Take a trip to the pleasure garden

Road trips are a quintessential summer pastime. Most of us have great memories of time spent in the car watching as the corn fields stretch before us as far as the eye can see. Occasionally the landscape will be dotted with a red barn, a white farm house and perhaps a few other passersby. Road trips offer the excitement of fun times both at the destination but also during the trip itself. Fancy a road trip out east? Consider heading to Chanticleer Garden, our nation’s premier Pleasure Garden. Located in Wayne Pennsylvania, Chanticleer Garden was named in “America’s Most Inspiring Garden” in Garden Design Magazine. For this column, Chris Fehlhaber, gives us a behind the scenes look at this wonderful gardening oasis.

What is your position at Chanticleer? What does that entail?

I am an Assistant horticulturist. As such I oversee one area, the picnic house meadow, and then spend the majority of my time moving throughout the rest of the garden assisting the horticulturists in their respective areas. It is a tremendous privilege to be able to work with all of our talented horticulturists.

Can you please tell us a bit about the history of Chanticleer?

Chanticleer Garden is a 50-acre public garden located on the former estate of the Rosengarten family. The Rosengarten’s son, Adolph Rosengarten Junior, established the Chanticleer Foundation upon his passing in 1990. The garden opened for the education and enjoyment of the public in 1993.

Why is it called a pleasure garden?

While we are a botanic garden, the emphasis is more on the experience of our guests than presenting regimented plant collections. The experience is not just about plants but about the place, about slowing down, being present and engaging the senses. We want to afford every guest the opportunity to immerse themselves in the garden, be delighted and escape from the outside world.

What is your goal with relation to the visitors to your garden?

The goal of Chanticleer is for every guest to leave in a better mood than the one they arrived in.

What distinguishes it from other public gardens?

One of the most distinguishing characteristics is the level of freedom the gardeners are allowed in their areas. The gardeners are not simply that, they are artists in the garden. We are able to express ourselves through plants and also pursue additional artistic pursuits including ceramics, metal and woodwork, floral arranging and photography. The sense of place at Chanticleer is strong and distinct, a true individual spirit evolving from the collective passions of the gardeners.

Can you please describe a few of the different sections of the gardens or sections of Chanticleer?

Chanticleer has many different sections that come together to form one cohesive garden. One of the first sections most visitors experience is the Teacup. Located behind one of the historic homes on the property, the Teacup is a dazzling display of horticultural artistry that puts plants on show twice annually through spring and summer displays often organized around a constantly changing theme. It is horticultural theater.  The Gravel Garden sits on a southwest facing slope with soil that has been highly amended giving it sharp drainage and allowing plants to thrive that would otherwise not grow in southeast Pennsylvania. Bell’s Woodland provides a relaxing shady retreat featuring native plants of the mid-Atlantic region.

You have discussed the importance of incorporating imagination into a garden design. How have you been able to do that at Chanticleer?

Chanticleer is continuously growing and evolving and does so rather organically providing ample opportunities for new ideas and creative opportunities and outlets. I like to say that design as Chanticleer is an extension of a continuing conversation. Every design opportunity is a chance to make the garden dynamic and fun. By gardening for ourselves first and foremost we can assure that we are constantly pushing our own creative limits and testing the boundaries of our imagination and skill.

How could our readers incorporate enjoyment into their gardens?

Many people view their properties as yards, not gardens, and subsequently their time spent in them as “yard work” rather than gardening. Gardening is a wonderful pursuit that should be pursued because it brings us joy and fulfillment, not because we feel obliged to keep up with our neighbors. Your garden should be a place of beauty, pleasure and escape no matter how you personally choose to define it. At Chanticleer we try to garden without rules, or at least the rules are open to interpretation, I would encourage everyone to try to relax and do the same wherever they garden. I am always reminded of a quote by the great gardener Christopher Lloyd of Great Dixter in England who said “you should always garden for yourself first, that way at least one person is happy.”

How may our readers connect with Chanticleer?

Chanticleer has an active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Our website features weekly videos of what’s happening in the garden and has a photo page that is updated bi-weekly in the winter and weekly during the growing season featuring “what’s in bloom.” Through the website those who are interested may also sign up to receive our email newsletter.

Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.

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