As I’m now over a year into the 20 Minute Blog talking about synergies in the natural and built environment, I want to create an opportunity to write about something that is of great importance to me, and that topic is the richness of gardens to explore and enjoy in greater Philadelphia. There is truly … More Philadelphia is America’s Garden Capital
On same day I visited Willowwood Arboretum, I also stopped at nearby Frelinghuysen Arboretum to tour the grounds and study the Colonial Revival home and gardens. This property is the headquarters of the Morris County Parks Commission. Like many arboretums, the property began as a working farm and over the years amassed a horticulture excellence that begged … More Frelinghuysen Arboretum – NJ
In my day job as a knowledge manager at an architecture firm, i’ve learned that one of the keys to success is making connections amongst various groups of people, resources, and emerging knowledge to solve problems more efficiently and effectively. I find that making connections between ideas, spaces, arts & culture and even people is … More Willowwood Arboretum – NJ
I’ve been interested in historic and cultural landscapes since childhood and even at that age loved exploring the plants, topography, outbuildings and other structures giving clues to how the site changed over time and what their exact uses may have been. I learned early on that knowing these exact anthropocentric uses required knowledge of local … More Stenton House [Phila, PA]
While spending time in Louisiana I eagerly wanted to visit one of the river houses along the Mississippi, and Houmas House touts itself as a “crown jewel” in this category. The plantation and complex was established around 1800 as a sugarcane plantation and is named after the native Houma people who originally occupied the area. … More Houmas House & Plantation, LA
Also a stop on the New Orleans trip was Longue Vue House and Gardens. I was intrigued to visit initially due the design history of the property. Ellen Biddle Shipman was a leading landscape architect of the time and designed the grounds around 1934. Her mentor was Charles A. Platt, whose sons William and Geoffrey … More Longue Vue House and Gardens
I spent the day at the Burden Museum and Gardens, which consists of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, Windrush Gardens, and the Rural Life Museum. It covers 440 acres in Baton Rouge and was owned by the Burden family before being partially gifted to and acquired by LSU. The LSU AgCenter’s mission is to provide the people of … More LSU AgCenter / Burden Museum and Gardens
Its winter in the greater Philadelphia region, and as a designer and naturalist I’m always up for exploring landscapes that provide winter interest in effective ways: color, texture, warmth, and movement. Growing up in Maine, winter lasts about 5 months and the dominant color pallet in the snowy landscape is white with glimpses of brown … More Pennypack Preserve – PA
As a caretaker and tour guide of an historic home in Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River, we’re often reminded about where famous Philadelphians were born, lived and made history. In the colonial period of Philadelphia, a majority of these events would likely have happened along the Delaware River in what is now called Old … More Laurel Hill Cemetery
It was a cold December day on my visit to Cliveden in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, but that did not stop my visit to one of many fine properties in Historic Germantown. If you have not visited historic Germantown, i highly recommend checking out the organization that helps oversee the collection of properties under the … More Cliveden House – Philadelphia
Joshua Meyer 