Interview with Chris Strand, Winterthur’s director of garden and facilities:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120210/NEWS/202100339/Bright-spring-blossoms-come-early-Winterthur?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Local

Photo gallery:

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BL&Dato=20120208&Kategori=LIFE&Lopenr=202080804&Ref=PH/Winter-beauty-Winterthur?odyssey=mod|defcon|img|Home

Off Chris and I went in a golf cart at 7:30 on Monday morning. He took lots of photos of the East Terrace, the Reflecting Pool, and the view from the Quarry Garden towards the train station. Two other spots caught his eye and his lens: the Wada’s Memory Magnolia near the Sundial Garden was lit up with the low morning sun, and the dried flower heads of a stand of hydrangeas in Enchanted Woods were similarly lit and moving in the breeze. As he was called in for inside duty, Chris remarked “I wish we could stay out here all day. It’s so peaceful and beautiful.“

Then yesterday, I took on the “arduous” task of checking the Enchanted Woods way-finding signs. Do I know how to pick a day?  The garden was breathtaking and warm with temperatures near 65 degrees.  Here are photos I took along the way, with an EW sign photo thrown in to prove that it wasn’t just a walk in the park, but difficult back-breaking work. Right!

The first thing I did upon return to my office was to tell everyone I saw that they must “drop everything and go see the tommies on the East Terrace.” They were stunning yesterday, fully open with a soft lavender glow.

Thanks to two terrific Winterthur volunteers, here is what is in bloom now in the Winterthur Garden: http://www.winterthur.org/pdfs/CurrentWinterthurGardenBloomList.pdf

Facilities Services is in the midst of a project to repair many of the outbuildings of the Estate. We first hired an architect to survey all the well houses, spring houses, smoke houses and outhouses and to make repair recommendations. This report was used to solicit bids to qualified contractors. The report was also placed in Winterthur’s archives, as it is the first such survey done of these old and important structures ever done.

Work is progressing nicely. The biggest effort so far has been on Building 12A, which is a very old spring house near the Armour Barn. No one knows how old it is, or the reason for the mysterious spring boxes outside. Perhaps they are related to the old spring water system, but that is a story for another day.

After some time clearing out the overgrowth, the building has been repointed, Amish craftsmen have put a roof on, and windows and doors are being installed. All efforts were to recreate the original work as determined from what remnants of the original building could be found. Work still needs to be done in placing the windows (original wood dowel windows were reflected in the window jambs), painting and figuring out how to deal with the amazing amount of groundwater seeping out all over the foundation.

A lot of pride is going into these buildings, as they represent how Winterthur operated long ago.

Here’s what is currently in bloom. Highlights include the lavender “Tommy” crocus on the east terrace and white drifts of snowdrops on the March Bank.

http://www.winterthur.org/pdfs/CurrentWinterthurGardenBloomList.pdf

http://www.winterthur.org/pdfs/CurrentWinterthurGardenBloomList.pdf

Most places I’ve worked there is always that one person who nearly everybody looks to for answers. Jim is that guy.

To be fair I’d guess he doesn’t have all the answers. He shouldn’t have to. That can be a lot of pressure for anybody. But as smoothly and efficiently as Jim works both the Pinetum and Sundial garden, you can’t help but believe that he knows everything there is about Winterthur, horticulture, weather, soils, current events, a few “B” science fiction movies, and heck, probably quantum mechanics too. The man just plain knows stuff.

That being said, I must admit that even though I’ve got several years on him age-wise I see him as one of my mentors, with good reason. He was one of the guys who hired me and “showed me the ropes” while we worked on the same team.

Jim helped me understand the way we maintain Winterthur’s garden so that the hard work he’s put into revitalizing it was not in vain. The truth is Jim has participated in several garden restoration projects dating back to 1989 when he started working in the Garden Department. His well-rounded horticulture experience (not to mention a desert-dry wit) qualifies Jim to have a voice in almost every garden project. That same experience, coupled with a strong work ethic also makes him a favorite instructor for our summer interns.

Now…it’s been a while since Jim and I worked together directly but my teammates will often relay tales reminiscent of campfire ghost stories where Jim will appear out of thin air and just be lending a hand on a project they are working on, like he knew they needed the help. Yup. That’s Jim. He’s everywhere. (Hey, maybe he does have all the answers.)

I don’t usually use this word for horticulturists at Winterthur. I think it can bring to mind a misinterpretation of what we do here in the garden. But in Susan’s case the basic definition of the word fits to everything she does in Azalea Woods. Care Taker.

With eight (count ‘em folks 8) acres of azaleas, rhododendrons, small trees, big trees, big shrubs, small shrubs, ground covers, perennials, and turf in one of the most visited areas in the garden, the care she renders to all the plants in Azalea Woods throughout the year culminates in the beautifully massive display seen in the spring and early summer.

Did you guys realize that Susan spends hours in the autumn and early winter removing fallen leaves, often by hand, from every azalea there? Yeah, really. And there’s like a bazillion azaleas in there. Some of those puppies are nine feet tall and twice as wide. And the pruning…what?  

That’s not all. Mulch mowing, path maintenance, spraying, fertilizing, weeding (oh, the weeding there is!), mulching. Whew…makes me exhausted just thinking about it. No problem for this graduate of the Longwood Certificate Program.

With 10 years experience in the industry, a life-long love of horticulture, and five years caring for Azalea Woods, Susan charges in with energy, determination, and a smile on her face ready to take care of any possible challenges a day in Azalea Woods may present. Just to set the record straight…she would gladly welcome a volunteer or two.

(To lend a hand and work with the charming care taker, contact Winterthur’s volunteer coordinator, Margaret Jenkins at 302.888.4784 or mjenki@winterthur.org today! – kls)

My photo doesn’t capture the wonderful sound – you’ll have to come hear it for yourself!  Come today – Winterthur closes for the winter today; reopening on March 1.  But, as Chris notes below, if you’re a member, you can enjoy the garden all winter long! (Except Mondays, please when heavier work is done in the garden.)

Welcome winter with a brisk walk through the Winterthur Garden. While most of the plants are resting, beautiful winter vistas and fresh air await an adventurous spirit.  A number of brave snowdrops have been spotted in the Glade Garden and along the March Bank. Also, rusty-orange Ozark witch hazel blooms near the visitor center and the yellow winter jasmine is in full bloom trailing down the East Terrace above the Dorrance Gallery. 

Cheery robins are busy eating the red berries off the red hollies near the museum store. Experience the winter garden – perfect for brisk walks in the beauty of the winter landscape. 

The garden is open until January 8 to members and ticketed guests. From January 10 through February 29, the garden is open to members every day except Monday, dawn to dusk, while we are closed for the winter. Winterthur re-opens on March 1.

For more info about Jasmine and Galanthus in the Winterthur Garden, please see Maggie Lidz’ blog entry: http://gardenblog.winterthur.org/2011/12/15/jasmine-in-bloom/