I had the pleasure of going to Chanticleer Garden today in Wayne Pennsylvania. Magnolia trees are bursting with vibrant rose colored flowers, daffodils are in full swing and tiny fern fronds and tree leaves are poking forth. It was a lovely walk around the 47 acre property with sun shining.

Some history about the garden:
'Chanticleer was the estate of Christine and Adolph Rosengarten, Sr. Mr. Rosengarten was head of the pharmaceutical company Rosengarten and Sons. Their son Adolph, Jr., left the property to be enjoyed as a public garden. The garden opened to visitors in 1993.

Originally, the estate was known for its majestic trees and verdant lawns. Today, the trees and lawns remain, but the focus is on plant combinations, containers, textures, and colors, often relying on foliage more than flowers.

Tens of thousands of bulbs clothe the ground in spring, followed by orchards of flowering trees with native wildflowers blooming in the woods. A vegetable garden complements a cut-flower garden. Courtyards are a framework for unusual combinations of hardy and tropical plants. Vines grow in nooks and crannies, trailing and twining. A serpentine of cedars, boulders, and agronomic crops undulates through a mown hillside.

A woodland garden carpeted with Asian groundcovers and full of rarities leads to a water garden surrounded by exuberant perennials. A ruin plays with indoor/outdoor relationships and contrasts the light and dark sides of gardens. Sculptural, homemade seats, benches, wrought iron fences, and bridges highlight the uniqueness and personal nature of the garden.'