By Andrew Bunting, PHS Vice President of Horticulture
I first met Eve Thyrum in the early 1990’s when she started to volunteer at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College where I was curator. She became very active in the production of our plant sales and assisted me in researching and writing the plant sheets for over 40 day-long plant courses we co-produced on hydrangeas, magnolias, flowering shrubs, conifers, etc. She also served in a critical curatorial role, a position she still continues with today, to review and research the proper botanical nomenclature for every new plant brought into the collections at the Arboretum.
In addition to her Arboretum work she was very active with the Mid-Atlantic Hardy Plant Society and for decades served in many roles in the Horticourt at the Philadelphia Flower Show. While Eve was on the main flower solving nomenclatural issues and assuring plants were in their proper classes, her husband, Per was helping exhibitors move plants up from F Hall.
Today, Eve and Per live in the retirement community, Kendal-Crosslands near Longwood Gardens. About five years ago, they moved from their extensive three-acre garden in north Wilmington. In their former garden and in their new garden at Kendal, Eve and Per’s roles are clearly divided. Eve oversees everything horticultural and Per manages everything to that is mechanical, electrical, or requires some form of engineering.
Eve loves to collect plants. Before moving to Wilmington in the late 1980’s they lived in Houston. In this subtropical climate, Eve became interested in plants and was an avid bromeliad gardener. When they moved to Wilmington the property had some old fruit trees on it. In an effort to learn more, she started taking continuing education courses at Longwood. Her voracious appetite for knowledge fueled the creation of her garden in Wilmington.
Even though they have downsized with their move to the retirement community, Eve remains passionate in her collecting. She has an amazing “eye” for finding the most interesting plants and placing each one in the perfect spot in the garden. Because she is a curator at heart every plant in her garden is cataloged and labeled.
Next year Eve turns 90 and is not slowing down. In addition to her home garden, she continues her nomenclatural work at the Scott Arboretum and is the registrar (plant recorder) for the Kendal-Crossland Arboretum which is designated as an official arboretum with Arb Net. The Arobretum is curating their collections and adding plants that will help to mitigate climate change.
