace of fine-jewelry pearls; preferring instead ten-miles of elm, sycamore, and oak trees to be planted along Kennett Pike that she referred to as her “String of Pearls.”  

Mrs. Alice du Pont inspired this year’s Pearl theme. 

According to DCH:

In memory of Alice’s “pearls,” two special offerings highlight the auction – a collection of plants named for Alice du Pont and a real string of pearls. Longwood Gardens is donating five different plants that have been bred at Longwood and named in Alice’s honor. For our live auction, a Mikimoto 18-inch strand of fine quality cultured pearls hand-knotted on silk was donated from within the du Pont family to mark this special anniversary. A variety of plants in the silent auction also have a pearl theme such as Rosa ‘Pearly Gates’, Clematis ‘Perle d’Azur,’ Deutzia gracilis ‘Chardonnay Pearls,’ Rhododendron ‘Ebony Pearls,’ and Thalictrum ‘Pink Pearl.’

I think the piece of “Delaware folklore” and the link that drove the thoughtful plant selection provided an elegant intimacy and sense of history and sense of place to the event. 

Too often, a theme is chosen for these kinds of events that is merely a base for graphics display or as a vanity element to attract a donor or sponsor.

The Pearl Anniversary was lovely and permeated the event organically.  Kudos.

The Rare Plant Auction^® gives attendees an opportunity to meet and speak with horticultural experts. 

My former Brooklyn Botanic colleague, Patrick Cullina returned this year to lend his expertise – and playful charm.  Patrick is presently the Vice President of Horticulture & Park Operations for Friends of the Highline – New York City’s sexy new park.  (www.thehighline.org)

Here is Patrick gamely posing with Mother!  

I also caught up with Chanticleer’s enormously talented horticultural treasure, Bill Thomas.  (far left)

Bill generously provided a garden tour for my extended family last year after a wedding in nearby Villanova. 

We learned so much about this drop dead gorgeous “pleasure garden.” 

Chanticleer is a bijou of a garden and shouldn’t be missed.  Their curated plant displays and collections are breathtaking.  (www.chanticleergarden.org)

I saw Fred Bland, Chairman of the Board for BBG too, but I couldn’t get over to him…

I met Paul B. Redman, Director of Longwood Gardens while covering the live auction.  Mr. Redman served as this year’s Honorary Chair.

According to DCH press advisory, previously Mr. Redman was Executive Director of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Columbus, Ohio and Volunteer Coordinator at National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii.

The bidding at this year’s Live Auction was spirited, competitive and successful. 

More than a few people noted that because the economy was better this year, there was more and greater bidding.

Urged on by Christie’s volunteer auctioneer, Dean Failey -- who has conducted the auction for 17 years -- opening bids were driven up fast in most cases. 

Some bidding started at $500 or $800 and rose progressively upwards – some to $3,600. Some more.

I noted bidders furiously taking notes or consulting with a partner. 

Every plant and plant collection up for auction was introduced.

The Plant Experts were often asked to explain a bit more detail about a plant’s rare qualities or the elements of the plants in a specific collection.  So Patrick Cullina and Angela Treadwell-Palmer would provide “play-action commentary.”  

I wanted to know what kind of motivation spurred such a “botany of desire” and so when the Live Auction concluded, I approached the couple that held the winning bid on a very coveted collection that benefited from a protracted bidding war among several attendees. 

Asking that his name not be used, he and his wife explained that his mother was an extraordinary gardener with a green thumb – kind of a famous or well-known gardener in their community (people come from all over the country to attend the Rare Plant Auction). 

Therefore, it was his mother’s love of plants and her role model status that inspired a life-long love affair with plants.  Wow! Yeah for Mothers…

I bid my measly budget on some silent auction gems but didn’t bring home anything. But the plant display compositions were terrific just to view.

And some of the attendees were sporting colorful fashions of their own! 

My mother couldn’t resist the Community Gardening outreach and bought a letter to support the program.

According to DCH:

A special feature of this year’s event was the Greening Neighborhoods Map, a large interactive exhibit illustrating DCH programs in Wilmington relating to trees, parks, traffic islands, and community gardens. Guests were invited to “purchase” pieces of the picture as it is assembled throughout the evening.

Here is Mother with Anne Maddingly, Community Garden Manager

DCH worked with neighborhood citizens to produce the first urban farm in Delaware. 

I will write more about this important gardening and food project for my other blog:

http://celebritychefsandtheirgardens.blogspot.com/

Following the letter donation, Mother and I went into the dazzling dining area in the Conservatory. 

It was otherworldly and so magical it took your breath away walking into the room.

Soon after we enjoyed our meal and an interesting dinner conversation with our new-found friends at the table, Wendy stopped by to let us know she’d found an escort to drive us back to the train station. 

Like two Cinderella’s, we quickly but reluctantly prepared to depart the Garden’s intoxication and hop into our carriage.

In fact, our delightful escorts were Felise and Michael Cressmsan. 

The drive back only extended our appreciation for the work of the Garden and DCH.

Michael is with AstraZeneca, “a proud supporter of the Rare Plant Auction.” 

Felise is a Master Gardener and a leader of the Wilmington Garden Club. 

She has also been a dedicated volunteer for many years at the Garden and is on the Rare Plant Auction’s Steering Committee. 

And she wore the sweetest dress that evening!

Felise added to the evening’s narrative by sharing stories of all the talent and hard work behind the scenes that goes into producing such a spectacular event: from identifying appropriate plants, assembling them at the Garden in a timely manner, arranging the plant vignettes and compositions for viewing, and producing plant labels and ID’s.

(Call out here to Moira Sheridan who is also noted in the catalog for writing the plant descriptions) 

Here are some of the Garden's interns - enjoying the fruits of their labor:

We bid farewell and thanked Michael and Felise and dreamed of dramatic, glamorous plants as our train swooshed us home.

The Rare Plant Auction at Longwood Gardens is an amazing and special event that you shouldn’t miss. 

So be sure to mark your calendars for next year. 

Plus, guess what?  You can double your pleasure in 2011! 

Wendy was smart and kind enough to point out that next year the Rare Plant Auction is April 30^th and Point to Point at Winterthur is May 1^st.

http://www.winterthur.org/calendar/point_to_point.asp

All the festivities will take place on the same weekend.  Quelle chance! 

The Brandywine area is captivating, the Rare Plant Auction is a special opportunity to enjoy the Garden and take home some one-of-a-kind plants that will make all your friends and family pea green with envy and Point to Point is an exciting day of steeplechase horse racing on the Winterthur Estate. (I think that’s three things that will make you smile, but who’s counting?)

But for certain, this will be THE place to be for anyone who loves art, beauty, tradition, horses and plants.  

How Glamorous!

The Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) cultivates greener communities by inspiring appreciation and improvement of the environment through horticulture, education and conservation. Founded in 1977, the Center’s site in Wilmington, Delaware includes a 1.5 acre educational demonstration garden, a 3,000 volume lending library, lecture hall and a greenhouse. DCH supports 16 active community gardens throughout the city of Wilmington; beautifies Delaware’s roadsides with native vegetation; maintains the landscaping of many urban gateways, corridors, and streetscapes; leads regional conservation projects to enhance Delaware’s urban forest; and provides educational programs for children, teens, and adults.  For more information, visit www.dehort.org

Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, offering 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows, including 20 outdoor gardens and 20 indoor gardens within 4 acres of heated greenhouses. Featuring 11,000 different types of plants, spectacular fountains, stunning seasonal displays, extensive educational programs, and 800 horticultural and performing arts events each year, the Gardens are open every day, including holidays. Longwood is located on US Route 1 near Kennett Square, PA.  For more information, visit www.longwoodgardens.org.