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Bartram Leaf newsletter - Spring 2004 |
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SPRING 2004 BARTRAM LEAF" I have had many bruises & ribs broken in searching after plants tumbling over perpendicular rocks & from ye tops & branches of high trees yet I feel no pains on ye changes in weather in or near ye bruised members…" EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORTOver 275 years-old, Bartram's Garden remains a green oasis in Philadelphia's now largely industrial Kingsessing neighborhood. It is the only public park with unfettered access to the Schuylkill River in Southwest Philadelphia, and soon pedestrian trails and public docks will link it to other destinations along a revitalized lower Schuylkill corridor. The Garden is on a roll, but it is also an endangered site: yet again a private company is seeking to locate a construction and demolition waste-recycling facility near its grounds. The company, Philly-Wide Recycling Inc., has asked the city for a waiver; state law prohibits companies from operating trash facilities within 300 yards of public parks or playgrounds. There already are four waste or recycling operations within a mile of Bartram's Garden. Adding another waste plant to the neighborhood would just increase the number of dump trucks hauling trash through the streets at all hours, nearly every day of the week. Our neighborhood already has more than its fair share of these plants. Those of us involved with Bartram's Garden envision a future in which our 45-acre garden connects to the city's other historic, cultural and tourist offerings. More pollution, noise and traffic from a new waste plant are not compatible with that vision. We ask the Mayor, the Fairmount Park Commission and City Council to support community opposition to another waste facility in Southwest Philadelphia and refuse to grant a waiver. To our knowledge, no city, municipality or other owner of a public park in Pennsylvania has ever granted one. It would be very disappointing if Philadelphia became the first. For more information and to write a letter to Mayor Street and members of City Council log on to: www.hallwatch.org/faxbank/trashplant -Bill LeFevre DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAINA little over a decade ago, we began referring to our site as Historic Bartram’s Garden. Now, as we prepare to dramatically increase awareness of and visitation to Bartram’s, we are reverting to the name we have been known by for over two centuries, Bartram’s Garden. Our new logo incorporates the year of our founding, 1728, as well as the tagline, National Historic Landmark House and Garden. For those who still refer to the space center in Florida as Cape Canaveral, still think Penn’s Landing is on Delaware Avenue, the Kimmel Center is on South Broad Street, Swan Fountain is on Logan Square, or East River Drive passes Boat House Row, the change should be welcome. In any case, at least we’ll always be found in the "B" listings. RECENT GRANTSThe John Bartram Association is deeply grateful to the following for their generous support of our efforts to preserve, interpret, and enhance Bartram’s Garden.
2004 BARTRAM NATIVE PLANT SALEShop for rare botanical treasure, hear tales of adventure from a globetrotting explorer, and perhaps cruise the Schuylkill on a beautiful spring day at the 2004 Bartram Native Plant Sale. Watch for the Plant Sale Catalogue, which will be mailed to you mid to late April.
Browse for botanical treasure in the Bartram Barnyard (the Bartram Barn is the oldest barn in Philadelphia, built by John Bartram, Jr. in 1775). Come early for the best selection. THE GREAT DESERT: SECOND ANNUAL BARTRAM PINE BARRENS TOURJoin Bartram Curator Joel T. Fry, and Dr. William Cahill, author of "William Bartram and the Romance of Learning," on Saturday May 22nd following John Bartram’s early exploration of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The group will visit locations with plants Bartram was known to collect such as Webb’s Mill Bog, with an abundance of pitcher plants, orchids, and other rare Pine Barrens natives. Participants will meet at the Red Lion Diner in New Jersey at the intersection of routes 206 and 70 by 8am and carpool to several sites until calling it a day by 5pm. Not all the roads we will travel are paved, but are well graded and passable. Bring lunch, water will be provided. Be prepared for a day outside with moderate walking. The cost is $20 (non-members $25). Call 215-729-5281x100 to register. Limited to 20 participants. BARTRAM’S MOST HISTORIC TREES PRUNEDLast year, the Garden’s 219 year-old Ginkgo lost several branches in summer storms and then again to Hurricane Isabel. Landscape Committee member, arborist Paul McFarland, inspected the damage and arranged for a leading arborist, the John B. Ward Company of Bryn Mawr, to prune the Ginkgo, our venerable 200 year-old Yellowwood and several other large trees in the "Historic Garden". The crew repaired all storm damage and fine pruned the trees to limit the potential for future wind damage. Additionally, a large Hackberry overhanging the Common Flower and Kitchen Gardens was removed. A television crew filmed the work in progress and later aired a segment on CN8’s Your Morning show. Generous support from Mr. McFarland, former Board member Phelps Riley, and Elizabeth Farley made this important work possible. BARTRAM BENEFIT & RIVER CRUISELast fall Hurricane Isabel’s poorly timed arrival in the Delaware Valley forced the postponement of out Bartram Benefit & River Cruise. Benefit Chair Gretchen Riley invites any and all to join us as we try again on the Wednesday before Memorial Day.
LADY PETRE PEAR REPLANTEDIn 1739 John Bartram planted "kernels" of a pear he received from wife of Robert James, Lord Petre just off the south east corner of the house he had completed in 1731 for his new bride Ann and their growing family. This tree lived until it succumbed to old age and drought in 1931. Last fall we received a generous donation of Lady Petre Pear saplings from heirloom fruit tree collector Mike Tomlinson. Head Gardener Jay Danzenbaker planted one of these in the same location its ancestor occupied for two centuries. These plants are grafted cuttings from a tree in Maryland, which is descended from a 160 year-old specimen in the extraordinary Germantown garden of Ruth and Britton Harris, which in turn is descended from the original tree in Bartram’s Garden. We will share this remarkable gift with other gardens in the Delaware Valley to insure the Lady Petre Pear remains as a living connection to early 18th Century horticulture exchanges between England and America. HAVE YOUR NEXT MEETING AT BARTRAM’S GARDENAny 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. UPCOMING FREE EVENTS AT THE GARDEN
SCHUYLKILL RIVER CRUISESJoin us for our second season of these popular one-hour boat trips from the Bartram meadow to the Fairmount Waterworks and back. Experience the future of Philadelphia as the "New River City in America". Limited seating, $15 per seat, arrive one half hour before departure, moderate walk through the meadow required to board vessel. Call 215-729 5281x100 to register.
MEMBERSHIPSince changing the format and benefits of our membership program in 2003, membership has grown by over 20%, thank you…Please remember to renew your membership in the John Bartram Association in time for the Member’s Preview at the Native Plant Sale and feel free to invite others inclined toward horticulture and historic preservation to do likewise. Membership provides a significant portion of our ongoing operational support. Membership information and form may be downloaded from www.bartramsgarden.org/membership 175th ANNIVERSARY PHILADELPIA FLOWER SHOWBartram’s Garden’s entry at this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show did not win any ribbons, but did generate some minor excitement. In keeping with the historic theme of this year’s show we entered the same plant Bartram’s Garden entered at that first show in 1829, a Poinsettia. After judging ended, the Horticulture Class Chairs graciously allowed us to display a card with the plant, the text of which follows:
Additionally, thanks and congratulations go long-time member and volunteer Martha Miller, who lists Bartram’s Garden as her garden affiliation on her entries, which won several ribbons, as well as all the other Bartram members, supporters, and volunteers who work tirelessly during Flower Show week to make it the best indoor flower show in the world. QUAKER PLANT HUNTERSPublication of a new book by British author and naturalist David Sox recently came to our attention. Quaker Plant Hunters follows and interconnects the lives and travels of John and William Bartram as well as Sydney Parkinson. Parkinson sailed with Joseph Banks and Captain Cook on the Endeavor’s round the world voyage from 1768-1771, but alas did not survive the trip and died at the age of only 26. Two additional books written for younger readers are soon to be published as well. Deborah Ray’s The Flower Hunter and Sandy Sammons’ John and William Bartram: Travelers in Early America will be released this spring. Copies will be available in the Garden’s shop this spring |
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copyright 2004 Bartrams Garden |
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