The first garden tour of the season
On Wednesday, we had the first garden tour of the season at my farm in Bedford, a group of nineteen members of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS.) What is notable about this society is that it is the oldest horticultural club in the United States, established in 1827. In 1829, twenty-five enthusiastic members of PHS wanted to show off their prized plants and they organized and produced the nation's first flower show, The Philadelphia Flower Show. That flower show has grown tremendously since then and is now the largest indoor horticulture display in the world. PHS has a membership of 14,500 and their mission is to 'motivate people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture' - a very nice mission, indeed.
to be on a garden tour over there!!!
Posted by: liisamarja | May 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
What happened to you? I thought for sure last pic you'd be there a surprise appearance, maybe waving out one of the windows LOL!
Looks like good weather for their tour instead of cold & rain you have been having of late.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam from California | May 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 am
Dearest Martha!
Thanks for the great tour, from the pictures I felt I was also touring it myself! Everything is so neat and organized. Your staff are doing a great job.
Martha,I like Picture 14 is very nice to keep the garden cart and put some plant pots in it.
Thanks for sharing, you are a great inspiration to all of us.
God Bless you
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | May 22nd, 2009 at 3:42 am
Oh Martha how wonderful! I admit that your peonies just about outshine mine, although I have three plants and you must have hundreds. Mine have come in to bloom and look wonderful.
Thank you for showing us the photos of your garden it is truly lovely (and I think the wheelbarrow looks good - a proper working garden).
Have a great weekend.
Pru x
Posted by: Pru | May 22nd, 2009 at 3:59 am
Wow!! Your gardens are gorgeous. I feel like I went on a tour of your gardens via your pictures myself. Your gardens could be turned into an arboretum like our Morris Arboretum here in Philadelphia.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | May 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
Hey Martha,
Great to see how well the gardens are progressing. Also kudos to Shaun, he and my brother are good friends from Longwood Gardens. Hope all is well.
PS would love to have fresh eggs on site each day for baking etc.... love that you do that.
Posted by: M. David Berberich | May 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 am
I agree with the others, I like that garden wagon too. It makes a very charming accent.
If I were on that tour, I would have been absolutely thrilled to see one of your talented gardeners working on a project. To see how they contribute to such a beautiful creation would be so interesting.
Your land, Martha, is such a gift. Sharing that beauty and inspiration will thrive for years to come. Thank you!
Posted by: Julie | May 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
.
Another Good Morning to You!
How can I and my eldest Weimaraner, Spencer, walk this walk you've designed for all to see?
Diplomatic Chief of the National Cancer Society for Animals, he is 11 and a half years old, still walking tall, and quite proud of YOU for all you do.
If he could meet you across your fields for such a tour, he would crown himself complete!
AJS and the Spencer Guy
(Spencer, who has severe hip dysplasia, has been hero within a miraculous story of animals with cancer. From the Boston Globe to the Fox Network is his story. I'd love for you to read a 'nutshell narrative' on this guy. If you GOOGLE Unleashed Mouth, you'll not be disappointed!)
.
Posted by: Andrea Spencer | May 22nd, 2009 at 8:53 am
Well, well, well...feeling like I just sneaked in to a garden party! Wow! You have applied that brush yet again in to 'another' beautiful landscape! (Can't forget Turkey Hill, The Hamptons and your house in Maine!):)
I suppose only members of PHS are allowed to visit? Well they've certainly earned the right, yes? What a wonderful group of people who I would have not know about if not for The Martha Blog!
Thanks, as always, Martha!
PS. You'll understand when I say that I loved the chicken wire!
Posted by: tinay | May 22nd, 2009 at 9:15 am
--Hi. These photos are interesting. Martha's home is grand. Is it because of the no. of people in some or the distance from which they're taken the scale is different? From earlier photos I thought Shaun was a sm. man but he's tall!--
Posted by: Mina | May 22nd, 2009 at 9:46 am
Hi Martha,
I like the view from your terrace and of course the pergola too but all of your properties are gorgeous. Everything definitely has that Martha Stewart golden touch! Thanks so much for the tour; I wish I was among the 19 who got to see everything in person.
Have a safe and fun holiday weekend everyone! Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 am
Martha,
Cantitoe Corners has developed into such a beautiful place. You have done an outstanding job with the attention paid to the smallest of details, as well as the superb use of axes and focal points placed in the landscape. . .which make for extremely beautiful vistas. You should be very proud. Job well done!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Posted by: Jon | May 22nd, 2009 at 11:13 am
How lovely for this group to tour your incredible gardens. Love the long and winding pergola!
Posted by: sherey | May 22nd, 2009 at 11:15 am
Wow. These pictures make me realize that I should really get outside and do something about all of those weeds in my flower beds.
Posted by: Reginald | May 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
How exhilarating the garden looks. I would love to see more of what's going on in the green house
Posted by: Mina | May 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
Wow - everything is just gorgeous! Inspiring gardens and grounds. I'm sure the group really enjoyed their tour! Thanks for sharing the fun with us!
Posted by: Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates | May 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
WOW! Stunning gardens! I wish I could see them in person. My little one would love the goats, dogs and chickens too!
Where did you get your Paulownia Trees? They are stunning.
Regards,
Lara
Posted by: Lara Piper | May 22nd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I only KNOW that the folks in the PHS were in their glory touring your gardens and grounds, Martha! I was there alongside them while flipping thru this photo gallery. With this certain passion for trees, flowers, birds, and nature in general running deep in your veins, it is easy to experience a little bit of Heaven right here on earth (and there on your farm!) It's nice to see how spring has progressed there on your farm. The animals, too, seemed to be their usual gregarious wonderful little selves. Man oh day - Laura's iced tea sure did look good, and the greenhouse area was THE place for serving that, as, under that bright sunshiney sky that day, I'm sure the greenhouse was feeling a bit steamy inside (schwhew!)
Being a person who seems to go nowhere, I'm happy to say that I have had the pleasure of attending the Philadelphia Flower Show. (And) what a show it is! The small time frame that was allotted that day truly wasn't adequate, as this show is quite a 'to do', to say the least! I came away with good memories, nevertheless, along with a couple purchases - mainstays for the garden - as reminders of the good time that I had.
Well, we're juuust on the brink of the official start of summer, even tho' the calendar says otherwise. I have seemingly gazillion things to accomplish this weekend - all garden-related - flowers to buy, a leaky pond to 'patch', cottage garden seeds to sow, hummingbird feeders to fill...along with coddling and cooing over Edgar and Mandy =^..^= ...things, to me, that I take such pleasure in doing, from daylight to dark.
...I can't hardy wait!...how 'bout you?...
=^..^=
"He who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth is generally considered a fortunate person, but his good fortune is small compared to that of the happy mortal who enters this world with a passion for flowers in his soul."--Celia Thaxter
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | May 22nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Hope the tour enjoyed the tour, and had a great time looking at all the different flowers, and trees! Looks like a lovely group! You should have a comment contest to win a tour for us ? just a thought! I would love to look at manicured gardens, and all the special Martha Stewart designs.
Posted by: kristin svens | May 22nd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I LOVE the garden cart was left out there for some reason. It makes it a little imperfect and is in itself, a work of art.
WHAT a garden!
Thanks for the pictures Martha.
Tony(nyc)
Posted by: Tony cruz | May 22nd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Martha - how wonderful that you are still able to open your beautiful grounds to like minded people who appreciate the beauty in what you've worked so hard to create. Looks like a wonderful day was had by all. Thanks for sharing the photos - it's great to see so many happy places and faces! Melody
Posted by: Melody Bryan | May 22nd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Dear Ms. Stewart,
I just love your style! I buy most of your magazines, I especially like the Martha Stewart Weddings. I reside in Jamaica and work for Exclusive Tropical Weddings, a Destination Management Company that offers destination weddings. I get great ideas from your books/magazines.
Thanks.
Posted by: Exclusive Tropical Weddings | May 22nd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Hi Martha, This was the most fantastic, gorgeous, inspiring, refreshing, uplifting tour of your farm since the last one! Everything looks so beautiful, including your animals. Shaun sure did a great job of conducting this tour. Who ever took the photos did a great job, too. Laura Acuna's iced tea certainly looks delicious and very refreshing. Oh, how I wish I was there in person! Thanks so much for sharing. Have a delightful holiday weekend everybody and remember our armed forces. Bless them all. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 am
Your gardens and property are beautiful. It looks so peaceful. Your horse stable is spectacular. I too loved the garden cart. Very charming. The tea looked yummy. Red zinger is my favorite. It is so versatile. Now don't laugh, but I make my oatmeal in it.
Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Susan | May 23rd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Martha's Blog is so fun and the topics are ones that are so interesting. Thank you for letting us have a look into your wonderful Good Things world! I'm looking forward to the next topic!
Posted by: kristin svens | May 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Hi Martha....check out what I did with my patio like yours. Putting sand and shells between the rocks really looks nice, just wanted you to see it. What is it that you have separating your flat stones? Since I can't attach the picture here to see it.... http://twitgoo.com/51f6
Let me know what you think...I'm Kportgal on Twitter and I'm from Kennebunkport, ME
Posted by: Carolyn Kimball | May 24th, 2009 at 2:04 am
Hi Martha,
Thanks for sharing your photos. I love to tour the local gardens here in Maine to get ideas for mine. Do you offer tours of your gardens to the public?
Ellen
Posted by: Ellen Hathaway | May 24th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Just wanted to tell you that you are my most favorite diva!! I love your magazines they are so very inspriational to me and with alot of great ideas so keep up the good work!
Posted by: Carrie Fields | May 24th, 2009 at 10:43 am
You are amazing Martha
Posted by: Olessia | May 25th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Looks quite lovely~
Posted by: Andrea T. | May 25th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Lovely!
Isn't wonderful that spring is here and summer is just around the corner--now, we can play in the garden to our heart's content...our winter's dreams can be realized!
Happy gardening!
Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm
Posted by: Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm | May 26th, 2009 at 1:43 am
Thanks Martha to share those beautiful pictures of your gardens'tour.
I particularly love the wonderful Azaleas and your veggies's garden.
I can't wait to have a little garden too.
Posted by: CécileFrance | May 26th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Dear Martha,
Thank you for sharing your photos from your idyllic garden.
Wishing you lots of happy summer evenings with delicious wines and great friends.
Judit & Corina
Posted by: Judit & Corina Schweller | May 26th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Was just looking again at the photos and was wondering are you married ? =]
There beautiful as are you .
Posted by: John | June 30th, 2009 at 10:11 am