October 27, 2023
Through the Philadelphia-Space Fling in late September, we toured Wayne Guymon’s WynEden in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. WynEden is a gigantic personal backyard at 9.5 acres, “with 4,000 completely different crops and cultivars, 15,000 hostas, 7,000 Rhododendrons & Azaleas, 3 ponds, 3 streams and 5 acres of edited woodland,” in response to Guymon’s web site.
I headed down a sloping path to the decrease backyard, the place a big pond — full with a bridge-accessible island — gives a picturesque view.
The day was soggy for bench-sitting, however this lichen-wallpapered bench with rain-flattened cochicums nonetheless makes a reasonably image.
Close by, a romantic weeping willow frames a blue shed.
Its roots luxuriate in one other, smaller pond made muddy by Tropical Storm Ophelia’s deluge.
Cattails don’t thoughts slightly rain.
Neither do willows.
And neither did I, actually. The backyard (and the Fling) was a welcome escape from the warmth and drought of a searing Austin summer season.
One other spot to sit down on a drier day
A stone lantern leans out over the water, as an orange-leaved cotinus (I feel) echoes its posture.
A little bit little bit of fall
A little bit bit extra
A small dock on the opposite aspect gives entry for feeding fish, maybe, or launching a rowboat for a pond picnic? My romantic imaginings are going now.
Behind the pond, a towering, wave-crested stand of bamboo appears to threaten to swamp guests. I learn that Wayne re-trenches round it yearly to maintain the bamboo from spreading the place he doesn’t need it. What a job that should be!
Paths lead into the rustling bamboo forest, the place a small spherical pond — a mirror within the earth — displays the tall, arching culms. It’s a magical house.
A circle of stumps gives a dialog spot.
Rising from the bamboo you see an Asian-style zigzag bridge throughout the weeping willow pond.
Backyard artwork performs up the Asian theme.
The bridge and bamboo body a romantic scene.
Reflections within the water
The zigzag bridge
There was far more to see at WynEden, however I spent all my time within the Asian pond backyard. I did cease to admire this flowering shrub on the best way again to the bus. On to the following backyard!
Up subsequent: The colourful residence backyard and meadow at Owl Creek Farm. For a glance again at a purchasing journey at Terrain residence/backyard store close to Philadelphia, click on right here.
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Digging Deeper
Tour a number of Austin gardens on Saturday, November 4, on the Backyard Conservancy’s Open Day tour for Travis County. Tickets should be bought on-line upfront and will probably be accessible starting September 1st.
Come find out about backyard design from the consultants at Backyard Spark! I arrange in-person talks by inspiring designers, panorama architects, and authors a number of occasions a 12 months in Austin. These are limited-attendance occasions that promote out shortly, so be a part of the Backyard Spark e-mail checklist to be notified upfront; merely click on this hyperlink and ask to be added. The Season 7 lineup will be discovered right here.
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