Pond and Garden Tour 2022
Sunday, July 17
Welcome to our 2022 Pond and Garden Tour organized by the Delaware Valley Water Garden Society (DVWGS) and the Swarthmore Garden Club (SGC).
We have 8 beautiful ponds and gardens for you to visit, in Chadds Ford, and in the Media – Swarthmore – Broomall – Springfield area, followed by a pot-luck dinner in the garden of Linda and Don Carpenter.
The tour is free to members and families of paid-up members of the DVWGS, and all members of the SGC. There is a fee of $10 for non-members and guests. Click here to pay via PayPal.
Please bring your own name tag with your name and club affiliation and position.
To help with numbers and food, please go to our signup sheet at: https://tinyurl.com/yturcmur and indicate the number of people attending and what food you plan to bring to the potluck. Bring your own drinks – ice will be provided. Take home any dishes and unconsumed food at the end of the dinner.
We have 8 beautiful ponds and gardens for you to visit, in Chadds Ford, and in the Media – Swarthmore – Broomall – Springfield area, followed by a pot-luck dinner in the garden of Linda and Don Carpenter.
The tour is free to members and families of paid-up members of the DVWGS, and all members of the SGC. There is a fee of $10 for non-members and guests. Click here to pay via PayPal.
Please bring your own name tag with your name and club affiliation and position.
To help with numbers and food, please go to our signup sheet at: https://tinyurl.com/yturcmur and indicate the number of people attending and what food you plan to bring to the potluck. Bring your own drinks – ice will be provided. Take home any dishes and unconsumed food at the end of the dinner.
The first garden listed may be visited from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and the remainder from 12:00 noon till 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 17. The potluck at the Carpenters’ will start at 4:00 PM. If you have perishable food, you may drop it off at the Carpenters’ any time on Sunday. You are free to visit any or all of the gardens in whatever order you like. See below for maps and details. Click here for a printable PDF version of the pond and garden tour handout.
For questions or problems, call Victor Barsky at (215) 840-0811 or Don Carpenter at (610) 304-5912, or email webmaster@dvwgs.com.
Ponds and Gardens
Open 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM only
#1
Wayne Guymon
10 Lafayette Place
Chadds Ford PA 19317
Wayne is former President of the Hosta Society and this garden must be seen to be believed.
Park either side. Go thru deer fence gate. Golf cart ride to/from lower level if needed. Go down wide gravel path, then right past shed to multiple ponds and paths. Go counterclockwise around large pond and return by steps to house or gravel path.
Allow an hour plus for visit. There is considerable level walking.
The following gardens are open from 12 noon till 5:00 PM
#2
Sharon Reed (DVWGS)
155 Hunting Hills Lane
Media PA 19063
Sharon was a teacher for 43 years. Now an elder of Middletown Presbyterian, member of Marple-Newtown Band. Sharon, and her partner Carl Hughes (d. 2020) had their pond built in 2000 by Stevens Water Gardens. It has a 3 ft fall, 2 races to 4'x 8' x 4' deep pond.
Mostly level, allow 15 minutes.
#3
Sandi & John Stouffer (DVWGS)
105 Mansion Drive
Media PA 19063
A beautiful property with multiple indoor and outdoor ponds and water features. Front: 8 wood sculptures carved from 6 trees, 2 pondless waterfalls.
Foyer: Pond/falls.
Conservatory: Swimming pool, spa, pond/falls (40 goldfish), 200 tropical plants, and garden gauge model train.
Outside: Gazebo, 9-hole par 4 golf course (BYO clubs!)
Easy, level walking, allow 30 minutes total outside and inside.
#4
Marianne Price
2889 Gradyville Rd
Broomall PA 19008
Marianne retired 2009 after 44 years special education service at Radnor and then Shipley School. The property has a legacy easement of Willistown Conservation Trust which preserves 94 trees forever. Look out for her secluded 50-year-old in-ground concrete pond.
The garden has some uneven walking, allow 30- 45 minutes.
#5
Liz Ball & Rick Ray (DVWGS)
1889 Spring Valley Springfield PA 19064
Liz is a renowned writer on gardens and Rick was a professor of Landscape Horticulture and is co-chair of the Marple Tree Commission. Their 2.5-acre property slopes gently down to the Crum Creek wetland, which is accessible through the deer fence. The garden is full of wonderful plants, a circular above-ground pond – and cobalt-blue bottles and pots.
The garden is mostly highly accessible, but has some patches of uneven walking, allow 45-60 minutes. Park only on their side of the road.
#6
Kay Rinko (SGC)
4 Swarthmore Place Swarthmore PA 19081
Kay and her husband Lew built a koi pond in 2002. Trees and plants are from Scott Arboretum sales/dividends and friends’ exchanges/gifts.
The garden is an easy, level walk with a few steps. Allow 15 minutes. Park anywhere on cul-de-sac or North Chester Rd.
#7
Claire Thurman (SGC)
608 University Place
Swarthmore PA 19081
Claire and her husband John (d. 2014) built the garden along sight lines. Rain garden and river birch area fill only after heavy rains. Recently added features include a reclaimed brick fireplace, path & patios. Interesting paths lead to surprise gardens.
Easy level walk, no steps, allow 15 minutes.
Potluck supper 4:00 PM to dark
#8
Linda and Don Carpenter
506 Glenwood Ave
Media PA 19063
Don constructed the extensive upper and lower patio, streams, falls and other hardscaping from 2015 – 2019. Extensive plantings are Linda’s responsibility. Garden was a PHS “Garden of Distinction” and PHS “Fan Favorite” in 2019.
Park at Moylan Rose Valley Train Station Lot (Free on Sunday), cross tracks and go up path to the left, then right through the garden gate. Handicap parking on Glenwood Ave opposite the Carpenters’ house. No parking on house side. Accessible paths throughout. (36’ Winnebago is for sale!)
For questions or problems, call Victor Barsky at (215) 840-0811 or Don Carpenter at (610) 304-5912, or email webmaster@dvwgs.com.
Ponds and Gardens
Open 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM only
#1
Wayne Guymon
10 Lafayette Place
Chadds Ford PA 19317
Wayne is former President of the Hosta Society and this garden must be seen to be believed.
Park either side. Go thru deer fence gate. Golf cart ride to/from lower level if needed. Go down wide gravel path, then right past shed to multiple ponds and paths. Go counterclockwise around large pond and return by steps to house or gravel path.
Allow an hour plus for visit. There is considerable level walking.
The following gardens are open from 12 noon till 5:00 PM
#2
Sharon Reed (DVWGS)
155 Hunting Hills Lane
Media PA 19063
Sharon was a teacher for 43 years. Now an elder of Middletown Presbyterian, member of Marple-Newtown Band. Sharon, and her partner Carl Hughes (d. 2020) had their pond built in 2000 by Stevens Water Gardens. It has a 3 ft fall, 2 races to 4'x 8' x 4' deep pond.
Mostly level, allow 15 minutes.
#3
Sandi & John Stouffer (DVWGS)
105 Mansion Drive
Media PA 19063
A beautiful property with multiple indoor and outdoor ponds and water features. Front: 8 wood sculptures carved from 6 trees, 2 pondless waterfalls.
Foyer: Pond/falls.
Conservatory: Swimming pool, spa, pond/falls (40 goldfish), 200 tropical plants, and garden gauge model train.
Outside: Gazebo, 9-hole par 4 golf course (BYO clubs!)
Easy, level walking, allow 30 minutes total outside and inside.
#4
Marianne Price
2889 Gradyville Rd
Broomall PA 19008
Marianne retired 2009 after 44 years special education service at Radnor and then Shipley School. The property has a legacy easement of Willistown Conservation Trust which preserves 94 trees forever. Look out for her secluded 50-year-old in-ground concrete pond.
The garden has some uneven walking, allow 30- 45 minutes.
#5
Liz Ball & Rick Ray (DVWGS)
1889 Spring Valley Springfield PA 19064
Liz is a renowned writer on gardens and Rick was a professor of Landscape Horticulture and is co-chair of the Marple Tree Commission. Their 2.5-acre property slopes gently down to the Crum Creek wetland, which is accessible through the deer fence. The garden is full of wonderful plants, a circular above-ground pond – and cobalt-blue bottles and pots.
The garden is mostly highly accessible, but has some patches of uneven walking, allow 45-60 minutes. Park only on their side of the road.
#6
Kay Rinko (SGC)
4 Swarthmore Place Swarthmore PA 19081
Kay and her husband Lew built a koi pond in 2002. Trees and plants are from Scott Arboretum sales/dividends and friends’ exchanges/gifts.
The garden is an easy, level walk with a few steps. Allow 15 minutes. Park anywhere on cul-de-sac or North Chester Rd.
#7
Claire Thurman (SGC)
608 University Place
Swarthmore PA 19081
Claire and her husband John (d. 2014) built the garden along sight lines. Rain garden and river birch area fill only after heavy rains. Recently added features include a reclaimed brick fireplace, path & patios. Interesting paths lead to surprise gardens.
Easy level walk, no steps, allow 15 minutes.
Potluck supper 4:00 PM to dark
#8
Linda and Don Carpenter
506 Glenwood Ave
Media PA 19063
Don constructed the extensive upper and lower patio, streams, falls and other hardscaping from 2015 – 2019. Extensive plantings are Linda’s responsibility. Garden was a PHS “Garden of Distinction” and PHS “Fan Favorite” in 2019.
Park at Moylan Rose Valley Train Station Lot (Free on Sunday), cross tracks and go up path to the left, then right through the garden gate. Handicap parking on Glenwood Ave opposite the Carpenters’ house. No parking on house side. Accessible paths throughout. (36’ Winnebago is for sale!)
Map and Information
Map shows relative locations of ponds and gardens.
Use GPS to navigate using addresses. If you are a Google Maps user, all locations are listed at: https://goo.gl/maps/Z5SpP14jFBnuzE2o7.
Locations may be visited in whatever order you prefer. If you go in order from #2 to #8, total driving time is about 40 minutes (18.5 miles).
There are many opportunities for lunch in the area, or stop by Linvilla Orchards (137 W Knowlton Rd, Media, PA 19063), where there is a beer garden and snack bar. They partnered with DVWGS on the 2020 gold medal-winning PHS Flower Show exhibit and have a recently created Don Carpenter-built water feature.
Map shows relative locations of ponds and gardens.
Use GPS to navigate using addresses. If you are a Google Maps user, all locations are listed at: https://goo.gl/maps/Z5SpP14jFBnuzE2o7.
Locations may be visited in whatever order you prefer. If you go in order from #2 to #8, total driving time is about 40 minutes (18.5 miles).
There are many opportunities for lunch in the area, or stop by Linvilla Orchards (137 W Knowlton Rd, Media, PA 19063), where there is a beer garden and snack bar. They partnered with DVWGS on the 2020 gold medal-winning PHS Flower Show exhibit and have a recently created Don Carpenter-built water feature.