The Author’s and the Artist’s Gardens
April 28th, 2015
Stephanie Cohen is the feisty planter and prolific author of all species perennial.
Stephanie Cohen, right, talking to a fellow plant-lover.
Seward Johnson is an 84-year-old artist who’s sort of the Norman Rockwell of sculpture.
The common denominator is that both have interesting gardens that you’ll be able to see on my next Lowee’s Group Tours day trip scheduled for Fri., June 26.
We’ll begin the day with a visit to Stephanie’s 2-acre suburban Montgomery County yard.
Starting with little more than a Norway maple and a collection of typical green-meatball shrubs 17 years ago, the “Perennial Diva,” as she’s fondly called, turned her landscape into a plant geek’s nirvana.
The place features perennial borders along the entire front, a four-square herb garden, a native-plant meadow, and multiple outdoor garden rooms crisscrossed by pea-gravel paths and picket fencing.
Perennial-lovers will especially enjoy this place. You’ll find some of the latest, greatest varieties as well as species few people grow, such as the yellow-flowering phlomis – a tiered bloomer that looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.
But Stephanie also likes woody plants, and she’s planted a fine collection of the latest, greatest tree and shrub varieties.
You’ll come away with lots of plants-to-try ideas as well as the inspiration of Stephanie’s contagious spirited personality.
The “vertically challenged” diva calls her garden “Shortwood.” She says she went with that name because “Longwood” already was taken.
Besides planting and speaking all over the country, Stephanie has written three gardening books: “The Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer,” “Fallscaping,” and “The Non-Stop Garden.”
Johnson is also an interesting personality. His forte is the bronze casting of life-size and over-sized realistic figures doing every-day or compelling things.
One of the scenes we’ll see at the New Jersey Grounds for Sculpture. (Credit: NJ Grounds for Sculpture)
It’s a bit like Norman Rockwell’s approach to painting, and like that famous artist, Johnson has taken criticism for being “kitschy.”
Where we’re going on June 26 is the New Jersey Grounds for Sculpture, a 42-acre sculpture garden that Johnson founded in 1992.
This place is a park-like setting near Princeton with gardens and some 270 sculptures placed strategically throughout the grounds.
Some two dozen works are Johnson’s own, and to that he’s added the works of about 150 other artists.
Three of Johnson’s most famous sculptures are “Forever Marilyn,” a 25-foot-tall re-creation of the scene of Marilyn Monroe holding down her dress; “Unconditional Surrender,” which is a 25-foot-tall sculpture of a sailor kissing a nurse at the end of World War II, and “The Awakening,” a five-part sculpture that’s 70 feet tall and depicts a giant emerging from underground.
Plant-wise, the 42 acres have thousands of trees and flowers, a 7-acre meadow with wildflowers, allees of red maples and river birch, and a water garden.
There are also four different food venues and a gift shop with home décor, handcrafted gifts, jewelry from local artisans, books, art supplies, children’s items and souvenirs.
Including lunch, transportation and admission, the total trip cost is $112.
I’ll be happy to answer your gardening questions and tell you about timely tips, gardening news and insights on our stops en route. And I’ll have my usual trivia-game prizes as well as Stauffers of Kissel Hill gift cards.
If you’re interested, Lowee’s Group Tours has a detailed itinerary and sign-up sheet on its website.
Or email CKelly@Lowees.com or call 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933.
Pickups are from both East Shore and West Shore locations.