"I took no perticular notice of mosses but looked upon them as A cow looks at a pair of new barn doors"
- -John Bartram to Mark Catesby 1741
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Bartram’s Garden lost a good and true friend this past spring when Dr. Wilbur L. Zimmerman passed away at the venerable age of 97 on May 5, 2004. Active to the end, Dr. Zimmerman followed the events of the day, including the latest developments in digital photography, and read voraciously. In fact, his daughter and fellow board member Toni Brinton reported he was engrossed in a rather heavy work on philosophy the week he died.
Wilbur first visited Bartram’s garden in 1940 and as president of the John Bartram Association in the 1980s, put the Association on a track toward the success we enjoy today. He remained active on the board as an emeritus member until his death.
A memorial service at the Haverford Friends Meeting was standing room only and the Board of Directors of the John Bartram Association honored him with a resolution and reception on the porch of the Bartram house at their annual meeting in June. Earlier, we dedicated the head gardener’s office in the new administration building to Wilbur, an honor he most graciously accepted when he attended his final board meeting and made his last visit to the garden he so loved in June 2003.
The Association is grateful for the many memorial gifts it received honoring the full and fruitful life of a truly extraordinary and gentle man.
-Bill LeFevre
HAVE YOUR NEXT MEETING AT BARTRAM’S GARDEN
Any company or organization looking for a unique venue to hold an offsite meeting should consider the Bartram Barn with its amazing view of the Philadelphia skyline over the meadow. Built in 1775, and fully renovated in 1999 including air-conditioning and Internet access, it is the oldest barn in Philadelphia County. The American Institute of Architects gave the Bartram Barn Restoration an Honor Award for Design in 2002.
The Barn is available for groups of up to forty people. Handicap accessible, plenty of free parking, easy access from the Schuylkill, Blue Route and I-95. Contact Andrea Taylor at 215-729-5281x100 for rates and information.
GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP
Please consider a gift of membership for those on your list who love history and horticulture as much as you do. As an added incentive, gift memberships in the John Bartram Association purchased for the 2004 holiday season do not expire until March 31, 2006!
RECENT GRANTS
The John Bartram Association is deeply grateful to the following for the generous support of our efforts to preserve, interpret, and enhance Bartram’s Garden.
May to October 2004
- Pew Charitable Trusts $20,000
- Connelly Foundation $13,360
- Phoebe Haas Charitable Trust "B" $10,000
- Independence Foundation $10,000
- Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission $8,294
- Christopher Ludwick Foundation $7,500
- Samuel S. Fels Fund $5,000
- Henrietta Tower Wurts Memorial $4,000
- Elizabeth S. Hooper Foundation $2,000
- Walter J. Miller Trust $2,000
- Thomas H. and Mary Williams Shoemaker Fund $2,000
- Barra Foundation $1,700
- Quaker Chemical Foundation $1,500
- Berwind Corporation $1,000
EDUCATION OUTREACH
This year, through special funding from the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation and Frederick Heldring, director of education Christy Schneider and her staff were able, for the first time, to offer our education programs at no cost, including transportation, to underserved schools in our Kingsessing neighborhood in Southwest Philadelphia. Over 750 students participated in our Hands-on History and Science lessons through this new program. We plan to fund and continue and this work in 2005 with additional underserved schools.
GARDEN VOLUNTEERS
Assistant gardener Nancy Wygant works tirelessly to preserve and enhance the Common Flower Garden and other garden spaces in the historic garden. This past season Nancy enjoyed the help and company of several volunteers.
Nancy invites anyone who wishes to help maintain the Garden’s ornamental beds to consider joining her on any third Wednesday of the month. If interested or for more information, please call Nancy at 215-729-5281x105, or Email her at nwygant@bartramsgarden.org
2004 HOLIDAY GREENS SALE
Bartram’s Annual Holiday Greens Sale is just around the corner and sale chair Dottie Caporali is looking for donations of greens and volunteers to create and sell handcrafted holiday decorations. Volunteers are especially needed the week before and during the sale. Greens most sought included holly, magnolia, boxwood, cedar, variegated evergreens, winterberry or other winter fruits. Please remember the Garden when pruning and call us at 215-729-5281x100 if you can help.
Friday December 3, 2004, 12 - 4 pm
Member’s Preview Holiday Greens Sale
Member’s only get first choice of holiday greens to deck their halls and select from a variety of loose greens, handcrafted wreaths, centerpieces, and ornaments. Support the garden and welcome the season at the sale, a holiday tradition at Bartram’s Garden since 1989. (Non-members wishing to attend may join that day).
Saturday December 4, 2004, 10 – 4 pm
Holiday Greens Sale
All are welcome to browse for holiday decorations in the oldest barn in Philadelphia (built in 1775 by John Bartram, Jr.) and fresh cut greens in barnyard. Arrive early for best selection.
MONTICELLO HISTORIC PLANT SYMPOSIUM
In August, curator Joel Fry, head gardener Jay Danzenbaker, gardener Nancy Wygant, Fairmount Park summer intern Todd Greenberg, and executive director Bill LeFevre attended the Historic Plants Symposium hosted by the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at Monticello. Highlights of this bi-annual conference included a talk by garden historian Elizabeth McLean on The Bartram Garden and Nursery, a private evening reception at Monticello, and our presentation of a Lady Petre Pear tree for Monticello’s collection.
BARTRAM BENEFIT & RIVER CRUISE
Last May supporters of Bartram’s Garden enjoyed a wonderful evening in the Garden and on the Schuylkill River during our Bartram Benefit River Cruise. Over 100 guests cruised to the Waterworks and back to the Bartram meadow. Back on land, everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal and good company under a tent in the Bartram barnyard. Benefit co-chairs Gretchen Riley and Susie Wilmerding skillfully organized the evening’s festivities, which raised over $8,000 in support of programming at Bartram’s Garden. Watch future mailings and our website www.bartramsgarden.org after the first of the year for information on the 2005 schedule of Schuylkill River Cruises.
MEMBERS ONLY EVENT AT APS
On Thursday, October 21st, twenty-four Bartram members attended a fascinating behind the scenes tour of the American Philosophical Society exhibit "Stuffing Birds, Pressing Plants, Shaping Knowledge: Natural History in N. America 1730-1860". The tour, led by APS Curator Sue Ann Prince with Bartram’s curator Joel Fry, featured original drawings and maps by John and William Bartram. If you have not seen it, this amazing exhibit closes December 31stand is located adjacent to Independence Hall at 104 S. 5th Street, Philadelphia. For more information visit www.amphilsoc.org or call 215-440-3400.
Our next Members Only Event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at The Academy of Natural Sciences for a behind the scenes tour of "The Lewis and Clark National Bicentennial Exhibition" led by Robert McCracken Peck. Watch future mailings and our website www.bartramsgarden.org for details.
ANNUAL APPEAL SEASON
The John Bartram Association raises a substantial portion of its operating budget each year through its annual appeal. These gifts are in addition to membership support (for which we are also exceedingly grateful!) and allow us to develop quality public programs, enhance facilities, and maintain outstanding staff to fulfill the Association’s mission to preserve, interpret, and enhance Bartram’s Garden. Thank you for your generous support.
2005 United Way Campaign
Each fall the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania makes it possible to support the causes you care about through their Donor Choice Option. This fall consider directing your United Way contribution to the John Bartram Association by checking Code 3136 on your United Way pledge form.
Bartram’s Garden Hosted these Groups in 2004
Bartram’s Garden welcomes the opportunity to arrange a special tour or meeting for your club or organization. In 2004 we hosted many groups including those listed below. If you would like information on scheduling a meeting or special tour, please contact Andrea Taylor at 215-729-5281x100.
Abington Arts Center
American Association of University Women
American Philosophical Society Guides
American Swedish Historical Museum
Berwyn Garden Club
Bucks County Community College
Burlington County Garden Club
Centipede Tours
Countryside Gardeners
Detroit Garden Club
Elite Coach
Expo Garden Tours
Friendly Thyme Herb Club
Friends of Frelinghuysen
Garden Club of Harrisburg
Gilcrease Museum
Historic Marion Coffin Gardens of Gibraltar
Holy Family Nursing Home
Manor Garden Club
Master Gardeners of Mercer County
Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums
Mill Creek Garden Club
Old York Road Historical Society
Olney Senior Center
Ottawa Cruise Ship Centers
Providence Garden Club of Pennsylvania
PEO Sisterhood
Penn State Harrisburg
Princeton University Alumni
Rainbow Custom Tours
Senior Care of Center City
Shiloh Garden Club
Spade and Trowel Garden Club
Surrey Services for Seniors
Tauck World Discovery
Temple University at Ambler
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania Women’s Club
White Horse Village
Wolf Bus Lines
Woman's Community Club of Uwchlan
Yardley Commons
YWHA
AN EVENT LIKE NO OTHER
Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20, 9am-5pm
"Curious in Our Way": The Culture of Nature in Philadelphia, 1740-1840
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Van Pelt Auditorium.
Co-sponsored by the Academy of Natural Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Henry E. Huntington Library, the Yale Center for British Art, and the John Bartram Association
This exciting symposium will explore the visual culture of American natural history bringing together thirteen eminent historians of art, science, and material culture to engage in the most intensive exploration of the visual culture of American natural history to date. Speakers will focus on the city of Philadelphia, which encompassed North America's largest and most active scientific community from the colonial period through the first decades of the republic.
Museum admission, lunches, Thursday night reception at the APS, Friday night reception at the Academy of Natural Sciences, and a Sunday morning tour of Bartram’s Garden included with registration.
Bartram members receive a discounted rate. For registration information log on to www.bartramsgarden.org or call 215-235-7469.
